Phoenix Park Visitor Centre

Lonely Planet review

In the north of the park, near the Ashtown Gate, this visitor centre occupies what were the stables of the papal nunciature, and explores the wildlife and history of the park through film and two floors of exhibits. Visitors are also taken on a tour of the adjacent four-storey Ashtown Castle, a 17th-century tower-house that was concealed inside the later building of the papal nunciature and was only 'discovered' when the latter was demolished in 1986.

Box hedges surrounding the tower trace the ground plan of the lost building. Children keen on all things furry will love the Great Slumber Party exhibition upstairs, a walk-through tunnel that looks at the sleeping habits of animals such as foxes and badgers.