Description
Brú na Bóinne is a world-renowned prehistoric landscape and UNESCO World Heritage site situated within a dramatic bend of the River Boyne, offering families a breathtaking journey into the Stone Age. As one of the most remarkable things to do with kids in Meath, this vast archaeological park lets children step back over 5,000 years to explore Europe’s grandest Neolithic passage tombs, pre-dating both Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids.
Prices start from €5.00 for adults and €3.00 for children for entry to the main visitor exhibition, while comprehensive monument tours (which include access to the passage chambers) range up to €18.00, with all infants and young children under 12 granted completely free admission. Please note that pricing for this National Monument is processed in Euros (€) due to its location in the Republic of Ireland.
If you are looking for the best place for a day out with family and kids that combines immersive outdoor discovery, interactive museum games, and awe-inspiring global history, this legendary Boyne Valley landmark is an absolute bucket-list experience.
Features
- Paid
- Host birthday parties: No
Features
Top Features
- World Heritage Status: Recognised globally as Western Europe's largest and most significant collection of prehistoric megalithic art.
- Interactive Visitor Centre: Features a newly redesigned, state-of-the-art exhibition filled with tactile displays, digital Stone Age sounds, and interactive seasonal games.
- The Newgrange Chamber: Gives families a rare, guided walk inside a 5,000-year-old stone tomb famous for its winter solstice alignment.
- Shuttle Bus Connections: Offers a fun, dedicated transit link where families are transported by private shuttle buses directly from the visitor hub to the distant monuments.
Highlights
- The Main Visitor Exhibition: The day begins at the interactive visitor center, which features an incredible exhibition exploring Neolithic lifestyle and engineering. Children can play interactive season games, listen to ambient sounds from the Stone Age, and walk through a full-scale replica of the Newgrange passage to practice moving through the dark.
- The Massive Mound of Knowth: On the outdoor monument tours, kids will be amazed by the sheer scale of the Knowth mound, which is ringed by smaller tombs and hundreds of intricately carved kerbstones. Families can climb right to the top of the timber-reinforced mound platform to enjoy spectacular, panoramic views across the entire Boyne Valley landscape.
- The Newgrange Entrance Stone: Before entering the tomb, children can get up close to inspect the iconic, massive entrance stone carved with triple spirals and double loops. It provides a fantastic backdrop for family photos and serves as a puzzle for kids to guess what the ancient carvings represent.
- The Winter Solstice Simulation: Inside the narrow stone chamber of Newgrange, the expert tour guide will temporarily switch off the electric lights. They simulate the exact amber beam of sunlight that floods down the 19-metre passage only on midwinter mornings, a truly magical moment that will leave older children spellbound.
- The Reconstructed Timber Circles: Around the eastern side of the grounds, families can view spectacular reconstructions of ancient wood henges and ritual enclosures. It helps kids visualize how prehistoric families gathered for massive seasonal festivals and astronomical ceremonies centuries ago.
Beyond the Main Attraction: Beyond the core tombs of Newgrange and Knowth, families can extend their historical adventure to fill a full weekend itinerary. A short 3.8 km drive leads directly to the Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre at the Oldbridge Estate, which features sprawling walled gardens, riverside walks, and live summer heritage events. Alternatively, you can travel just 5.6 km north to explore the atmospheric stone ruins of Old Mellifont Abbey, Ireland’s very first Cistercian monastery, or take a 20-minute drive to the legendary Hill of Tara, the ancient coronation seat of the High Kings of Ireland.
27.45 miles
