It’s easy to see why. Dublin Zoo is located in the delightful grounds that make up Phoenix Park so it is slap bang in the centre of the city. Established in 1831, yet looking more and more modern with every year, the 28-hectare Dublin Zoo is one of the oldest in the world. There’s a train to help you cover all that distance, and plenty to see at every stop.

The zoo is home to about 400 animals from 100 different species, and is informatively laid out across eight different types of habitat that range from an Asian jungle to a more familiar family farm.

The zoos ecological credentials date back as far as 1857, when its lion-breeding program was started. Dublin Zoo prides itself on providing fun with a purpose. It mixes education and conservation with thrills and excitement.

There are restaurants and cafes, shops and activities as well as all those animals, and all the joys of Phoenix Park waiting just outside its gates. Dublin Zoo promises a great day out for the young and the young at heart.