Johnstown Castle
Johnstown Castle
4.5
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Johnstown Castle Estate, Museum & Gardens, outside Wexford town in Ireland’s southeast, is not only a significant property of national importance but a place of great romantic charm and tranquility. The spectacular lake walks, walled gardens and sculptures all offer the beautiful setting for the great 19th-century castle. The Irish Agricultural Museum is onsite and holds one of the most comprehensive displays of farming and rural life in the country, the Irish Agricultural Museum and Johnstown Castle Gardens make a wonderful day out for all the family - whatever the weather. The beautifully maintained ornamental gardens surrounding the castle extend to 40 hectares and feature three lakes, a walled garden and a resident family of peacocks.
Suggested duration
More than 3 hours
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See what travelers are saying
- MRichardson2014Lake of Bays, Canada932 contributionsWonderful Agricultural MuseumWe were at this castle and gardens for 3.5 hours with most of our time spent in the excellent museum and walking on the grounds. Unfortunately the castle, while open is under renovation and the walled garden is empty greenhouses and lawn. If you are not interested in the museum it would probably not be worth the cost of entry.Visited April 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten May 2, 2023
- Natasha FMullingar, Ireland8 contributionsLovely couple of hours spentWe visited Johnstown Castle on 29th of June as a family of three. It was a very worth while couple of hours spent. The agricultural museum is fabulous and very informative. My little boy especially enjoyed seeing the old machinery and the sheets in each area with the questions. We spent a little over an hour walking around the museum, it is very well laid out. We then walked round the grounds and did the lake walk loved seeing all the ducks and swans as well as the peacocks on our walk. We thoroughly enjoyed lunch in the peacock cafe. We all had sandwiches and much needed cold drinks. From the moment we walked through the door each member of staff we spoke with were very friendly and helpful. Would definitely recommend only reason not giving the experience 5* is because the castle was closed for a tour.Visited June 2023Traveled with familyWritten July 5, 2023
- Julie MOxford, United Kingdom129 contributionsGreat place let down by very slow cafe serviceThe agricultural museum was fantastic - so many exhibits! The castle tour was good. We didn't have time to visit the walled garden because the cafe took nearly an hour to serve our lunch (and we'd only ordered quiche and a sandwich).Visited June 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten July 6, 2023
- Sean M37 contributionsBring a picnicThe castle building is well worth seeing and our guide (a volunteer) was very professional. There are some enjoyable walks through the extensive grounds. I suggest that you bring your own food as the service in the café was very slow and the quality of the food was abysmal.Visited July 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten August 5, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
165 reviews
Excellent
120
Very good
24
Average
10
Poor
4
Terrible
9
C_and_H_11
Dublin, Ireland787 contributions
Sep 2021
We have been to Johnstown Castle & Estate many times over the years & always come back when in the area. On arrival on this occasion we were very disappointed as we were not asked for Covid passes on the queue for the cafe/restaurant (but we volunteered them) & then they were checked! As I had to get back on the queue a couple of times I noted several people ahead of me were not being asked for their passes either & I distinctly saw people arriving & standing on the queue in front of me. When I mentioned this to the girl who served me she said they had been up to the checkout before. This was not the case as I clearly saw them arriving in dripping wet coats! Also the situation has STILL not changed regarding ticketing (as we mentioned in 2020 Trip Advisor review) The gardens are very well kept & a walk is essential here as there is great variety in different areas of the estate & around the lakes. As the castle was revamped not too long ago we took the tour then & it's well worth doing. We have also visited the Agricultural Museum on five or six occasions over the years, which leads me to my point - there seems to be no other option but to purchase a ticket to see everything, castle, agri-museum & gardens, at a cost of 13 euros per adult.....but we just wanted to take the walk! There really should be a 'grounds only' ticket for around 3/4 euro per person, which would be quite acceptable as it's understandable the grounds have to be maintained. We were having lunch spending around 30/35 euros for a really nice lunch & coffee/tea etc for both of us, so really didn't want to have to hand over a further 26euros just to have a walk! There's a very good option for local people as they can buy an annual ticket at a very reasonable rate, so why not have options for the occasional visitors like ourselves (& many others I have no doubt) otherwise, they will be losing quite a lot of business as people will stop coming, especially if they have to pay for the whole family. The restaurant will also lose out & that would be a pity as the food is really good, nice choices & prices are fine, plus everything in the area is pristine & well kept. Staff are also very good & some also take on the tours in the castle, as on our previous visits. So, for people who would support the restaurant & then take a stroll....is there going to be a 'grounds only' ticket or are we expected to pay for something we choose not to do but at the moment are expected to pay for?
Written October 31, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi c_and_H_11
Thank you for taking the time to write your review.
I can assure you that Covid passes are checked for everyone wishing to dine indoors or take a tour of the Castle - as is currently the requirement. If you saw anyone not being checked I would be confident in saying they were dining in our outdoor area, taking away or a member of the teams currently working on site who are all pre-checked. The guidelines are in place to protect our visitors but also our staff and we have been strictly following them throughout the past two years.
Our ticket prices are inline with an offering of our size and as we are a not for profit organisation all of the entrance fees are put back in to the restoration, maintenance and further development of Johnstown to ensure the Estate can be enjoyed by the public for many years to come.
I am happy to hear you are a return visitor to us and I hope you enjoyed the further works and new exhibitions in place since your last visit.
Regards
Aideen.
Written December 12, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Maria K
86 contributions
Aug 2020
The grounds are grand but outside the main lake there is a lot of work to be done in the rest of the gardens. Probably in 5 years this would be a 5 star review. But what really made this a memorable experience was the tour of the castle. Our guide was entertaining, knowledgeable and friendly.
The only thing I didn't like was the use of volunteers for the tour guides, especially when there is a charge for the castle tour. It devalues their positions. These people are providing a professional experience and should be remunerated accordingly.
We didn't leave enough time for the Agricultural museum so give yourself at least an hour or two for this. It is outstanding and far more interesting than it sounds!
The only thing I didn't like was the use of volunteers for the tour guides, especially when there is a charge for the castle tour. It devalues their positions. These people are providing a professional experience and should be remunerated accordingly.
We didn't leave enough time for the Agricultural museum so give yourself at least an hour or two for this. It is outstanding and far more interesting than it sounds!
Written September 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Maria K
Thank you for taking the time to review your visit. Our gardens are a very popular part of the estate here at Johnstown and are looking beautiful at the minute as we head towards Autumn and the colours the season brings. Our head gardener and his wonderful team are working on planting, restoring, enhancing and increasing bio-diversity within the gardens to ensure it a true representation of a Castle Garden, an Irish garden and most importantly. a sustainable garden. As you can imagine this is a huge task and a huge amount of work has already been carried out in the past year throughout the gardens, which I am sure you enjoyed during your walk. It is just over the year mark since the property reopened under the Irish Heritage Trust and a year, of course, is a very short time in the development of a garden.
In relation to our volunteers. Johnstown Castle Estate, Museum and Gardens is run by the Irish Heritage Trust, a charitable organisation, who work to restore and preserve historical properties in Ireland. Our volunteers play a vital role in this. They give their time and personal expertise, as well as the training we offer, as they share our values of the importance of sharing and therefore preserving our history. Many of our volunteers assist as volunteers as their other other obligations do not afford them the time to work for us as employees and they wish to guide on a volunteer basis. They are a hugely valued part of our team here at Johnstown Castle Estate, Museum and Gardens.
I am glad to hear you enjoyed the Agricultural Museum – there certainly is a lot to see.
I hope we can welcome you back to Johnstown in future.
Written September 15, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Shidjude
Wexford, Ireland7 contributions
Jul 2022 • Friends
As a local, I’ve visited the grounds of Johnstown Castle for years and enjoyed it’s beautiful surroundings. The purpose of a recent trip was to take a castle tour. The fee of €14.95 covers entry to the grounds, guided castle tour and entry to the agricultural museum, offering good value as these activities could easily occupy 3-4 hours. The tour guide, Hannah, was excellent and completely brought the history of the castle occupants to life putting them at the centre of various historical contexts. The tour took one hour and throughout that time all group members were included in this guided interactive experience. A trip to the agri museum afterwards was also enjoyable, particularly the section on the Irish famine. Our only disappointment was the lack of food in the cafe when we arrived in the late afternoon but maybe we should have timed it better. All in all, the opening of the castle to the general public is a great addition to Wexford’s tourism experience
Written August 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Motorsportenthuisias
Thank you for taking the time to write your review. I am delighted you enjoyed the tour. Bringing the history to life is very important to us. As you will have seen there are very few 'red ropes' in the castle as we want our guests to feel they are transported back in time and experience the castles wonderful rooms as they would have been.
There certainly is lots to enjoy and many of our guests spend the full day with us.
Our café is stocked with freshly prepared food daily. On busy days in the high season this can mean low stock towards the end of the day. I do hope you did get to enjoy a treat and a drink, if not a full lunch.
I hope we can welcome you back again in future and I will pass your kind words on to Hannah.
Kind Regards
Aideen.
Written August 16, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
thedublinrambler
Dublin, Ireland207 contributions
Aug 2020
As a family of 4 of which 2 are 7 and 5 year old's we visited Johnstown recently. We arrived an hour prior to the tour of the castle. We thought an hour in the museum would be enough but we probably could have spent another half hour there as our kids even though young really enjoyed it.
The tour of the castle was very good. A lot of interesting information and stories. Ciaran was our tour guide and he was very informative.
Highly recommend visiting,
The tour of the castle was very good. A lot of interesting information and stories. Ciaran was our tour guide and he was very informative.
Highly recommend visiting,
Written August 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi thedublinrambler
Many thanks for taking the time to write your review. I am delighted to hear you all enjoyed your visit. There certainly is a lot to see and enjoy in the museum.
I will pass on your kind words to Ciaran. Many of our guides grew up locally and have a great passion for sharing the history and stories of the Castle.
We hope we can welcome you back to Johnstown again in future.
Written August 26, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Breda
2 contributions
Oct 2020 • Friends
I visited Johnstown castle today for the first time and wow,I was blown away,such a gem of a place,beautiful walks,museum and a wonderful exhibition of Pearce foundry but the highlight for me was the tour of the castle, our tour guide Mylo was just brilliant,he was so knowledgeable he gave us a great insight into the life and history of the family’s that lived in the castle.
I can’t wait to go back and visit.You would easily spend a day here taking in all that the castle and gardens has to offer while also enjoying the delights in the beautiful cafe.A wonderful day out.
I can’t wait to go back and visit.You would easily spend a day here taking in all that the castle and gardens has to offer while also enjoying the delights in the beautiful cafe.A wonderful day out.
Written October 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you, thank you, thank you and we will pass on your praise to Mylo.
Written October 7, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Margaret D
3 contributions
Jul 2020 • Couples
Beautiful place, fabulous grounds, loved the vernacular furniture exhibit. Well worth a visit. Outside toilet block not particularly clean (emptied cleaning bottle, dirty cleaning cloth left in window and filthy area around dryer not reassuring), my daughter used the inside toilets and said they were good. Perhaps in light of the indoor/outdoor nature of the site it appeared that in indoor areas (farm museum and cafe queue) some tourists ignored both social distancing and chose not to wear face coverings.
Written July 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi S6632LVmargaretd
Many thanks for taking the time to write a review.
The toilets are checked by our grounds team throughout the day. Your comments in relation to the toilets have been noted. Our apologies that this was the case on the day.
We do have social distancing guidelines in place to ensure the safety and comfort of both visitors and staff. These are communicated to visitors on arrival and in answer to phone/email enquiries. We are finding most visitors are adhering to the guidelines. Should any element of the guidelines change or become compulsory we will of course implement and monitor adherence to these in line with government guidelines.
Again, we are delighted to read that you enjoyed the grounds and the furniture exhibit within the museum.
We hope to welcome you again in future.
Written August 9, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
VivG100
Dublin, Ireland218 contributions
Sep 2022 • Friends
One of the most enjoyable, informative and detailed history tours of Irish Heritage I have been privileged to experience. Leo, met us at the front of the Castle and from there, took us on a 90 minute tour of this magnificent building, its history, its furnishings and artefacts, its construction and architecture, its residents and their histories, up to the present day. So engaging and knowledgable was this gentleman, the tour went by much too quickly and after an hour and a half we emerged back into its magnificent grounds from, the underground tunnel used in times of yore by, the servants and delivery merchants. I could have gone straight back to the front and taken the tour all over again, it was riveting, just, sooooo interesting, and wonderfully guided by Leo and the very kind volunteer, Claire who ensured we didn't get lost, and brought those of us with "bad knees" to the 21st century convenience of, an elevator! We walked afterwards around one of the lakes, took a visit to the museum and then indulged ourselves at the coffee shop. Staff throughout are friendly, courteous, efficient and best of all, enthusiastic. Highly recommend a visit to Johnstown Castle and do try to take the time to enjoy the Castle Tour, facinating, you will not be disappointed.
Written September 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi VivG100
Thank you for taking the time to write your review. I am delighted to hear you you enjoyed your tour and all that Johnstown has to enjoy. I will pass on your kind words to our guides.
I do hope we can welcome you back again in future.
Regards
Aideen.
Written September 24, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Anne Marie Sanderson
Albufeira, Portugal29 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
This was a great way to spend 3-31/2 hours on our visit. The entrance to the estate takes you through to a small museum with lots of artefacts showing Ireland in years gone by. You have impressive walks around the castle and lakes .we chose to do the castle tour also which takes an hour.our guide Hannah was very knowledgeable and showed us many rooms and told history of the people who once owned the castle.fascinating insight into its turbulent history and the majority of its antique furniture and large portraits can be seen throughout. Some restorations are being carried out at the rear of the castle but this did not impact on any of the tour.Reasonably priced at €13 per adult it was money well spent.cafe and toilets are clean and good choice to suit all needs.and a shop in the visitors centre selling NikNaks .The staff in the visitors centre were extremely helpful and polite .
Written April 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bjbcavan
cavan12 contributions
Jun 2022 • Couples
Visited on the 27th June . Lovely castle and grounds. We took the castle tour our guide Hannah was wonderful, knowledgeable and animated. We pre booked the 3 o'clock tour, allowing time afterwards to visit the museum and stoll around the grounds. The tour concluded at 4pm, we decided to go to the cafe, it was closed. So, we went to the museum, at 4 46 a young man asked us to leave as the museum was closing. Back at reception I spoke to a girl regarding closing time (as it is advertised as 5.30 ) . She said that they were closing early to stocktake. We should have been told this when we arrived. The young man passed by us on his bicycle - obviously he wasn't stocktaking!! Really disappointing .
Written June 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi bjbcavan
Thank you for taking the time to write your review. I am happy to hear you enjoyed the tour. I do apologise for the lack for communication in relation to the early closing. This should have been made clear on your arrival. This was a one off as we were changing part of our I.T system. Should you wish to visit us again please do contact me directly and I will be happy to assist.
Kind Regards
Aideen.
Written August 16, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
rubylass
cork170 contributions
Feb 2022 • Family
Excellent visit to Johnstown. We pre-booked the tour and so glad we did as it was sold out when we arrived. Our tour guide Jess was outstanding. She was so knowledgable about the castle and her passion and love for the place was clearly evident. The tour was about an hour and the rooms that we were shown were fab. She told us that they will be doing it up bit by bit but we still felt that we got to see so much. Jess brought the time period to life and we left after learning so much. If visiting, I would highly recommend the ticket that includes the tour of the castle. The grounds are spectacular and there are plenty walks and scenery to enjoy. We also visited the agricultural museum which was vast and had a huge array of artefacts. My little boy loved the tractors. We also visited the little dinky toys section which was sign posted but might have been a bit small as we saw other bypass it. It was lovely the see the private collection that had been gathered over the years. We spent a very enjoyable 3 hours at Johnstown and I would highly recommend it. A great way to spend the day
Written February 27, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Rubylass
Thank you for taking the time to write your review. I will be sure to pass on your kind words to Jess. Having grown up locally and her grandfather having worked here she is very passionate about sharing the history and real life stories of the Castle.
I am delighted to hear your little boy enjoyed his time as well. We pride ourselves on offering something for all ages.
I do hope we can welcome you all back in future.
Kind Regards
Aideen.
Written March 29, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Johnstown Castle
- Johnstown Castle is open:
- Sun - Sat 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- Hotels near Johnstown Castle:
- (0.85 mi) Rathaspeck Manor
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- (3.33 mi) Faythe Guesthouse
- Restaurants near Johnstown Castle:
- (2.98 mi) La Vista Cafe Restaurant
- (3.67 mi) 10 West Bistro & Cocktail Lounge
- (3.57 mi) CDMX
- (3.61 mi) La Côte
- (5.19 mi) Wild and Native Restaurant
Johnstown Castle Information
Excellent Reviews | 118 |
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Very Good Reviews | 24 |
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