I was asked to write a parent review of Castleknock Hotel after staying there with my 6 and 8 year old. It was a genuinely lovely experience for all of us — although there was some confusion over the hotel’s name along the way. Read on to find out more, and watch our video of the stay below.
What Castleknock Hotel Offers Families
Castleknock Hotel is a modern 4-star hotel set in green grounds beside the Phoenix Park, just a short drive from Dublin city centre. Despite the proximity to the city, it has a calm, countryside feel once you arrive.
The hotel has plenty to keep families busy: an 18-hole golf course, restaurants and bars, an outdoor BBQ area, an 18-metre pool, sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, a children’s pool area and an outdoor playground.
For current family stay packages, rates and availability, it’s best to check directly with the hotel via their website or reservations team.
Our Stay: First Impressions
We travelled from the North West of Ireland, so we drove rather than took the train. The hotel is just through Lucan village and was easy to find, with ample parking even though there was a wedding on when we arrived.
The wedding meant reception was busy, but there was a jigsaw for the kids to enjoy while we waited, and the staff were friendly and efficient once it was our turn.
On arrival, my 6 year old was puzzled by the hotel’s name. “Castleknock Hotel,” she said, “where is the castle?” I explained that this was simply the name of the area — though clearly not clearly enough, because by the end of our stay she’d decided she was glad they’d knocked the castle down, because this place was much better!
Our Family Room
Heading up to our room, it was reassuring to see security measures in place — you needed a key card to operate the lift and again to access the corridor and bedroom.
What I especially liked was that our family room had just one door in and out. Interconnecting rooms are available too, but with our larger family room, I slept soundly knowing the kids were right there.
The room had plenty of space for four, plus the little extras you hope for in a good hotel — a Nespresso machine, a full ironing board and even a hair straightener alongside the hairdryer.
The bathroom was well stocked too, which was handy since I’d forgotten to pack the girls’ toothbrushes — there were sealed dental packs waiting for us. There’s always something you forget when you’re excited about a trip away! The room had a full bath and a separate shower, both with detachable shower heads, which make washing kids so much easier while staying dry yourself.
The girls were delighted to find activity packs on their beds and a welcome basket with fresh fruit and a few sweet treats. There was hot chocolate for them to enjoy while watching the smart TV, which had Netflix and YouTube for age-appropriate favourites any time.
The Pool
Once we’d explored the room, it was straight down to the pool. My 8 year old, an avid reader, spotted a book exchange on the way and made a mental note to visit it afterwards.
The pool area was spotlessly clean and the staff were friendly and attentive. The water was warm, with different sections to explore, including a small waterfall and a separate baby pool, plus loungers for relaxing.
The one thing I’d flag as a parent with kids of different swimming abilities: there’s a large wall between the shallow baby pool and the main deeper section, which makes it hard to see both areas at once. If you’re travelling with confident, over-enthusiastic swimmers and a less confident one, it’s worth having two adults there together, since you’d really need to stand at the baby pool entrance to keep an eye on the main pool too.
Other Hotel Facilities
For adults, there’s a sauna, steam room and jacuzzi, so if you have confident swimmers (or another adult to help supervise), you can relax on a lounger while the kids splash around — or head to the spa. During our stay, the pool closed for children in the early evening, which my two thought was very unfair, though it did make for a peaceful hour for me while their dad took them to get changed.
While swimming, we spotted a playground outside and of course had to visit. It has swings, a seesaw, a slide, a playhouse and a climbing frame — compact, secure, and well suited to kids of different ages. For older kids and adults, there’s also an on-site golf course that looked very well maintained.
The Food
After all that swimming, we were starving, so we headed to the Earth and Vine restaurant. It didn’t disappoint — great food, attentive service and a solid wine list. The kids loved that their menus felt a bit more grown up, with a good variety of dishes to choose from.
My 6 year old isn’t fussy, exactly, but she is particular. She ordered pasta bolognese with everything separate and no garnish, and that’s exactly what she got. She wasn’t keen on any of the desserts, so the kitchen put together a fresh berry plate with marshmallows instead, which went down a treat.
My other daughter went straight for the burger and homemade chips, again with no unnecessary extras, and the burger had a proper homemade taste — I had to try it myself, purely in the name of research.
Unlike her sister, the more chocolate on offer, the better, as far as she’s concerned. She chose the chocolate fondue for dessert but was too full to finish it, so our server offered to send it up to the room for later. Given how much she loved it, that offer saved us a very long wait at the table.
Breakfast
The next morning brought a generous buffet breakfast: a hot food selection, every kind of bread, cereals, fresh fruit, yogurt, cold meats, cheeses, and even a pancake-making station. Breakfast turned out to be my 6 year old’s favourite part of the whole stay.
Nearby Family Attractions
We spent the rest of our trip at the zoo, which was close by and easy to reach, but the hotel also had plenty of information on other nearby attractions, including the National Aquatic Centre with its water slides and 50m pool, Viking Splash, Fort Lucan, and Leisureplex Blanchardstown with bowling and soft play. Blanchardstown also has a large shopping centre and cinema nearby.
We happened to stay over the St Patrick’s weekend, and the hotel had information on local parades as well as the main city parade, which was a nice touch for visiting families.
Would We Go Back?
Yes — without hesitation. I’d happily recommend Castleknock Hotel for families of all ages. If you’re travelling from outside Dublin, turning off at Lucan Village means you can avoid the M50 toll and city centre traffic, while still being able to reach town easily by car or public transport when you want to.
We’re already looking forward to our next family trip to Castleknock Hotel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Castleknock Hotel suitable for young children?
Yes. During our stay we found the hotel well set up for families, with a children’s pool area, an outdoor playground, kids’ menus in the restaurant, and family rooms designed with young children in mind.
Does the hotel have a pool for kids?
Yes, the pool has a separate baby pool section as well as the main pool. Do note there’s a wall between the two areas that limits sightlines, so it’s worth having two adults on hand if your children have different swimming abilities.
Is Castleknock Hotel close to Dublin city centre?
Yes, it’s a short drive from the city centre but feels much quieter, thanks to its setting near the Phoenix Park. It’s also easy to reach without going near the M50 toll if you’re coming from outside Dublin.
What family rooms does the hotel offer?
The hotel offers both interconnecting family rooms and larger family rooms with a single door in and out — handy for parents who prefer to keep everyone in one space overnight.
What’s nearby for families staying at the hotel?
Dublin Zoo, the National Aquatic Centre, Viking Splash, Fort Lucan and Leisureplex Blanchardstown are all within easy reach, along with Blanchardstown Shopping Centre.
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