County Carlow combines gorgeous scenery with cute villages, rivers, rolling hills, plenty of history and a great range of family-friendly places to visit. Whether you’re planning a weekend break, filling a rainy day, or just looking for something new to try with the kids, this guide to Carlow for families rounds up our favourite things to do, see and eat around the county.
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Family-Friendly Things to Do in Carlow
Pretend you’re Willy Wonka for the day at the Chocolate Garden in Tullow. Kids can try samples, see how different chocolate products are made, get a look and smell of a real cocoa bean, and make and decorate their own chocolate figure to take home. There’s also a free play area and a covered outdoor picnic area.
Afterwards, pop next door to Rathwood. They run regular seasonal kids’ activities such as Movies in the Woods or Teddy Bear Picnics. Take a trip on Rathwood’s Express Train through the woods and stop at the pond to feed the ducks, or find your way through the Maze of Ireland. There’s also a great playground and a deer park with miniature ponies, goats, deer, geese and more.
Take a guided tour of Huntington Castle & Dungeon in Huntington. See the fascinating old house, tour the beautiful gardens and stop by the famous yew walk. There’s a woodland adventure playground with swings, slides, play huts, monkey bars and balance beams, plus a working farm where kids will love spotting the potbellied pigs that wander freely around the castle grounds.
At Duckett’s Grove, you can admire the stunning ruins of the surviving towers and turrets of the house and walled garden while enjoying a walk around the grounds. The walled gardens have been restored, and there’s a small craft shop with local products, a tea room, a large car park and toilets.
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Free Things to Do in Carlow
Known as one of the most romantic gardens in Ireland, Altamont Gardens, near Tullow, is an enchanting blend of formal and informal gardens on a 100-acre estate. There’s a fascinating walk that kids love, through the Arboretum, Bog Garden and Ice Age Glen, with its canopy of ancient oaks leading down to the River Slaney. You’ll also find picnic areas and a garden centre with tea rooms. The gardens themselves are free to visit, though a car parking fee applies.
Visit Browneshill Dolmen, a granite portal dolmen to the east of Carlow town dating back to pre-historic times. It’s said to be the largest dolmen in Europe.
Bring the kids to one of the local libraries in Carlow. Most have children’s sections where kids can settle in with a great selection of books, games and puzzles, and some run storytelling sessions for younger children.
Most towns in Carlow have playgrounds, but here are some great playgrounds in Carlow that we can recommend, including Oak Park Forest Park, which has an accessible playground with swings, including a wheelchair swing, and slides.
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Outdoor Activities in Carlow
After a play in the accessible children’s playground, head off for a walk at Oak Park Forest Park. There are colour-coded trails with wheelchair-accessible surfaces, including a looped boardwalk, and plenty of ducks and swans to look out for. There’s a picnic area too, and lots of open space for flying kites.
Enjoy two different loop walks at the Kilbrannish Forest Recreation Area. The Windfarm Loop is 3km long with a good surface and some uphill sections, suitable for families with younger children. The Kilbrannish Forest Loop is longer, at 5km, and takes around two hours to complete. Both offer magnificent views of the surrounding lowlands and Mount Leinster on a clear day, and there’s a picnic site and car park close by.
Delta Sensory Gardens, on the outskirts of Carlow town, are a hidden gem — described by visitors as an oasis of peace and tranquility. Inside you’ll find themed gardens and water features, including the famous Kugal, a large piece of pink marble that floats on a cushion of water. The fully accessible gardens have plenty to offer throughout the year, plus a little coffee shop with homemade treats.
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Family-Friendly Museums & Galleries in Carlow
Visual Carlow is free to visit, with a gallery, quiet spaces to sit and browse art books, and a Make and Do table for little ones (children must be supervised by an adult at all times). Grab a takeaway coffee and make use of the free wifi while the kids draw. They also hold drawing and art workshops and events for kids and families from time to time.
Carlow County Museum, in Carlow town, is open all year round with free admission. Spanning four galleries, the museum has a wide collection of items and artefacts from the county — including the original gallows trapdoor from Carlow Gaol, a 340-million-year-old fossilised squid, and items connected to Kevin Barry, the young medical student executed for his role in the Irish War of Independence. There’s also a Carlow County Museum Detective Quiz for kids to complete while exploring.
Located in a 19th-century church in Carlow town, the County Carlow Military Museum has fascinating artefacts detailing the history of WWI, the War of Independence and more, along with a military vehicle display, a WWI trench and 1916 memorabilia. An entry fee applies.
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Rainy Day Activities in Carlow
Enjoy some swimming and splashing time at Graiguecullen Swimming Pool, which has a 25m pool, a heated toddler pool, family changing rooms, and accessible facilities including changing, toilets and a pool hoist.
For some bookshop browsing, head to a local bookshop in Carlow town.
For indoor soft play, options in the area have included:
- The Big Blue Barn at Deerpark Business Complex, Carlow
- 3D jungle play and a toddler play area at The Dome, Carlow
- The Woodshed Café & Ark Playcentre at Rathwood
The Dome also offers ten-pin bowling and laser tag, and there are cinemas in Carlow town for a movie afternoon.
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Family-Friendly Hotels & Accommodation in Carlow
The Mount Wolseley Hotel has an award-winning spa and championship golf course, making it a great choice for families or a break away with relatives or friends. Family rooms offer flexible bed configurations, and the rooms are large enough to add a travel cot or foldaway bed if needed. There are also interconnecting rooms for larger families and self-catering lodges.
There’s plenty on site to keep everyone busy, including a kids’ club during school holidays, a playground with a zip-line, golf lessons, the spa, and a leisure centre with a large pool. Babysitting can be arranged in advance, and the hotel runs family offers throughout the year — check their website for current details.
Talbot Hotel Carlow offers family rooms with double, single and camp bed/cot options. There’s a 20m pool, a fitness centre, and a kids’ club during school holidays for ages 4–12.
Check out more of our favourite family-friendly hotels and accommodation in Ireland — from luxury breaks and hotels with kids clubs to self-catering choices and family camping and glamping.
Family-Friendly Restaurants in Carlow
There are many good restaurants in County Carlow to choose from — here are a few recommended by parents:
- The Forge at Ballon is great for home baking and local produce — perfect after a visit to Altamont Gardens.
- The Green Barn Restaurant at Burtown House and Gardens offers fresh food using produce straight from the kitchen gardens, in an inspiring interior space, with a junior menu made to order using seasonal produce.
- The Lord Bagenal Inn at Leighlinbridge offers a children’s menu with half-portion meals.
- Lennons, the contemporary café at the VISUAL Centre, serves good food from local produce, with morning treats and lunch through the week and dinner at weekends.
- The Mullicháin Café, St Mullins, is a restored 18th-century canal storehouse offering sandwiches, salads and desserts, with gluten-free alternatives, a rustic feel, comfortable upstairs seating, and an outdoor area along the river.
- The Merry Tree Restaurant at Rathwood is a spacious, family-friendly restaurant with breakfast, lunch and dinner menus and plenty of children’s options, plus an outdoor seating area with climbing frames to keep kids occupied.
Things to Do in Carlow for Older Kids and Teens
Go swimming during the summer months at the Bagenalstown Outdoor Heated Swimming Pool, a heated, outdoor 25m pool.
Head on a nature trail with Wildways Adventures and explore the woodlands and walkways.
For water-based fun, Pure Adventure offers full-day and half-day canoe and kayak trips on the rivers Barrow, Nore and Suir, while Go With the Flow River Adventures offer half- or full-day activity excursions along exclusive trails, showing you how to shoot weirs, ride the rapids, and take a swim in remote pools along the way.
Mount Brandon Pottery School at Tinnahinch offers pottery classes and workshops for all skill levels.
Enjoy ten-pin bowling and laser tag at The Dome Entertainment Centre in Carlow town, or head to the shops in Carlow town, including Fairgreen Shopping Centre, for a bit of retail therapy.
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Don’t Miss!
Image courtesy Fáilte Ireland
Carlow Castle, sitting on the banks of the rivers Barrow and Burrin near the centre of Carlow town, is one of the most important Anglo-Norman castles in Ireland.
Today, two battered towers and part of a wall are all that remain after a local physician, Dr Middleton, tried to convert the castle into an asylum in 1814. In an effort to demolish the interior, he placed explosive charges at its base — and ended up bringing down all but the west wall and towers.
The castle grounds are open to the public.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best free things to do in Carlow with kids?
Altamont Gardens, Browneshill Dolmen, Carlow County Museum, Visual Carlow and the local playgrounds and libraries are all free (or largely free) to visit and are great options for a family day out without a big spend.
Is Carlow good for a family day trip or a weekend break?
Yes — Carlow works well for both. There’s enough packed into a small area (castles, gardens, museums, playgrounds and walking trails) to fill a single day, and family-friendly hotels like Mount Wolseley and the Talbot Hotel make it easy to turn it into a weekend away.
What can we do in Carlow on a rainy day?
Head for indoor options such as Graiguecullen Swimming Pool, the soft play centres around Carlow town, The Dome for bowling and laser tag, a local cinema, or a browse in a bookshop.
Are there family-friendly restaurants in Carlow with kids’ menus?
Yes, several — including The Lord Bagenal Inn, The Merry Tree Restaurant at Rathwood, and The Green Barn Restaurant at Burtown House, all of which offer children’s menus or dishes suitable for younger diners.
Related Articles
- Top 10 Things to Do in Carlow with Kids
- 9 Great Family Walks in Carlow
- Best Outdoor Places in Carlow for Families to Enjoy
- Rainy Day Activities for Kids in Carlow
- The Best Museums in Ireland to Visit with Kids
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