Belvedere House Gardens & Park
Belvedere House Gardens & Park
Belvedere House Gardens & Park
4
9:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Monday
9:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
9:30 AM - 8:00 PM
About
Located within Ireland’s Ancient East with many layers of life and history in the big house, Belvedere House Gardens & Park demonstrates beauty, intrigue and passion that make for an enchanting Visitor Experience and an excellent day out with a difference. The magnificent 160 acre Lakeside Estate of Belvedere House, Gardens & Park boasts a fully restored Georgian Villa, built in 1740 by the famous Architect Richard Castles. The estate has a fascinating Victorian Walled Garden, with one of Ireland's finest collections of rare and special plants. The naturalistic designed 18th century parkland, punctuated with Romantic Follies includes the largest in Ireland; “The Jealous Wall”. Within the welcoming Visitor Services Centre is a Licensed Restaurant and Gift Shop and there are also 3 outdoor children’s play areas, a zip line & many picnic areas on the estate.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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See what travellers are saying
- Leah8 contributionsEasterWe went for the Easter event, which was very good and good value for money. However the overall facilities were poor , big ques for the baby changing facilities due to the crowd, not enough toilets/changing facilities for the number of people present . Also the place was not clean , toilets were horrible, food allover the floor in cafe , tables not cleared for hours , plates, food and rubbish left everywhere.Food from the cafe there was very over priced and our kids meal of goujons and chips was freezing coldVisited March 2024Travelled with familyWritten 1 April 2024
- Karen ODublin, Ireland1 contributionGreat Easter eventWe went to the east event . It was a lovely day . With the easter trail and the different things for the kids yo do like face painting balloon making and the zip line and the playgrounds and the cafe its a great place to go.Visited March 2024Travelled with familyWritten 2 April 2024
- Pat S297 contributionsVery interesting; beautiful-large garden areaVery interesting history with a ruin wall, castle, gardens, statues, etc. The garden was first class; the variety and how large it was and the aromas were nice . The history of the 2 brothers was unique. It a slight walk from the parking area. They give you an audio that will describe each of the identified sections. It was fun to get out an walk around the grounds as it was quite largeVisited May 2024Travelled with familyWritten 15 May 2024
- Mary H2 contributionsIt's worth it!In the shadow of the jealous wall at Belvedere House and Gardens, Mullingar is not to be beaten, anywhere in Ireland, as a venue for an outdoor Theatre Experience. The setting is perfect. Little Women by Chapterhouse Theatre Company was thoroughly enjoyable.Visited June 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 30 June 2024
- Patrick Marry4 contributionsPresent and relaxingBeautiful location on the banks of lough ennell. Relaxing walks playgrounds and picnic seating on the lake front. Very well stocked cafe and the homemade ice cream is a must. The reception staff are very plesent and helpful. There are events on through the summer months to cater for all ages. A wonderful place not to be missed if your in the area.Visited July 2024Travelled with familyWritten 11 July 2024
- Journey245408605821 contributionWe waited a long time to visit, we were not disappointed, Stunning placeWe had a beautiful visit at Belevedere House and Gardens, unfortunately the house was closed, however this did not spoil our visit. The grounds, Walled garden and Fairy garden are breathtaking. The sun was shining (11th August), so this made the day/experience even more enjoyable. We called into the cafe for coffee and sweet treats and although the cafe was very busy, service was very efficient we even managed to find a table and seating outside. Thank you we will be back again!Visited August 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 12 August 2024
- Louise K4 contributionsDay out with the kidsWe had a wonderful day. We brought a picnic and the kids had a great time hanging out of the trees. It is a lovely place to go relax and enjoy the surroundings. The kids had great fun exploring. The gardens were beautiful and the Fairy Garden went down a treat with my niece.Visited August 2024Travelled with familyWritten 19 August 2024
- Jay BFairhope, Alabama1,116 contributionsGorgeous Gardens & A Nice CafeBelvedere House Gardens & Park is well worth a couple of hours if you are in the area. The house is under renovation and inaccessible, but the gardens are amazing! Grab the map as you enter and take your time for a nice stroll on these beautiful grounds. Be sure and check out the Fairy Garden. It is really fun and special. Also note that they have a nice cafe and gift shop, including outdoor seating as weather permits.Visited September 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 11 November 2024
- Rachel GBelfast, United Kingdom64 contributionsHouse currently closed but gardens are lovelyLovely gardens. Unfortunately the house is closed at present for renovations. Staff were polite and friendly. Carers get in for free if they are accompanying the person they care for. There is a cafe, kids play areas and lots of places within the grounds to explore. It was a pity that when we visited the shop didn't sell a souvenir book about the house and gardens.Visited November 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 1 December 2024
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 ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
689 reviews
Excellent
313
Very good
210
Average
84
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Terrible
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Emily C
9 contributions
Apr 2023 • Family
The characters were in good spirits in spite of the wet weather they were having to be out in all day. The visiting pet farm was a lovely touch. Little bit of a queue for the Easter Bunny, again you'd have to expect that, but the area they were in was beautifully put together and the big bad wolf was keeping spirits up, entertaining the queue. The easter bunny gift was very generous .The addition of a henna artist in the cafe was a hit with our family too. The cafe was very busy as you would expect ,but the staff were very helpful and took care of everyone. Thank you for a lovely event.
The questions for the hunt were well laid out and interesting but nobody took the finished answers, just a little thing the kids were wondering if they were right.
The questions for the hunt were well laid out and interesting but nobody took the finished answers, just a little thing the kids were wondering if they were right.
Written 11 April 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.
Patricia H
7 contributions
Feb 2023 • Solo
Spent a blustery afternoon in February at Belvedere House. A very pleasant garden and woodland walk despite the weather. A nice lady at the reception explained the audio system and, after a tasty lunch in the cafe , I spent a few hours wandering around the house and gardens listening to a very entertaining history of the place and its previous owners. The gardens , I expect, will be beautiful in summer when the flowers and trees are in bloom. There are children’s play and picnic areas so would be a great afternoon entertainment for families.
On the downside I would have liked to have seen upstairs in the house but I’m probably being nosy.
On the downside I would have liked to have seen upstairs in the house but I’m probably being nosy.
Written 2 February 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.
Colette S
Cork, Ireland112 contributions
Jul 2020
On a recent mini-break to Mullingar, I took a trip out to Belvedere House and Gardens, being a place I have wanted to visit for quite some time. After taking a taxi out, I was most disappointed by the welcome I received from the reception staff.
There were two staff members on duty sitting on their phones clearly not very busy. The reception area was empty. I asked to pay entry and was asked if I had reserved a ticket online. I hadn't done this. They said it was necessary to book a ticket online as they needed such details to monitor the numbers going in to ensure the estate didn't become overcrowded. I work in hospitality. I am fully aware of the necessity for contact tracing and crowd control. The issue I had was when the lady asked me to log on to the wifi there and purchase the ticket online as two staff members sat there that could have easily done the purchase for me on their system. Perhaps the lady on duty saw my look of disgust with this comment as she then said "You are in a position to go online to do this?" I reluctantly said yes and started trying to login. I was asked if I wanted to go and sit in the café whilst doing this process. I moved away from the desk, made my purchase and returned 1 minute later with my email confirmation. I was then allowed admittance.
I passed 3 lovely hours in the grounds and I thoroughly enjoyed the woodland walks, the beautiful lake views, the fairy garden and some of the follies (especially the jealous wall) and I would recommend this beautiful place to anyone looking for a nice walk or some pretty scenery.
In saying that, I do think further staff training is required. If I was to behave like that in the hotel I work, I would be on a verbal warning. The tourism industry is in crisis due to the pandemic and are crying out for people to visit such attractions. The staff and the welcome they provide at such attractions should play a key role in the recovery of this sector.
There were two staff members on duty sitting on their phones clearly not very busy. The reception area was empty. I asked to pay entry and was asked if I had reserved a ticket online. I hadn't done this. They said it was necessary to book a ticket online as they needed such details to monitor the numbers going in to ensure the estate didn't become overcrowded. I work in hospitality. I am fully aware of the necessity for contact tracing and crowd control. The issue I had was when the lady asked me to log on to the wifi there and purchase the ticket online as two staff members sat there that could have easily done the purchase for me on their system. Perhaps the lady on duty saw my look of disgust with this comment as she then said "You are in a position to go online to do this?" I reluctantly said yes and started trying to login. I was asked if I wanted to go and sit in the café whilst doing this process. I moved away from the desk, made my purchase and returned 1 minute later with my email confirmation. I was then allowed admittance.
I passed 3 lovely hours in the grounds and I thoroughly enjoyed the woodland walks, the beautiful lake views, the fairy garden and some of the follies (especially the jealous wall) and I would recommend this beautiful place to anyone looking for a nice walk or some pretty scenery.
In saying that, I do think further staff training is required. If I was to behave like that in the hotel I work, I would be on a verbal warning. The tourism industry is in crisis due to the pandemic and are crying out for people to visit such attractions. The staff and the welcome they provide at such attractions should play a key role in the recovery of this sector.
Written 21 July 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.
Aine J
3 contributions
Dec 2024 • Family
Went to Land of Light. Extremely disappointing. Attended two years ago for same price and got alot more lights and entertainment. This time it was very sparce on lights and atmosphere. Extremely disappointed for cost. Would not recommend. I contacted the organisers who offered no compensation for cost considering drastic decline in quality of service to two years ago. Save your money or go a little further a field.
Written 9 December 2024
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.
harteaine
2 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
I've never been to such a rip off of an experience. The money charged for this is 100% not worth the trip and I would not recommend anyone to go! This is the most expensive light show of the ones available in leinster yet it is the smallest, shortest and least exciting one. 99% of the lights were spotlights and a couple of animals placed here and there. We had our walk done in 15 minutes and that was at a leisurely stroll. The tokens given to the kids for a free carnival ride were useless as there were 2 shambles of rides available for kids up to the age of 5 max. The filth and dirt of the rest of the 'carnival' amusements were absolutely disgusting and we left to Try rescue the rest of the kids night in the main town of Mullingar. The travel included to even get there was a waste of time.
Very very disappointed
Very very disappointed
Written 9 December 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.
colmsmum
westmeath33 contributions
Dec 2024 • Family
What a complete let down. It was advertised as bigger and better than last year but in reality it was anything but. This was our second year to attend and it will definitely be our last.
All of the large displays were the same, no new one's, there were a few extra light shows but they were repeats of the one's earlier in the trail. There was a tunnel of lights that wasn't there last year but it was underwhelming. The jealous wall and fairy garden weren't lit up, definitely missed a trick there and some wood carvings were in darkness.
We walked for 10 mins with just a string light (could barely see where we were going) to get to the entrance and then the same route back upon exit, utterly boring.
There wasn't any Christmas atmosphere in the entire place. Last year there was a mini fairground, food stalls, seating area etc. that created a great buzz but unfortunately this year there was only a pancake/hot chocolate stall and a bbq stall, at different spots.
The price we paid (€76.85 for 2 adults and 2 children) was absolutely crazy for such a disappointing experience, the organisers should be ashamed of themselves. Only for stopping to take photos we could have walked the trail in 30 minutes. It's a complete rip off and I certainly wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
All of the large displays were the same, no new one's, there were a few extra light shows but they were repeats of the one's earlier in the trail. There was a tunnel of lights that wasn't there last year but it was underwhelming. The jealous wall and fairy garden weren't lit up, definitely missed a trick there and some wood carvings were in darkness.
We walked for 10 mins with just a string light (could barely see where we were going) to get to the entrance and then the same route back upon exit, utterly boring.
There wasn't any Christmas atmosphere in the entire place. Last year there was a mini fairground, food stalls, seating area etc. that created a great buzz but unfortunately this year there was only a pancake/hot chocolate stall and a bbq stall, at different spots.
The price we paid (€76.85 for 2 adults and 2 children) was absolutely crazy for such a disappointing experience, the organisers should be ashamed of themselves. Only for stopping to take photos we could have walked the trail in 30 minutes. It's a complete rip off and I certainly wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
Written 17 December 2024
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.
Ciara X
6 contributions
Dec 2024 • Family
Went to Santa at belvedere today. We traveled over an hour to get there and we were beyond disappointed. It was shocking bad. Two adults and two kids along with one photo was €98.30 and it was the biggest waste of money.
On arrival we were taken in to get our picture taken by the 'professional photographer'..... Sitting slouched on a chair with his back to us when we went in! Our photo was taken in a sleigh we could barely fit into. No direction from him on what to do/where to look/where to put hands etc ..
After our photo was taken we were told to go to the boathouse to play games and do activities - this consisted of a table will a few sheets of paper and crayons and a game of Jenga in the corner of the tiny shed. About family came in after us and we had to leave as we couldn't all fit in.
We then got the train from there to santas grotto which was a marquee. We first entered a marquee with a bubble machine and had to wait here until Santa was ready for us. We didn't have a long wait.
Santa was nice - very short though and there was no elf/helper to take a photo of us. I had to take a pic of my two sons with Santa on their own. As for the presents - oh my word what a disappointment. One got a set of binoculars and the other a Jacob's ladder toy. I was so astonished at them I googled them on our way home to see if I had missed something. The Jacobs ladder costs €6 and the binoculars less than €10.
I know it's not about the presents - it's about the experience and making memories but this is definitely a memory I will not be treasuring nor will my children.
We collected the photo on our way out half an hour later and yet about disappointment.
On arrival we were taken in to get our picture taken by the 'professional photographer'..... Sitting slouched on a chair with his back to us when we went in! Our photo was taken in a sleigh we could barely fit into. No direction from him on what to do/where to look/where to put hands etc ..
After our photo was taken we were told to go to the boathouse to play games and do activities - this consisted of a table will a few sheets of paper and crayons and a game of Jenga in the corner of the tiny shed. About family came in after us and we had to leave as we couldn't all fit in.
We then got the train from there to santas grotto which was a marquee. We first entered a marquee with a bubble machine and had to wait here until Santa was ready for us. We didn't have a long wait.
Santa was nice - very short though and there was no elf/helper to take a photo of us. I had to take a pic of my two sons with Santa on their own. As for the presents - oh my word what a disappointment. One got a set of binoculars and the other a Jacob's ladder toy. I was so astonished at them I googled them on our way home to see if I had missed something. The Jacobs ladder costs €6 and the binoculars less than €10.
I know it's not about the presents - it's about the experience and making memories but this is definitely a memory I will not be treasuring nor will my children.
We collected the photo on our way out half an hour later and yet about disappointment.
Written 15 December 2024
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.
Katharina H
Lemgo, Germany119 contributions
Sept 2024 • Couples
We paid 7€ per person admission. We were told directly that the house is unfortunately closed due to restoration work. However, the park itself is open. What we were not told is that construction work was also taking place here. At every corner were tractors, excavators etc. Relaxation in nature was unthinkable. The park itself also seemed neglected rather than well-kept and had nothing to do with the pictures on the net. Fairy Garden is old and run-down, then prefer Malahide (near Dublin), where admission is really worthwhile. It's an absolute waste of money here.
Automatically translated
Written 20 September 2024
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.
Roisin O
2 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
We went to visit the land of lights, it was a rushed last minute decision and I wish I took the time to read other reviews as I would not have booked it. It was awful.
The photos and some of the reviews show exhibits that are not there. It was basically a slow, 35 minute walk through a forest with a few lit up statues here and there, honestly I was shocked when we reached the end.
There was a crappy little “carnival “ with a tiny carousel and a hook a duck, both of which were extra. I honestly can’t express how sh1t the whole thing was. We have done a lot of Christmas experiences and light shows and this was neither.
The most amazing thing was the ruins of the old castle at the end.
We had salvage our outing by driving through Mullingar town to look at some proper Christmas lights, which were lovely.
Do your self a favour and spend your money on something else, this is overpriced rubbish
The photos and some of the reviews show exhibits that are not there. It was basically a slow, 35 minute walk through a forest with a few lit up statues here and there, honestly I was shocked when we reached the end.
There was a crappy little “carnival “ with a tiny carousel and a hook a duck, both of which were extra. I honestly can’t express how sh1t the whole thing was. We have done a lot of Christmas experiences and light shows and this was neither.
The most amazing thing was the ruins of the old castle at the end.
We had salvage our outing by driving through Mullingar town to look at some proper Christmas lights, which were lovely.
Do your self a favour and spend your money on something else, this is overpriced rubbish
Written 22 December 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.
Maria H
4 contributions
Dec 2022 • Family
The lights did not disappoint, especially the ones down by the lake. However, our experience was dampened slightly by the exclusion of our children, aged 9 and 11, from the funfair rides. For context, they were given a free ride pass at the entrance. Yes the 2 rides available were tame, but they still wanted to have a go. Got to the front of the queue where they were told by a very rude operator, in front of everyone, "No, you're too old". My daughter's face burned with humiliation and she was quite upset.
1. Put signs up if there's an age restriction.
2. Train your staff how to speak to children, so as not to humiliate them in front of people. I cannot stress this enough. A kind word would have made a difference. Won't be back next year because of this.
Had it not been for this experience, you would have received a 5 star review. We stay in Bloomfields every year and always take a trip to Belvedere and it's always lovely, so we were quite disappointed.
1. Put signs up if there's an age restriction.
2. Train your staff how to speak to children, so as not to humiliate them in front of people. I cannot stress this enough. A kind word would have made a difference. Won't be back next year because of this.
Had it not been for this experience, you would have received a 5 star review. We stay in Bloomfields every year and always take a trip to Belvedere and it's always lovely, so we were quite disappointed.
Written 10 December 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.
Do you supply Wheelchairs or Disability scooters for Disabled please?
Written 30 December 2018
Unfortunately I do not know the answer. I do know that they are wheelchair friendly but not sure if they supply them. If you call them, as Cathal says on +353 44 934 9060 I am sure they would advise.
Written 31 December 2018
I'm staying in the Annebrook Hotel in mullingar Town is Belvedere house far from the town please thanks
Written 15 September 2018
Hi there, it is about 10 to 15 mins by car outside town. It's well worth a visit.
Written 17 September 2018
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