The Cities, Walked EarlyNotebook No 24October 2024
Two hundred feet of oak and marble, taken before the queue.
Collected by Deborah. Read her editorial perspective
We always advise our American friends to arrive at Trinity College precisely when the gates open. Secure the earliest entry slot for The Long Room and walk its entire 200-foot length, just once, allowing the oak and marble to make their singular impression before your gaze fixes on any specific detail. This initial passage is essential.
Dublin (Trinity
While the Book of Kells resides on a lower floor, the Long Room remains the primary allure, justifying the inevitable queues. We suggest dedicating approximately half an hour to absorb the room's atmosphere among its towering shelves, before the space begins to fill with other visitors. This early window grants a focused encounter.
Afterward, consider breakfast at the Buttery if it is open. Otherwise, Dublin provides many other satisfying options for your morning meal.
The Ireland Edit Way
Cut the itinerary in half, then cut it again. The letter we send before every first visit.
Every hotel change costs you half a day. Luxury, in Ireland, is staying put.
Six questions we apply before booking any room in Ireland. The November test, the dinner-twice test, the landscape-over-room test.
To understand Ireland, stop looking at the castles and start looking at the kitchen table.
From the notebook
Collected notes. A few times each season.