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16th July 2017
05:49pm BST
Which is particularly great during the summer; the weather has been good lately and the kids are off from school... both of which = peak playground season.
And while it's difficult to pinpoint the 'best' in the city, we're going to go out on a limb here and say that Ardgillan Castle's offering is certainly right up there.
The fact that it's often overlooked too means that it remains something of a hidden gem.
Located in Balbriggan, north county Dublin on the grounds of the castle, there is plenty of parking and a pretty woodlands walk down the playground.
The site itself is hugely impressive: elevated overlooking the Irish Sea it has more than 30 pieces of play equipment to keep small ones and children up to the age of 12 totally entertained.
The entire ground is spongy to cushion falls and all the equipment is generously spaced out.
There is a drinking-water foundation in the centre, and even toilets with baby-changing facilities (god-send!) are in situ. Picnic tables just outside the entrance gates are ideal for dining al fresco afterwards.
Truthfully, Ardgillan feels more like something you'd find in a theme-park or paid-for attraction. We visited it last Friday afternoon - the day was glorious and the schools are off but the place still didn't seem too crowded.
The fact that it's totally free and open 365 days a year means even if you're not located in the immediate north county Dublin area, it's well worth a drive.Explore more on these topics:
