Walking tour of Kilkenny City Medieval Mile. Guided.

1 h 30 min Free cancellation

Walking tour of Kilkenny City Medieval Mile. Guided., photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Discover Kilkenny city's famous medieval mile on this informative, humorous and engaging locally guided walking tour. Uncover history, legends, iconic sites and lively stories with a fun, local guide.

Explore this city's enchanting maze of narrow streets, uncovering centuries of history, intriguing tales, and hidden stories that shaped this vibrant city. Learn about iconic landmarks such as Kilkenny Castle, Rothe House, St. Canice’s Cathedral & Round Tower whilst following the footsteps of Normans, monks, knights, merchants and the fabled witch Alice Kyteler. Experience a captivating blend of storytelling, fun facts, Irish sayings and plenty of laughs, brought to life with engaging magic effects!

This immersive 90-minute adventure is perfect for all ages, it is an unforgettable and entertaining introduction to Kilkenny's rich heritage, culture, and unique spirit. Lace up and bring your sense of adventure, and get ready to embrace the real 'craic' (Irish word for 'fun'!) of Kilkenny!

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At a glance

Duration: 1 h 30 min
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Up to 30 people
People per booking: 1–30
Guide: English
Operated by: Ireland Wild Escapes

Ages: Infants (0–7 years) · Children (8–12 years) · Youth (13–17 years) · Adults (18–64 years) · Seniors (65–100 years)

What is included

Included

Included: 90-minute expertly guided walking tour of Kilkenny city's medieval mile
Included: Engaging stories, history, humour, and magic effects

Not included

Not included: Food and drink

Itinerary

Kilkenny Castle

15 min Admission not included

Meet your guide at the main gate on The Parade. Kilkenny Castle has stood on this site since 1195 when William Marshal, the knight widely regarded as the finest in Europe at that time, built the first stone fortress here. Your guide covers Marshal's story and why the castle's position above the River Nore made Kilkenny one of medieval Ireland's most significant towns.
St. Mary’s Medieval Mile Museum

15 min Admission not included

From the castle your guide will take you along Parliament Street and into the heart of the Medieval Mile. Your guide points out the streetscape features that survive from the 13th and 14th centuries: the plot widths, the lane patterns, the building lines. This section of Kilkenny rewards looking up and looking down at the same time.

St. Mary's Medieval Mile Museum was built as St. Mary's Church in the 13th century by William Marshal (he built a lot of Kilkenny). This is now one of Ireland's leading medieval museums. The building itself is as significant as its contents: the tomb effigies, the architectural detail, and the scale of the nave give a concrete sense of how seriously medieval Kilkenny took its own importance. Your guide covers what life here looked like between the 12th and 16th centuries.
Rothe House & Garden

10 min Admission not included

Built in 1594 by merchant John Rothe Fitz Piers, this is the best surviving example of a Tudor merchant townhouse in Ireland. The series of interconnected courtyards behind the street frontage shows how prosperous trading families organised their household and their business on the same site. The garden to the rear has been restored to a 16th-century plan.
Kyteler's Inn

30 min Admission included

Alice Kyteler was the first person in Ireland condemned for witchcraft, in 1324. She owned an inn on this site. Your guide tells the full story: the four husbands, the accusation, the flight to England, and what was actually happening politically behind the charge. The story is well-known in Kilkenny and rarely told as well as it deserves to be. Kyteler's Inn is still a working bar and worth a visit after the tour.
St. Canice's Cathedral & Round Tower

10 min Admission not included

The cathedral is the second longest in Ireland and was built on the site of a 6th-century monastic settlement founded by St. Canice, after whom Kilkenny is named. The round tower alongside it dates to the 9th century. Climbing the tower is optional and costs a small extra fee; it takes around 20 minutes and gives views across the full city.

The tour ends here. The city centre is a 10-minute walk south.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

Finding your tour guide is easy, our guide wears a traditional Irish tweed waistcoat & hat and will be at the designated meeting location (outside the main gates of Kilkenny Castle) approx. 15/20 minutes before departure.

End point

Approximately 350 metres from the city centre

Using your ticket

Meeting point: We leave from under the arch of the main gate of Kilkenny Castle which is between the two round towers facing onto the street.

Please arrive 10-15 minutes ahead of tour start time.

Contact no. +353 87 274 3865

All tours lasts approximately 90 minutes. Our scheduled tours do start ON TIME. We maintain a moderate walking pace, stopping at various sites along the tour. We cannot delay the start time of tours for late arrivals and are not in a position to offer refunds for late arrivals.

Please do bring appropriate clothing, be that rain gear, umbrellas or sunscreen. In the event of extreme inclement and potentially dangerous weather.

We reserve the right to cancel tours.

Wheelchair or Mobility Issues: Our route takes us along the city streets and corridors and is wheelchair accessible. We aim to cater for all and if you have any questions or concerns do get in touch and let us know how we can ensure you have a great experience and how we can support you when you visit with us.

Cancellation

Free cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

If you cancel	You get back
At least one day before	100%
Less than a day before	0%

The operator may cancel if the weather does not allow it; you then get another date or your money back.
The operator may cancel if too few people book; you then get another date or your money back.