Visit Dublin's Victorian-era 'Dead Zoo'

What? Natural History Museum (often affectionately called "the dead zoo" | Where? Merrion Street, Dublin 2 | How to get there? It's a 24 minute walk from the apartment | How much? Admission is FREE | Times? TEMPORARILY CLOSED FOR REFURBISHMENT

A relic of the Victorian era when there was insatiable public curiosity in the "wonders of the natural world from across the world", the Natural History Museum of Ireland - known colloquially as 'the dead zoo' - has hardly changed since opening in 1857 (two years before Charles Darwin published The Origin of Species).  It still has its Victorian cabinet style presentation layout, which houses one of the finest and most complete collections in the world. In all, there are around two million scientific specimens. It's worth seeing as much for being a brilliantly-preserved example of a Victorian museum. And children love it!