I went on a day trip to Dublin from Birmingham Airport - and it was cheaper than a train journey to London

Can there be a better place to enjoy a fun day out?

As it’s inaccessible by road and rail, you may not consider popping over the Irish Sea to Dublin, for a day trip.

But I recently did just that - and even though I flew over on a plane from Birmingham Airport - it was cheaper than most train fares from Brum to London.

I found my flights during another lazy day during Twixmas. The Ryanair booking was just £15 on the way out, at 9.30am on a Saturday morning, and £21.99 on the way back, at 7.30pm the same day.

A quick look at the Birmingham New Street return fares to London Euston on the same day were showing as £53.50 on Avanti and £43.50 with West Midlands Railway.

I don’t know if you’ve ever flown over to Ireland - but no sooner are you up, than you are back down again. Especially if you’re going to Dublin - you’re in the air for about 30mins.

Of course this is also quicker than a train from Birmingham New Street to Euston - the fastest journey times are 1hr 20mins currently.

But getting on and off the plane can take longer and you have to go through check in at the airport - so the overall journey isn’t quite 30 minutes - but it’s still fast!.

On the day I travelled this was a mere 15mins for check in - which was great. 

And once I was through to departures I had access to all the duty free shopping, so could have been quids in if I had made the right purchases. 

However, I wasn’t in a shopping mood that day. And there are limits on liquids and the like on the way back (the 100ml rule still applies in both Birmingham and Dublin and Ryanair is notoriously strict on exceeding baggage limits).

But nonetheless there is an abundance of shops to peruse and bars and restaurants to relax which was all part of my fun day trip adventure.

On my trip over, I enjoyed brunch at the newishly opened Shelby & Co, a Peaky Blinders restaurant where all the staff wear the famous caps sported by Tommy himself and his gang and there’s Brummie Bangers and Blinder’s Benedict and the like on the menu.

It’s a great space to relax while you wait for your flight. Screens show iconic excerpts from the internationally renowned TV series adorning period wood panelled walls - not a usual feature of Birmingham Airport. There are ornate brass fittings too, adding to the historic allure, along with portrait paintings, a whisky bar & gin palace and merchandise.

I ordered the Blinder’s Benedict and a cappuccino at the bar and took my seat to await delivery.

The staff were so friendly and seemed genuinely happy as they served customers across the busy restaurant - it’s certainly a popular spot with passengers.

My food was great. Not the best ever Eggs Benedict that I’ve ever had - but pleasant enough. I really liked the matchstick fries sprinkled on top of the smoked hollandaise sauce.

Makes you wonder why they don’t open something like this in Birmingham city centre….

Anyway, back to Dublin. I landed in the Irish capital at around 10.15am. It’s a pretty long trek through from the gate to arrivals at the airport. But by 11.30am I was in the centre of town on O’Connell Street after jumping on one of the buses.

It was a beautifully sunny day and there’s so much to see on the main thoroughfare full of shops and hotels that leads to the River Liffey. I took a gawk at the enormous 120 metre high Spire of Dublin. The pin like monument is intended to represent inspiration and transition in the city - it’s a unique site. Someone nearby joked it was a ‘prod to God’.

Opposite that you’ll find the Dublin Portal - just next to the statue of Irish literary hero James Joyce. It offers locals a real-time opportunity to connect with people in New York.

I must admit I was totally baffled by what it was all about at first. People were just waving at each other through a giant round glass window. But then I discovered that the people on the other side of the circle were all the way in America. How amazing!

I continued my stroll down the street past a series of monuments to historical Irish figures including Daniel O’Connell, Jim Larkin and Wiliam Smith O’Brien.

Next up I came across the huge GPO - the last great Georgian public building to be erected in Dublin which has been a centrepoint of Ireland’s struggles to become independent.

I walked over the vast O’Connell Bridge and strolled along the Liffey until I reached the Ha’penney Bridge - another renowned landmark, which was cast right here in the West Midlands, in Shropshire.

I’m not a huge fan of Temple Bar, but it’s like it sucks you in. One minute I was walking along the Liffey - the next I was standing outside the renowned bar bedecked with Christmas trees and giant bows, right in the middle of January.

It was certainly grabbing attention far and wide. It looked too busy to drop into though - and I’m not sure I could afford the prices. Although it is such an impressive landmark.

My whirlwind sightseeing tour also brought me to St Patrick’s Cathedral which dates all the way back to 1191 and is the national cathedral for the whole country. It was an imposing sight along the busy street nearby hotels and just up the road from Dublin Castle - a major government complex which is also on the tourism trail.

I didn’t have the energy to walk all day and had arranged to meet a friend for lunch, which was just as well - because by this point, I was getting pretty tired.

The final leg of my sightseeing took me over towards Grafton Street - another popular shopping spot.

Here’s where you will find the renowned upmarket Irish department store Brown Thomas full of the latest fashions, designer goods and beauty products.

The weekend I visited was Tradfest and there was live traditional music playing at one end of the street, with a few more buskers along the main drag.

One of the most stunning features along this road is the legendary Bewley’s Cafe - celebrated as an embodiment of Dublin’s artistic soul.

It’s a beautiful place inside and out. The stained glass windows are phenomenal. It opened in 1927 and soon became the hang out for literary legends including James Joyce to Samuel Becket and W.B. Yeats.

I bet they didn’t have to queue though. There were a lot of people waiting for seats on the day I popped in - so it’s probably best to book if you definitely want to sit and soak up the artistry.

There are so many charming back streets to explore behind Grafton Street too - well worth a wonder if you have time. I was impressed with the number of people ignoring the cold and enjoying coffee at pavement cafes.  

I didn’t have time for too much shopping on my trip but I did manage to pick up a beautiful book of poetry by W.B. Yeats from renowned Dublin antiquarian bookseller De Burca Rare Books. If literature is your thing - I’d recommend checking out their catalogue. There’s a treasure trove of works to enjoy.

Ahead of my lunch I visited St Stephen’s Green Park. It’s a green oasis with lakes and birdlife to transport you from the busy streets to peace. The flowing fountains and flowers are so beautiful.

My last stop - before jumping back on a bus to get on a plane - was to Cafe en Seine on Dawson Street.

It’s an iconic Dublin venue - with a late bar and restaurant. Huge ceilings and art deco decor create a fabulous space to relax and enjoy time with friends.

Being on Dawson Street it’s sheltered from the hustle and bustle of Grafton Street and not far from St Stephen’s Green. There are a host of upmarket restaurants on the street including The Ivy. Marco Pierre White has a restaurant here too. 

At Cafe en Seine I enjoyed brunch. It was a lovely menu - not too overwhelming with masses of dishes, but with plenty of variety. I chose the Super Salad. It was a huge bowl of goodness with avocado, edamame beans, falafel, quinoa- and so much more. I crunched and munched my way through the fresh vegetables & protein. I sound like a saint, but life is all about balance - so me and my friend ordered a bottle of Bottega Prosecco to share too. I also followed my Super Salad with a Choux Bun with pistachio ice cream and warm chocolate sauce and chocolate cremeaux. It was a fabulous afternoon after a busy morning travelling and sightseeing. A perfect finish to my day in Dublin.

I left in plenty of time to get a bus back to the airport where there was a wealth of shops and bars to while away the time before flying back to Birmingham. I landed back in good time. A bit tired, but inspired to travel again.