Below a list of the most common questions we get asked about the House of Waterford... Please reach out if you have comments or additions.
Where is the House of Waterford located?
The House of Waterford is situated on The Mall in Waterford, Ireland. It is in the heart of Waterford City, just a hundred yards or so from the River Suir and the city’s main quay, and bordering the city’s Viking Triangle area.
What does a visit to the House of Waterford entail?
Our facility includes the Waterford Factory, a Retail Store & Exhibition Area, a bar and a café.
What will I see on the factory tour?
The guided tour of our factory includes a visit to all aspects of traditional crystal production including mould making, blowing, quality inspection, marking, finishing, cutting, sculpting and engraving.
How long is the factory tour?
The factory tour takes approximately 50 minutes.
Is pre-booking essential?
No; tickets can be purchased in advance on our website and on arrival at reception.
What’s the difference between the standard factory tour and private tour?
The timed factory tour ticket is booked for a specific date and time while the flexible factory tour ticket allows you to visit on any date at any time of your choosing.
If you book a private tour, you will be allocated your own personal guide who will bring you through our factory; you will not be part of a public group tour.
There’s no availability left for timed factory tour tickets on my selected date, does that mean the tours are sold out?
Timed factory tours may be sold out but there is still availability through flexible factory tour tickets.
How frequently do the public tours operate?
On weekdays, public tours run approximately every 30 minutes; on weekends due to an altered factory schedule, tours will not operate as frequently.
What age qualifies for a senior ticket?
The senior ticket applies to those aged 60 and over.
Why is the private tour/afternoon tea unavailable on my selected date?
Our private tours and afternoon tea are subject to availability. They will show unavailable if previously booked or when trying to book too far in advance.
How far in advance can I book my private tour/afternoon tea?
You can book approximately 3 months in advance.
Is 11:00am the only available time for private tours?
We allocate our 11:00am time slot for private tours, however we do offer private tours at later times where possible. If you’d like to check availability for a private tour at an alternative time, please contact us by email at [email protected].
Can I visit the retail store without doing the factory tour?
Yes of course, please review our retail store opening hours here prior to your visit.
Can I purchase at the House of Waterford Retail Store?
The House of Waterford Retail Store showcases the world’s largest display of Waterford crystal in the world and has the complete range of all our products on display. We offer a Worldwide Shipping Service, Multi-currency Exchange and VAT Refund Service.
Does the café take reservations for standard dining?
No, our café operates on a walk-in basis. If you wish to have afternoon tea in our café, this must be pre-booked on our website.
Do you offer tours in other languages?
Our tour is currently conducted in English only.
Is the building wheelchair accessible?
Yes, the site is fully accessible.
Is there car parking available?
Parking for House of Waterford is available at the Bolton Street Car Park directly behind our factory. This is a pay-and-display car park and the charge is €1.00 per hour.
Is it ok to take photos or to film within the House of Waterford?
Yes of course, you can take photos and film both on the tour of the factory and in the Retail Store.
Is luggage storage available on site?
No, there is no dedicated luggage storage available on site and for health and safety reasons we are unable to permit backpacks into the factory.