Overview
The unusual thing about Newbridge Silverware is what’s upstairs. Sitting directly above a working cutlery and jewellery factory is the Museum of Style Icons – a free collection of film, music and royal costume, and the real reason to come. On Athgarvan Road in Newbridge, a short drive off the M7, the complex also holds a lifestyle store, the Silver Restaurant and Café Carleton. You could stop for the shopping or the lunch; most people are here for the museum and the factory tour.
The Museum of Style Icons
The museum opened in 2007 and takes up the upper floor. Entry is free, it’s self-guided, and it holds one of the larger collections of authentic couture and screen costume anywhere. Displays rotate, but several pieces are near-permanent fixtures: Audrey Hepburn’s hot-pink cocktail dress from Breakfast at Tiffany’s and her black Givenchy from Charade; the Beatles’ stage suits from the A Hard Day’s Night tour; a Princess Diana ball gown; and two outfits once owned by Princess Grace – currently the only pieces from her collection shown outside Monaco.
There’s an American strand too, with Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley, and a section on Irish cinema holding costumes from The Banshees of Inisherin and Normal People. Temporary shows keep the collection turning over – recent exhibitions have featured Mary Quant originals. For a closer look, the museum occasionally runs ‘Up Close & Personal’ sessions where small groups handle selected garments in protective gloves.
The working factory
What separates this from an ordinary museum is the floor below. Founded in 1934, Newbridge Silverware began by making and exporting silver cutlery, later moving into jewellery, and it still hand-finishes both on site. The 45-minute guided factory tour takes you through the production floor to watch the polishing, hand-finishing and quality control up close.
Two things worth knowing before you plan around it. First, the tour costs money while the museum doesn’t: €16 for adults and €14 for seniors, with children under 12 free (confirm when booking). Second, it doesn’t run all day, every day – tours are typically Monday to Thursday at 11am and 2.15pm and Friday at 11am, with no weekend tours, so times can catch you out. Check ahead and book if you’re set on it.
Dining, afternoon tea and shopping
The lifestyle store stocks Irish-designed jewellery, tableware and gifts, with tax-free shopping for visitors from outside the EU. For food, the Silver Restaurant is the full-service option, a 240-seat room serving contemporary Irish cooking with local produce; Café Carleton handles lighter bites and coffee. There’s also a Vintage and Sparkling Afternoon Tea, served daily from 11am to 3.30pm (the Sparkling version comes with a glass of Prosecco) – book it in advance.
Practical information
- Location: Athgarvan Road, Newbridge, County Kildare (W12 X5Y).
- Getting there: Easiest by car off the M7. By rail, Newbridge station is about a 30-minute run from Dublin and roughly a 20-minute walk from the centre, with taxis at the station.
- Parking: Free on site, with 180 spaces, accessible bays and six coach bays.
- Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 09:00–17:00, Sundays and bank holidays 10:00–17:00. Closed 25–27 December and 1 January.
- Access: The whole centre is wheelchair accessible, with lifts to the museum, accessible toilets and baby-changing.
- Contact: +353 (0)45 431301.
If the factory-tour times don’t suit, come anyway: the museum asks nothing, needs no booking, and on its own is worth the trip. Pair it with the Irish National Stud and its Japanese Gardens, a short drive off, to fill the day.