'Henrietta Street, Area - Dublin' by William Murphy via FlickrThe earliest Georgian Street in Dublin - Henrietta Street - is a real hidden gem in the city. Walking onto it you immediately feel transported back to those earlier days, despite the restoration and repainting work that has been done on some of the buildings. It's got real character, and acted as one of the first places we visited during our time and tour in Ireland. We were you see exploring some of the places chosen to film the series Penny Dreadful. And Henrietta Street was the perfect place to kick off that journey - a walkway which was partly used for the exterior of Sir Malcolm's home in London.
Taking to this location and the others throughout the day, it was a little difficult to place exactly what was used for which scenes and when because the series itself is such a dark and intense one, but each place we stopped at held its very own charisma and charm - so much so we had to stop and marvel each for a few minutes at least.
'Stag's Head, Dublin #1' by Adam Bruderer via FlickrJust one of many highlights was the incredible Victorian-styled pub, The Stag's Head in Dame Court, where we stopped for a fantastic lunch - much recommended if you're in the area. The decor is beautiful and reminiscent of the period it's emulating, with the stag's head sitting proudly over the main bar and a stuffed fox embedded in one of the private room's walls. Chilling for some I'm sure, but for a fan of the series it was absolutely mesmerising, and the staff couldn't have been any nicer - a friendly ambience that could shock some.
Dame Lane itself was transformed for the theatre's exterior and numerous other scenes throughout the series' first season - now it's bustling and full of locals and tourists getting a glimpse at some of the most intriguing hidden nooks and crannies. We were told that the cast were currently filming the second season of the show, but didn't manage to catch a glimpse of any of them at any of our stops - perhaps they were waiting for night to fall?
A still from Penny Dreadful season one / Credit: Sky AtlanticDublin Castle was another place to remember, brimming with history and proving that no matter how old a building may be, it can still today make a lasting impression. The brick work is elegant despite the damage done to it in the past and the park - featuring a pair of eels that were used as a helipad - is typically stunning.
It's easy to see just why the Penny Dreadful location scouts chose Ireland to make their home for filming. Locations there can be fallen in love with in seconds, traditional with style and unrivalled when it comes to enamouring guests. You couldn't turn a corner without finding someone beaming from ear to ear, raising a camera to capture a little memory and moment of their experience.
The reason behind the fact that more and more television productions and major pictures are coming to the country to film is simple enough - no matter what you're filming, there's something for everything. A place for any time, I should say.
To plan your own Ireland escape, check out www.ireland.com
Tagged in Penny Dreadful