Windmill Lane Recording Studios
Dublin, Ireland
A galaxy of Irish and international stars have laid down tracks at Windmill Lane Recording Studios, Dublin’s answer to London’s Abbey Road Studios. A visit here means following in the footsteps of U2, Van Morrison, Kate Bush, the Cranberries, and Elvis Costello, not to mention the Rolling Stones, 50 Cent, Lady Gaga, Bruce Springsteen, and Ed Sheeran.
The basics
Windmill Lane Recording Studios is still a working studio, so you’ll need to book ahead, as the guided tours work around the current recording schedule and walk-ins are not welcome. The tours cover not only the studio’s storied history and memorabilia, but the basics of music recording, mixing, and production. Expect to hear fascinating musical trivia, get hands-on with a mixing desk, and maybe even sit in the very same seat as one of your musical heroes.
Things to know before you go
- Windmill Lane Recording Studios is a must-visit for serious U2 fans, and a good choice for anyone with an interest in music.
- The standard guided tour of Windmill Lane Recording Studios lasts about one hour.
- The studios are in a listed 3-story building with no elevator, so tours are not accessible to travelers with mobility issues.
How to get there
Despite its name, the studio is no longer on Windmill Lane, having moved to Ringsend Road in the Grand Canal Dock area in 1989. There’s paid parking at the Q Park Grand Canal Square, about a 5-minute walk away, or you can catch buses including the #27, #47, #52, #56A, and #77A to Ringsend Road, right by the studio.
When to get there
You can only visit Windmill Lane Recording Studios by booking a tour in advance. Tours of the studio generally run Thursday through Sunday, with a choice of time slots.
A U2 tour of Dublin
U2 recorded their very first album at Windmill Lane Recording Studios back in 1980, and they’ve left their mark elsewhere in their hometown. The Wall of Fame, outside the Irish Rock ‘n’ Roll Museum, pays tribute to them, as does the museum itself. The Little Museum of Dublin also has a permanent exhibition devoted to them, while you can visit the scene of the band’s video for Sweetest Thing at Fitzwilliam Place.
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