House of Waterford Crystal

We came here as part of a Gate 1 Tour. One must remember that this is not the original Waterford Crystal manufactory, but a small scale operation that makes occasional pieces. That said, one does get an overview of the Waterford Crystal glassblowing and engraving process, and that is most interesting to see. I was able to take good photos of the process.There is also a retail shop if one wishes to buy some pieces.

We had the pleasure of visiting House of Waterford for their guided crystal factory tour. The tour itself lasted about 50 minutes outside of the time you may spend in the store, seeing the rare pieces displayed, and watching the engraver work in the lobby. Our group got there right when they opened to get an early tour slot. It worked out perfectly as our tour group in total was 8 people. Our guide, Neil, walked us through the factory and explained the process and stages of creating a crystal piece, the apprenticeship process and timing, quality control restrictions, and fun tidbits on the side. It was truly fascinating to better understand all the work that goes into making each piece and the pride the work they do and its employees. I very much recommend anyone passing by or coming to Ireland area, consider making a trip to Waterford to see the crystal factory. We were so happy to have made a stop and enjoy the experience!

Very nice gift store. The Cafe was particularly nice. I got a goat cheese sandwich and it was a great deal. It was more importantly very tasty and filling. I had to eat it quickly since my tour was leaving but it was very nice.

We've collected Waterford since 1978 amassing a huge collection of glassware, lamps, chandeliers, fixtures, vases, Tantalus & specialty collections. Unfortunately since bankruptcy & restructuring in 2000's customer service was eliminated with a complete focus on sell, sell, sell.

This review is strictly for the Afternoon Tea Experience.
(Although the shop itself is cool, we did not do a tour).

When in Ireland, you HAVE TO have afternoon tea somewhere. Its in the rulebook. ;)

We booked a BNB in Waterford, and while we were looking for things to do, I took a quick look at Waterford Crystal. My mom is a big fan. When I saw that they had an Afternoon Tea Experience, that was it! We booked in online right away. They have a few different options to choose from, but we took the basic one.

When we arrived, we were helped and seated quickly in a little room with privacy screens. They weren't completely separate, but it was nice to not have anyone sitting directly next to us.

The tea service was delightful. Delicious tea, and all the amazing sandwiches and sweets you could imagine. Also, the actual tea service (pot, cups, etc) was adorable, and I desperately want to get one just like it.

I would very highly recommend booking an afternoon tea here, maybe after touring the facility!

It's a very Touristy place but very interesting and if you have not been before then a mandatory stop. Allow at least 2 hours including shopping.

I found the Tour very enlightening--making Crystal is a skill few people have and few are good enough to work at Waterford.

They told me that they make crystal here 7 days a week.

My favorite was the Crystal Football. Got yelled at for handling it like a Football. I was also intrigued by the 50th Anniversary of the moon landing Crystal. If I had an extra 50K, I would get it if they sold it.

After the approximately 30-minute Tour they dump you in the Crystal gift store. Key things to keep in mind: Not all the Waterford Crystal is made in this factory. They have other factories in Ireland--in fact this one is a small one and really a tourist showcase factory it seemed. Some of the Waterford Crystal is made in other countries with cheaper labor and shipped back including China. Always look at the label and ask questions--only buy Crystal made in Ireland.

Our Tour Bus Driver was particularly annoyed that Waterford was outsourcing to other countries production of Crystal.

Imagine the look on your face when you come back home from Ireland with Crystal purchased at this factory and you show it proudly to your friend who holds it up and sees a label that says, "Made in China."

Always check labels here and everywhere!

We did the factory tour, and it was very see all the steps in the crystal making process including blowing, cutting and sculpting. The attention to quality control is impressive and it was interesting to learn that any pieces that aren't perfect go back into the furnace to be re-melted rather than have pieces sold as "seconds". The people involved in each aspect of production train for many years, and that plus the hours that go into each piece explain the prices. There is parking in a nearby pay-and-display lot for 1€ per hour. Just a heads up that even if you've purchased tickets ahead, you'll be assigned a tour time only after you arrive. We only had about a 30 minute wait, but some arriving after us had longer waits. You can browse the shop or have some tea or coffee in the cafe while you wait, but it might not be a bad idea to arrive early in the day, get a tour time, and have ideas for other things to do in the area if the wait is long. We found most places nearby didn't open until noon, so there aren't good options for outside coffee shops etc. There is a museum across the street that looked interesting so it might be worth checking that out in advance as a potential activity to do during a longer wait for a tour.

Had just was I was looking for and shipping was a breeze so I didn't have to pack it home. Everything arrived in perfect condition but best yet, it was guaranteed shipping and free when spending over $100

A great experience from start to finish watching the history and production of Waterford crystal

Wonderful factory tour. Knowledgeable guide. Artisans were generous with examples and explanations. A lot of fun.