Waterford Introduction Walking Tour (Self Guided), Waterford

Reginald’s Tower holds an important place in Ireland's history. Waterford's original city wall had 17 towers, although only 6 remain today, one of which is Reginald's Tower. Over the years, the tower has served as a defensive structure, a storage area, a prison and even as a residence for some Waterford officials. It opened for public visits only in the 1950s. After the tower was restored, it became home to Waterford's Civic Museum.

Waterford City Hall is the main building in Waterford. It was built in 1783 under the supervision of the designer John Roberts. The Large Room has welcomed many honorable guests, one of whom was King Edward VII who visited in 1904. City Hall also houses the office of the city manager and the Mayor’s Parlor.

With its shiny new location on Waterford Mall, The House of Waterford Crystal is the town's main tourist attractions. The origins of the crystal production in Waterford dates back to 1783. A visit to the center includes a look at the famous factory, where you can see how crystal pieces are manufactured, and take a look at world's largest collection of Waterford Crystal. It finishes at the Waterford retail store, where you can purchase the finest pieces of crystal available.

The Waterford Museum of Treasures is housed in a six-story, 19th-century granary. The museum displays rare artifacts associated with Waterford history from the time of the Vikings to the present. The museum is in the original Crystal building, dating back to the 19th century. The only surviving piece of clothing worn by Henry VIII is a cap of maintenance awarded to the Mayor of Waterford, along with a bearing sword, in 1536. It currently resides in the Waterford Museum of Treasures. A series of interactive and audio-visual presentations will help you explore the collections more in depth.

Christ Church Cathedral is a cathedral of the Church of Ireland. It is in the ecclesiastical province of Dublin.

Previously the cathedral of the Diocese of Waterford, it is now one of six cathedrals in the United Dioceses of Cashel and Ossory.

The first church on the site was built in the 11th century. This was replaced in 1210 by a Gothic Cathedral. Following the Irish Reformation, a new body was established by decree of the Irish Parliament to became the State Church in the Kingdom of Ireland. The Church of Ireland, as it was named, assumed possession of most church property (and so retained a great repository of religious architecture and other items, though some were later destroyed).

During the demolition of the old cathedral, a series of medieval vestments were discovered in 1773. They were presented by the then Anglican bishop, the Rt Revd Richard Chenevix, to his Roman Catholic counterpart, the Most Revd Peter Creagh, and are now kept in the Museum of Treasures in Waterford and the National Museum in Dublin.

The French Church was established on the former location of a Franciscan friary built around 1240 A.D. Later in the 17th century, it was given to French Protestant refugees as a place of worship. Also, it was used as a hospital after the dissolution of the monasteries. The famous architect John Roberts is buried here. Today it is considered a National Monument.

The Clock Tower is one of the main features of the city of Waterford. The tower was built in 1861 in a Victorian-Gothic style, and the clock was added three years later. The tower was built to provide water for horses, but today it stands as one of the historic centerpieces of Waterford.

Waterford Cathedral was built at the end of the 18th century by John Roberts. It is considered Ireland’s oldest Catholic cathedral. The cathedral’s architecture and design are amazing, although over the years it has been renovated many times. Today it is a beautiful structure with an interior illuminated by ten crystal chandeliers, a gift from the Waterford Crystal Center.

Found in the very heart of Waterford facing Arundel Square, City Square Shopping Centre is the town's main shopping spot. Opened daily, the centere has two major Irish department stores, a supermarket and over forty shops that include full range of gents, ladies and children's fashions, home decor, and restaurants. City Square is a must for all visitors to the region.

St. Patrick's Church is situated off Georges Street. St. Patrick’s is the oldest religious Catholic building in Waterford. The structure seen today dates back to 1750. This church was constructed during the period when the Catholic Church in Ireland was severely persecuted.

St. John’s is a Gothic Revival church. Its exterior is beautifully decorated with local stone masonry. The interior features impressive pointed-arch arcades.

The People's Park is the largest public park in Waterford city, Ireland. Laid out over a century ago, its 6.6 hectares (16.3 acres) comprise the foremost public green space in the city. It is located at the junction of the Park Road and William Street. The current site of the People's Park was originally a marshland which John's River ran through, however in 1857 the river was diverted and the marshland drained to make way for the construction of the park.
The park contains a Victorian-era bandstand, the Goff cycle track, a children's playground, a spherical monument and water feature and an old painted iron bridge connecting the park to the grounds of the Court House. The park has been renovated and upgraded in recent years. The old caretaker's house has been carefully renovated and a small extension has been added with a cafe called the Park Lodge now occupying the structure. A baby playground area has also been built. On 12 July 2006, €1 million funding was announced to continue refurbishment. Perhaps the most important element of the aforementioned refurbishment is the inclusion of a skateboarding park.