Kells · 18 October 2026
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Every visit to the Book of Kells in Dublin is now a pre-booked timed slot, and the famous queue outside Trinity College's Old Library has largely gone, according to a 7 October visitor guide from Dublin City Break.
The guide lists four ticket options: the basic Book of Kells and Old Library ticket, for a visit of about 45 minutes; the self-guided Experience; a guided tour capped at 16 people; and a Low Sensory Hour. For prices, see Trinity’s own Book of Kells Experience page.
Visitors see two of the manuscript's volumes at a time in a darkened room, with the pages turned periodically. Photography is banned in the Treasury. The guide notes that most of the Long Room's shelves are already bare, emptied bay by bay for conservation.
The Old Library is due to close in 2027 and reopen in 2030. The University Times reported in March that the Book will move to Trinity's restored Printing House in late 2027 and stay there for the duration of the works.
So the Book of Kells is about to move house again, to another building on the same campus. Trinity has found it can move the manuscript when it suits Trinity. It can make one more journey: 69 km home to Kells, where it was made and where it belongs. Not as a loan, but for good.
Reported as of 18 October 2026. Ticket options as listed by Dublin City Break on 7 October 2026.