Bray

This seaside town in north County Wicklow, a short distance south of Dublin, Bray developed as a planned resort in the 19th century after the railway arrived in 1854. The seafront and walkable centre, with its cafés and restaurants, sit at the foot of the Wicklow hills, giving the town both beach access and mountain scenery close at hand. Ardmore Studios, Ireland's dedicated film studio — where productions including Excalibur and Braveheart were made — is based here.

• Population32,600
• Nearest water from center0.7 km
• Nearest mountain from center3.0 km