This exclusive, leafy suburb of mostly detached houses has a quaint village area with gourmet shop, bistro, art gallery, boutique, salon and natural healing centre. Prices range from £450,000 upwards for a family home.
Drive time
City centre: 6.5 miles.
Peak: 60-80 mins. Off-peak: 20 mins
Roadworks: long-term construction on Leopardstown Road from racetrack into White's Cross.
Traffic lights and roundabouts: 12-plus.
White-knuckle factor
Inefficiency of roadworks and light sequence on Leopardstown Road from racetrack to White's Cross, or the N11 junction. Torquay Road and Westminster Road intersection are also heavily congested. Further daily delays at Donnybrook and closer to town as the traffic snakes along.
DART/bus
Nearest DART station is Blackrock. taking 15 minutes from city centre. Four buses (46, 46A, 63, 86) serve the Leopardstown area, taking 50-70 minutes to Fleet Street or Hawkins Street.
Stillorgan
Large settled southside suburb with a good stock of post-war houses, and good access routes to city centre. Homes range in price from £160,000 for 1960s a three-bed; more modern two and three-beds from £180,000 up to £220,000. Older four-bed homes £200,000-plus; there is a handful of period houses that can range in price up to £800,000.
Drive time
City Centre: 5 miles
Peak: 40 mins. Off-peak: 10 mins
Roadworks: Long-term work at Leopardstown end of of Stillorgan, at White's Cross.
Traffic lights and roundabouts: 12-plus.
White-knuckle factor
White's Cross, and congestion after leaving dual carriageway at Donnybrook.
DART/bus
Nearest DART stations are Booterstown and Blackrock. However, getting parking is a major headache. Seven buses serving the area: the 46, 46A, 62, 63, 84, 84X and 86, taking 45-50 minutes to arrive at Fleet Street, Hawkins Street and Eden Quay.
Terenure
Mature suburb, with upmarket areas like Rathdown, Bushy Park and parts of Templeogue Road. A wide variety of homes from former council and Guinness employee homes, detached period homes. Cottages run from £110,000-120,000. Two-bed former council houses: £135,000-£150,000; threebed mid-terrace Victorian: £180,000£285,000; four-bed semis: £275,000£375,000.
Drive time
City Centre: 3 miles
Peak: 45-75 mins. Off-peak: 25 mins
Roadworks: None at present.
Traffic lights and roundabouts: 14 (via Rathmines).
White-knuckle factor
Congestion on Terenure Road between Kimmage and Terenure crossroads. Back-ups as far as Glenavy Park. Traffic lights are not in synch with level of congestion on certain roads, increasing the delays.
Bus
Five busses: 15, 15A, 15B, 16, 16A, 49, taking 20-30 minutes to city centre.
