Windmill Lane Recording Studios Tour: Mix Your Own Session

You get hands-on time at the mixing console, not just a walk through the halls.

A guided tour of Windmill Lane Recording Studios takes you through the working rooms where U2, The Cranberries, Hozier and Lady Gaga recorded since 1978. You explore the studios, learn their history, watch how a recording session works, meet the Virtual Band, and mix your own track at the desk—all in about an hour with a live English-speaking guide. Advanced booking is essential since the studios remain active, and children are welcome from age 5.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Windmill Lane Studios history and experience

• Tour world-famous recording studios
• Learn studios' amazing history
• See how recording sessions work
• Meet the virtual band
• Mix your own session

The Experience

The tour starts inside the iconic metal doors of a studio that has shaped Irish and international music for over four decades. Your guide walks you through the world-famous rooms where the artists actually worked, pointing out the setup and the history of sessions that happened in each space. You'll see how a recording session operates in practice, not just in theory, and get a sense of what the space demands from the musicians and engineers who use it.

The Virtual Band section introduces you to the people and the process behind the records you know. Then you move to the mixing console—the real one—where you take the controls and mix your own session. This is not a simulation or a demo video; you're sitting at the desk where those records were made, making real decisions about levels and effects on an actual track. It's the moment most visitors remember afterward.

The whole experience runs about an hour, which is tight enough to keep the energy up but long enough to move through the studios without rushing. Since Windmill Lane stays a working studio, tours run on a fixed schedule and advance booking is non-negotiable—the space books around sessions, not around visitor flow.

What’s included

• Guided tour of the recording studios.
• exploration of the studio spaces and their history.
• observation of how a recording session works.
• introduction to the Virtual Band.
• hands-on mixing session at the control room console.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Windmill Lane Recording Studios

Is this one for you?Go with a small group or as a solo visitor if you want to spend time actually working the mixing desk rather than just looking at studios from the doorway—the hands-on session is what sets this apart from a standard walk-through tour.

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Top questions

What artists have recorded at Windmill Lane Recording Studios?

Windmill Lane has hosted U2, Kate Bush, The Cranberries, The Rolling Stones, Hozier, Lady Gaga and Westlife, among many others, since the studio opened in 1978.

Do I actually get to use the mixing console during the tour?

Yes—you mix your own session at the control room desk as part of the tour experience, making real adjustments to a track instead of watching a demonstration.

How long does the Windmill Lane tour take?

The tour runs for about an hour, moving through the studios, their history, a look at how recording sessions work, and your time at the mixing console.

Can children go on this tour?

Children are welcome from age 5 and up, though the tour involves some walking and standing in the studio spaces.

Why do I need to book in advance?

Windmill Lane is a working recording studio, so tours are scheduled around active sessions and studio bookings—spots fill quickly and advance reservation is essential.

What language is the guide in?

The tour guide speaks English and leads the experience through the studios and their history.