North Wales
We’ve compiled the best of the best in North Wales - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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1. Beaumaris Castle
Castle/PalaceThe town of Beaumaris dates from 1295, when Edward I commenced work on this impressive castle, the last and largest link in an "iron ring" of...
The town of Beaumaris dates from 1295, when Edward I commenced work on this impressive castle, the last and largest link in an "iron ring" of fortifications around North Wales built to contain the Welsh. Guarding the western approach to the Menai Strait, the unfinished castle (a World Heritage Site) is solid and symmetrical, with concentric lines of fortification, arrow slits, and a moat: a superb example of medieval defensive planning.
Castle St., Beaumaris, LL58 8AP, Wales01248-810361Sight Details
Rate Includes: £5.50, Mar.–June, Sept., and Oct., daily 9:30–5; July and Aug., daily 9:30–6; Nov.–Feb., Mon.–Sat. 10–4, Sun. 11–4; last admission 30 min before closing -
2. Bodnant Garden
GardenUndoubtedly one of the best gardens in Wales, Bodnant Garden is something of a pilgrimage spot for horticulturists from around the world. Laid...
Undoubtedly one of the best gardens in Wales, Bodnant Garden is something of a pilgrimage spot for horticulturists from around the world. Laid out in 1875, the 87 acres are particularly famed for rhododendrons, camellias, and magnolias. Visit in May to see the laburnum arch that forms a huge tunnel of golden blooms. The mountains of Snowdonia form a magnificent backdrop to the Italianate terraces, rock and rose gardens, and pinetum. The gardens are about 5 miles south of Conwy.
Off A470, Tal-y-Cafn, LL28 5RE, Wales01492-650460Sight Details
Rate Includes: £10.50 (£5.25 winter), Mar.–Oct., daily 10–5; Nov.–Feb., daily 10–4 -
3. Bryn Celli Ddu
RuinsDating from around 3000 BC, this megalithic passage tomb is the most complete site of its kind in Wales. You enter via a narrow opening built...
Dating from around 3000 BC, this megalithic passage tomb is the most complete site of its kind in Wales. You enter via a narrow opening built into a burial mound. The passage extends for around 25 feet before opening out into a wider burial chamber. The far wall, made of quartz, is illuminated at dawn on the summer solstice. Bring a flashlight, as the tomb has no artificial lighting. Next to the entrance is a replica of a stone pillar carved with Celtic spirals, found here in 1928. The original is in the National Museum in Cardiff. The site is 7 miles southwest of Beaumaris.
Off A4080, Llanddaniel Fab, LL61 6DQ, WalesSight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Daily, dawn–dusk -
4. Caernarfon Castle
Castle/PalaceThe grim, majestic mass of Caernarfon Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, looms over the waters of the River Seiont. Numerous bloody encounters...
The grim, majestic mass of Caernarfon Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, looms over the waters of the River Seiont. Numerous bloody encounters were witnessed by these sullen walls, erected by Edward I in 1283 as a symbol of his determination to subdue the Welsh. The castle's towers, unlike those of Edward I's other castles, are polygonal and patterned with bands of different-color stone. In 1284 the monarch thought of a scheme to steal the Welsh throne. Knowing that the Welsh chieftains would accept no foreign prince, Edward promised to designate a ruler who could speak no word of English. Edward presented his infant son to the assembled chieftains as their prince "who spoke no English, had been born on Welsh soil, and whose first words would be spoken in Welsh." The ruse worked, and on that day was created the first prince of Wales of English lineage. In the Queen's Tower, a museum charts the history of the local regiment, the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. The castle is in the town of Caernarfon, 7 miles west of Llanberis.
Castle Hill, Caernarfon, LL55 2AY, Wales01286-677617Sight Details
Rate Includes: £7, Mar.–June, Sept., and Oct., daily 9:30–5; July and Aug., daily 9:30–6; Nov.–Feb., Mon.–Sat. 10–4, Sun. 11–4; last admission 30 min before closing -
5. Chirk Castle
Castle/PalaceThis impressive medieval fortress has evolved from its 14th-century origins into a grand home complete with an 18th-century servants' hall and...
This impressive medieval fortress has evolved from its 14th-century origins into a grand home complete with an 18th-century servants' hall and interiors furnished in 16th- to 19th-century styles. However, it still looks satisfyingly medieval from the outside—and also below ground, where you tour the original dungeons. Surrounding the castle are beautiful formal gardens and parkland. Chirk Castle is 5 miles southeast of Llangollen.
Off B4500, Chirk, LL14 5AF, Wales01691-777701Sight Details
State Rooms: Mar. and Oct., daily 11–4 (tours only 11–noon); Apr.–Sept., daily 10–5 (tours only 11–noon). Gardens and Tower: Feb.–Mar. and Oct., daily 10–4; Apr.–Sept., daily 10–5; Nov. weekends 11–4 Rate Includes: £11 -
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6. Conwy Castle
Castle/PalaceOf all Edward I's Welsh strongholds, it is perhaps Conwy Castle that best preserves a sheer sense of power and dominance. The eight large round...
Of all Edward I's Welsh strongholds, it is perhaps Conwy Castle that best preserves a sheer sense of power and dominance. The eight large round towers and tall curtain wall, set on a rocky promontory, provide sweeping views of the area and the town walls. Although the castle is roofless (and floorless in places), the signage does a pretty good job of helping you visualize how rooms such as the Great Hall must once have looked. Conwy Castle can be approached on foot by a dramatic suspension bridge completed in 1828; engineer Thomas Telford designed the bridge with turrets to blend in with the fortress's presence.
Rose Hill St., Conwy, LL32 8LD, Wales01492-592358Sight Details
Rate Includes: £7, Mar.–June, Sept., and Oct., daily 9:30–5; July and Aug., daily 9:30–7; Nov.–Feb., Mon.–Sat. 10–4, Sun. 11–4; last admission 30 min before closing -
7. Harlech Castle
Castle/PalaceA wealth of legend, poetry, and song is conjured up by the 13th-century Harlech Castle, built by Edward I to help subdue the Welsh. Its mighty...
A wealth of legend, poetry, and song is conjured up by the 13th-century Harlech Castle, built by Edward I to help subdue the Welsh. Its mighty ruins, visible for miles, are as dramatic as its history (though you have to imagine the sea, which used to crash against the rocks below but receded in the 19th century). Harlech was occupied by the Welsh Prince Owain Glyndwr from 1404 to 1408 during his revolt against the English. The music of the traditional folk song "Men of Harlech" refers to the heroic defense of this castle in 1468 by Dafydd ap Eynion, who, summoned to surrender, is alleged to have replied: "I held a castle in France until every old woman in Wales heard of it, and I will hold a castle in Wales until every old woman in France hears of it." On a clear day you can climb the battlements for a spectacular view of the surrounding countryside. The castle dominates the coastal town of Harlech, 12 miles south of Porthmadog.
Off B4573, Harlech, LL46 2YH, Wales01766-780552Sight Details
Rate Includes: £4.50, Mar.–June, Sept., and Oct., daily 9:30–5; July and Aug., daily 9:30–6; Nov.–Feb., Mon.–Sat. 10–4, Sun. 11–4; last admission 30 min before closing -
8. Lake Vyrnwy Nature Reserve
Park (National/State/Provincial)Bordered by lush forest and emerald green hills, Lake Vyrnwy is a haven for wildlife. It's rich in rare bird species, from falcons to siskins...
Bordered by lush forest and emerald green hills, Lake Vyrnwy is a haven for wildlife. It's rich in rare bird species, from falcons to siskins and curlews. Stretching out along the shores of the lake near the visitor center, the Lake Vyrnwy Sculpture Park is a collection of pieces by talented local artist Andy Hancock. Arranged along a paved walking trail, many of the wooden sculptures resemble oversize versions of the lake's wildlife, including a 15-foot-long dragonfly. It's an extremely popular cycling route, and there's a bike shop and coffee shop near the visitor center.
Off B4393, Llanwddyn, SY10 0ND, Wales01691-870278Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Visitor Center Apr.–Oct., daily 10:30–5:20; Nov.–Dec., daily 10:30–4:30; Jan.–Mar., weekdays 10:30–4, weekends 10:30–5. Park daily year-round -
9. Plas Newydd
Historic HomeSome historians consider Plas Newydd to be the finest mansion in Wales. Remodeled in the 18th century by James Wyatt (1747–1813) for the marquesses...
Some historians consider Plas Newydd to be the finest mansion in Wales. Remodeled in the 18th century by James Wyatt (1747–1813) for the marquesses of Anglesey (whose descendants still live here), it stands on the Menai Strait about 7 miles southwest of Beaumaris. The interior has some fine 18th-century Gothic Revival decorations. Between 1936 and 1940 the society artist Rex Whistler (1905–44) painted the mural in the dining room. A museum commemorates the Battle of Waterloo, where the first marquess led the cavalry. The woodland walk and rhododendron gardens are worth exploring, and it's sometimes possible to take boat trips on the strait. Plas Newydd is not to be confused with the Gothic mansion of the same name in Llangollen.
Off A4080, southwest of Britannia Bridge, Llanfairpwll, LL61 6DQ, Wales01248-714795Sight Details
Rate Includes: House and garden £9.80; garden only £7.80, House Feb.–mid-Mar., weekends 11–3; mid-Mar.–early Nov., Sat.–Wed. 11–4:30 (tours only 11–noon). Garden Jan. and Feb., weekends 11–3; Mar.–June and Sept.–early Nov., Sat.–Thurs. 10:30–5:30; July and Aug., daily 10:30–5:30; mid-Nov.–Dec., Sat.–Thurs. 11–3 -
10. Plas Newydd
Historic HomeFrom 1778 to 1828 Plas Newydd (not to be confused with the similarly named Isle of Anglesey estate) was the home of Lady Eleanor Butler and...
From 1778 to 1828 Plas Newydd (not to be confused with the similarly named Isle of Anglesey estate) was the home of Lady Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby, the eccentric Ladies of Llangollen, who set up a then-scandalous single-sex household, collected curios and magnificent carvings, and made it into a tourist attraction even during their lifetimes. You can take tea there, as did Wordsworth and the Duke of Wellington, and stroll in the attractively terraced gardens.
Hill St., Llangollen, LL20 8AW, Wales01978-862834Sight Details
Rate Includes: £6, Apr.–Sept., Wed.–Mon. 10:30–5; last admission 1 hr before closing -
11. Portmeirion
Notable BuildingOne of the true highlights of North Wales is Portmeirion, a tiny fantasy-Italianate village on a private peninsula surrounded by hills; it's...
One of the true highlights of North Wales is Portmeirion, a tiny fantasy-Italianate village on a private peninsula surrounded by hills; it's said to be loosely modeled after Portofino in Italy. Designed in the 1920s by architect Clough Williams-Ellis (1883–1978), the village has a hotel and restaurant among its multicolored buildings, and gift shops sell a distinctive local pottery. On the edge of town is a peaceful woodland trail punctuated here and there by such flourishes as a red iron bridge and a miniature pagoda. Williams-Ellis called it his "light-opera approach to architecture," and the result is magical, though distinctly un-Welsh. Portmeirion is about 2 miles east of Porthmadog.
Off A487, Portmeirion, LL48 6ER, Wales01766-772311Sight Details
Rate Includes: £10, Daily 9:30–7:30 -
12. Snowdon Mountain Railway
Transportation Site (Airport, Bus, Ferry, Train)One of the region's most famous attractions is the rack-and-pinion Snowdon Mountain Railway, with some of its track at a thrillingly steep grade...
One of the region's most famous attractions is the rack-and-pinion Snowdon Mountain Railway, with some of its track at a thrillingly steep grade. The 3,560-foot-high Snowdon—Yr Wyddfa in Welsh—is the highest peak south of Scotland and lies within the 840-square-mile national park. Weather permitting, trains go all the way to the summit; on a clear day you can see as far as the Wicklow Mountains in Ireland, about 90 miles away. You can take two types of train: a modern diesel-driven version, or the brand-new "heritage" version, complete with restored carriages and working steam engine. From mid-March to May, or in times of high winds, the journey is truncated so you don't get all the way up to the summit; if so, tickets are a few pounds cheaper. Tickets can sell out early on busy days, so try to book in advance.
A4086, Llanberis, LL55 4TY, Wales0844-493–8120Sight Details
Rate Includes: Diesel service: £27 round-trip; Heritage service: £35 round-trip, Mid-Mar.–Oct., daily; call for schedule -
13. Snowdonia National Park
Park (National/State/Provincial)Stretching from the Welsh midlands almost to its northern coast, Snowdonia National Park covers a vast swath of North Wales. The park consists...
Stretching from the Welsh midlands almost to its northern coast, Snowdonia National Park covers a vast swath of North Wales. The park consists of 840 square miles of rocky mountains, valleys clothed in oak woods, moorlands, lakes, and rivers, all guaranteeing natural beauty and, to a varying extent, solitude. Its most famous attraction, by far, is the towering peak of Mt. Snowdon. The view from the top is jaw-dropping: to the northwest you can see the Menai Strait and Anglesey; to the south, Harlech Castle and the Cadair Idris mountain range. To the southwest, on an exceedingly clear day, you can make out the distant peaks of Ireland's Wicklow Mountains. There are six different walking paths to the top, but a far less punishing way is via the Snowdon Mountain Railway in nearby Llanberis.Perched at the top of Snowdon is Hafod Eryri, an eco-friendly replacement for the previous visitor center (once described by Prince Charles as "the highest slum in Wales"). The granite-roof building, which blends beautifully into the rocky landscape, has a café and exhibitions about the mountain, its ecology, and its history. If you're planning to make the ascent, the visitor center in Betws-y-Coed is the best place to stop for information.
Royal Oak Stables, Station Rd., Betws-y-Coed, LL24 0AH, Wales01690-710426 -
14. Tre'r Ceiri
RuinsRemote, atmospheric, and astoundingly little known, Tre'r Ceiri is one of the most impressive ancient monuments in Wales. Today parts of the...
Remote, atmospheric, and astoundingly little known, Tre'r Ceiri is one of the most impressive ancient monuments in Wales. Today parts of the 4th-century fort's outer walls are still intact (rising more than 18 feet in places), and within are the ruins of 150 stone huts. They were inhabited by a Celtic tribe known as the Ordovices, and may have survived as a settlement for up to 700 years. From Porthmadog, take the A497 west, then turn left onto the A499 just before Pwllheli. At the village of Llanaelhaearn, turn left onto the B4417. Less than a mile down this road is an unmarked footpath on the right leading straight up a hill to Tre'r Ceiri.
B4417, Llanaelhaearn, WalesSight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
15. Valle Crucis Abbey
RuinsThe last abbey of the Cistercian order to be founded in Wales, Valle Crucis was built in 1201 and abandoned in 1537—a victim of Henry VIII's...
The last abbey of the Cistercian order to be founded in Wales, Valle Crucis was built in 1201 and abandoned in 1537—a victim of Henry VIII's violent dissolution of the monastaries. Today it's a highly picturesque ruin beside a glassy lake. Surprisingly large sections survive relatively intact—particularly the sacristy and more or less complete chapter house, with its intricate vaulted ceiling. In its day Valle Crucis was one of the richest and most powerful abbeys in Wales; despite half a millennium of decay, this is still an impressive site to wander.
Off A542, Llangollen, LL20 8DD, Wales01639-651931Sight Details
Rate Includes: £3.50; free Nov.–Mar., Apr.–Oct., daily 10–5; Nov.–Mar., daily 10–4; last admission 30 min before closing -
16. Aberconwy House
Historic HomeThought to be the oldest complete medieval house in Wales, Aberconwy House's rooms have been restored to reflect three distinct periods in its...
Thought to be the oldest complete medieval house in Wales, Aberconwy House's rooms have been restored to reflect three distinct periods in its history: medieval, Jacobean, and Victorian. It's a diverting and atmsopheric little place, which also holds the distinction of (supposedly) being one of the most haunted buildings in North Wales.
Castle St., Conwy, LL32 8AY, Wales01492-592246Sight Details
Rate Includes: £3.50, Mid-Mar.–Oct., daily 11–5; Nov. and Dec., weekends 10–4 -
17. Bala Lake Railway
Transportation Site (Airport, Bus, Ferry, Train)The steam-powered train runs along the southern shores of Bala Lake (Llyn Tegid, or "Lake of Beauty"), a large natural reservoir just northeast...
The steam-powered train runs along the southern shores of Bala Lake (Llyn Tegid, or "Lake of Beauty"), a large natural reservoir just northeast of Lake Vyrnwy. Bala Lake is also popular for kayaking and other water sports. Call to check daily departure times.
Off B4403, Llanuwchllyn, LL23 7DD, Wales01678-540666Sight Details
Rate Includes: £9.80 round-trip, Apr.–Sept., most days, times vary; check website or call for schedule (but generally Llanuwchllyn departures daily, 11, 12:45, 2:15, and 3:45; Bala departures daily, 11:35, 1:20, 2:50, and 4:20) -
18. Beaumaris Courthouse
Notable BuildingOpposite Beaumaris Castle is this courthouse, built in 1614. A plaque depicts one view of the legal profession: two farmers pull a cow, one...
Opposite Beaumaris Castle is this courthouse, built in 1614. A plaque depicts one view of the legal profession: two farmers pull a cow, one by the horns, one by the tail, while a lawyer sits in the middle milking.
Castle St., Beaumaris, LL58 8AP, Wales01248-811691Sight Details
Rate Includes: £4; joint ticket with Beaumaris Gaol £7.50, Easter.–Sept., Sat.–Thurs. 10:30–5 -
19. Beaumaris Gaol
Jail/PrisonTo learn about the grim life of a Victorian prisoner, head to the old jail, built in 1829 by Joseph Hansom (1803–82), who was also the designer...
To learn about the grim life of a Victorian prisoner, head to the old jail, built in 1829 by Joseph Hansom (1803–82), who was also the designer of the Hansom cab. Inside you can wander the claustrophobic corridors and view the original cells—including the one that housed prisoners awaiting execution.
Steeple La., Beaumaris, LL58 8EP, Wales01248-810921Sight Details
Rate Includes: £5; combined ticket with Beaumaris Courthouse £8, Easter.–Sept., Sat.–Thurs. 10:30–5 -
20. Bodelwyddan Castle
Castle/PalaceBetween Abergele and St. Asaph, this castle is the Welsh home of London's National Portrait Gallery. Paintings on display include works by John...
Between Abergele and St. Asaph, this castle is the Welsh home of London's National Portrait Gallery. Paintings on display include works by John Singer Sargent, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, and Edwin Landseer. The castle grounds contain a fascinating, if somber historical footnote: a network of overgrown World War I trenches, used by the army to train new recruits. A series of interactive displays help bring the history to life. Also on the grounds are a maze, an aviary, and pretty woodland walks. The castle is 16 miles east of Llandudno.
Off A55, Bodelwyddan, LL18 5YA, Wales01745-584060Sight Details
Rate Includes: £7.50; park only £4.50, Mid-Apr. and late July–Aug., daily 10:30–5; May–late July and Sept.–Oct., Tues.–Thurs. and weekends 10:30–5; Nov.–Mar., weekends 10:30–4
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