8 Spectacular Things to Do Near Bangor in 2023
Even though the Welsh city of Bangor is one of the smaller cities in the UK, it still has plenty to offer visitors. From ancient castles to intense thrill rides, Bangor is in a spectacular bit of the country and is blessed by breath-taking views of the mountains and sea that surrounds it.
Keep reading to discover our list of the eight most spectacular things to do near this great city:
8. Penrhyn Castle
The beautiful Penrhyn Castle Estate is only two miles from Bangor city centre and is well worth a visit when you are in the area. There is around 60 acres of parkland, nature trails and Victorian gardens to explore before you even get anywhere near the castle itself.
Speaking of the castle, don’t arrive expecting a building in a similar vein to others in this list. Although built around an earlier medieval manor, the building that stands today is almost fully from the 19th century.
Inside Penrhyn Castle you will discover exquisitely detailed rooms, many fascinating items, and a superb Victorian kitchen where you can get some hands-on experience and learn what life would be like for a servant working here.
7. Llanfairpwll Railway Station
By crossing the Britannia Bridge from Bangor you will soon find yourself in the small town of Llanfairpwll with its equally small train station. Now, you may ask yourself why you should go through all the bother of leaving Bangor just to see a tiny train station.
Well, you may be slightly more impressed when I tell you its real name. You better be ready for it!
It’s called:
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch
Nope I haven’t just fallen asleep on my keyboard. That really is its true name (here’s how you pronounce it).
Considered the longest place name in the UK and second in the world, although there’s not much to see here the novelty factor is definitely worth the short trip.
6. Conwy Castle
Wales is blessed with some of the best castles in the UK and Conwy Castle is no exception. It can be easy to think of castles as purely military buildings, but upon visiting Conwy you will be reminded of their other uses.
Along with its formidable defensive walls you will also find some of the best-preserved royal apartments in the country. Although, as a fun fact, even though Edward I spent an absolute fortune building the castle he only ever stayed here once!
Whilst in Conwy we recommend taking the short five-minute walk from the castle down to the quayside to see Britain’s Smallest House. This obscure attraction was once home to a 6ft 3in fisherman despite the house itself only being 72 inches wide!
5. Beaumaris and the Castle
The gorgeous seaside town of Beaumaris is only a fifteen-minute drive along the coast from Bangor. The town’s compact size just adds to its charm and makes strolling past its small boutiques and eateries even more pleasant.
Once you’ve shopped to your hearts content and eaten enough pastries and ice cream to last a lifetime, we suggest stopping by the mighty Beaumaris Castle just off the main street to learn some local history.
To the untrained eye, Beaumaris Castle may look like so many of the other ruined castles in the UK. However, you may be shocked to learn that it was never actually fully completed and was intended to be so much bigger!
With this said, when you visit you can still climb up its huge towers for unbeatable views of the coast, the town and of the perfectly symmetrical castle itself.
4. Snowdonia National Park and Mount Snowdon
The spectacular Snowdonia National Park tops almost every list of iconic places in Wales and it’s easy to see why. Remote lakes, rolling valleys and massive mountains, Snowdonia is a feast for the eyes and an ideal place to experience the famous Welsh landscape.
Bangor is situated on the north-western tip of the park which makes it a great spot to base yourself if you wish to explore the park by car. From here you can travel to the base of the formidable Mount Snowdon in under 45 minutes – all the while taking in the picturesque countryside.
3. Velocity 2 at Zip World
Looking for your next thrill? Well, let us tell you about Zip World which is only a fifteen-minute drive from Bangor.
Penrhyn Quarry was at one point the largest quarry in the world with a pit that stretched for about a mile. These days however, the sound of banging tools has been replaced with excited screams and the quarry is now a backdrop for world record breaking zip lines.
They have a wide selection of zip lines and other experiences that cater for all thrill levels, but our favourite has to be Velocity 2.
This is actually the fastest one in the world allows you to race down the 1.5km line at over 100mph!
2. Caernarfon Castle
From Bangor, follow the Menai Strait south and after only a short drive you will arrive at the royal town of Caernarfon – home to one of the most impressive castles in the UK.
With its immense size, Caernarfon Castle dominates the town. Built by Edward I over 700 years ago, this brutish fortress looks like it could still do the job today. The castle has a long and varied history which includes the many violent attacks, sieges, and occupations to more peaceful practices such as the investiture of the Prince of Wales.
You can learn all about this and much more by purchasing a ticket and paying it a visit.
Although the castle rightfully draws a lot of attention, whilst you are in the town, you will also enjoy exploring Caernarfon’s medieval town wall, winding streets, and renovated waterfront.
1. South Stack Cliffs and Lighthouse
We think this is one of the best viewpoints in the whole of Wales – wouldn’t you agree?
Located on the most westerly point of Anglesey are the steep cliffs of South Stack. These wonders of nature plunge 300ft straight down into the icy cold waters of the Irish Sea and from the top you may be lucky enough to see across to Ireland on a clear day.
The cliffs are also the perfect habitat for puffins so you will likely spot a few on your trip. To learn about all the local birdlife and more, you should pay a visit to the handy RSPB visitor centre here which has plenty of information boards plus a lovely café.
If you travel here from May to October, you will also be able to book yourself onto a tour of South Stack Lighthouse. Just remember though, to access it you need to climb 400 steps down but that also means clambering back up the 400 steps once you’ve finished the tour!
