Culture & attractions

Image of students at the Snowdonia Railway Station

Bangor and the Area...

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Bangor is a historic city exploding with character and whether you’re taking advantage of its sporty location or exploring one of its old buildings, you won’t get bored here.

Museum and Gallery...

If you want to find out more about the Welsh history or culture of Bangor, you should head down to Bangor Museum on Ffordd Gwynedd. There you’ll be able to look through relics and reconstructions of domestic life. There’s also an Art Gallery which displays various artists’ work throughout the year from historic paintings to modern art.

Cathedral…

At the heart of the city you’ll find the ancient Cathedral, one of the oldest Christian sites in Britain. It was founded in 525 Ad by St Deiniol but has been rebuilt many times in its long history. The present building was restored between 1870 and 1880. The tomb of Owain Gwynedd, a Welsh Prince, also lives in the Cathedral. If you do visit the cathedral, take a minute to walk through the pleasant retreat of the Bible Garden.

Pier...

Bangor has its very own Victorian Pier which was built in 1896 and lovingly restored in the 1980’s. It stretches halfway across the Menai Straits and is surrounded by traditional pubs and restaurants. The pier is a popular spot for students to revise when the sun’s out in summer. Image of a siop at Hendre Hall

Hendre Hall...

On the outskirts of Bangor at Tal y Bont you’ll find Hendre Hall– one of the best preserved Victorian farmyards in Britain. Not only can you wonder around the building and delve into its history but it’s also a great place to pick up some unique arts and crafts and jewellery. And you might be surprised to find that Hendre’s banqueting hall turns into a perfect place for a night out. They have regular theme parties and live music nights plus the facility to book the hall for your own special event.

Penrhyn Castle

Penrhyn Castle was built early 19th century for the Pennant family and is now owned by the National Trust.

You can visit the lovely grdens as there is 45 acres of land with the house, with walking paths suitable for wheel chairs and amazing views over the Menai Straits and Snowdonia.

There are also museums, a playground, a siop and cafe. For more information visit their website.

Aber Falls...

Thousands of visitors flock to the scenic Aber Falls every year. Located between the mountains and the coast just off the A55, the Aber Falls waterfall is said to be one of the steepest in England and Wales.

The bridges...

When you visit Anglesey from Bangor you’ll have to take one of two bridges to cross the 12 –mile-long Menai Strait. Thomas Telford was responsible for the Menai Bridge, the first ever link between Anglesey and the Mainland. The Britannia Bridge was built as a railroad bridge later on.

To find out what awaits you on the other side of the bridges see our Beyond Bangor pages.

Check out our Beyond Bangor pages for more about the surrounding area or see the National Tourist Board’s website for more attractions.