Bangor might be one of the smallest cities in the UK, but you wouldn’t know it from the huge list of entertainment and activities in town and nearby. Located at the gateway to the Snowdonia National Park, the north Welsh town is the perfect base to explore the great outdoors. Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales, is less than 20 miles from the town centre, while there are dozens of hiking routes that criss-cross the 450-million-year-old Cwm Idwal National Nature Reserve, home to countless rare species. If that’s not quite enough adrenaline-charged action for you, the Snowdonia National Park is also where you’ll find Zip World and its record-breaking 100-mph zip line or perhaps take the family to GreenWood, an eco-friendly theme park with the world’s first people-powered roller coaster (yes, that’s really a thing!) Handily, our Bangor hotels are just a short walk or drive from all the action in and around the region.
Back in Bangor, there’s plenty to see and do around the town centre including the fairy tale-style Penrhyn Castle, Garth Pier, the second-longest pier in Wales, and the Menai Strait, a gloriously wide expanse of coastline. And when you’re finished exploring, there are dozens of excellent cafes, bistros and restaurants to refuel in covering everything from seaside fish and chips to afternoon tea, British classics and even an all-vegan and vegetarian restaurant. Never fear if you’re looking for fun after the sun goes down – Bangor’s nightlife scene is powered by 10,000 students, meaning there are bars, pubs and clubs galore catering to quiet pints, fine wines and cool cocktails or even all-night dancing sessions.
Things to do in Bangor
Shopping
The main shopping centre in Bangor is the Menai Shopping Centre boasting a decent range of High Street names including Debenhams, H&M, River Island and The Body Shop plus several cafes and fast-food outlets. Located in Upper Bangor near the train station, the centre is open Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm.
Nearby is the Deiniol Shopping Centre which packs in over 20 stores spanning fashion, home and lifestyle and several fast-food outlets. The centre is open daily and is located in the heart of Bangor next to the bus station, with plenty of nearby parking and free parking for shoppers on Sunday and bank holidays.
Getting Around
The closest airport to Bangor is Manchester Airport, with the 90-mile journey taking around 90 minutes via car or taxi and around three hours by train with a connection at Chester. The third-busiest UK airport, Manchester has three terminals with major airlines including Ryanair, Emirates and Virgin Atlantic flying passengers across the UK, Europe and further afield. One way to simplify your journey is by staying the night before you travel at one of our hotels near Manchester Airport.
The Holyhead-to-Dublin route is one of the most popular direct connections between the UK and Ireland, with up to 10 departures each day from Holyhead via two different ferry providers. The ferry terminal is around 25 miles from our Bangor hotel, with a direct train service taking around 30 minutes and the ferry crossing taking around two hours.
Bangor Train Station was built in 1848 and still has some impressive Victorian architecture on display. The two-platform station runs regular services to London, Birmingham, Cardiff and Holyhead, with a cafe, toilets and ticket office on-site. The train station is located to the south of the town centre close to the Menai and Deiniol Shopping centres.
Menai Shopping Centre
