Three of the Seven Wonders of Wales, one of four World Heritage Sites in Wales, and possibly the most famous small-town football club on the planet. This is a great place to start if you’re looking for things to do in Wrexham.
Wrexham is Wales’ seventh and newest city, close to the English border in North East Wales. It was a blue-collar industrial town, close to some of the loveliest landscapes in Wales, including the Dee Valley a few miles to the south. It’s home to the oldest football club in Wales, Wrexham AFC, who have enjoyed a renaissance since being bought by American actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. The club has been the subject of a Netflix TV series which has won them a new worldwide fanbase (Including my Aussie brother-in-law).
It is stretching things a little to suggest that all of the Seven Wonders of Wales are close to Wrexham, but each of them is well worth a visit. I always used to think of Wrexham as somewhere to pass through, but having seen all of these Wonders, I’m now more inclined to regard it as somewhere to stop by.
As well as listing the best places to visit in Wrexham, I’ll also advise you on getting there and around, and places to stay in Wrexham. Enjoy.
Things To Do In Wrexham – The Seven Wonders of Wales
This anonymous 19th-century rhyme has been quoted countless times, but is essential reading for anyone visiting Wrexham. Here it is:
Pistyll Rhaeadr and Wrexham steeple
Snowdon mountain with all its people
Overton yew trees, St Winefride’s Well
Llangollen Bridge and Gresford bells.
Wrexham steeple, Overton yew trees, Llangollen Bridge and Gresford Bells are all within a ten-mile radius of Wrexham.
St Winefride’s Well is in Holywell in Flintshire, 22 miles away.
Pistyll Rhaeadr waterfall is 25 miles away if you take the minor roads beyond the Ceiriog Valley.
And Yr Wyddfa – Snowdon – is a shade over 50 miles west of Wrexham.
St Giles Church, Wrexham
St Giles’ Church in Wrexham is one of the finest churches in Wales, and of the ‘Seven Wonders of Wales’ in North East Wales it’s the worthiest candidate in the region.
A church was built on the present site ass the 11th century, but most of what you see now dates from the late 15th and early 16th centuries. It was built in the contemporary Perpendicular style, the British Isles’ unique take on late Gothic architecture.
The tower is one of the most famous landmarks in Wales. It’s 136 feet high, and you can climb it for an excellent view of the city centre and surrounding countryside.
Like the tower, the church interior is decorated beautifully, more lavishly than some Welsh cathedrals. It is believed to have been funded by Lady Margaret Beaufort, mother of the first monarch of the Tudor dynasty, King Henry VII.
Above the chancel arch, a substantial part of a medieval Doom painting (once a common, but now very rare, feature in British churches) has survived. The wooden nave ceiling is one of the most beautiful in Wales, adorned with carved wooden angels playing musical instruments.
There is also the only memorial in Wales carved by Rococo-era French sculptor Louis-François Roubiliac, who trained in Dresden and spent much of his career in London. There are also stained-glass windows by Pre-Raphaelite artist Sir Edward Burne-Jones, or at least his workshop.
Visit The Grave Of Elihu Yale
Football isn’t Wrexham’s only American connection. It is also the burial place of Elihu Yale, an immensely wealthy trader and benefactor of what would become Yale University in the United States.
Yale was born in Boston, Massachusetts but spent most of his life in Britain and Asia. At one point he made a donation to the Collegiate School of Connecticut, which included over 400 books, a portrait of King George I and £800 worth of various goods which were resold. The College was named after him, and the name was retained after the institution grew.
Yale lived near Wrexham towards the end of his life, and he also made donations to St Giles’ Church. He is buried in a prominent spot directly below the west side of St Giles’ Church tower.
Watch A Wrexham AFC Game At The Racecourse Ground
Wrexham AFC was founded in 1864, which makes it one of the oldest football clubs in Britain. For decades, Wrexham’s natural home was in the old Division Four of the Football League – now League Two of the renamed English Football League (EFL). They would occasionally get promoted to Division Three (League One in the EFL) – and even Two (the Championship in the EFL) once – but they never lingered long.
However, until the 1990s Wrexham did have a bit of a golden ticket. They could compete in Europe, in the former European Cup Winners Cup, if they won the Welsh Cup the previous season – something they did numerous times. They had some glorious adventures along the way, most notably defeating the mighty (and later twice European Cup and Champions League winners) FC Porto of Portugal in 1984. The Welsh Cup route was eventually closed off to them and the other Welsh clubs playing in the EFL.
For a long time the Racecourse was regarded as something of a fortress for the Wales national side. They beat England 4-1 there in 1980 and Spain 3-0 in 1985 – striker Mark Hughes scored this astonishing goal during the latter game.
With the promotion of the winners of the Vauxhall Conference (now the National League), the 5th tier of English football, many of the old established clubs were relegated from the Football League. Wrexham eventually fell through the trapdoor in 2008, and it took them until 2023 to regain their place in the EFL.
They did so under the ownership of Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. Their arrival has completely transformed the club – they are known the world over, and are even coming to Sydney (just down the road from us) to play on their Australian tour just after the time of writing. Other Hollywood stars turn up to watch them play. On their return to the EFL, they have been promoted twice in two seasons, and will play in the Championship in the 2025-26 season.
The Racecourse (Cae Ras in Welsh) is a small ground, with a current capacity of less than 11,000. You can obtain match tickets through the club website. If you’re not visiting when a match is on, you can also join this Wrexham tour with a local guide and Wrexham supporter, including a visit to the Racecourse ground.
‘Museum of Two Halves’
At the time of writing – June 2025 – Wrexham Museum is closed for redevelopment. The collection will still be housed in the same building on Regent Street, along with a new Football Museum for Wales.
As I’ve described in the previous section, Wrexham has a rich football tradition, and the North East Wales region has produced many all-time Welsh greats including the likes of Ian Rush and Mark Hughes. Anyone with an interest in Welsh football should try to make time to visit this Museum, which is long overdue and most welcome. As an avid Wales football fan for almost 50years, I can’t wait to visit.
Horse & Jockey Pub
This tiny pub is the oldest in Wrexham, the thatched building (the only one in the city) dating from the 16th century. It has been operating as a pub (with occasional breaks) since the 18th century, when part of it was known as The Colliers Arms.
It’s dedicated to a 19th-century jockey, Fred Archer, who was a regular rider at the nearby Bangor-on-Dee racecourse. They serve the local brew, Wrexham Lager, which is one of the best beers of its kind in the UK.
Marubbi’s Café
Marubbi’s Café is the oldest in Wrexham, dating back to 1896. It’s like taking a step 50 years or so back in time to the Italian cafes I used to visit in my home patch in South Wales when I was a kid, a lovely nostalgia trip.
They serve quite a mixture of food, from the classic British ‘greasy spoon’ cooked breakfast to Italian ice cream. Their coffee – which I sampled on my most recent visit – was excellent.
Fans of traditional British cafes (including my wife Faye) will absolutely love this place.
Tŷ Pawb
Tŷ Pawb means ‘Everyone’s House’, and it’s Wrexham’s new(ish) arts and community centre, opened in 2018.
It hosts a local market, and also has two art gallery spaces, cafes and bars. There is also a rooftop garden on the site. It’s a huge improvement on the old indoor market that used to be there – which is great to see.
Visit Gresford Church – Another of the Seven Wonders of Wales
All Saints Church Gresford is another graceful Perpendicular period (15th-16th centuries) church in a village on the outskirts of Wrexham.
The ‘Gresford bells’ are one of the 19th-century Seven Wonders of Wales, though in truth the church tower could be too, as could the interior, which has one of the largest surviving collections of medieval stained glass in Wales.
It also has several fine funerary monuments, including an alabaster figure of Sion ap Trefor, and some superb 16th-century misericords (wooden carved figured on the undersides of priests’ and choir stalls). If you enjoy visiting nearby Chester Cathedral, it’s well worth the short trip down the road to see this and St Giles Church in Wrexham.
There is also a painting in the church commemorating the 1934 Gresford Colliery Disaster, in which 266 miners lost their lives.
Erddig Hall and Gardens
Erddig is a 17th– and 18th– century country two miles south of Wrexham, with a beautiful 18th-century walled garden. It was acquired by the Yorke family in 1733, and remained in their possession for the following 240 years, until they donated it to the National Trust in 1973.
The Yorkes seemingly had a good relationship with their servants, and many of them are depicted in portraits and described in poetry. The servants’ quarters are well-preserved, and tell us a lot about how the (better treated) servants would have lived in the two and a half centuries that the Yorkes owned Erddig.
Erddig estate also contains a substantial section of Wat’s Dyke, the predecessor of the much longer Offa’s Dyke, and the remnants of a motte and bailey castle. The Clywedog Trail also passes through the Estate.
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
This unique Aqueduct is one of the great monuments of the Industrial Revolution, built by the ‘Colossus of Roads’ Thomas Telford to carry the Llangollen Canal above the Dee Valley. It became the third of Wales’ four UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2009.
The Aqueduct Is the main attraction on the Llangollen Canal, along which you can also enjoy horse-drawn narrowboat rides. Or you could even hire a boat yourself for a few hours or the whole day.
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is 38 metres (136 feet) above river level, and crossing it is an amazing experience. A footpath runs along the east side of the bridge, with the protection of railings. If you’re travelling across on a boat, anyone suffering with vertigo should be aware in advance that there is no barrier on the west side of the Aqueduct. So if you’re on a boat across, sit down, as kit’s an unprotected drop from there to the valley floor.
You can also canoe or kayak across the Aqueduct – this guided tour also includes lessons for beginners.
Llangollen and the Dee Valley
The riverside town of Llangollen is one of the best places to visit in North Wales. It’s on the most scenic stretch of the Dee Valley, beneath the romantic ruin on Dinas Bran Castle. There are easily enough things to do in Llangollen to warrant a few days’ stay, with several great places to visit in and around the town. It’s also home to the Llangollen International Eisteddfod in the first week of July each year.
Llangollen Bridge is the best place to start your exploration of the town. It’s not the best place for a quiet chat, with the cacophony of the roaring rapids of the Dee beneath, but this 14th-century stone arched bridge is one of the famous Seven Wonders of Wales.
It’s a short walk up the High Street and hill nearby to Plas Newydd, a delightful half-timbered house with exquisite wooden carvings and gorgeous gardens. It was home to the Ladies of Llangollen, an 18th-century Irish couple who attracted famous visitors including Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, William Wordsworth and the Duke of Wellington.
Dinas Bran is a fair hike uphill from the town, but well worth it for the views. I know of people who have wild camped up in the ruins – I wouldn’t do so myself, but it’s an astounding place, especially early in the morning if it’s surrounded by autumn mists.
From Dinas Bran you look down on the 13th-century ruins of Valle Crucis Abbey. It was the last Cistercian house to be founded in Wales, in 1201. It fell into disrepair following the Dissolution of the Monasteries, and along with Tintern Abbey and Llanthony Priory is one of the most romantic ruins in Wales.
The Llangollen Steam Railway is another great way to spend a few hours in the area. Steam locomotives carry vintage carriages ten miles up the Dee Valley to Corwen – a wonderfully scenic trip back to yesteryear.
For something far more strenuous, you could also go whitewater rafting in Llangollen, riding the rapids of the River Dee.
Minera Lead Mines and Clywedog Valley
For a glimpse into Wrexham’s rich industrial heritage, you could devote half a day to exploring the Clywedog Valley Trail. This 5-mile route to the south of Wrexham is a fascinating history lesson, as you realise that Wrexham is one of the unheralded cradles of the Industrial Revolution, with some works founded as far back as 1670.
The Minera Lead Mines were founded on a site where lead reserves had been exploited since at least the 13th century – and possibly more than a thousand years before that.
Bersham Ironworks could be described as the birthplace of ironmaking in the British Isles. They were founded in 1670, but rapidly grew after 1763 when John Wilkinson took over management of the works from his father. He pioneered the manufacturing of cannons, enlarging the central barrel, enabling them to fire further and more efficiently.
The trail continues to the Erddig Estate (see above) and on to the 18th-century King’s Mills, which are currently closed.
Chirk Castle
The second National Trust attraction within a short distance of Wrexham is Chirk Castle, Castell Y Waun, one of the foremost Marcher Castles, and one of the finest castles in North Wales.
It occupies a strategically important location, on a hill between – and overlooking – the Dee and Ceiriog Valleys. Like many other castles in the region, it was built during the reign of Edward I of England to subjugate the Welsh.
The Castle is one of a small number in Wales which has remained intact and occupied until the present day. It has been owned by the Myddelton family since 1593, and gradually became a stately home after they assumed ownership. The outstanding formal gardens were developed, and the most noticeable features of these are the yew hedges. If you’re visiting in February, Chirk Castle grounds are one of the best places in Wales to see snowdrops in bloom.
Explore The Ceiriog Valley
The Ceiriog Valley is the ‘least Wrexham’ part of Wrexham County. It’s a blissfully quiet rural valley just south of Chirk, with one of the best pubs in Wales a great bolthole for exploring the area which also serves superb food. The Hand at Llanarmon remains open, while the West Arms across the village square is currently for sale.
It’s ideal for exploring the more remote parts of northern Mid Wales, including the Berwyn Mountains, the lovely village of Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant, the famous Pistyll Rhaeadr waterfall. It’s also within reach of Pennant Melangell, with its church dedicated to – and shrine of St Melangell, the patron saint of hares. It’s the final destination of one of the most intriguing pilgrimages in Wales, around 15 miles’ drive from Llanarmon.
Where Is Wrexham?
Wrexham is in North East Wales, within the county of the same name. It’s only four miles from the border with England and the county of Cheshire, and 13 miles from the beautiful city of Chester.
Here are some more sample distances to Wrexham from other major towns and cities:
Liverpool to Wrexham – 41 miles
Manchester to Wrexham – 54 miles
Birmingham to Wrexham – 70 miles
London to Wrexham – 183 miles
Shrewsbury to Wrexham – 31 miles
How To Get To Wrexham
Wrexham has good transport connections, however you plan to get there.
The nearest airports are Manchester (which has direct connections with the US) and Liverpool. Manchester Airport is only 46 miles from Wrexham, but trains between the two take just over two hours, with one change required.
If you’re driving, Wrexham is on the main A483 road between Chester and Welshpool. It’s also very close to the A5 from London to Holyhead, and the A55 North Wales Expressway is only ten miles to the north of the city.
For public transport, the train is a better bet for getting there, but buses are more useful locally, particularly if you’re heading for Pontcysyllte or Llangollen.
Wrexham is on the main South to North Wales train line, with services operated by Transport for Wales. Wrexham is between Shrewsbury and Chester on this line– the latter is only 20 minutes from Wrexham by train. The service terminates at Cardiff in the south of the country, and Holyhead in the north.
Where To Stay In Wrexham
There are a few good places to stay in Wrexham city centre, with more to choose from further out of town.
**** – Ramada Plaza Wrexham – the pick of the Wrexham hotels, 4-star comfort close to the football ground and Wrexham General station
**** – Hollies Farm B&B – highly-rated B&B on a working farm in the Maelor countryside just east of Wrexham
*** – Hotel Wrexham – agreeable hotel just outside Wrexham in the border village of Holt
Final Thoughts – And Where To Explore Next After You Visit Wrexham
Wrexham isn’t necessarily the best base for exploring North East Wales (given the choice I’d opt for either Llangollen or Chester) and across the border into Northwest England, but it’s close to most places to visit in the region, so very convenient, particularly if you’re planning to use public transport.
North East Wales is one of the best unexplored regions in Europe to visit, greatly underrated because most people who pass through are heading west to Eryri (Snowdonia) or the coast. Within half an hour of Wrexham you could be hiking one of the best sections of the Offa’s Dyke Path, making your way across the heather-clad hills of the Clwydian Range. A similar distance away, you could be admiring two of Edward I’s first castles in Wales, at Flint or Rhuddlan, or exploring the half-timbered houses of Ruthin, on the edge of the Vale of Clwyd.
Further west, it’s only an hour from Wrexham to Betws-y-Coed, the busiest gateway to Snowdonia. The World Heritage Conwy Castle and Walled Town are a similar distance away via the A55, as is the seaside resort of Llandudno.
The train gives you some flexibility as it passes through some of the best places to visit in the Welsh Borders, especially Shrewsbury, and Welshpool and stunning Powis Castle aren’t far away from there. But best of all, there are enough things to do in Chester to keep you busy for at least a couple of days. It’s one of the best border towns in Europe, a great gateway to North Wales and the North of England, with both Liverpool and Manchester around an hour away.