Wrexham

Wrexham (Welsh: Wrecsam) is a city in Clwyd in North Wales. It's industrial, but has lost its former trades of coal-mining and brick-making. It was granted "city" status in 2022, but this is ceremonial and doesn't affect its governance. In 2021 the population of Wrexham was 44,785.

This is Wrexham is the visitor information centre. It's within Tŷ Pawb gallery on Market St, opposite Xplore! science museum, and open M-Sa 09:00-17:00.

Understand
When the Romans arrived in 48 AD they encountered a tribe based in the Wrekin hillfort above Wroxeter. That tribe may have had an outpost here, thus Wrocansaetan the settlers from Wrekin or Wroxeter. The Romans laid into them all then marched on to Deva, their encampment on the Dee that is now Chester.

This area is a borderland, but largely peaceful since Wales was conquered by England in the 13th century. Owain Glyndŵr rebelled in the 15th century and re-established an independent Wales, but was overthrown and his realm suppressed. Wrexham then became part of Denbighshire, nowadays Clwyd. It was a small market town until the 18th century, then industrialised with leather trades, lead and coal mining, brick-making, breweries and iron works.

These industries scarred the landscape, while Wrexham grew to govern a ring of grubby villages. During the 20th century the industries withered - lead mining ceased in 1914, and coal mining during the bitter disputes of the 1970s. (The Gresford colliery disaster claimed 266 lives in 1934.) The mines also caused subsidence damage to many fine old buildings - Erddig Hall was on the brink of being demolished. The colliery sites have now been refurbished into light industrial and business parks.

Town centre is mostly modern but many 18th and 19th century buildings remain, with the grime scrubbed off. In 1989 the main road A483 was re-routed to the west and upgraded to a fast dual carriageway. This reduced traffic pressure through town and slashed travel times north to Chester and south beyond Oswestry.

By plane
The nearest airports are Liverpool and Manchester, both about an hour's drive. Consider also Birmingham, which has direct trains to Wrexham.

By bus


For long-distance routes change at Chester. Neither National Express nor Megabus runs to Wrexham.



Get around
Town is walkable, but you really need wheels to explore further out. Bus 42 (M-Sa hourly) runs to the southern suburb of Hightown: get off at Stockwell Grove to be within walking distance of Erddig.

Taxis in town include Speedie Cars (+44 1978 262829) and Yellow Cars (+44 1978 286286).

See



 * Town centre retains its medieval street pattern radiating from St Giles, with higgledy-piggledy thoroughfares, arcades and alleyways.
 * St Mary's Cathedral is RC, built in neo-Gothic in 1857. It's on Regent St 200 yards north of Central Station.
 * Bellevue Park is a pleasant green space a quarter mile south of Central station.
 * Acton Park is larger, with a fishing lake, at the northeast edge of town.
 * Bersham Ironworks 2 miles west of town remain closed in 2023.
 * Bellevue Park is a pleasant green space a quarter mile south of Central station.
 * Acton Park is larger, with a fishing lake, at the northeast edge of town.
 * Bersham Ironworks 2 miles west of town remain closed in 2023.
 * Bersham Ironworks 2 miles west of town remain closed in 2023.

Do



 * Cinema: Odeon in Eagles Meadow Shopping Centre shows mainstream releases.
 * Catrin Finch Centre is the University's own performance venue, adjacent on the campus.
 * Football:
 * Rugby Union: Wrexham RFC play the 15-a-side game away down in the amateur leagues. Their home ground is on Bryn Estate Rd, 3 miles east of town.
 * Rugby League: North Wales Crusaders played in Wrexham to 2021 but then relocated to Colwyn Bay.
 * Golf: Wrexham GC is three miles northeast on A534 Holt Rd. White tees 6131 yards, par 70, visitor round £50.
 * Clays GC is another mile west. Moss Valley GC is three miles north in Pentre Broughton.
 * Rugby League: North Wales Crusaders played in Wrexham to 2021 but then relocated to Colwyn Bay.
 * Golf: Wrexham GC is three miles northeast on A534 Holt Rd. White tees 6131 yards, par 70, visitor round £50.
 * Clays GC is another mile west. Moss Valley GC is three miles north in Pentre Broughton.
 * Golf: Wrexham GC is three miles northeast on A534 Holt Rd. White tees 6131 yards, par 70, visitor round £50.
 * Clays GC is another mile west. Moss Valley GC is three miles north in Pentre Broughton.
 * Clays GC is another mile west. Moss Valley GC is three miles north in Pentre Broughton.


 * Horse-racing:
 * Focus Wales showcases new music from Wales. The next is 9-11 May 2024 at several venues across town.
 * Wrexham Walking Festival has volunteer-led walks. The next are probably May 30 - 7 June 2024, tbc.
 * Wales Comic Con is held annually in the city.
 * Wrexham Feast is a food and drink festival. The next is probably 21-23 Sept 2024, tbc.

Buy

 * Retail strips in city centre are Bank Street, Henblas Street, High Street, King Street, Regent Street, Overton Arcade, Hope Street and Queen Street.
 * Island Green is the mall around Central station, Eagles Meadow is east side of the centre with Border Retail Park further east, and Central Retail Park is by General station.

Budget

 * Town centre has the usual fast food chains.
 * Jones' Fish and Chip shop is a takeaway chippy at 43 St Georges Cres, open M-W, Sa 09:00-14:00, Th F 09:00-19:00.
 * Rock Suite Cafe at 15 Hill St serves traditional and American cuisine M-Sa 09:30-15:30.
 * Kristina's Cafe at 56 Chester St serves trad food M-Sa 09:00-16:00.
 * Caffi Cwtch on Chester Rd supports the work of Nightingale House Hospice. It's open M-Sa 10:00-16:00.
 * Other cafes include Cafe de Galles, Heaven Coffee Shop and Bank Street Social.
 * Other cafes include Cafe de Galles, Heaven Coffee Shop and Bank Street Social.

Mid-range

 * The Lemon Tree: see Sleep for this restaurant with rooms, serving all day.
 * The Lemon Tree: see Sleep for this restaurant with rooms, serving all day.
 * The Lemon Tree: see Sleep for this restaurant with rooms, serving all day.
 * The Lemon Tree: see Sleep for this restaurant with rooms, serving all day.
 * The Lemon Tree: see Sleep for this restaurant with rooms, serving all day.
 * The Lemon Tree: see Sleep for this restaurant with rooms, serving all day.
 * The Lemon Tree: see Sleep for this restaurant with rooms, serving all day.

Further out

 * The Beeches in Gresford is a Whitbread Inn with food next to Premier Inn Wrexham North.
 * The Hollybush nearby in Cefyn-y-Bedd village gets mixed reviews.
 * The Hollybush nearby in Cefyn-y-Bedd village gets mixed reviews.
 * The Hollybush nearby in Cefyn-y-Bedd village gets mixed reviews.
 * The Hollybush nearby in Cefyn-y-Bedd village gets mixed reviews.
 * The Hollybush nearby in Cefyn-y-Bedd village gets mixed reviews.

Drink

 * Horse & Jockey at 32 Hope St is a friendly trad pub open M-Th 09:00-22:30, F Sa 08:00-02:00, Su 12:00-22:30.
 * Golden Lion at 12 High St is a snug place with karaoke, open Su-Th 11:30-23:00, F Sa 11:30-00:00. Cash only.
 * Wrexham Cwtch or Crafty Dragon at 29 High St serves food and is open Th-Su 12:00-22:00.
 * The Bank is a wine bar and tapas restaurant at 43 High St, open W-F 12:00-22:00, Sa 12:00-23:00.
 * Cross Foxes at 15 Abbott St is a welcoming place open daily 10:00-01:00.
 * Old Swan at 6 Abbott St is a small pub with karaoke, dog-friendly. It's open daily 12:00-01:00.
 * Nags Head on Mount St has a beer garden and is open daily 11:00-23:00.
 * Wynnstay Arms: see Sleep for this hotel bar. In 1876 the Football Association of Wales was founded here over a pint or three.
 * Ironworks at 7 Town Hill has large burgers and a friendly dog. It's open Th-Sa 13:30-01:00.
 * 1 to 5 is a nightclub on Town Hill open Tu-Th 19:00-00:00, F-M 12:00-00:00.
 * Plas Coch on Plas Coch Rd just north of the football stadium serves steak and pizza. It's open daily 12:00-22:00.
 * 1 to 5 is a nightclub on Town Hill open Tu-Th 19:00-00:00, F-M 12:00-00:00.
 * Plas Coch on Plas Coch Rd just north of the football stadium serves steak and pizza. It's open daily 12:00-22:00.

Sleep




Connect
Wrexham and its approach roads have 4G from all UK carriers. As of April 2023, 5G has not reached town, but is getting close.

Go next

 * Chirk has an imposing 13th century Castle.
 * Llangollen has many well-preserved old buildings.
 * Pontcysyllte Aqueduct near Llangollen soars across the River Dee.
 * Glyn Ceiriog is the village at the foot of scenic Ceiriog Valley.
 * Offa's Dyke Path is a coast-to-coast trail passing 7 miles west of town, through the dramatic valley of World's End.
 * Chester is a must-see, a charming walled city.
 * Liverpool is a lively rejuvenated city needing a few days to explore.