Wrexham

Wrexham Europe > Britain and Ireland > United Kingdom > Wales > North Wales > Clwyd > 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 about 45,000. 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. Visitor information 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 9AM-5PM. Get in By plane The nearest airports are Liverpool ( LPL IATA ) and Manchester ( MAN IATA ), both about an hour's drive. Consider also Birmingham ( BHX IATA ), which has direct trains to Wrexham. By train 🌍 Wrexham General train station . The main station. Trains run from Birmingham International (for the airport) and New Street every two hours, taking 1 hr 40 min via Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury , and continuing to Chester , North Wales coast and Holyhead (for Irish ferries). They also run from Cardiff every two hours via Newport , Abergavenny , Hereford and Shrewsbury, and likewise continue to Holyhead. From London Euston, Liverpool or Manchester Victoria, change at Chester for the hourly local train. Wrexham General is off Mold Rd half a mile northwest of the town centre. It has a staffed ticket office and machines, and toilets but no waiting rooms. There is step-free access via lifts and footbridges to all platforms. ( updated Dec 2023 ) 🌍 Wrexham Central train station . The terminus of a branch line from Bidston near Birkenhead . Hourly trains meander across the Wirral, and also stop at Wrexham General, so the connection might save you a walk. It's a single platform (with step-free access from the retail park) with a ticket machine but no other facilities. ( updated Dec 2023 ) By bus 🌍 Wrexham bus station , Lord St ( in the town centre ). ( updated Dec 2023 ) For long-distance routes change at Chester. Neither National Express nor Megabus runs to Wrexham. Arriva Bus 1 . Runs from Chester every ten minutes 06:00-23:00, taking 45 min via Pulford, Rossett and Gresford. English and Welsh concessionary bus passes are only valid for their own part of this cross-border route. ( updated Dec 2023 ) Bus 2 . Runs hourly from Oswestry , taking 70 min via Chirk and Ruabon. ( updated Dec 2023 ) Bus 5 . Runs every 30 min from Llangollen , taking 45 min via Rhosllanerchrugog. ( updated Dec 2023 ) Bus 51B / X51 . From Rhyl runs hourly via Denbigh , Ruthin and Llandegla. ( updated Dec 2023 ) 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 🌍 St Giles' Church , Church St LL13 8LS , ☏ +44 1978 355808 . Daily 10AM-4PM . Splendid Gothic church, built from the 1460s when its predecessor burned out. It's mostly late Perpendicular style, with a richly decorated tower of 135 ft (45 m). Notable in the chancel is a mural of the Last Judgement. Just west of the tower is the grave of Elihu Yale (1649-1721), benefactor of Yale University so his devious finances and slave-trading came to a good end. St Giles' remains active as an Anglican parish church. ( updated Apr 2023 ) Town centre retains its medieval street pattern radiating from St Giles, with higgledy-piggledy thoroughfares, arcades and alleyways. 🌍 Xplore! Science Discovery Centre , Henblas Street LL13 8AE , ☏ +44 1978 293400 . F-Su 9:30AM-4:30PM . Large interactive science museum for children. Adult or child £8.50 . ( updated Apr 2023 ) Wrexham County Borough Museum , Regent Street LL11 1RB ( just north of Central station ), ☏ +44 1978 297460 , [email protected] . Closed . This museum is closed for redevelopment until 2026, when it will expand and incorporate the Football Museum for Wales. ( updated Dec 2023 ) 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. 🌍 Erddig Hall , Erddig LL13 0YT , ☏ +44 1978 355314 , [email protected] . Apr-Oct: daily house 12:30-3:30PM, garden 10AM-5PM . Grand 18th-century home of the Yorke family — they never threw anything away, and carefully depicted their servants, a unique archive. The house was neglected in the 20th century but this meant Georgian features were preserved. There are extensive grounds, with a Dutch-style walled garden, and one lump in the park is probably Wristlesham Castle, a Norman motte-and-baily of 1090. Erddig is now in the keeping of the National Trust. Adult £9.50, child £4.75, NT free . ( updated Apr 2023 ) Bersham Ironworks 2 miles west of town remain closed in 2023. 🌍 Minera Lead Mines , Minera LL11 3DU ( off B5426 ). This was once the focus of a lead-mining area. Medieval miners were thwarted by flooding, but from 1845 steam-powered pumps were installed, and drainage shafts were driven from lower down the valley. The enterprise folded in 1914 when the price of lead and zinc fell and the cost of steam-coal rose. The area has been landscaped into a country park, open free daylight hours. Features include the beam engine house, winding engine, boiler houses, and areas for processing the ore, but there's no interior access. ( updated Apr 2023 ) Do Cinema: Odeon in Eagles Meadow Shopping Centre shows mainstream releases. Tŷ Pawb , Market St LL13 8BB ( facing Xplore! ), ☏ +44 1978 292144 . M-Sa 9AM-5PM . The name mans "Everyone's House" and it's a performance venue, market hall, art gallery and food court. ( updated Apr 2023 ) Grove Park Theatre , Hill Street LL11 1SN , ☏ +44 1978 351091 , [email protected] . Amateur theatre staging drama and panto. ( updated Apr 2023 ) William Aston Hall , Mold Road LL11 2AW , ☏ +44 1352 344101 . 900-seater venue on Glyndwr University campus, but managed by Theatre Clwyd in Mold, with events throughout the year. ( updated Apr 2023 ) Catrin Finch Centre is the University's own performance venue, adjacent on the campus. Football: 🌍 Wrexham AFC ( Clwb Pêl-droed Wrecsam ), Mold Road LL11 2AH . "The Red Dragons" will play soccer in the EFL Championship, England's second tier, in 2025–26 following promotions in 2023, 2024, and 2025. They're one of a few Welsh teams that have traditionally played in the English system. Their home ground The Racecourse ( Y Cae Ras , for sponsorship reasons "STōK Cae Ras"), capacity 13,060, is half a mile north of Wrexham General station. In 2021 the club became famous when it was bought by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney: Welcome to Wrexham is a US TV documentary series following the club's fortunes. ( updated May 2025 ) 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 . Waterworld Leisure & Activity Centre , Holt St LL13 8DH , ☏ +44 1978 297300 . M-F 6:30-9:30AM, Sa Su 9AM-5PM . Gym, 6-lane pool and fitness classes. ( updated Apr 2023 ) Tenpin Bowling , Unit B14, Eagles Meadow LL13 8DG , ☏ +44 871 222 3675 . Daily 10AM-midnight . Popular bowling alley in Eagles shopping centre. £3 per game . ( updated Apr 2023 ) Wrexham Tennis Centre , Plas Coch Rd LL11 2BW ( University campus, north of football stadium ), ☏ +44 1978 265260 . M-F 8AM-9PM, Sa 8AM-4PM, Su 10AM-4PM . This has indoor and outdoor courts and coaching. ( updated Apr 2023 ) 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. Horse-racing: 🌍 Bangor on Dee racecourse , Althrey Court, Bangor-on-Dee LL13 0DA ( 5 miles southeast on B5069 ), ☏ +44 1978 780323 , [email protected] . Jumps racecourse, which also stages occasional point-to-point races. ( updated Apr 2023 ) Focus Wales showcases new music from Wales in early May 2024 at several venues across town. Wrexham Walking Festival has volunteer-led walks in early June. Wales Comic Con is held annually in the city. Wrexham Feast is a food and drink festival in late September. 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. Eat Budget Town centre has the usual fast food chains. La Baguette , 62 Regent St LL11 1RE , ☏ +44 1978 314904 . M-Sa 8AM-5PM . A popular independent sandwich shop. ( updated Apr 2023 ) Jones' Fish and Chip shop is a takeaway chippy at 43 St Georges Cres, open M-W, Sa 9AM-2PM, Th F 9AM-7PM. Rock Suite Cafe at 15 Hill St serves traditional and American cuisine M-Sa 9:30AM-3:30PM. Kristina's Cafe at 56 Chester St serves trad food M-Sa 9AM-4PM. Caffi Cwtch on Chester Rd supports the work of Nightingale House Hospice. It's open M-Sa 10AM-4PM. Other cafes include Cafe de Galles, Heaven Coffee Shop and Bank Street Social . Mid-range Anise , 1 Smithfield Rd LL13 8EN , ☏ +44 1978 261273 . Daily 5:30-10:30PM . Consistently good Bangladeshi restaurant. ( updated Apr 2023 ) Black Peppers , 18 Yorke St LL13 8LW , ☏ +44 1978 261143 . Su-Th 5-10PM, F Sa 5-11PM . Good Indian cuisine with slick service. ( updated Apr 2023 ) The Fat Boar , 11 Yorke St LL13 8LW , ☏ +44 1978 354201 . Daily 11AM-10PM . Pub bistro serving trad fare. ( updated Apr 2023 ) Vasco da Gama , 19 Lord St LL11 1LS , ☏ +44 1978 501514 . M-Th 9AM-9PM, F Sa 9AM-10PM, S [... truncated ...]

By Plane

The nearest major international airports serve Wales [Cymru GB-CYM] with connections from across the UK, Europe, and beyond. Regional airports in the area provide additional domestic and European services. Airport buses and taxis connect to the town centre.

By Train

The local railway station is served by regular services on the British rail network. Train services connect to major cities across Wales [Cymru GB-CYM] and the wider UK. National Rail Enquiries provides schedule and fare information. Advance booking typically offers better rates.

By Car / Road

Wrexham is accessible by road via the UK's motorway and A-road network. Major routes connect the town to nearby cities and regions. Bus services provide affordable connections. Parking is generally available in designated areas in and around the town centre.

Wrexham is compact and easily explored on foot. The town centre, with its shops, restaurants, and historical buildings, is pedestrian-friendly. For exploring the surrounding countryside and nearby attractions, a car is recommended. Local bus services operate within the town and to neighbouring communities. Taxis are available for shorter journeys.

• The historic town or city centre with its traditional architecture

• Local landmarks, churches, and heritage buildings

• Scenic viewpoints and natural attractions in the surrounding area

• Nearby parks, gardens, and outdoor spaces

• Walking tours exploring the town's heritage and architecture

• Outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, and watersports in the surrounding area

• Visiting local museums, galleries, and cultural centres

• Exploring nearby countryside, coastline, or parks

• Sampling local food and drink at pubs, restaurants, and cafes

Dining options in Wrexham range from traditional gastropubs and cafés to fine-dining restaurants. Local specialities include fresh seafood, locally sourced meat and game, and seasonal produce. Many establishments pride themselves on using local ingredients and supporting regional producers.

Typical British pub fare (fish and chips, Sunday roasts, pies) is widely available, alongside international cuisines reflecting the area's diversity. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are increasingly common.

Traditional pubs serving local ales are found throughout the town. Craft beer has a growing presence, with local microbreweries supplying both pubs and bottle shops. Tea rooms and cafés offer a quintessentially British experience. The area is well-served by coffee shops and independent roasters.

Budget

• Budget hotels and hostel accommodation available, with dorm beds from £20/night.

Mid-range

• Bed & breakfasts and guesthouses offer doubles from £70–120 per night.
• Chain hotels (Premier Inn, Travelodge, Holiday Inn) provide consistent quality.

Upscale

• Boutique hotels, country house hotels, and historic inns offer doubles from £150.

Local shops offer a range of goods from well-known brands to local crafts and speciality foods. Markets and independent retailers provide character and authentic finds. Typical opening hours are Monday–Saturday 09:00–17:30, with some stores open on Sundays. Many towns have a weekly market day.

From Wrexham, travellers can easily continue exploring other destinations within Wales [Cymru GB-CYM] and the wider United Kingdom. The well-connected transport network makes it straightforward to reach neighbouring towns, cities, and attractions.