Wrexham combines history with castles, gardens, country parks and an urban cultural life reflected in its cultural institutions and events. At Stori Brymbo, the story told stretches back 300 million years: from the prehistoric Brymbo Fossil Forest through iron and steel production to the changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution and the community that emerged from it.
History and culture
Erddig Hall is a late-17th-century country estate that was saved from ruin in the 1970s. Erddig includes a restored formal walled garden dating from the 18th century, which is listed as a Grade I building and features Dutch design influences. Free tours led by knowledgeable volunteer guides last around 30 minutes and focus on the history, garden, estate management and vehicles.
Chirk Castle was completed in 1310 and is the last inhabited Welsh castle from the reign of Edward I. The gardens include clipped yews, herbaceous borders, as well as shrub and rock gardens. The parkland provides a habitat for rare invertebrates and wildflowers. The Gothic parish church of St Giles dates from the 16th century and is considered the largest medieval church in Wales. In the Clywedog Valley, the Bersham Heritage Centre is Wrexham’s centre for industrial heritage; it houses the Museum Service’s industrial history collections.
Landscape and trails
Erddig’s 1,200-acre estate includes meadows, lakes, ponds, rivers, ancient trees and woodland. The park is freely accessible and has several signposted trails. The Erddig Big Wood Trail is a circular route through the woodland that leads to the ancient remains of a Norman motte-and-bailey castle and connects with the historic Wat’s Dyke.
Alyn Waters is a Green Flag Award-winning country park with woodland, grassland and riverside trails. It includes a two-mile, traffic-free cycling and sculpture trail for families. Wildlife species recorded there include kingfishers, otters, grass snakes, great crested newts and various species of bat.
Moss Valley Country Park comprises oak and beech woodland, two small lakes and open grassland, providing a particularly rich habitat for birds. Its trails often run along former tramway and railway routes once used for extracting coal and sandstone. Tŷ Mawr Country Park has an approximately one-mile circular route with tarmac paths. An approximately four-mile out-and-back route passes beneath the arches of Cefn Viaduct to the base of an aqueduct; it then climbs steps before returning to the visitor centre.
Experiences and events
Xplore Science Discovery Centre offers more than 85 interactive science exhibits; regular admission also includes a live science show. The Official Welcome to Wrexham Tour is a 2.5-hour walking tour of notable filming locations from the documentary series. Wrexham County Borough Council offers self-guided walks that visitors can take at their own pace.
FOCUS Wales is an international music showcase festival and a BAFTA-qualifying film festival held at several venues in Wrexham.
City life
The food court and market hall at Tŷ Pawb are home to almost 30 local independent businesses. Tŷ Pawb also offers exhibition spaces, socially engaged projects and live performances with a focus on skills and crafts. Wrexham General Market has stalls selling fresh produce and artisan-made food, as well as vintage goods.
Transport links
Xplore is approximately half a mile or a 12-minute walk from Wrexham General railway station and is a six-minute walk from Wrexham bus station. Chirk Castle can be reached via Chirk railway station on the line between Shrewsbury and Chester; the station is a quarter of a mile from the estate’s entrance gates. Bus route 12 connects Wrexham bus station with Brymbo and stops outside Stori Brymbo.
More places
More destination pages: Wrexham, Rossett, Llanarmon Dyffryn-Ceiriog, Chirk, Hanmer, Trevor, Penycae, Erbistock, Bangor-on-Dee, Glyn Ceiriog, Bradley.
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