8 OF THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN LLANGOLLEN, WALES
Llangollen is a small Welsh town in Denbighshire. It’s only a handful of miles away from the English border and it’s renowned for it’s spectacular scenery with the rolling Welsh hills all around it and the River Dee passing through it. There’s so much to do here, Llangollen has something for everyone!
In the summertime hordes of tourists flock to Llangollen with the winding waters of the Llangollen Canal and the steam trains billowing smoke across the perfect green countryside, it’s easy to see why. This beautiful town in Wales has plenty of things to offer for visitors of any age.
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What is Llangollen famous for?
Llangollen takes it’s name from the Welsh llan which means religious settlement and Saint Collen a 7th century monk who founded a church by the river.
It’s best known for two things - the Llangollen Canal which is an important part of the town’s history and the famous Llangollen Railway. The railway is a special relaid track from Llangollen to Collen which gives visitors to take a step back in time travelling through the welsh countryside to different towns.
A few miles down the road is also the spectacular feat of engineering that is Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. This aqueduct and part of canal links Wales and England and is the tallest and longest aqueduct in Britain.
Let’s look at the best 8 things to do in Llangollen and the surrounding area.
TOP 8 Things To Do In Llangollen
Horseshoe Pass
Victoria Promenade
Castell Dinas Bran
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
Plas Newydd and the Ladies of Llangollen
Two prominent figures of engineering, William Jessop and Thomas Telford, designed the Llangollen Canal in the 18th century. It is a hugely popular route for a leisurely stroll with both locals and holidaymakers. The canal crosses the border between England and Wales. You can walk along the canal to the Horseshoe Falls which is another place on the list of top things to do in Llangollen.
Llangollen Railway
Fancy a ride on a real life Hogwarts Express? If so, a ride on the trains at Llangollen station are perfect! The traditional steam trains follow the line from Llangollen along the River Dee, through the picturesque Dee Valley, on to the charming town of Corwen.
Trains run at various times throughout the day and you’re best to check their website before you travel and you can book in advance if you want. They currently run at 10:30, 13:00 and 15:30. (last updated June 2023)
The area the train travels through is in an area of outsanding natural beauty so if you do decide to take a trip get ready to be amazed by the beauty all around you.
Ticket prices
A standard return ticket is £19.50 per adult and £9 per child (3-15 years). Under 3’s are free.
Horseshoe Falls
This, surprise surprise, horseshoe shaped weir is 140m long and feeds water into Llangollen Canal from the River Dee.
The falls are around 2 miles north west of Llangollen and can be accessed either by parking your car at Llantysilio Green (where there is also a lovely picnic area) or by taking a walk along the canal from Llangollen.
Horseshoe Pass
If you’re a keen walker Horseshoe Pass can be enjoyed on foot but it can also be enjoyed by taking the A542 road from Llangollen to Llandegla in your car.
The road travels in a horseshoe shape around the sides of a valley, as a result of this the views are spectacular! You’ll definitely want to have your camera ready for these views!
At the highest point there is Ponderosa Cafe which is extremely popular with cyclists and motorcyclists. There are also many walking routes around the area that are popular with hikers and there are a number of campsites nearby to stay over.
Victoria Promenade
Victoria Promenade is a beautiful riverside walk and the perfect way to spend an afternoon in Llangollen.
The promenade was opened in 1897 to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria and has become one of the towns most popular attractions. It borders the River Dee and is a lovely river walk. It does lead to a wonderful area for families with a cafe, children’s play park, basketball courts, a miniature 9 hole golf course and a place to grab an ice cream on a sunny day.
Castell Dinas Bran
If history is your thing you’ll love Castell Dinas Bran. It’s impressive ruins of a medieval castle on a hilltop just outside of town. There’s not too much known about when it was built but it first appears in historical documents back in the 12th century. It is believed the site was home to an old Iron Age Fortress back in 600BC.
You can explore the site today but let me warn you, it’s a pretty steep climb to the top! The views from the top are breathtaking and worth the challenge!
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
As an English lady the pronunciation of this aquequct is a mystery to me. Aparently it’s ‘pont-kus-sulth-teh’ but I still can’t say that! You can find Pontcysyllte Aqueduct by heading about 4 miles east of LLangollen along the canal towards the village of Trevor.
This aqueduct is mightly impressive and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is the highest and longest aqueduct in Britain and is an incredible feat of engineering. Historically the aqueduct transported goods along the canal between England and Wales but these days it offers canal boat trips, canoeing and strolling across it on foot.
Plas Newydd and the Ladies of Llangollen
The story of the Ladies of Llangollen is one of Lady Eleanor Butler and Miss Sarah Ponsonby who were two Irish young ladies who fled their country and made a home together in Llangollen at Plas Newydd. They became celebrities of their time with many people travelling the country to visit them and their faces being painting on crockery.
Inside Plas Newydd today there is an exhibition including some of their possessions and an audio tour bring their story to vivid life. You can stroll through their gardens and along their riverside walk.
Prices to enter are £7 for an adult, £6 for 5-16 year olds and children under 5 are free.
