Wrexham is well known for hosting Wrexham A.F.C., and is one of the oldest football teams in the world. It’s also the center of manufacturing, shopping, education, and business in Northern Wales and the Welsh Borderlands, plus it has a rich history. The first sign of people living in the area is from 8000 to 4300 BC. There are two Bronze Age burial mounds just east of the city, and Iron Age hill forts are west along the upland and lowland boundary.
When the Romans overran Britain, the Wrexham area was held by a Celtic tribe called the Cornovii. When Roman rule ended, Wrexham became part of the Romano-British Kingdom of Powys. In the years 615 and 616, the struggle between the Welsh and English began. Territory was lost, but by the 11th century the Welsh Kings of Powys regained Wrexham.
Wales finally lost its independence in 1282, but Wrexham’s importance as a trade center grew during the Middle Ages. It was a celebrated market town, renowned for Welsh craftsmanship. English people moved into the area, assimilated, spoke Welsh, and even took on Welsh family names. The area was known for its brilliant poets, leatherworks, and wealth.
Henry VIII, under the Acts of Union, brought the area under full English administration and law. Most of the landholding classes still had Welsh last names and were Catholic. Despite Wrexham’s importance throughout time, it only received city status as part of the Platinum Jubilee Civic Honours, on May 20, 2022.
If you’re planning a trip to Wales, or you’re simply a football fan, below are some North Wales possibilities:
Welcome to Wrexham
Follow the movie stars, Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, from Hollywood to Wrexham, Wales. This docu-series takes viewers on the road as these luminaries buy, and learn how to run, the third oldest football club in the world. The town and the team both want, and need, a boost. This is a story about rooting for the underdog, how dreams can come true, and how two actors get a crash course in managing and owning a club.
Wrexham AFC
Photo: © by Markbarnes – on wikimedia.org
Promoted to the English Football League Two, the movie stars, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney purchased the team, as can be seen in the doc-series Welcome to Wrexham. Their stint as major ambassadors for the city plays out in your living room. Would you like to see a game in person? You can! Purchase tickets on the AFC’s website.
Focus Wales 2024
This is an international multi-venue festival that will take place in Wrexham, May 2024. Wales is known for the music that bathes this country in song. The festival spotlights emerging Welsh musical talent along with some of the best new acts around the world. This is the popular festival’s 13th year.
Ty Pawb
Photo: © typawb.wales
Translated as “everybody’s house,” Ty Pawb, once a simple indoor market, has become a buzzing community space that is the cultural soul of the city. There are pop-up theaters, exhibitions, galleries, a studio, and food hall with international and vegan delights. A finalist for Art Fund Museum of the Year in 2022, this is well worth the time!
XPLORE Science Discovery Centre
Photo: © xplorescience.co.uk
This Science Discover Centre is filled with fascinating scientific discoveries and more than 80 interactive exhibits and experiences. The science shop is unique to North Wales, and it has experiments and activities. This is an ideal place for both kids and adults.
The Theatr Clwyd
Photo: © theatrclwyd.com
Just 25 minutes from Wrexham, this theater is truly a regional arts center, and it is Wales’s busiest. Their tagline is: “…to make the world a happier place, one moment at a time.” Built in 1976, the theater has seen performances by Anthony Hopkins, Vanessa Redgrave, Timothy Dalton, and Owen Teale. The projects here support health care and underserved members of the community.
Welsh Mountain Zoo
Come and spend the day discovering rare and endangered species, not just from Wales, but from around the world. There are heavenly paths that wind through forests—this is the place to relax and unwind. Situated above Colwyn Bay, there are views that go on forever and gorgeous gardens in this lovely conservation zoo. It’s less than an hour’s drive (with stunning scenery) from Wrexham.
Head To The Seaside
Just an hour from Wrexham, Llandudno is a sweet Victorian seaside village. Explore the historic pier, take the cable car to the Great Orme, then dive into the Oriel MOSTYN Gallery for modern art. In the afternoon, go to Penderyn Distillery for a premium Welsh whisky tasting or masterclass.
Snowdonia
A visit to Snowdonia is a visit to Wales at its most magnificent. High peaks undulate across the horizon. You can hike, or saunter, from babbling brooks to wild moors. If you’re into outdoor adventures, Snowdonia was made for white-water rafting, zip-lining, mountain biking, surfing on a manmade lagoon, golf, and mountain climbing. Snowdonia is an hour from Wrexham and four hours from London.
A trip to Wrexham, and Northern Wales in general, is nothing short of epic. The culture is diverse, rich, and distinctive. The language is one of Europe’s oldest, and the countryside ensures thrilling adventures. Towns in Northern Wales include Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Wrexham, and the Isle of Anglesey.
North Wales is a terrific vacation choice. Let your Destination Expert know if you want to add it to a London or Ireland vacation, or if you’d prefer to take your entire vacation there. Either is pure bliss.
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