Discover Wrexham, Wales's newest city
Wrexham pairs a lively city centre with some of the finest heritage in North Wales, from Victorian markets to a World Heritage aqueduct. Come for the football, stay for the great houses, canals and countryside on the doorstep.
Welcome to Wrexham
Wrexham was granted city status in 2022, and it wears the title well. The centre is compact and walkable, with a Tudor church tower that is one of the Seven Wonders of Wales, refurbished Victorian market halls and Tŷ Pawb, where contemporary art meets independent traders and street food.
Look a little further and you find National Trust houses at Erddig and Chirk, the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct soaring above the River Dee and riverside country parks perfect for a family day out. Then there is the football: the Racecourse Ground is the oldest international football ground in the world, and Wrexham AFC's Hollywood-backed rise has put the city on screens everywhere.
Find a place to stay in Wrexham
Hotels, B&Bs, apartments and country inns in the city and the villages around it, with live prices and availability.
Coming for a match? Rooms near the Racecourse go quickly on home game weekends, so book early. See our where to stay page for local favourites.
Find a place to stay in Wrexham
Live prices and availability from Booking.com, for hotels, B&Bs, guest houses and holiday homes.
Places we recommend
What's on
Events in Wrexham
Gigs, matchdays, markets and family days out, coming up across the city and county.
- 9Oct
Fri 9 Oct, 7:30pmRyland Teifi + Côr y PentanTŷ Pawb, WrexhamAn evening of story and song from BAFTA Cymru and Cân i Gymru winner Ryland Teifi, with songs from his four albums and traditional favourites, joined by Côr y Pentan. - 10Oct
Sat 10 Oct, 10amFamily Art Club at Tŷ Pawb (10 October)Tŷ Pawb, WrexhamDrop-in making, painting and drawing at Tŷ Pawb for children of all ages with an adult, linked to the current exhibitions. Pay what you can. - 10Oct
Sat 10 Oct, 2:30pmAl-Ta’rija Walse Celebration and Open MicTŷ Pawb, WrexhamA free community music open mic marking the end of the Al-Ta'rija Walse hand-drum project, 2.30pm to 3.30pm. Performers should arrive promptly to get a slot.
Listings from North Wales Events. Check with the venue before you travel.
The best of Wrexham
From the city centre to the Dee Valley, here are the highlights. Our full things to do guide has more.
St Giles' Church
The tower of Wrexham's parish church, completed in the early 1500s, is one of the Seven Wonders of Wales. Elihu Yale, the namesake of Yale University, is buried in the churchyard, which is entered through elegant wrought-iron gates made by the Davies brothers of Bersham.
Wrexham Museum and Football Museum of Wales
The historic County Buildings now house a museum of two halves: Wrexham's own story and the new Football Museum of Wales, home of the Welsh Football Collection. Entry is free but tickets need booking, so check the latest details before you go.
Tŷ Pawb
An award-winning arts centre and market under one roof on Market Street, with galleries, independent stalls and a food court. It was an Art Fund Museum of the Year finalist in 2022 and hosts a busy programme of workshops and events.
Racecourse Ground
Wrexham AFC's home is the oldest international football ground in the world, first hosting Wales against Scotland in 1877. The club, owned by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, plays in the Championship in 2026/27.
Erddig
A late 17th-century house just south of the city, famous for the portraits and verses the Yorke family made of their servants. The restored 18th-century walled garden is a delight, and the wider 1,200-acre estate is free to explore.
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
Telford and Jessop's 1805 aqueduct carries the Llangollen Canal around 38 metres above the River Dee. Walk the towpath across for free and call in at the Trevor Basin Visitor Centre.
Chirk Castle
A 13th-century Marcher fortress south of Wrexham near the English border, home to the Myddelton family for over 400 years. Its clipped yews, lawns and views across the Cheshire and Shropshire plains make it a superb half-day out.
Valle Crucis Abbey
The atmospheric ruins of a Cistercian abbey founded in 1201, in a quiet valley near Llangollen. Cared for by Cadw, it is free to visit, with the ninth-century Eliseg's Pillar a short walk away.
Tŷ Mawr Country Park
A riverside country park beneath the Cefn Viaduct where children can meet sheep, pigs, goats and llamas. Follow the River Dee to the foot of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, then refuel at the on-site coffee barn.
Where to eat and drink
Raise a glass in The Turf, the pub where Wrexham AFC was founded, graze the street food at Tŷ Pawb, or head out to a riverside inn on the Dee.
Wrexham AFC
The Racecourse Ground is the oldest international football ground in the world, and the club’s Hollywood-backed rise has made it a destination in its own right.
Plan your visit
Getting here
Wrexham sits on the A483, which links to Chester and the M53 to the north and to Oswestry and the A5 to the south. Wrexham General station has Transport for Wales trains to Chester (around 20 minutes), Shrewsbury, Birmingham and Cardiff. The Wrexham to Bidston line, also called the Borderlands line, runs from Wrexham Central towards the Wirral, connecting with Merseyrail at Bidston. There are currently no direct trains to London, so most journeys change at Chester or elsewhere.
Parking
The city centre has several council-run pay and display car parks within a short walk of the markets, St Giles' and Tŷ Pawb. Tariffs change, so check current charges on the Wrexham Council website. Country parks such as Tŷ Mawr and Alyn Waters charge around £1 a day, while parking at Erddig and Chirk Castle is free.
Markets and shopping
Wrexham's Victorian Butchers' Market and General Market reopened in late 2024 after a major refurbishment and trade Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm. Tŷ Pawb adds independent stalls and a food court alongside its galleries, while Eagles Meadow and the surrounding streets offer high street names and independent shops.
Towns and villages nearby
Wrexham makes a great base for exploring the Dee Valley and the border. See our towns and villages guide.
Walk the Roman city walls, browse the medieval Rows and visit the cathedral, all around 20 minutes away by train.Llangollenabout 11 miles
A lively riverside town in the Dee Valley with canal trips, steam trains and Valle Crucis Abbey close by.Chirkabout 10 miles
Combine Chirk Castle with a stroll to the Chirk Aqueduct and viaduct on the Llangollen Canal.Holtabout 6 miles
See the open-access ruins of Holt Castle and the 14th-century sandstone bridge over the Dee to Farndon.Moldabout 12 miles
A traditional Flintshire market town with a lively street market and easy access to the Clwydian Range.Oswestryabout 15 miles
Cross the border into Shropshire for an historic market town and the vast Iron Age hillfort at Old Oswestry.
Visiting Wrexham: questions answered
Is Wrexham a city?
Yes. Wrexham was granted city status as part of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022 and officially became a city on 1 September 2022, making it Wales's seventh city. It is the largest settlement in North Wales and the administrative centre of Wrexham County Borough.
What is Wrexham best known for?
Wrexham is best known for its football club, owned by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, and for the Racecourse Ground, the oldest international football ground in the world. It is also home to St Giles' Church, one of the Seven Wonders of Wales, and is close to Erddig, Chirk Castle and the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.
Can you visit the Football Museum of Wales?
Yes. The Football Museum of Wales shares the historic County Buildings in the city centre with Wrexham Museum and was due to open on 25 September 2026. The council has said entry is free but tickets need to be booked in advance, so check the latest booking arrangements and opening hours before you go.
How far is Wrexham from Chester and Llangollen?
Chester is about 12 miles from Wrexham by road, around 20 minutes by car or by train from Wrexham General. Llangollen is about 11 miles to the south west, a drive of roughly 25 minutes, and regular buses link the two. Both make easy day trips from a base in Wrexham.
What can families do in Wrexham?
Families can meet the farm animals at Tŷ Mawr Country Park, explore Alyn Waters Country Park, run off energy in Erddig's free parkland and natural play area, or walk across the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. In the city, Tŷ Pawb runs regular free and low-cost activities, and the new museums make a good rainy-day option.
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