Llangollen
A small riverside town in the Dee Valley, about 12 miles from Wrexham, with steam trains, horse-drawn canal boats and a castle on the hill.
Llangollen is one of the easiest and best day trips from Wrexham. It sits on the River Dee in Denbighshire, about 12 miles south-west of the city, and packs a lot into a compact town: a medieval bridge, a heritage steam railway, a canal with horse-drawn boats, a Gothic house with a famous story and a ruined castle on the skyline. The world-famous Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is just down the valley on the way home. For the full picture of the town, see our network guide at llangollen.com.
Getting there from Wrexham
By road. The drive takes around 25 minutes. Head south on the A483 towards Ruabon, then follow the A539 west through Trevor into Llangollen. You can also come in along the A5 via Chirk. There are pay and display car parks in town, but they fill up on summer weekends and during the Eisteddfod, so arrive early.
By bus. Arriva service 5 runs from Wrexham bus station to Llangollen via Ruabon and takes about 40 minutes. Daytime buses are frequent. TrawsCymru's T3 also links Wrexham and Llangollen on its way to Corwen, Bala and Barmouth. Timetables change, so check before you travel and see our buses and trains guide.
By train. Llangollen has no mainline station. The nearest is Ruabon, one stop from Wrexham General on the Shrewsbury line, and you can pick up the number 5 bus from Ruabon for the rest of the way.
Things to do
Llangollen Bridge
The stone bridge over the Dee is the heart of the town and one of the traditional Seven Wonders of Wales. There was a crossing here by 1284, and the present bridge probably dates from the 16th or 17th century, extended in 1863 for the railway and widened again later. It is Grade I listed. Stand on it to watch the river rushing over the rocks below and the steam trains at the station beside it.
Llangollen Railway
This volunteer-run heritage line runs 10 miles up the Dee Valley from Llangollen station on Abbey Road to Corwen, calling at Berwyn, Glyndyfrdwy and Carrog. The extension into a new Corwen station opened in 2023. Trains run from mid-February to early November, with Santa Specials in December, using a mix of steam engines and heritage railcars depending on the day. Check the timetable and fares on the railway's website before you go.
Horse-drawn boats and the Horseshoe Falls
From Llangollen Wharf, a short uphill walk from the bridge, horse-drawn boats run along the Llangollen Canal. Choose a 45-minute return trip or a two-hour cruise out to the Horseshoe Falls, the graceful curved weir Thomas Telford built at Llantysilio to feed water from the Dee into the canal. This stretch beyond Llangollen is narrow and only open to the horse-drawn boat, which makes it a gentle, quiet trip. You can also walk the towpath to the falls. Booking ahead is recommended; call 01978 860702 or book online.
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct boat trips
Thomas Telford and William Jessop's aqueduct opened in 1805 and carries the canal 39 metres (127 feet) above the Dee on 19 arches. It is the centrepiece of an 11-mile World Heritage Site, listed in 2009, running from the Horseshoe Falls to Gledrid near Chirk. The Llangollen Wharf narrowboat Thomas Telford takes you from town and across the aqueduct, while Anglo Welsh runs shorter trips from Trevor Basin at the far end. Both are seasonal, so check dates before you go.
Plas Newydd and the Ladies of Llangollen
In the late 18th century two Irish women, Lady Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby, set up home together here and turned a plain cottage into a Gothic fantasy of stained glass and carved oak. The "Ladies of Llangollen" became a sensation, and visitors included Wordsworth, Sir Walter Scott and the Duke of Wellington. Denbighshire County Council runs the house as a museum. The gardens are free and open daily from 8am until sunset. In 2026 the house is open daily until 31 October, 11am to 4pm, with tickets at £9 for adults and £7 for children aged 5 to 16 (family tickets available). Check before you go, as times and prices change between seasons.
Castell Dinas Brân
The ruined castle on the hill above town was probably built in the 1260s by Gruffydd ap Madog, prince of Powys Fadog, inside an Iron Age hillfort. Its defenders burned and abandoned it in 1277 during Edward I's invasion, and it was never rebuilt. The hill is about 321 metres high and the climb from town is steep, but the views over the Dee Valley are worth it. It is free and open all year. Wear sturdy shoes and take a waterproof.
The International Eisteddfod
Every July since 1947, singers and dancers from around the world have come to Llangollen for the International Musical Eisteddfod, founded to help heal the wounds of the Second World War through music. A young Luciano Pavarotti competed here in 1955. The 2026 festival ran from 7 to 12 July at the Royal International Pavilion, ending with the Choir of the World competition. The town is busy that week, so book travel and parking early.
Valle Crucis Abbey
About two miles north of town on the A542, this Cistercian abbey was founded in 1201 and is cared for by Cadw. It makes an easy add-on to a Llangollen day. Read more in our Valle Crucis Abbey guide.
Food and drink
Llangollen is well set up for day visitors, with cafés, tearooms, pubs and ice cream along Castle Street, Bridge Street and the riverside. Several places have tables looking over the Dee. On busy summer weekends it pays to eat a little earlier or later than the lunchtime rush.
Make a day of it
A good plan is a morning train to Carrog or Corwen and back, lunch in town, then a horse-drawn boat to the Horseshoe Falls or a walk up to Dinas Brân. Stop at Pontcysyllte or Trevor Basin on the drive back to Wrexham. If you have a second day, our full Llangollen guide has more ideas.
Where this information comes from
Checked against the sources below in October 2026. Opening times, timetables and prices change, so check before you go.
- Llangollen Railway
- Llangollen Wharf horse-drawn boats
- Denbighshire County Council: Plas Newydd
- Cadw: Valle Crucis Abbey
- Pontcysyllte Aqueduct World Heritage Site
- Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod
- bustimes.org: service 5 Wrexham to Llangollen
- Wikipedia: Castell Dinas Brân
- Wikipedia: Llangollen Bridge
Llangollen: questions answered
How far is Llangollen from Wrexham?
About 12 miles. It takes around 25 minutes by car via the A483 and A539, or about 40 minutes on the Arriva number 5 bus from Wrexham bus station.
Can I get to Llangollen by train?
Not directly. The nearest mainline station is Ruabon, one stop from Wrexham General, and the number 5 bus runs from Ruabon to Llangollen. The Llangollen Railway is a heritage line running from Llangollen to Corwen.
How do I get to the Horseshoe Falls?
Take the two-hour horse-drawn boat trip from Llangollen Wharf, or walk the canal towpath west from the wharf. The falls are a curved weir built by Thomas Telford to feed the Llangollen Canal.
When is the Llangollen International Eisteddfod?
It is held every July. In 2026 it ran from 7 to 12 July at the Royal International Pavilion. Check the Eisteddfod website for future dates.
Is Castell Dinas Brân free to visit?
Yes. The castle ruins are free and open all year. The climb from town is steep, so wear sturdy shoes and bring a waterproof.