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If you're looking for a fun and different day trip in a stunning natural landscape, Wrexham (Wrecsam in Welsh) is one of the best options in Wales.
The fourth-largest town in Wales, Wrexham is situated near to a number of stunning Welsh mountains and is easy to get to from anywhere in North Wales or North West England. Read on to discover some of the most interesting things to do in Wrexham in 2020.
As Britain continues its recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, more places across the country are reopening.
Where is Wrexham? Wrexham is situated in Wrexham county and is in easy driving distance of some of northwest England's biggest cities. The A483 is the main road into Wrexham from England, and it only takes just over an hour to drive from Manchester or Liverpool. As lockdown restrictions ease in Wales, Wrexham has some great places to explore and visit.
Image © Stevep2008 on Flickr, under a creative commons license.
Located just a few miles south of Wrexham is a site of international acclaim. The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct near Llangollen is the longest aqueduct in the UK and the highest canal aqueduct in the world with a height of 38 metres. The aqueduct offers some of the most stunning views in North Wales. It makes for a great family day out; you can walk over the aqueduct, or even hire a private boat to traverse the canal.
Pre-coronavirus there were public boat trips available, but these are not running for the time being. The walk can be a little scary for those who aren't a fan of heights, but the incredible views are definitely worth it. The car park and other facilities such as toilets are also open.
Located just three miles north of Wrexham, Alyn Waters is the largest park in the area, spanning 400 acres. The park is split in two by the River Alyn, and you can access it by car parks on either side in Gwersyllt and Llay. It's easy to find whichever type of walk you love by following the paths throughout the parkland. There are river walks, walks through woodland, and grassland trails.
Some of the facilities are currently closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, such as the visitor centre. However, the car parks and toilets are open and visitors are encouraged to explore the grounds as its' large open spaces make social distancing easy during their visit. The park is free to enter and car parking is also free until the end of September.
Image © David Merritt on Flickr, under creative commons license.
Erddig House was built in 1687 and is widely regarded as one of the best stately homes in the UK. Unfortunately, the main house is currently closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the beautiful gardens and park that surrounds it are ready to welcome visitors. Stretching over 1,200 acres, the landscaped grounds are a lovely place for a family walk, amongst many other things. Grab a picnic and eat it by the lake or take a look at the unique 'cup and saucer' waterfall.
Like Chirk Castle, Erddig is owned by the National Trust and many of the same coronavirus guidelines are in place. You need to book at least a day in advance of your visit, and inside areas are currently closed. However, there are toilet facilities available, as well as a takeaway cafe.
Enjoy some of Wales' best bike trails at Coed Llandegla. Whether you're an experienced rider or a total beginner, there's something for everyone with their fantastic range of bike paths and trails. If you don't fancy travelling on two wheels, there's also easily-accessible walking paths throughout the forest. Coed Llandegla offers a great opportunity to get some family exercise in the open air of North Wales. Located a 20-minute drive from the middle of Wrexham, there are brilliant views to see in and near the forest.
The visitor centre, toilets, and bike shop have all reopened with social distancing, although bike hire is currently unavailable. If you plan to come to the forest on a weekend, then you need to pre-book online, although weekday visits do not require any pre-bookings.
Image © Glen Bowman on Flickr, under a creative commons license.
Chirk Castle is an imposing fortress, located on a hill ten miles south of Wrexham. The Castle is located in beautiful surroundings, with a well-kept five-acre garden one of its star attractions. It has a huge estate where you can find ancient trees and even wild ponies. With its rich history and picturesque scenery, Chirk Castle makes for a fantastic family day out.
The castle itself is currently closed, but the garden and estate are open to visitors. There are also toilets which are open and an outdoor restaurant. You must book in advance on the National Trust website before going to the castle - tickets are £8 for adults, £4 for children, and £20 for family bookings.
Image © Wikipedia, under a creative commons license.
You may have noticed a theme running through this article - in Wrexham, you're absolutely spoilt for choice when it comes to brilliant walking routes. All of the sites featured in this list are a very short drive away from Wrexham in Wales, showing you don't have to go far at all for some of the UK's best scenery. Hope Mountain is no exception to this; with a height of 330 metres and only seven miles from the middle of Wrexham, this is a great trip to see the beautiful views of North Wales. There are plenty of different walks available that cater to whatever difficulty you'd prefer. If you don't fancy a walk, there's a car park at the top of the mountain, too, although there are no toilet facilities.
Both kids and adults will love this fun laser tag adventure, located in Llandegla, just outside of Wrexham. With their outdoors course and long-range laser guns, this is a top choice for kids' birthday parties or other fun events. Llandegla Laser Combat will be reopening on 2nd August, and have put in place guidelines to ensure you can have as safe and fun an experience as possible. These provisions include no shared food (though you're welcome to bring your own) and strict social distancing. There are toilet facilities as well as car parking available. If you're looking for a way to celebrate a birthday or just let off some steam this is a great option just a few miles from Wrexham.
Image © Unsplash.
This aqua park and playground is located just a twenty-minute drive away from the centre of Wrexham and is perfect for under 5s. Kids can splash about in the water umbrellas and the water spouts in the park, or play at the nearby playground. The park is on the banks of the River Dee, meaning there are some stunning views to take in too. There are some parking facilities at the park, although there are no toilet facilities.
This exciting new experience is one for the future, as Xplore! hasn't yet opened in their new town centre location. Formerly known as Techniquest Glyndwr, Xplore! plans to open sometime in 2020, dependent on coronavirus restrictions. The Discovery Centre is a brilliant family day out; it's a great place for kids to learn and engage with science, as they run lots of exciting events for kids to see and do. While it's not exactly certain what Xplore! will look like when it opens, the previous version was one of the most popular things to do for families, and it will definitely be well worth a visit. Keep an eye out on their Facebook page for new updates and to find out what facilities are available.
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