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17 Captivating Things to Do in Beaumaris

On 19February2020
By Heather

Beaumaris is a beautiful town on the southeast side of the Isle of Anglesey. With a famous UNESCO castle anchoring the end of town, the main street lined with historic buildings and shops, you can easily spend an enjoyable day here. There is so much to do, though that you can spend days here and not do everything there is do in Beaumaris. Here are 17 captivating things to do in Beaumaris to help you plan your next visit.

Beaumaris Castle

This near-perfect concentric castle is the largest and last one built by King Edward I. Even though it was never finished; there is so much to see in Beaumaris Castle. It was built on a marsh, and the name Beaumaris came from the Norman-French builders who called it beaux marais, which translates as “beautiful marshes.” If you are an explorer, you’ll love all the nooks and crannies that are in abundance in and around the castle walls. There are little surprises for the kids to find, and the views from the castle walls are breathtaking.

If you visit the castle early, you can beat the crowds during the afternoon. The castle’s open hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. During August, the castle stays open until 6 p.m. From November to February, the hours change to 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The admission fee is £7.30 for adults.

Royal Anglesey Yacht Club

On my first visit to Beaumaris, I was fortunate to witness a sailing race on the Menai Strait. The Royal Anglesey Yach Club had one of their races running, and I was able to watch it along with hundreds of other spectators along the bank of the Menai Strait. When the wind blew strongly, it was impressive to see all the sailboats with their masts leaned over sharply. If you plan your visit on the weekend, you might get to see one as well.

Beaumaris Pier

Beaumaris Pier is where you will find crowds of people crab fishing, sightseeing, or waiting to board boats for cruises on the Menai Strait. This pier has been active since 1846 and was extended to 570ft in 1872. At the beginning of the dock, you can purchase tickets for all the sightseeing cruises. And on the weekends, you will be hard press to find a spot to do some crabbing as they are already filled by families laughing it up catching crabs.

Crab Fishing

Crab fishing is a sport that is relatively new to me. Newly introduced to it on my first visit to Wales, this activity is fun to do and watch. I can’t tell you how many smiles I saw on kids who did not have a phone in their hand. And there is some skill needed or at least knowledge that has been passed down from generations on how to be efficient at crabbing.

Menai Strait

The Menai Strait is a narrow strip of water that separates the Isle of Anglesey from Wales. An interesting thing about the tidal flows through the strait is that it changes direction depending on the rising or lowering of the tides. Which can make strong currents and passage for small boats challenging. During the morning, the tide is out, and you see more ground than water. But, by the end of the day, water stretches out to touch each shore.

Puffin Island Cruise

One of the must-do activities while visiting Beaumaris is to take a Puffin Island Cruise. There are a few boat companies that offer tours around the island. The tour lasts 90 minutes and takes you by the Penmon Lighthouse and then around Puffin Island. The tour guide will point out birds, seals, and hopefully, the puffins. This boat ride is a great relaxing way to enjoy being out on the water for an afternoon.

Penmon Lighthouse

You can find the Penmon Lighthouse at the easternmost point of Anglesey between Black Point and Puffin Island. Built-in 1838 after a tragic shipwreck that took 130 lives, the lighthouse is unmanned and solar-powered. Besides seeing the tower from the water, you can see the lighthouse from Penmon Point. The point can be reached by heading east out of Beaumaris and through Llangoed. There is a toll road that you can take that will allow you to park very close to the lighthouse, or you can park for free and walk about a mile to reach the lighthouse.

Penmon Priory and Quarry Ruins

The Penmon Priory and Quarry Ruins Site can be found approximately three miles east of Beaumaris. The historic 6th-century monastery and the 12th-century church is a beautiful place to explore. The walls left standing near the Holy Well by the church is possibly the oldest remaining Christian building in Wales. Plus, a walk on the beach will provide majestic views of the Snowdonia mountain range.

Shops Around Town

Walking along the main street through town will take you past shops that leave you with an old-fashioned vibe. You can find tea shops, candy stores, boutiques, and of course, the traditional souvenir shops. Don’t forget to explore off the main street as well. You can find even more boutiques and shops. Also, you will find more historic buildings to explore and some neat photo opportunities with all the pastel-colored houses.

Don’t forget to check out the town square area by the castle to see if any special events or markets are happening. On one of my visits to Beaumaris, I was able to find a Thai vendor at the market and picked up a Pad Thai kit to remember my time in Thailand.

Beaumaris Gaol

Built-in 1829, the Beaumaris Gaol housed a total of 30 inmates at a time until it closed in 1878. You can explore the gaol at your own pace. This building is a sad place, along with being spooky. Or that could have been the lady at the entrance that told me of sightings throughout the facility. I think that knowing this put me on edge and made me a bit jumpy exploring the jail by myself. Out of all the rooms and cells, the infirmary gave me the shivers. Although walking under the door where the gibbet swung is intimidating. Exploring this jail should be on your list of things to do in Beaumaris for sure.

Cell of the Condemned at the Beaumaris Gaol

The hangman's noose location at the Beaumaris Gaol

St. Mary’s & St. Nicholas’s Church

If you haven’t explored churches in old towns, you don’t know what you are missing. St. Mary’s & St. Nicholas Church was built around 1330. The church is open for you to wander around and admire the stained glass windows, the masonry, the wooden carved pews, and the plaques and statues around the church.

Wooden pews in St. Mary’s & St. Nicholas’s Church

Baptismal in St. Mary's & St. Nicholas's Church

St. Mary's & St. Nicholas's Church in Beaumaris

Main Altar in St. Mary’s & St. Nicholas’s Church

Where to Eat in Beaumaris

Neptune Bistro

When in the United Kingdom, you have to eat Fish and Chips, and the place to get them while visiting Beaumaris is Neptune Bistro. You know it is a great restaurant when there is a line out the door, and this is an all-day occurrence at the Neptune. The fish is light with a perfect light brown crunchy coating, and you can’t go wrong with hot crispy fries. This restaurant is a great spot to catch a bite to eat while you are exploring the town.

Ye Olde Bull’s Head Inn

The Bulls Head Inn is where you can grab a pint some food in a historic 1472 Grade II building. At the informal Coach restaurant, you can see the single largest hinged door in the world. And in the pub, you can have a hand-drawn cask ale while surrounding yourself with 400yr-old antiques. The Bulls Head Inn also offers lovely ensuite accommodations right in the center of town.

George & Dragon Beaumaris

The George & Dragon pub is one of the oldest pubs in Wales since 1410. You can enjoy a cask beer while relaxing in the historic atmosphere with exposed beams and an ancient fireplace. They also have a diverse selection of food from burgers, bangers & mash, and fish & chips along with many more options.

Tudor Rose

The 14th-century house is the oldest building in Great Britain. Built around 1400, it currently houses a real estate agency. The timber-framed building looks small from the street, but the size is deceiving. The building had a grand hall room without a roof that still exists behind the office. There used to be a two-story solar wing and a north wing on the other side of the hall. The building does look a little out of place on the main street. But, I think it only adds charm to the town of Beaumaris.

Unexpected Surprises

Spending time exploring the town of Beaumaris will sometimes leave you with unexpected surprises. Especially if you are a photographer, keep it handy cause you don’t know when something will happen. When I visited, I saw vintage antique cars riding down the main street. This was neat to see the vintage car in front of the old 14th-century buildings.

Another neat sight within the town is that it is dog-friendly. And they were out in force. While walking on the sidewalks, you will have to skirt around dogs on leashes. Some cute dogs loved the attention from people and the other dogs.

On one of my day trips to Beaumaris, the market was in the town square. But, what was the unexpected surprise is that there was an owl rescue booth that offered people to have them perch on your arm. These little birds were so adorable. And who doesn’t love owls that can turn their heads almost completely around? Such a treat to see these small animals up close.

Summary

Beaumaris should be on your destination list when visiting North Wales. With historic buildings and a spectacular natural setting, you will find plenty to photograph. And being right on the water will give you a perfect holiday at any time of the year. There are so many things to do in Beaumaris that you might have to visit over and over again as I did.

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