Wrexham’s Renaissance
Currently one of the coolest places on planet Earth (just ask most travel journalists!), Wrexham is a great destination for a day out, short trip, or extended holiday. There is a wealth of things to see and do in this historic city, so we’ve compiled this list of 5 iconic things you really shouldn’t miss whilst you’re here!
“THE GLORY OF THE MARCHES”
Climb St Giles Tower
Climb the 149 steps of a winding stone staircase to the top of St. Giles Parish Church Tower, one of the Seven Wonders of Wales, to enjoy heart-stopping panoramas from the top into the city centre and over the surrounding countryside. From here, you can get up close and personal with carved stone faces, and you can see as far as the Berwyn Hills, the Mersey Estuary, and the Cheshire Plains. Visit the Ringing Room to see the 300 year-old bells, the only peal of 10 bells in North Wales, and learn about the ancient art of bell-ringing.
Weather and general conditions permitting, Tower Climbs are at specific times, generally on the first Saturday of each month, between April and September (click here for additional information, and to book, or ring 01978 292015). Don’t miss out on a tour around the magnificent church too, regarded as the best example of ecclesiastical architecture anywhere in Wales.
MUSIC TO SOOTHE THE SOUL
Wrexham Symphony Orchestra
Nothing beats the thrill of a live musical performance. As you sit in a concert hall, listening to the beautiful strains of classical music carrying to the heavens, so your heart and soul are lifted, too. Founded in 1969 by the late Bryn Williams, initially as The Clywedog Ensemble, and becoming Wrexham Symphony Orchestra in 1992, the 60-plus strong ensemble has a residency at the prestigious William Aston Hall on the Glyndŵr University campus.
Image (c) Stephen Cain
With ambitious musical programmes, the Wrexham Symphony Orchestra regularly attracts professional guest conductors and esteemed soloists, and performs a number of extremely popular concerts at William Aston Hall throughout the year. Click here for information about forthcoming concerts and to book tickets.
Upcoming performance dates;
Sunday 10 December 2023 at 3pm - “Christmas with WSO”
Sunday 25 February 2024 at 3pm - “Italy and the Eternal City”
Saturday 4 May 2024 at 7.30pm - “Bohemian Nights”
Saturday 20 July 2024 at 7.30pm - “Music from Home”
FEED ME ‘TIL I WANT NO MORE
Visit Wrexham Lager Brewery Shop
Image (c) Dylan Jones - Shoot from the Trip 2023
Founded in 1882 by German immigrants Ivan Levinstein and Otto Isler, Wrexham Lager Brewery became one of the most famous in the UK. Wrexham Lager was exported all over the world, and was the only lager served on the ill-fated Titanic. In the decades that followed, the brewery underwent several mergers and changes in ownership, which ultimately led to its decline in the year 2000. The brewery was demolished, and a retail park built in its place, with only the original Brew House, now a Grade II listed building, surviving.
Fast forwarding to recent times, local MP and former microbiologist at Wrexham Lager, Martin Jones, negotiated with then-owner Carlsberg for the ownership of the brewery. Working together with the Roberts’, a local family with businesses in Wrexham, the brand was revived, with the building of a new state-of-the-art premises in the centre of the town and ex-head brewer, Ian Dale, overseeing operations. The story of Wrexham Lager is not just about beer; it's about the people who made it, the communities that supported it, and the resilience of a brand that refused to die. As we raise our glasses to this iconic Welsh beer, let us toast to its past, present, and future success. Iechyd da, Wrexham Lager!
UP THE TURF! A LEGEND IN IT’S OWN RIGHT
Visit The Turf Hotel
This legendary pub next door to The Racecourse football ground is well-known the world over and has been serving drinks and offering a warm and friendly welcome to football fans and visitors alike, for over 150 years. Wrexham Football Club memorabilia adorns the walls, and the atmosphere on match days is electric.
Image (c) The Turf 2023
Complete with dart board, juke box, and pool table, this proudly traditional pub is also busy outside of match days, popular with students, tourists, and passengers from the nearby train station, too. So come along and enjoy a pint at the spiritual home of Wrexham fans, and drink in the history of this pub and its Club!
Visit their new website at; https://the-turf.co.uk/
WE ARE WREXHAM!
Take in a Match at Wrexham Football Club
Of course, no visit to this city would be complete without taking in a match at Wrexham Football Club. The oldest in Wales, and the 3rd oldest in the world, this club has a well-earned place in the annals of footballing history.
Remember that famous FA Cup victory against Arsenal at The Racecourse in 1992 for instance, and THAT wonder-goal from local hero, Mickey Thomas? The goal is one of the most famous in the history of the club, and the victory has been described as “one of the greatest FA cup giant killings of all time.”
Following those halcyon days, the club spent a number of years wallowing in the footballing doldrums, and at one point, even had to be saved from closure by its loyal fans, who raised £100,000 in just 7 hours to save it from closure at the beginning of the 2011/2012 season.
Nowadays, the club is enjoying a renaissance, having been acquired by Hollywood actors, Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, and winning promotion to the Football League following a long absence of 15 years. Don a shirt or scarf in the famous colours of the Red Dragons and join fans to sing and shout your heart out and experience the Welsh passion that stirs within the heart of this wonderful club!
Resilience and Creativity
Wrexham has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years. This has been mainly due to the allocation of city status as part of Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, its bid to be the 2025 City of Culture, and the Hollywood acquisition of the city’s famous old club, all of which have attracted a surge of investment, development, and cultural activity to the area.
The city of Wrexham has emerged as a vibrant and dynamic destination, offering a range of attractions and amenities for residents and visitors alike.
Come and see for yourself!
