5 Fun Days Out In North Wales & Chester
Wrexham is within reasonable driving distance of a number of great days out, from Chester Zoo to Snowdonia. No matter what you prefer, there is sure to be something that you will enjoy.
Here are 5 suggestions:
Chester Zoo
Chester Zoo is one of the most visited wildlife attractions in the UK, with an average of 1.9 million visitors per year. Forbes even named it one of the best fifteen zoos in the world in 2007, which shows their fantastic reputation is nothing new and goes back several years.
Spreading across a massive 125 acres, the zoo features over 15,000 animals and 500 species, from two-toed sloths and chimpanzees to Humboldt penguins and Caribbean flamingos.
Why not pay the Asian elephants a visit? Go and see the turtles and tortoises? Or maybe have a look around the Island Exhibits and see what you can find.
And there’s not just animals either.
The zoo also benefits from award winning gardens. There are wide variety of gardens for you to wander around, from the relaxing Rock Garden (which also includes a red panda) to the secluded Sunken Garden.
It’s open from 10am daily, with closing times changing depending on the time of year. Tickets can be bought in advance online, up to 9.30am on the day of your visit, or on arrival.
It goes without saying that Chester Zoo is a perfect day out for the family.

Conwy Castle
The Grade I listed building and World Heritage Site that is Conwy Castle has been standing since the 13th century. Originally designed by Master James of St George for Edward I during his conquest of Wales, around £15,000 was spent in order for this grand castle to be built.
The castle was built as part of a larger scale development of building a walled town called Conwy, and UNESCO has called it one of ‘the finest examples of late 13th century and early 14th century military architecture in Europe’. Definitely something to be proud of.
The castle benefits from unforgettable views of the sea and mountains, with plenty to explore within the castle walls and an incredibly fascinating history. Whether you just want to visit somewhere nice or learn something new, Conwy Castle is the place to go.
There are also a number of events that take place at the castle – medieval weekends, family fun days, ‘summer of stories’ – so it is guaranteed there will be something for everyone.
Welsh Mountain Zoo
Although smaller than Chester Zoo at 37 acres, the Welsh Mountain Zoo has it’s own unique features which make it just as special.
Based in Colwyn Bay, it was opened in 1963 by Robert Jackson and since then a number of enclosures have been developed, including Sea Lion Rock and Lemur Lookout.
The zoo offers visitors the chance to be a ‘keeper for the day’, where they get the opportunity to live a day in the life of a zoo keeper. Alternatively, you can go for an animal encounter instead where you can feed and learn about certain animals such as meerkats and snow leopards.
The Welsh Mountain Zoo opens at 9.30am and closing times vary depending on the season. Standard ticket prices are £12.10 for adults and £9.10 for children – further ticket prices can be found on their website.
Snowdonia
Located in mostly in Gwynedd, Snowdonia is less than 2 hours away by car. If you’re the outdoorsy type who likes a challenge, this is the place for you to visit. Here, you’ll find the Snowdonia National Park as well as Snowdon, the tallest mountain in England and Wales – both of which are perfect for an interesting walk.
There’s so much to do in Snowdonia it’s difficult to know where to start. The most obvious choice might be to head straight for Snowdon, but you could have a ride on one of the cycling trails instead. Another option would be to play some golf on one of the fine golf courses the region has to offer.
There are also plenty of heritage attractions – for example, the National Slate Museum features actual 19th century workshops – so if you are a lover of history then there will undoubtedly be something for you to enjoy at Snowdonia.
There is tonnes of detailed information about things to do during your visit on the Snowdonia website.
Day Out In Llandudno
The beautiful seaside town of Llandudno has much to offer, and is brilliant for a more relaxed day trip.
Walks on the seafront and the Grade II listed Llandudno Pier (which is also the longest in Wales) are great for just going at your own pace and enjoying architecture and surroundings. Why not pick up some fish and chips to eat as you walk along?
But it’s not just the picturesque seafront that you can enjoy.
You can see the beauty of Llandudno from above as well by going on the cable cars. Travel one mile and forty feet exactly from Happy Valley to the Great Orme, taking in the breathtaking views as you go along.
Once at the Orme, you can explore even further by using one of the footpaths, learn about its history and geology, enjoy even more stunning views and grab a bite to eat at the restaurant or cafe.
You might want to try the Alice in Wonderland trail, which follows the connections Alice Liddell (who Alice from Alice in Wonderland is based on) had to the town.
It can almost feel like a step back in time in the best way if you want it to.
In the evening, you can go and take a look at what’s on at Venue Cymru. There’s always something to go and see, whether it’s musical theatre, ballet, pantomimes or orchestral concerts.
