I was lucky enough to spend 3 years at the University of Wales Bangor so when the kids were little we decided to return for a long weekend with the kids and explored some of the many attractions within easy reach of Bangor in North Wales. There is so much to do and explore with the kids but with just a short time to explore where would we pick to visit again with preschoolers? So here we go our guide to the Top 3 Attractions to visit with preschoolers in North Wales.
Top 3 Attractions to Visit with Preschoolers in North Wales
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Finding the top 3 was easy, I know that my kids love nature and with Anglesea with its amazing beaches plus a couple of animal-themed attractions the first and the one that we choose and returned to twice was Anglesea Sea Zoo.
The area is rich in history, both more modern and more ancient, knowing the areas Beaumaris Castle a medieval castle which is fairly intact and you can walk inside see the rooms and the moat still has water in some areas is perfect for kids to explore.
For some more modern history and also a drive through the amazing scenery that is Snowdonia we headed to Llechwedd Slate Caverns an interactive Victorian Mining Museum and one that I remember from my childhood and this time around my kids loved as well.
If you have older children as well you may want to check out these things to do in Snowdonia with kids from Mini Travellers for even more inspiration.
Anglesea Sea Zoo
Anglesea Sea Zoo is a small aquarium so it is an easy visit for preschoolers with little legs but it has a great selection of different creatures and my favourite a model of the Leatherback Sea Turtle the species that I worked with for 3 years in Costa Rica.
The bonus is that under 3’s are free so T went free and we got their family ticket with 2 adults and 1 child saving us some money. At the time it was just over £20 – please check the Anglesea Sea Zoo site for up to date prices and opening times.
Inside they are exhibits of the local marine life, including some of the local shark and ray species plus a touch pool that children can explore. Handling the sea creatures helps children to understand them more and with fantastic staff that can explain a little more about the sea life that you can see it’s a great way for children to learn (and they don’t even realise that it’s happening).
If it’s a rainy afternoon and you want to do something for a short while in the dry then this is a perfect time to visit.
Beaumaris Castle
Beaumaris Castle is a medieval castle run by Cadw and using your English Heritage Membership you can go in for FREE!
Join English Heritage Today!
Why not join English Heritage today and enjoy visiting Beaumaris Castle as well as many other attractions around England, Scotland and Wales. Just click on the image below.
It also forms part of the Castles and Town Walls of Edward I UNESCO World Heritage site in North Wales alongside Caernarfon, Conwy and Harlech Castles.
Built in the late 13th Century by Edward I it is a wonderful castle to explore with the kids.
On the island of Anglesea, the castle is positioned so that there is a sea dock and from the battlements, the coastline of North Wales and Bangor can be seen as well as out into the Irish Sea.
Open daily (apart from Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day) there is plenty of opportunities to explore the grounds, visit the exhibits and walk through the passageways and into the rooms of the castle.
It is a little bumpy walking and the passageways and stairs are steep but with care, we were able to climb up to the battlements and walk around the top of the castle as well as explore the inside parts of the building and see the rooms were the people of the castle lived.
Llechwedd Slate Caverns
Moving forward a few hundred years from the building of Beaumaris Castle North Wales produced some of the best slate in the world and during the Victorian Era mines were found throughout the mountains.
The Llechwedd Slate Caverns was one of the larger ones, found in Blaenau Ffestiniog a little way from Bangor and through the most amazing countryside – do return via the Llanberis Pass for amazing views of Snowdon the highest mountain in England and Wales it is well worth a visit.
Llechwedd Slate Caverns is a real mix, for younger children, there is the thrill of travelling 200 feet below the surface into the caverns that run under the mountains and used to be mined.
With a tour of the caverns, you get to hear what life was like underground as told by a young lad who is just starting out in the mines at age 7.
You hear about what life was like, the conditions they worked in and what they ate. During the tour, you also get to see one of the underground lakes.
It was a very different experience than our Norweigan Silver Mine Museum which was much older and had a different sort of mine train as well. Both were amazing and the children loved them.
For the more adventurous and because you can’t head to North Wales without experiencing the outdoors there is mountain biking, Ziplines and the FIRST underground bounce house – slide, jump and climb all within the safety of the nets inside a huge cavern under the ground – there is a junior bounce for 3 to 6-year-olds.
Find more information about Slate Mountain Zip World on the site and make your bookings there.
There was also a cafe, shop and museum here where at different times during the day the kids can get to try slate splitting and as well as activities for them.
Where to Stay When you Visit North Wales
There are plenty of options on where you can stay. We chose my old university town of Bangor as our base. Check out the map below to find the best prices for hotels in and around the same area so you and your kids can visit North Wales easily.
Booking.com
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