Love Property? – Here’s Seven Historic Houses to Visit in North Wales
TPPUK posted on 2nd September 2024
If you love nothing better than immersing yourself in history, add these big old historical houses in Wales to your viewing list (although they are not for sale – they’ll delight you with prime examples of some of the best homes in North Wales). Living in Gwynedd or the Isle of Anglesey, you’re surrounded by heritage.
Whether you’re buying a home in Beaumaris or Caernarfon, in Bangor or Holyhead, there are historic houses on your doorstep, complete with landscaped gardens, imposing architecture and must-see art collections to enjoy.
These 7 historic houses in North Wales are all in the local area, or in easy reach for a day trip.
Historic Houses Across North Wales
These are just some of the North Wales stately homes and gardens you can visit locally or within 1-2 hours’ drive. We’ve provided an idea of when these historic buildings and stately homes are open, but check before planning your trip.
Located in Bangor, Penrhyn Castle looks out towards Eryri (Snowdonia). Despite appearances, this 19th Century castle’s neo-Norman architecture was built around red brick walls.
Visitors are well provided for by the National Trust at Penrhyn with its cafes, shop bookshop and adventure playground to explore alongside the gardens. This stately home is generally open from March to November from 10am to 4pm.
Grade I listed Plas Newydd on the Menai Strait calls to art lovers and gardeners alike. Once a Tudor mansion, it was remodelled by the famed James Wyatt, and later made a name for its Victorian-era house parties.
The National Trust property’s dining room mural was painted by British artist Rex Whistler’s, one of the Bright Young Things, in the 1930s. Outside, Plas Newydd’s 40 acres of fine Welsh gardens including a summer terrace and spring garden, along with an Australasian arboretum. This historic house in Wales is open between March and November from 11am to 4am.
Connect with Welsh history at Plas yn Rhiw, a 17th Century manor house that sits above Porth Neigwl (Hell’s Mouth Bay). The site was once home to Meirion Goch, a grandson of Rhodri Mawr, and remodelled by the Lewis family over the centuries. Distant relations, the Keating sisters, took it on in 1939 and started a painstaking restoration project. They revived the house and its garden, which now flourishes year-round with snowdrops, roses, fruit trees, hellebores and magnolias.
Plas yn Rhiw’s land was donated to the National Trust in 1946, followed by the house in 1952. The house is currently undergoing construction work, so keep a close eye on its opening dates, though the tearoom is open to visitors on select days in the meantime.
This excellently preserved Elizabethan town house in Conwy was completed in 1585, for the merchant Robert Wynn. Inside its 17 rooms you’ll find decorative plasterwork, period furnishings and other details that have survived the centuries. Outside, the walled garden has been restored to an Elizabethan design. Plas Mawr is open from March to November.
This sprawling 19th Century castle fell into disrepair, yet it remains Grade I-listed for its amazing medieval-style architecture. From the country house’s ruins, you can look out over the Irish Sea and acres of woodland. The privately-owned caste and estate opens daily in July and August, and on select days throughout the year. As you may know, it was also the location for some celebrities in 2020/21 but they got themselves out of there!
Travel further afield to Grade I listed Erddig in Wrexham and you’ll find the National Trust’s second-largest collection, and a rare collection of servant portraits. For 200 years, the country house’s servants were painted, photographed and written about – forming a one-of-a-kind record.
Alongside the 18th Century mansion, there’s extensive parkland set out by landscape gardener William Emes, including an avenue of trees set out along 11th Century castle ruins. Visitors can also delve into the bookshop, or indulge in a local Welsh ice cream in the tea parlour. Erddig is open year-round, though opening times vary seasonally.
Lord Langford’s Denbighshire mansion has been in the family for over 500 years. The privately owned stately home was built in the 17th Century, but its contents is older, and quite unexpected. Look out for the Egyptian sarcophagus, suits of armour and more.
Bodrhyddan Hall opens for guided tours of the house on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons between June and September.
And Finally
Whether you love a woodland walk or glimpsing the past as you walk through historic houses and gardens, North Wales has a lot to offer. If you are considering buying a house in Anglesey or Gwynedd contact us today.
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