Recently I visited the seaside town of Barry in South Wales. It’s a very accessible place to visit as there are direct trains from Cardiff and it’s not far from the M4. It’s a great place for a day trip or a longer visit as there is plenty of accommodation. We stayed in the Mount Rooms when we visited. There are plenty of places to eat too from cheap and cheerful to upmarket eateries like The Shed. What is there to see and do in the town?
Stacey’s House
Barry is perhaps best known for its connection to the hit TV series Gavin and Stacey. You can take a walk up Stacey’s road (if you have strong legs as it’s very steep) and have your picture taken outside Stacey’s house. It’s easy to find and it’s marked on Google Maps too.
Barry Island Pleasure Park
Located on a Barry Island (was an island, now a peninsula), the funfair is a fun place to spend some time. As ever with fairs, it isn’t particularly cheap, but you can save money by buying tokens in bulk. It’s gloriously tacky and there is plenty to enjoy for all ages. Attractions include a rollercoaster, log flume, dodgems and a waltzer. As well as the rides there are funfair favourites like candy floss to enjoy.
Marco’s Cafe
Another filming location from Gavin and Stacey. You can even have your picture taken and pretend you are part of the gang. Or get a drink, or bite to eat before a walk on the beach or a trip to the funfair.
Whitmore Bay
Right at the front of Barry Island, Whitmore Bay is a huge crescent of golden sand. It’s ideal for families to have fun in the sun, with its wide, gently shelving sands. The promenade with its columned colonnade is full of busy cafés, fish and chip shops, amusement arcades.
And you can even hire one of the iconic traditional beach huts too. Other favourites include the bouldering wall and a water feature beloved by children and dogs alike.
Parade Gardens and Knap Lake and Gardens
There are some very pleasant walks to be had through the Parade Gardens and onto Knap Lake. Knap Lake and Gardens is an ideal spot for a leafy stroll in the sunshine or a picnic on the grass. Swans and ducks live on the lake at its centre, which is also a favourite spot for model boat enthusiasts. The gardens back on to a wide flat promenade which leads on to the pebbly beach at Cold Knap Bay.
There’s lots to see and do in Barry, South Wales. It’s an old fashioned, traditional seaside resort that has that usual seaside brashness. That said there are some lovely spots to escape the crowds. We were there for a couple or nights and found plenty to do – we could easier have filled a few more days too. If you want a change from Barry, you can easily get into Cardiff or explore other seaside towns on the same coast like Penarth.
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