Holyhead (Welsh: Caergybi) is a small port town on Holy Island, which is narrowly separated from the larger island of Anglesey, in north-west Wales. The town includes a small medieval church on the site of a Roman fortress, and there is some seaside scenery nearby, but otherwise it has few sites of interest; it's mainly a transfer point for high-speed ferries that cross the Irish Sea to the Dublin area.
Get in
By car
The A55 runs from Chester across Anglesey to Holyhead.
By rail
There are hourly services from Shrewsbury via Bangor with some trains starting in Cardiff or Birmingham, all operated by Transport for Wales. A once-daily Premier Service to and from Cardiff offers a higher standard with at-seat restaurant service available in 1st class. From London, there are several departures per day with Avanti West Coast.
- Holyhead railway station (Gorsaf reilffordd Caergybi), London Rd, 53.307599°, -4.631217°. Conveniently located at the harbour, the station is attached to the terminal for ferries to and from Ireland. The station has a rental car service and a small convenience store with snacks, hot drinks, and Welsh souvenirs. The left luggage office is closed as of November 2021 due to COVID-19 and construction work. 2019-03-17
By boat
- Irish Ferries sail from Dublin.
- Stena Line sails from Dún Laoghaire (Co. Dublin) (about 8 km south of Dublin city centre).
By bus
National Express and Arriva from across the UK to Holyhead
Get around
See
- Holyhead Breakwater Country Park, 53.316198°, -4.662541°. Nature trails, lake and cliff scenery
- Holyhead Maritime Museum, Newry Beach, LL65 1YD, 53.316672°, -4.635792°, +44 1407 769745.
- St Cybi's Church, 53.3114°, -4.63252°. mediaeval church. The original church was constructed at Holyhead around 540 AD by St Cybi, a cousin of St David.
- Skerries Lighthouse, The Skerries, 53.42122°, -4.60817°. Lighthouse on an outcrop of rocks North-East of Holyhead. An important breeding site for seabirds. Can be reached by charter boat from Holyhead.
Do
- Dive Anglesey, 1 Church Terrace. Scuba and snorkelling
Buy
Eat
Many restaurants in Holyhead are closed on Sundays, especially for lunch. If you're in Holyhead at lunchtime on a Sunday, your best bet is likely to be a pub or a supermarket meal deal.
- The Harbourfront Bistro, Newry Beach, 53.316852°, -4.635676°.
- Prices Fish and Chips, 2 Saint Cybi Street, 53.312801°, -4.632606°, +44 1407 762300.
- Nuha Tandoori Restaurant, 69-71 Market Street, 53.309546°, -4.63335°.
Drink
Sleep
- The Boathouse Hotel, Newry Beach (Near marina), 53.316656°, -4.645088°, +44 1407 762094. Pub, hotel, good food,
- Travelodge Hotel - Holyhead, Kingsland Road, 53.305394°, -4.631892°, +44 871 984 6342.
Go next
- Bangor – the nearest bigger town, on the Welsh mainland
- Dublin – across the Irish Sea
- Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyllllantysiliogogogoch (Llanfairpwllgwyngyll for short) – on the main road (A55), just before the bridge to the Welsh mainland
- South Stack – 3 miles away at the western end of Holy Island
- Trearddur Bay – a village 2 miles away
- Valley – a village 4 miles away