Barry

Travel Guide

Barry
Photo by Jason Thomas
Photo by Jamie Moore
Photo by Melanie Hartshorn
Photo by Melanie Hartshorn
Barryis the largest town in Wales.It is packed full of maritime and industrial history, but most visitors know itbest for the seaside resort of BarryIsland that sits at its southern tip. Barry is far from beingall beach, beach, beach, but, if its sand, fun and amusements you seek, it canprovide it by the bucketful!

Barryis located just 5 miles west of Cardiff Airport in the Vale of Glamorgan. Youcan almost smell the fresh sea air as your plane touches down into the airport,and it won’t be long before you are feeling the sand between your toes.

For Those Whodo Like to be Beside the Seaside

Blessed with beautifully spacious sandy beaches atWhitmore Bay, Jackson Bay and the Old Harbour, Barry also boasts a delightfullylong pebbled beach that stretches all the way from Knap Point to the mostsouthern point of mainland Wales.This stretch of the coast has a phenomenal tidal range of 15 metres, whichmakes for plenty of room to enjoy the sand.

The young, and the young at heart, will love Barry Island. It’s theperfect place to take in the sun, build a sandcastle, fly a kite, treatyourself to ice-creams, gorge yourself on candy floss and enjoy the promenade,adventure golf courses, amusements, shops and funfair rides.

The south-facing beach of Whitmore Bay ranks as one ofthe finest in Wales,with its sweeping crescent of perfectly golden sand. What’s more it is easilyaccessible to wheelchair users and protected from the roads by a widepromenade, so children can play quite safely here.

Barry Island:Home to Gavin & Stacey

Fans of the hit BBC TV show Gavin & Stacey candiscover ‘what’s occurring’ (and seewhere it occurred) on tours around the town. You can take in all the famouslocations, from Gavin’s home in TrinityStreet to the ‘slots’ arcade where Nessa worked, and relive all your favouritemoments.

Barry Beyondthe Beach

For sporting fans there are three fantastic eighteenhole golf courses nearby and many live football and rugby matches just a shorttrip away in Cardiff.

Nature lovers will enjoy the Welsh Hawking Centre,where there are more than 200 birds of prey, or taking a walk throughPorthkerry Country Park, which offers the tranquillity of 220 acres of woodlandand meadows. Sheltered in in a valley that gradually winds its way down to asecluded pebble beach flanked by spectacular cliffs, the park offers a realchance to get away from it all.

Enjoy Barry

With its industrial and maritime heritage, stunningbeaches, scenic walks, bustling seaside and sporting facilities Barry offers a lot ofsomething for everyone. Fancy a trip?

Where to stay in Barry

Rhoose

3.5/5(55 area reviews)

Rhoose is noteworthy for its bars, and you can make a stop at top attractions like Watch House Beach and Porthkerry Country Park.

Rhoose

Saint Athan

Gourmet restaurants interesting history and top sights from Watch House Beach to Limpert Bay – discover Saint Athan, a destination also famous for its shopping.

Saint Athan
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Llancarfan

Llancarfan might not have many top sights, but Barry Island Beach and Barry Island Pleasure Park are two attractions nearby that you can check out.

Llancarfan

Porthkerry

Visitors to Porthkerry enjoy its restaurants, and if you want to do some exploring, Porthkerry Country Park is worth a stop.

Porthkerry

Penmark

Travellers like the monuments in Penmark, and Penmark Castle is a top attraction you might want to visit.

Penmark

East Aberthaw

Though East Aberthaw may not have many top sights, you can venture to the surrounding area to see attractions like Watch House Beach and Barry Island Beach.

East Aberthaw
The Mount Rooms
The Mount Rooms
4 out of 5
Porthkerry Road, Barry, Wales
The price is S$74 per night from 31 Mar to 1 Apr
S$74
includes taxes & fees
31 Mar - 1 Apr
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Barry. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
7.6/10 Good! (901 reviews)
"Great place to stay for a few days. I was looking for somewhere just outside of Cardiff for a few days for a break on my way down to London, turned out to be a very convenient stay and great value too. My room was nicely heated, comfortable bed, good water pressure and clean. The Hotel has a nice ..."

Reviewed on 22 Mar,2025

The Mount Rooms
Celtic International Hotel Cardiff Airport
Celtic International Hotel Cardiff Airport
3 out of 5
Port Road, Barry/Cardiff, Barry, Wales
The price is S$123 per night from 29 Mar to 30 Mar
S$123
includes taxes & fees
29 Mar - 30 Mar
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly hotel in Barry. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
8/10 Very Good! (660 reviews)
Pleasant stay
"Lovely night stay, room was comfy and spacious. The staff were brilliant friendly and polite, I had the best chicken wings I've ever had the main and dessert were average but fairly priced, would definitely stay again."

Reviewed on 24 Mar,2025

Celtic International Hotel Cardiff Airport
Three Horseshoes
Three Horseshoes
4 out of 5
Moulton, Barry, Wales
The price is S$156 per night from 20 Apr to 21 Apr
S$156
includes taxes & fees
20 Apr - 21 Apr
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly inn in Barry. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and a garden. Popular attractions Barry Island Beach and Penmark Castle ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (98 reviews)
"This is a great country pub. The property is beautiful and the room and bathroom was absolutely spotless. We had a great evening meal and breakfast the following morning. We wouldn't hesitate to stay there again if ever we are in the area."

Reviewed on 27 Mar,2025

Three Horseshoes
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Goodstay Apartments by Urban Space
Goodstay Apartments by Urban Space
4 out of 5
Hood Road, Barry, Wales
Stay at this 4-star apartment in Barry. Enjoy free WiFi, parking (surcharge), and furnished patios. Popular attractions Barry Island Beach and Cardiff Bay are ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (28 reviews)
"Second time staying and have already booked another trip here. Won’t stay anywhere else!"

Reviewed on 1 Sep,2024

Goodstay Apartments by Urban Space
Spacious 3 Bedroom House in Barry
Spacious 3 Bedroom House in Barry
3 out of 5
10 Vincent Cl, Barry, Wales
Stay at this 3-star apartment in Barry. Enjoy free WiFi and free parking. Popular attractions Principality Stadium and Barry Island Beach are located ...
Spacious 3 Bedroom House in Barry
The Spires Serviced Apartments Cardiff
The Spires Serviced Apartments Cardiff
3 out of 5
10 Cathedral Rd, Cardiff, Wales
Stay at this 3-star apartment in Cardiff. Enjoy free WiFi, parking (surcharge), and laundry facilities. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
9/10 Wonderful! (246 reviews)
"This was a great place to stay for two nights when visiting Cardiff to watch the rugby with family. We had two apartments; they were brilliantly located, extremely functional and clean - which is exactly what we needed them to be. Luxury apartments they are not - and the price was very high because ..."

Reviewed on 16 Mar,2025

The Spires Serviced Apartments Cardiff
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Reviews of Barry

3.7
Guest rating
5 - Excellent
15
5 - Excellent 21%
4 - Good
24
4 - Good 34%
3 - Okay
28
3 - Okay 40%
2 - Disappointing
3
2 - Disappointing 4%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveller

Its a bit grotty in places, very run down, but the front is lovely

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

The hotel is in rhoose even though listed as barry great for people flying out of aiport and good location to barry,vale of glamorgan and easy reach to cardiff city centre.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Lovely clean beach, cheap parking! Would definitely recommend a visit especially for Gavin & Stacey fans! Whitmore & Jackson is a fantastic place to eat too.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Was so surprised at how lovely Barry is and how big it is - kids loved it down on the beach even in December! All rides open and again lovely friendly people .

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveller

It's a typical Welsh town, don't expect much more.

3/5 - Okay

David

Roads are awful. This is Cardiff Airport main route flying into Wales, needs a major sort out. Embarrassing.