Barry Travel Guide

Tourist 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

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

Penmark

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

Penmark
The Mount Rooms
The Mount Rooms
4 out of 5
Porthkerry Road, Barry, Wales
The price is ₹4,440 per night from 27 Apr to 28 Apr
₹4,440
₹5,327 total
includes taxes & fees
27 Apr - 28 Apr
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Barry. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
7.6/10 Good! (910 reviews)
"Upon arrival, the gentleman on reception was very kind and helpful. He checked us in very quickly and gave us an option for breakfast in the morning but wasnt too pushy into buying breakfast, he was more than happy to locate the nearby Wetherspoons. The reception area was clean light. Once we arrived ..."

Reviewed on 20 Apr 2025

The Mount Rooms
Celtic International Hotel Cardiff Airport
Celtic International Hotel Cardiff Airport
3 out of 5
Port Road, Barry/Cardiff, Barry, Wales
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is ₹7,721 per night from 27 Apr to 28 Apr
₹7,721
₹9,265 total
includes taxes & fees
27 Apr - 28 Apr
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly hotel in Barry. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
8/10 Very Good! (664 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
The Angel Hotel
The Angel Hotel
3 out of 5
Castle Street, Cardiff, Wales
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is ₹6,015 per night from 27 Apr to 28 Apr
₹6,015
₹7,218 total
includes taxes & fees
27 Apr - 28 Apr
Stay at this 3-star eco-certified hotel in Cardiff. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and 24-hour room service. Our guests praise the breakfast and the ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (2,356 reviews)
"Very friendly front desk staff. Breakfast was a little lacking for the money. Clean comfortable room with a view of the castle right across the street. An amazing Asian restaurant easily walk to The Ivy Asia Cardiff!"

Reviewed on 24 Apr 2025

The Angel Hotel
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 Wi-Fi, 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
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 Wi-Fi, parking (surcharge) and laundry facilities. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
9/10 Wonderful! (257 reviews)
Amazing Location
"Amazing Location"

Reviewed on 9 Apr 2025

The Spires Serviced Apartments Cardiff
 Park Lane Aparthotel
Park Lane Aparthotel
4 out of 5
23-24 Park Place, Cardiff, Wales
Stay at this 4-star apartment in Cardiff. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, meeting facilities and housekeeping. Popular attractions Principality Stadium and Cardiff Castle ...
7.2/10 Good! (39 reviews)
"Great location with all the amenities"

Reviewed on 1 Dec 2024

Park Lane Aparthotel
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

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.

Cities near Barry