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

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
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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
Celtic International Hotel Cardiff Airport
Celtic International Hotel Cardiff Airport
3 out of 5
Port Road, Barry/Cardiff, Barry, Wales
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! (692 reviews)
Fantastic, but don't forget your extension lead!!
"Lovely hotel, family room was clean and spacious, although there was only 1 double socket in the room being used for the TV and kettle. Luckily I took an extension lead otherwise we wouldn't have been able to charge our phones (I know, 1st world problems!) Restaurant was lovely, cooked and continental ..."

Reviewed on 30 Jun, 2025

Celtic International Hotel Cardiff Airport
The Mount Rooms
The Mount Rooms
4 out of 5
Porthkerry Road, Barry, Wales
The price is S$73 per night from 7 Jul to 8 Jul
S$73
7 Jul - 8 Jul
includes taxes & fees
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! (947 reviews)
"It was a clean basic accommodation which is all we wanted for one night as we were out at a concert in Cardiff and it was a 5 minute walk to the train station and then 25minutes into Cardiff Central"

Reviewed on 5 Jul, 2025

The Mount Rooms
The Angel Hotel
The Angel Hotel
3 out of 5
Castle Street, Cardiff, Wales
Stay at this 3-star eco-certified hotel in Cardiff. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and 24-hour room service. Our guests praise the breakfast and the ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (2,470 reviews)
"Ideal location for visiting Cardiff, right opposite the castle. Walking distance for shops, eateries, bars, castle and museum. Hotel has no parking itself but there's an NCP just around the corner. Useful disabled access door and lift round the right hand side of the hotel. Sadly only one of the ..."

Reviewed on 4 Jul, 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 WiFi, parking (surcharge), and furnished patios. Popular attractions Barry Island Beach and Cardiff Bay are ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (30 reviews)
"Really convenient apartment for visiting Barry Island. We also enjoyed the facilities at Good sheds."

Reviewed on 21 Apr, 2025

Goodstay Apartments by Urban Space
House Sleeps 10-garden-parking-nearbarryisland
House Sleeps 10-garden-parking-nearbarryisland
2 out of 5
Barry
Stay at this residence in Barry. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a garden. Popular attractions Barry Island Beach and Limpert Bay are located nearby.
House Sleeps 10-garden-parking-nearbarryisland
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! (262 reviews)
Just the fit
"Very good location, close enough to town, but in a quiet Away close to lovely park."

Reviewed on 28 Jun, 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.