Things to do in Bangor
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Cathedral Church of St Deiniol
Also called the Cathedral Church of St Deiniol, the cathedral - surprisingly squat, partly due to lack of cash for a central spire - occupies one of the oldest ecclesiastical sites in Britain. Dedicated to St Deiniol, who founded a cell here in AD 525 and who was consecrated as bishop in AD 546, the cathedral's earliest traces are of a 12th-century stone building, while some of what you see today is based on reconstruction work in the late 13th century.
Responsibility for damage can be blamed on King John, whose men also burned the city, seized the bishop and ransomed him for 200 falcons. Further ravages took place at the turn of the 15th century, during the Glyndŵr rebel…
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Penrhyn Castle
About 1.5 miles east of town, Penrhyn Castle is a fine example of neo-Norman architecture set in beautiful grounds with parkland and wooded walks. Managed by the NT today, it was built between 1820 and 1845 on the spoils of Welsh slate and Jamaican sugar, and designed by Thomas Hopper for the wealthy Pennant family.
It's a vast, extravagant place, with a great hall modelled on Durham Cathedral in England, rooms full of Hopper's mock-Norman furniture, stained glass and hand-painted wallpaper - not to mention a one-ton slate bed built for Queen Victoria. The lofty grand staircase took 10 years to build while adjacent stable blocks are home to several galleries and mini-muse…
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Bangor Museum & Art Gallery
This museum is small in scale and not consistently well labelled, but it does offer some potent evocations of past lives in Bangor and the surrounding countryside. The furniture display boasts some glorious Welsh dressers and a colossal 17th-century dower chest. A gruesome mantrap shows that feeding the family wasn't always a doddle.
Upstairs, a compact but very-well-labelled archaeological exhibition takes you from Palaeolithic to medieval times. It's most worthwhile if you are visiting nearby sites.
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Victorian Pier
Built in 1896, the Victorian pier, with its fanciful Oriental kiosks, is a lovely place for a stroll, stretching 450m out into the Menai Strait - seemingly almost to Anglesey. In the distance you can see Thomas Telford's handsome Menai Suspension Bridge. There are several small shops, a café and you can fish here (permits around £2/£1 per adult/child).
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Papillon
An excellent deli-cum-café with a Mediterranean motif and an ethical policy of donating tips to international aid projects, this is Bangor's best place to eat by far. Aside from tapas, special deals include an Express set lunch and all-you-can-eat Italian night on Wednesdays.
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Theatr Gwynedd
Associated to the university, this excellent performing arts venue is one of four theatres in Wales with its own resident acting company. The ever-changing programme features a full schedule of drama (both Welsh- and English-language), dance, musicals and new-release films.
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Java
Located above a skate and surf shop, this is a funky, laid-back bar/eatery with wooden tables and floorboards, good music and an incongruous but welcome array of international dishes. There's also internet access.
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Harp Inn
The pick of the pubs in town has real ales and decent, unpretentious bar meals, all served in homely surroundings. There's also live music on Thursday evenings.
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Fat Cat Café Bar
A bustling bar with big leather sofas, pumping music and a younger, out-for-a-laugh crowd. The Sunday chill-out session has Sunday roasts from noon to 16:00.
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Penguin Café
This simple but satisfying café has a small menu, including breakfasts (until 11:00) and homemade pizzas to eat in or take away.
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Herbs
A relaxed café for lunch with simple but hearty, homemade fare, such as soups, sandwiches and daily specials.
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Plaza Cinema
The Plaza has a half-price deal on Wednesdays if you can ignore the fleapit surroundings.
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Bangor Museum & Art Gallery
This museum is small in scale and not consistently well labelled, but it does offer some potent evocations of past lives in Bangor and the surrounding countryside. The furniture display boasts some glorious Welsh dressers and a colossal 17th-century dower chest. A gruesome mantrap shows that feeding the family wasn't always a doddle.
Upstairs, a compact but very-well-labelled archaeological exhibition takes you from Palaeolithic to medieval times. It's most worthwhile if you are visiting nearby sites.
reviewed
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Kyffin
Hidden-gem, fair-trade, vegetarian and vegan cafe with jazz music, a cosy lounge and antique-shop fittings, plus a deli counter for lots of organic goodies. Kyffin now offers evening meals at weekends and world cinema nights with an accompanying menu.
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Cob Records
An old-school independent record shop, it has everything for vinyl junkies and serious collectors, plus a section dedicated to Welsh music.
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1815
Fresh local produce and a strong Mediterranean influence are the key themes of this lively, friendly cafe-bar. By day it's a buzzy place for coffees and snack lunches, by night it takes on more of a wine-bar vibe.
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