Barry Island (Ynys y Barri)
Barry, Glamorgan, CF62 5AJ
For the quintessential British seaside experience, head to Barry Island(Ynys y Barri) in South Wales. Here you’ll find a sandy beach, traditional fairground rides, arcade games, and cafés serving paper-wrapped fish and chips. There’s plenty for both kids and adults at Barry Island, a popular destination for British vacationers for decades.
The Basics
Barry Island is actually a peninsula, jutting out into the ocean from the town of Barry. The area became internationally known after being featured in the British TV hit Gavin and Stacey. Fans of the show can take part in a themed guided tour that visits famous filming locations.
For a dose of seaside nostalgia, browse the quirky souvenir shops in town before heading to the Barry Island Pleasure Park to ride the roller coaster or the Ferris wheel, or try your hand at the arcade games. Finish off your day with some takeout fish and chips and head down to the beach for an impromptu picnic.
Things to Know Before You Go
Barry Island is ideal for amusement park lovers and families with children.
Entry to Barry Island Pleasure Park is free but tickets and tokens are required for the rides and arcade games.
Younger children will enjoy the free outdoor climbing wall to the east of the beach.
Some rides and attractions may be closed over the winter for maintenance.
The park is accessible to wheelchairs and strollers.
How to Get There
Barry Island is located just outside the town of Barry in South Wales, about 9 miles (14.5 kilometers) southwest of Cardiff. It’s easy to walk to Barry Island from the town center. The island has its own train station, with connections to Cardiff Central and onward to London and other major UK cities.
When to Get There
While Barry Island’s beach, cafés, and Pleasure Park are open year-round, the area is most popular during the summer months, when the weather is most pleasant. Keen walkers will enjoy the beach and surrounding coastal paths at any time of year.
Explore Cardiff City
Only a 25-minute drive from Barry Island is Cardiff, the capital of Wales. Here you’ll find a motte and bailey castle dating from the 11th century, an open-air museum dedicated to the traditional Welsh way of life, and all the usual big-city amenities, from shops and restaurants to hotels and Principality Stadium, the home of Welsh rugby.
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