The Welsh cathedral city has been dubbed one of the “worst seaside towns” but one YouTuber who visited was won over by one thing
A Welsh cathedral city branded one of the “worst seaside towns” has charmed a YouTuber with its unique appeal.
Despite its modest population of around 16,000, Bangor in Gwynedd didn’t rate highly for its food, drink establishments, shopping options or tourist spots. The city faced criticism for lacklustre beaches and questionable value for money.
The BBC shared that some dubbed Bangor “drab” and “run down”. Yet, locals defended their home, claiming that Bangor isn’t traditionally viewed as a coastal destination like Llandudno or Rhyl.
Bangor boasts historical landmarks such as its sixth-century cathedral, the Victorian-era university building, an iconic pier, and Penrhyn Castle. Wendall, a travel content creator on YouTube, was captivated by the city’s charm.
Strategically positioned a stone’s throw from the Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park, Bangor enjoys close proximity to stunning natural scenery. Its Pier stretches invitingly into the Menai Strait, offering views towards Anglesey and the scenic town of Beaumaris, reports Wales Online.
During a jaunt to the city’s bay, YouTuber Wendall was pleasantly surprised: “Before I came to this small city that has been given the title of the worst seaside town in Britain, I expected far worse than this, look at this idyllic setting. I’m starting to think this might be a little bit of tabloid sensationalism, even more so than other places I’ve been.”
Wendall described the scene: “This is quite idyllic, the tide is out at the moment so you have a bit of seaweed and stuff but it’s peaceful and quiet. There’s new buildings and pathways and stuff for people to walk.”
Having visited numerous seaside towns, Wendall observed that Bangor was indeed quiet and subdued, but not rough around the edges, at least not in the town centre and near the waterfront.
He said: “It’s been termed the worst seaside town and I immediately think of it like a dying holiday resort, but this isn’t actually a holiday resort, it’s a town by the water but it’s not got all the arcades, all the empty holiday parks, I think that title is misleading.”
Wendall also explored the renowned Garth Pier, which stretches 1,500 feet (460m) in length, ranking it as the second-longest pier in Wales and ninth-longest in Britain. The YouTuber praised its beauty, saying, “This is beautiful.”
Fellow YouTuber Ed Chapman shared a similar sentiment about the pier. In a video on his own channel, Ed remarked: “Now, this looks beautiful that we’re heading towards here. Sun’s starting to set now, getting to golden hour, and we’re heading onto the pier, which does look beautiful. It looks a little bit more sort of traditionally seaside-y.”
Gazing out over the water from the pier, Ed added that the view was “impressive” and “glorious” before dubbing the pier “lovely”. Later in the video, he expressed his admiration for the university, calling it a “nice” building and “very sort of Hogwarts”.
Ed was left “very surprised” by the city and said Bangor, in his opinion, wasn’t the UK’s worst seaside town and “pretty underrated”. After the survey results were announced, Bangor City Council hit out at the poll.
A council spokesperson responded: “It’s disappointing to see Bangor City named as one of the UK’s worst seaside towns. Such rankings often fail to capture the full picture and the unique charms that make Bangor City so special.”
The council highlighted local gems like the Storiel Gallery and Museum, Pontio Arts Centre, and the city’s cathedral. Defenders of the city also weighed in on YouTube.
One commenter asserted: “I’m Bangor born and bred. We are NOT a ‘seaside town’ and have never been one.”
Another clarified: “We are a very small university city beside the sea. We are not geared up to be a seaside town – that’s places like Llandudno and Rhyl. We’ve never had a sandy beach and they are shoring up the sea defences down there atm [at the moment], which is a massive job. Bangor is the gateway to the mountains.”