Things to do in Beaumaris: castle, boats and where to eat
What to do in Beaumaris with a group: the castle, Puffin Island boat trips, Penmon Point, where to eat and where to park.
Beaumaris is a small castle town on the south-east edge of Anglesey in North Wales. Most things to do in Beaumaris sit within 400 metres of the same car park. You get Beaumaris Castle, a Victorian pier with boats to Puffin Island, a coast path in both directions, and more pubs than you might need.
We wrote this guide for groups. It works for three generations heading for the castle, or for anyone who needs a table for 16 on a Saturday. It also helps if you are comparing places to stay in Beaumaris, from dog friendly cottages in Beaumaris to large holiday homes on Anglesey. We list our homes near town at the end. Our Anglesey holiday cottages cover the rest of the island.
Where is Beaumaris?
Beaumaris sits on the east coast of Anglesey in North Wales. The Menai Strait opens out towards Puffin Island. About a 10-minute drive from Menai Bridge and two hours from Manchester or Liverpool. The nearest station is Bangor, with buses over the bridge into town.
How do you pronounce Beaumaris?
Most people say bew-MAR-iss, with the stress in the middle. The Welsh name is Biwmares. The name comes from the Norman French beau marais, which means fair marsh. That is a kind way to describe the wet ground Edward I chose for Beaumaris Castle.
The best things to do in Beaumaris
| What | How long | Cost | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beaumaris Castle | About 90 minutes | £10.40 per adult | Dogs on short leads on the ground floor |
| Beaumaris Pier | 30 minutes, longer with a crab line | Free | 570 feet long; boat trips leave from here |
| Puffin Island boat trip | About 75 minutes | About £21 per adult | Daily April to October, weather allowing |
| Penmon Point | Half a day | Toll on the last stretch of road | Lighthouse, café and the best view of Puffin Island |
| Lleiniog Castle | Short | Free | Motte-and-bailey castle, 2 miles from town; steep paths |
| Castle Street shops | Depends on your card | Varies | Independent shops, galleries and Red Boat ice cream |
How long do you need to visit Beaumaris Castle?
Allow about 90 minutes for Beaumaris Castle. That is enough time to walk the wall passages, climb a tower and look down into the moat. Edward I started it in 1295. The money ran out by the 1320s, so the towers never reached full height. Cadw calls it the greatest castle never built. Fair enough.
Is Beaumaris Castle National Trust, and is it dog friendly?
No. Cadw looks after Beaumaris Castle, so a National Trust card will not help. Dogs are welcome on short leads on the ground floor. Adult tickets are £10.40 until March 2027, and 5% less online. From November to February it opens 10am to 4pm.
Beaumaris Castle is on the UNESCO World Heritage list with Edward I's castles at Caernarfon, Conwy and Harlech. A family ticket for two adults and three children is £33.30. Times and prices are on Cadw's Beaumaris Castle page.
Puffin Island boat trips and Penmon Point
Boat trips to Puffin Island leave from the kiosks by Beaumaris Pier.
Starida's Puffin Island cruise takes about 75 minutes. It runs daily from April to October. It costs about £21 per adult, and well-behaved dogs go free. Seacoast Safaris sails from the same spot.
Nobody lands on the island, because it is protected. You circle it with binoculars and a commentary.
Grey seals live at the east end of Puffin Island all year. Puffins come ashore to breed from April to about mid-July. Later in summer it is a seal trip with seabirds, which is still a good afternoon.
Penmon Point is the east tip of Anglesey, about 4.5 miles from Beaumaris on the coast path. The Trwyn Du lighthouse has stood there since 1838. The Pilot House Café was once cottages for the lighthouse pilots. It serves breakfast and lunch with views of Puffin Island. The last stretch of road is a toll road.
Penmon Point image © Suzanne Read
Can you walk from Menai Bridge to Beaumaris?
Yes. The Wales Coast Path links the two towns. About 5 miles. It starts beside the busy A545, then follows quiet lanes through Llandegfan and a stretch of gorse. It ends with a steep hill down into town. Guests at Fferm Fach have asked us this one; the smallholding sits just off the path.
Where to eat in Beaumaris
Book ahead for dinner in Beaumaris. The town is small and the best tables go first. The Bull is a 15th-century coaching inn, and the Liverpool Arms dates from 1706. Bishopsgate is a Georgian townhouse hotel with an AA Rosette restaurant. For a Michelin star, Sosban and the Old Butchers is 10 minutes away in Menai Bridge.
The rest of the restaurants in Beaumaris, from sit-down meals to a cone on Castle Street:
- The Bulkeley Hotel has four places to eat under one roof, from Hansoms restaurant to a coffee house with a terrace. Food is served from 7.30am to 9pm, and dogs are welcome in the dining rooms.
- The Midland is a tapas and wine bar, good for a group that wants to share dishes.
- Harry's Bistro does British and European food. Book ahead.
- The Liverpool Arms and the George and Dragon are the pubs for a pint after the castle.
- Pier House Bistro is on the seafront, for lunch with a view of the water.
- Beau's Tea Rooms serves bara brith and tea in proper cups.
- Red Boat makes Italian-style gelato on Castle Street.
Where can a large group eat in Beaumaris?
If you need a big group, hotel dining rooms are the best places to seat everyone in Beaumaris. The Bulkeley alone has four places to eat. Ring rather than book online. For a bigger party, book a private chef. One Y Delyn group did this and asked for an early check-in so the chef could set up.
Where to stay near Beaumaris
If you are looking for places to stay in Beaumaris, Birch has five homes within reach.
Y Delyn
Y Delyn, a Beaumaris cottage on Chapel Street, sleeps 8 and is a walk from the castle and dinner, with a courtyard pizza oven for nights in.
Craig Y Don
Craig Y Don, on the Menai Strait between Menai Bridge and Beaumaris, sleeps 20 and was made for big birthdays: spa, two hot tubs, cinema room and a garden down to the water.
Fferm Fach (Siren & Copa)
Couples get two shepherd’s huts at Fferm Fach in Llandegfan: Seren has a wood-fired hot tub, Copa has alpacas over the fence.
Tan Y Fron
Tan y Fron sleeps 16 above the sand at Red Wharf Bay, with an 8-person hot tub.
Y Delyn, Craig Y Don, Seren and Tan y Fron all take dogs.
Bringing a group to Beaumaris?Tell us your dates and how many of you there are, and we'll find the home that fits.
