A Welsh cathedral city scorned as one of the “worst seaside towns” won over a YouTuber with its stunning surroundings, despite scathing reviews. With a population of approximately 16,000, Bangor in Gwynedd was poorly rated for its cuisine and shopping options, along with tourist attractions. The beaches and value for money in this city also received criticism.
The BBC noted that some detractors labelled Bangor as “drab” and “run down”. Nonetheless, locals defended the city, noting that it’s not traditionally considered a seaside resort like Llandudno or Rhyl.
The city is renowned for its historical landmarks including a sixth-century cathedral, the 19th-century university building, its grand Victorian pier, and the majestic Penrhyn Castle. YouTuber Wendall visited and was charmed by what he found.
Situated near the breathtaking Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park, Bangor also offers views from Garth Pier across the Menai Strait towards Anglesey and the charming town of Beaumaris.
On his channel, Wendall explored the bay of the city remarking: “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.
“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.
“I’ve been to all sorts of seaside towns and Bangor, it’s probably just a bit quiet and dead. But it’s certainly not rough, not in the town centre and near the water anyway.
“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 visited the city’s famous Garth Pier. At 1,500 feet (460 m) in length, it is the second-longest pier in Wales and ninth-longest in Britain. The YouTuber said: “This is beautiful.”
Fellow YouTuber Ed Chapman also praised the city’s pier. On a video on his own channel, Ed said: “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.”
Looking out over the water from the pier, he 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 coastal city and believed Bangor was significantly underrated, stating it shouldn’t be deemed the UK’s worst seaside town. After survey results labelled Bangor among the UK’s least appealing seaside destinations, Bangor City Council fiercely defended its reputation.
A council spokesman lamented: “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 also highlighted local attractions like Storiel Gallery and Museum, Pontio Arts Centre, and the city’s cathedral to showcase the positives. Youtube commenters rallied behind Bangor.
One commenter expressed: “I’m Bangor born and bred. We are NOT a ‘seaside town’ and have never been one.”
Another clarified the city’s identity, adding: “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.”