Trains to Barry Island
Whether you have fond memories of Barry Island from family holidays as a child or love to visit the locations from Gavin & Stacey, there’s lots to enjoy in Barry and Barry Island. Only a short jaunt from Cardiff, and with the ultimate seaside attractions, taking a trip to Barry Island is a great way to spend a weekend.
Getting to Barry Island
Getting to Barry Island for a day out with your friends and family is easy on CrossCountry routes. Reaching Barry from Cardiff only requires changing to a Transport for Wales train at Cardiff Central station, taking around 45 minutes. You can get to Cardiff Central Station on a variety of CrossCountry routes, including from Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol, and more.
About Barry Island
Barry is a seaside town in the Vale of Glamorgan, and Barry Island is a seaside resort on the peninsula of Barry. It used to be a real island (hence the name!), but since the docks were built in the 1880s the town of Barry has expanded to include both the mainland and the former island. Known as Ynys y Barri in Cymraeg, Barry Island has become a truly beloved seaside town with arcades, independent shops and cafes, gorgeous beaches, and of course the Pleasure Park!
Barry was once home to a Butlins resort, open for 30 years until it eventually closed in 1996. Although the Butlins resort has now shut down, the Pleasure Park and seaside attractions on Barry Island make it a holiday and day-trip favourite for families all over Wales and the rest of the UK.
You might know Barry Island from the hit BBC sitcom Gavin & Stacey, as a lot of the show is set and filmed around Barry. What you might not know is that plenty of other TV shows and movies have been filmed around this seaside town, including Doctor Who, Being Human, and Submarine. Taking a trip to Barry means a great opportunity to spot filming locations from some of your favourites.
Things to Do in Barry Island
Barry Island is famous for being a seaside destination, so why not make the most of the gorgeous summer sunshine and hit the beaches, arcades, and Pleasure Park attractions? Barry Island Pleasure Park has been entertaining tourists in South Wales for over 100 years and now has more than twenty attractions; including three rollercoasters to make you scream with delight! With trampolines, pedal boats, rides for younger children, as well as log flumes, dodgems, and big rides for older children and grown-ups. There’s plenty to keep the whole family entertained!
Aside from the Pleasure Park, there are attractions like the Barry Tourist Railway, Barry War Museum, and countless arcades. If you fancy a more lowkey beach day, and especially if you’re visiting outside of the summer season, Barry has plenty of gorgeous sandy beaches to explore. Whitmore Bay and Jackson’s Bay are both stunning golden coves, perfect for seaside walks. Cold Knap Bay is a smaller, more pebbly stretch of beach where people love to fish, windsurf, and go exploring in the rock pools at low tide.
If you’re a Gavin & Stacey fanatic, you’ll love identifying filming locations like Gwen’s house, Marco’s Café, Nessa’s arcade, and the sea wall on Barry beach. Book yourself onto a Gavin & Stacey tour or simply walk around Barry to see the sights yourself – either way your day is sure to be “tidy”.
