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Universities in Bangor

What’s student life like in Bangor? Discover more about studying here, the university facilities and things to see and do.

CONTENTS

  1. Why study in Bangor?

  2. About Bangor

  3. Bangor University

  4. Living in Bangor

  5. Entry requirements 

  6. Transport links 

  7. Getting around Bangor

  8. Things to do in Bangor

Why study in Bangor?

If you’re looking for a small university town surrounded by beautiful scenery with loads of sporting opportunities including surfing, Bangor could be the place for you.

About Bangor

Bangor has a large student population so it’s a friendly, sociable place to live and study. Positioned on the north coast, it’s the oldest city in Wales, with plenty of beautiful sea views and a historic atmosphere to soak up.

In the other direction you’ll see views of Snowdonia National Park and Mount Snowdon, the tallest mountain in Wales. Well connected to other locations, you’re only an hour away by train to Chester.

Bangor University

Bangor University is a public university in Bangor, Wales. Bangor has a particularly good reputation for teaching music as well as celtic studies.

Location

Set between the mountains and the sea, most university buildings are located in the city centre and  Upper Bangor.

Facilities

Bangor University boasts lots of on campus facilities such as bars, a café, shop and the Pontio centre, a social hub complete with cinema and theatre. It also has one of the largest university-based archives in the UK.

Living in Bangor

University accommodation is guaranteed to all first-year students who apply within the deadline. You’ll have a choice of halls with different room options including living in a designated hall that’s alcohol-free, female-only, quiet or for Welsh-speakers. Living in student halls makes it easier to meet people and includes perks like 24/7 on-hand support, WIFI, bike storage and access to nearby facilities like gyms and learning centres.

From the second year onwards, you’ll move into private accommodation. It’s a good idea to think about this during the second half of first year so you have more options. There are strong student communities in Ffriddoedd Village, St Mary Village and Lower Bangor.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements vary from uni to uni and course to course – the best way to check what you need to get into your preferred course at each university is to use our course chooser and see what each course’s entry requirements are.

Transport links

Average train journey times from Bangor

Bristol  5 hours
Cardiff   4 hours 30 mins
London 4 hours
Manchester 2 hours 30 mins
Glasgow 5 hours 30 mins
Birmingham 3 hours 20 mins

Getting around Bangor

As Bangor is a small city, it’s simple to get around on foot or by bike. If you want to travel outside the city, there are train and bus links. Liverpool and Manchester are around two hours away by train. 

Walk

The cheapest, healthiest, and easiest way is often to walk from a to b in Bangor, taking in the beautiful Welsh scenery as you go. The university website has details of routes between student accommodation, campus, and the city centre. 

Cycle

Cycling around the city is relatively straight forward with downloadable cycling routes available from the university website. You could also join the university cycling club if you want to explore the local area with fellow students.

Train

Bangor train station is in the city centre and offers local and national services. Chester is about an hour away; London will take about four hours and Cardiff takes four and a half hours. 

Bus

There are two bus services in Bangor, Arriva and Padarn. Both run from the bus station in the centre and will take you out and about in Bangor and beyond. To plan your journey, check out Traveline Cymru.

Other

There are various taxi companies in and around Bangor if you ever need one.

Things to do in Bangor

There are plenty of things to see and do in Bangor with a wealth of outdoor activities to enjoy. Lots of good charity shops if you’re after a bargain, independent stores, and places to eat and drink, with bigger retail chains and entertainment in nearby Llandudno.

Outdoors

Bangor is famous for its beautiful coast line. You can wander down Garth Pier, voted pier of the year 2022, taking in the seaside views in a peaceful atmosphere. Just across the Menai Bridge from Bangor is the picturesque island of Anglesey, a great place for hiking, cycling, and enjoying beach life. Llyn Peninsula is also worth a visit if you’re into surfing or other water sports.

If you fancy some mountain air, head for Snowdonia National Park. Mount Snowdon has plenty of different routes on offer, so you don’t need to be an expert hiker to get to the top. There’s also a mountain train for non-hikers and the less able. Other attractions include Zip World Fforest and Dolgoch Falls although with 25 miles of mountains, lakes, and rivers to explore, there’s plenty of opportunities to create your own highlights.

Food and drink

There are lots of independent cafes, bars and pubs along Bangor’s high street. Popular student hang outs include Domu, Kyffin, Woodfire Shack, Harp Inn and Blue Sky Café amongst others. Fish and chips always taste better by the sea and there are lots of traditional Welsh treats to try like bara brith (fruit cake) and Welsh rarebit (fancy cheese on toast).

Arts and culture

If you’re into history and fancy a castle, you’re in luck. Penrhyn Castle is a short bus ride away from the city centre and Caernarfon Castle and Conwy Castle are not much further away. The Pontio Arts and Innovation Centre on Bangor University campus itself is great for live events, cinema, music, comedy, and art. If museums are your thing, Gwynedd Museum & Art Gallery and the Amgueddfa Gwynedd Museum, both offer a window into Bangor’s past.

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