Liverpool to Snowdonia National Park

the name now used is Eryri National Park since names in Welsh are used.

You can get there by a combination of trains, but not one train will take you the whole way.

Trains run from all Liverpool central stations to Chester where you can change for trains to Llandudno Junction. It is an easy journey!

There you can get another train which takes you down the Conwy Valley to North Llanrwst for Trefriw or Betws-y-Coed, both of which are on the eastern edge of Eryri | Snowdonia National Park and are the nearest 'entry points' and accommodation locations to Liverpool. (The park is not like a US national park in that there is no official entry / exit point for payment etc - it just covers a large geographic area!)

From either locations you can get buses further into the park to explore!

TFW website has times etc: https://tickets.trc.cymru/#/ - search for Liverpool -> North Llanrwst or Betws-y-Coed

What part of Snowdonia are you wanting to get too? It does cover quite a large area... If you are wanting to base yourself in Llanberis (terminus for the Snowdon Mountain Railway) you would need to catch a train to Bangor and then a bus.

Or you can also get to Llanberis from Betws-y-Coed Railway Station on the hourly S1 Snowdon Sherpa bus to Caernarfon.

I’m not sure what you’re saying isn31c. That I should go to Betws y coed and then take the Railway station there to Llanberis? What is in Llanberis? And then why the bus to Caernarfon?

Rather than going to Bangor for the Sherpa bus you can alternatively go to Betws-y-Coed on the train (especially if you were going there anyway). It was mentioned above as another entry point.
Then you take the bus bound for Caernarfon from Betws-y- Coed railway station as far as Llanberis.
Llanberis is a climbers mecca. As well as the train up Snowdon there is also the narrow gauge Llanberis Lake Railway, the National Slate Museum (closed in 2025 for redevelopment), and the remains of Dolbadarn Castle. Many people can spend a week there with the many walks, some flatter than others!
Caernarfon, with its famous Castle and harbour is just 25 minutes away from Llanberis on the bus.
You also have the Welsh Highland Steam Railway at Caernarfon to show you more of Snowdonia.
Many trips possible. Another one is to use the Sherpa buses from Llanberis to Beddgelert over Pen-y-pass (Beddgelert is on the Welsh Highland). Basically do a circuit of Snowdonia by bus.

Where you base yourselves will depend on what you want to do. If you want to do some walking in the NP then Betws-y-Coed or Llanberis would be excellent bases. If you want to tour and not necessarily do mountain walking then maybe Conwy (excellent castle) or Llandudno (seaside resort) would be alternatives bases. You could take a day tour of the area from there or hire a car and do it yourself.

We have decided to stay in Caernarfon. We’re staying near the station there. But when I put in Liverpool Central it doesn’t go to Caernarfon. It goes to Bangor. But how do we get from Bangor to Caernarfon?

Caernarfon Harbour Station is only for the preserved Welsh Highland Railway.

The main line station was closed in 1970 and again in 1972 (when the town was the anglicised Caernarvon). The site is now the Morrisons supermarket. I can just remember the old station being open. We used it when I was young, as a family.
It was briefly re -opened between 1970 and 1972 after the fire on the Britannia railway bridge to Anglesey.

You now catch a very frequent bus to Caernarfon from outside Bangor Railway Station.

As always you’re very helpful. Thank you!

Maybe I should start another topic on this question but we’re going to need to get from Caernarfon to London. Probably Westminster or Waterloo area. I have no idea where to even start.

Bus back to Bangor, then one of the Avanti Bangor (started at Holyhead) to London Euston direct trains (thence tube in London) at 0920, 1315, or 1515 (weekday timings).
If those times don't suit a lot more Avanti trains to Euston start from Chester so nearly every hour there is a Transport for Wales train from Bangor to Chester, where you change to the Avanti service.
On Chester changes you normally have to go over the bridge (or use elevators) and the Avanti services start from one of the east facing bay (terminating) platforms close to the ticket barriers.
These trains are now all the brand new bi-mode Evero trains- diesel down the North Wales coast to Crewe, then electric 'under the wires' to Euston.

I think the 9:20 from Bangor will be perfect! Thank you thank you thank you

The railway station in Caernarfon today is for The Welsh Highland Railway - and it is well worth the trip.https://www.festrail.co.uk

So I had to wait to check prices for the Bangor to London Euston direct train. But the price is $115. There doesn’t appear to be a deal for advance tickets. Does this seem right? I’m looking at Thursday may 1st. The 9:20 direct train.

It's right, but it's wrong.

£89.10 is the fare, which is indeed something around $115.

However you can manually split the fare. If you do so you can choose your seats (the same seats) on the Avanti website, and just stay on the train on the same website.
Book Off Peak Single Bangor to Chester for £20.90, and an Advance Single on the 1032 Chester to Euston (the same train) for £47- a total of £67.90

If you are willing to take a bit longer over your journey you could book an Advance Single Chester to Stafford on that train for £7.50, get off at Stafford, wait for 40 minutes, then get an Advance Single Stafford to Euston for £22 on the 1152 train- a total of £50.40

Whether you think the extra half hour or so on your journey time is worth saving £17.50 is your choice.

The fares are not issued yet but if you took the 1132 LNWR semi fast from Stafford to Euston that advance fare would be £9, but take a further 15 minutes journey time- a further £13 of savings- a total fare of £37.40, but arriving at 1324, as opposed to 1235.

I will waive the commission the split ticket websites would charge you. That is how I would personally do the journey (as I am tight) but not necessarily how I would suggest a tourist should. I think you should go for the first split across Chester on the direct train- at £67.90.

Wow! I will take a look and see if I can manage It. Thank you again so much! I may still have more questions. Thank you!