Manchester, UK, to Conwy Wales

I would also suggest that you pop into Chester en-route. If going to Conwy, you should also find the time to visit Llandudno. It is regrettable that on a day trip from Manchester that you will not have time to see north Wales properly. (The Snowdonia National Park lies just to the south west of Conwy).

You may also like to consider using the trains instead of driving. Train times & fares here:> www.nationalrail.co.uk (You may have to take a bus the 2 miles or so between Conwy & Llandudno).

Thank you so much for your help.

There will be four adults and one six-year-old girl. We are meeting a tour in Dublin on March 11 and flying into Manchester on March 8. Our main reason for Wales is to see Conwy Castle because my wife is a Conway, so we plan to spend the evening of March 10 there, but the two days prior are totally open at this point. We are meeting in Manchester, arriving at two different times but early in the morning. Should we go on to Chester for the that night or see things in Manchester and stay there?

Would it be best then to go on to Conwy and stay there the 9th & 10th and see Llandudno and Snowden from there? Is this an okay plan and would it be best on train or by car, considering luggage and all?

I really appreciate the help and expertise of all of you. Couldn't figure out what to do without your assistance!

Emma, you are the best! Thanks so much for your help. After lots of reading and watching videos I am going to follow your suggestions to the letter and would seek even more detailed suggestions since you know the area so well if you have the time. After several videos, no interest in Manchester. Castles, historic and pretty places are our interest. We will need to take the ferry to Dublin to meet a group the evening of the 11th.

Bed and breakfasts hopefully. One night Chester, two, Conwy.

I think Emma has a good plan (and I'm not from Chester so no bias there!). Chester Cathedral is a small one with renowned medieval choir stalls -- beautiful wood carvings you can see up close (unless there's a service). The walls are fun to walk around, and the old streets with half-timbered houses.

In Conwy we stayed at the Glan Heulog B&B just outside the town wall, an easy walk and easier parking. We liked the breakfast and friendly hosts. There are others nearby. You'll pay more and have a harder time with parking if you stay inside the walls, but it will be easier to explore this compact town. If you take the train, the station is inside the walls. We had some fun evenings in the Liverpool Arms pub at the north end of town, overlooking the harbor. Plas Mawr is a 16th-century house you can tour, very well preserved and furnished, a good glimpse into how people (well-off people, that is) lived then.

For the ferry you're presumably driving across Anglesey to Holyhead. Just before the Menai Bridge to Anglesey, if you turn south, you're not far from Caernarfon, another of the great castles, where the Prince of Wales is invested (takes office). Lots of good exhibits there. Or, just after crossing the bridge onto Anglesey, turning north takes you to Beaumaris Castle on the shore. Either castle would be an easy side-trip on the day you drive from Conwy to Holyhead if you have time. Both would probably be too much, if I had to choose I'd pick Caernarfon.

With more time, and better weather than you're likely to have next week, you could explore Snowdonia, ride one of the trains, etc. Save those for a summer trip later. Have a great time!

Edit -- I just looked at the dates on the posts above. By now your plans must be firm, so all that's left is to wish you, again, a great trip! :-)

Thanks so much to everyone for your help. We are very excited and leave in the morning for Manchester. Once we all arrive there we will take a train to Chester where we will stay three nights allowing time to see Chester, with a day trip to Conwy and Llandudno. Then on Wednesday we will take a train to Holyhead for the ferry to Dublin where we meet our tour of Ireland for dinner and to begin our week in Ireland. I will check back to see if anyone has last minute tips for us.