For a small island measuring just 275 square miles, Anglesey certainly manages to fit quite a lot in. This includes a number of popular Anglesey towns which are jam packed with historic structures, family attractions, natural wonders and quirky local stores which won’t be found anywhere else.

If you are new to the island, we thought it might be helpful if we put together a guide highlighting the best towns in Anglesey to visit so that you can start to plan days out that the whole family can enjoy. Let’s start out by looking at Anglesey’s main town which is located on the North Shores of the island…

What is the Main Town in Anglesey?
The main town on Anglesey and perhaps its most famous is Holyhead. This is the largest on the island both in terms of area and size of community. It’s also famously an historic port town, with Holyhead Port being one of the main links between the UK mainland and Ireland, handling more than two million passengers every single year.

However, Holyhead is much more than just a stopover town on Anglesey. It’s also a great destination for a day out on Anglesey with plenty of its own visitor attractions, popular eateries and a varied shopping district made up of household brands and quirky local artisans.

It should come as no surprise to learn that one of the town’s most popular museums revolves around the port and the various seafaring activities which have taken place in the region. Holyhead’s Maritime Museum is located just half a mile away from Holyhead Port in the towns former lifeboat station which is said to be the oldest in Wales.

Built in 1858, the building was turned into a museum in 1986 with a view to providing tourists with a breakdown of the heroic efforts of the lifeboat personnel who have served here and the many other seafaring activities to have taken place in the surrounding waters. More recently, the museum has turned its neighbouring former bomb shelter into an exhibit detailing the role the town and its people played in the two world wars of the 20th century.

For many Anglesean’s, Holyhead is also their main weekly shopping destination with the town being home to major supermarket chains such as Asda, Tesco, Morrisons, Aldi & Lidl. Those who are looking to feed their shopaholic tendencies will love the main high-street in Holyhead though where you’ll find plenty of bespoke local entrepreneurs and artisan’s offering everything from clothing and beauty products, through to personalised gift hampers and geeky household accessories such as Harry Potter themed cushions and tableware.

You can make a real day of it here, with there also being plenty of cafes and restaurants in Holyhead to choose from. This includes the Harbourfront Bistro which resides next to the Maritime Museum and allows diners to enjoy sensational sea views as they dine on freshly caught fish dishes including fish & chips, fish pies and lighter bites such as tuna or prawn sandwiches. There are also plenty of gastropubs to choose from including the Marston’s owned Standing Stones which offers an extensive selection of British and international classics.

History Lessons in Beaumaris
Beaumaris town is another Anglesey destination which is perfect for a family day out thanks to two of its historic landmarks. The most impressive of these is of course the beautiful Beaumaris Castle which sits at the centre of the town and is famous for being the greatest castle never built. This is due to the hugely ambitious initial designs which pushed the castle well over budget and King Edward I’s perceived need to divert funds towards the invasion of Scotland which was raging at the same time as his Welsh crusade.

Nevertheless, a total of £15,000 had been spent on the construction of the castle by the time the project was halted in 1330, which is the equivalent of over £13.5 million in the modern day. This was enough to construct the majority of the armaments including including the realisation of the wall within wall design philosophy, twelve towers, two gatehouses and moat which is still present to this very day.

You can’t fail to be impressed by this remarkable castle which has been described by UNESCO as one of the finest examples of 14th century military architecture in Europe. You will also be able to tour the building and make your way to the top of the towers where you can enjoy breathtaking views overlooking the wider Anglesey region.

Another historic visitor attraction in Beaumaris is the town’s Gaol, which is Welsh for “Jail”. This was opened in 1829 and at its peak housed up to 30 inmates at a time. Tourists are given the opportunity to learn about the brutal treatment that inmates would have faced during the period, including the two executions that were held at the facility.

Other attractions worth taking advantage of in Beaumaris town include the SPC Gins Distillery tours, Beaumaris Pier and the sea safaris which are available to take from here across to Puffin Island.

Other Anglesey Towns Worth Visiting
While Holyhead and Beaumaris are out top picks of Anglesey towns worth visiting, there are a number of other destinations that are also worthy of consideration. This includes Menai Bridge which is home to the picturesque Plas Cadnant Hidden Gardens and fun Pili Palas Nature World which is the perfect attraction for anyone who is looking for things to do with children on Anglesey.

Another great town in Anglesey is Amlwch, another port town on the North shores of the island. Alongside the Amlwch harbour, tourists can also pay a visit to Copper Kingdom Museum which tells the story of the copper miners who worked in the area during the 18th and 19th century when Amlwch was one of the most important industrial towns in Wales

Amlwch is also a great destination for golf enthusiasts as it is home to Bull Bay Golf Club, an 18 hole Herbert Fowler designed championship golf course where players can also enjoy panoramic views looking across to the mountains of Snowdonia and also across the Irish Sea towards the Isle of Man.