Bangor Student City Guide
Bangor is best known for its picturesque landscape and its breath-taking historic attractions. Despite being one of the smallest cities in the UK, Bangor has more to offer than you would expect, as a result of its significant student population. You’ll find you can everything you need is within walking distance.
Whether you enjoy spending your evening in a pub or prefer having a fancy dinner, Bangor has everything you’re looking for, especially outdoor sports and sight-seeing.
Get social
Apart from Sea Dog, the city has plenty of options to offer as to where to hang out with friends, study or have dinner with your bestie:
Restaurants
Clena
Clena, a bar/restaurant located just a 6-minute walk from Bangor Uni and rated 4.5 stars on Trip-Advisor. Serving a fusion of International, British, Welsh and Mexican cuisine, cocktails, coffees and more from breakfast till dinner. Want a restaurant that's accessible, has free WiFi and offers outdoor seating? Look no further! Clena has private dining for intimate gatherings and allows reservations. Come on down to Clena for some delicious food and fun times!
Clio Lounge
Clio Lounge is an affordable and highly-recommended restaurant in Bangor and only a 6 minute walk from Bangor Uni. Their all-day menu is packed with delicious, well-cooked British and Vegetarian dishes, including tapas, mac-n-cheese and hash browns. Open daily from 9 AM to 11 PM, it's a great spot to grab a coffee or a meal.
Kyffin Deli
Kyffin is a vegetarian and vegan deli in Bangor, known for its creative and delicious dishes like sticky singer cake and sweet potato and cashew patties. They use fresh, local produce to make their meals and also serve coffee, tea, and fair-trade products.Cafes
Domu
Domu is a vegan coffee house and tea salon in North Wales with a friendly community feel. They have a Ukrainian roadside café concept that offers simple and fresh daily changing menus. Highly recommended are the peanut butter pretzel bites with a pot of Mumbai chai.
Whistlestop
Whistlestop on the Pier is the go-to spot in Bangor for exceptional food served from a charming kiosk on the pier. With local produce all over the menu, including Menai Mussels and Seafood Chowder, and a spectacular location looking out to the water from the pier, it's the perfect place to snack and relax on the weekend. Open Fridays to Sundays from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm.
Blue Sky Cafe & Taproom
Blue Sky Cafe & Taproom is the number 1 ranked cafe in Bangor on TripAdvisor. It's incredibly easy to find, just off from the busy High Street and only a 10-minute stroll from Bangor University. They offer locally sourced coffee and delicious food all day long.Bars
Cube
Visit Cube Bangor with your friends to enjoy different areas and music choices played by four DJs. Experience diverse events every week, from student nights to 'It's a Vibe' on Saturdays. Offering VIP entry, table bookings for small and large groups and many events through out the year. And if you are look for part time work, the Cube offer job vacancies.
The Skerries
The cozy Little Pub in Bangor has a rustic look and friendly atmosphere, with a large beer garden. It's a great spot for live music and bands, featuring a monthly rock night run by Aardvark Rock Disco and North Wales Metal with free entry.Be Entertained
As well as our top pick, the Pontio Centre, Bangor has loads of entertainment options. The most popular with students include:
Academi
Academi is Bangor’s very own student venue! In fact, this venue works in partnership with Bangor’s University union to provide the best student nights you could ever ask for.
Pontio Centre
Pontio Centre is a social club which includes a cinema, theatre, lecture theatre, exhibition spaces, bar, and café.
Canolfan Brailsford Sports Centre
Canolfan Brailsford Sports Centre is the university’ sports centre which include two storey gym, performance gym, state of the art fitness equipment, sports halls, climbing wall, squash courts and a brand-new sports dome which is home to indoor netball and tennis courts.Go Shopping
Even in such a small city, the shopping-scene can’t be missed, especially if you’re student!
Deniol Shopping Centre
Deniol Shopping Centre has over 20 shops with a great choice of food, gifts, clothes, and everyday essentials at affordable prices. In addition, it is very easy to reach since it’s close to the bus station!
Bangor Local Market
Bangor Local Market takes place every Friday on Bangor High Street. Here you will find a great variety of stalls, with fresh products coming from local Welsh producers.Go Exploring
Being one of the oldest cities in Wales, Bangor certainly has some beautiful attractions to visit:
Penrhyn Castle
Penrhyn Castle is a 19th century castle situated between Snowdonia and the Menai Strait. Its exquisite and alluring architecture does not go unnoticed at the top of its quarry, and the woodland and open parkland that surround the castle make it a great place to explore.
Bangor Cathedral
Bangor Cathedral is one of the city’s focal points. The cathedral dates to the sixth century and has a unique history. Today it is also well-known for its stunning music and organ recitals. It is an outstanding work of architecture with beautiful wooden carvings and gorgeous stained-glass windows.
Storiel
Storiel is an art gallery and museum which showcases Bangor’s history. It displays art from as far back as 1884, and it has an assorted collection which is inspired by the country’s culture and landscape and contains portraits of notable individuals of Wales.Get outdoors
Bangor is surrounded by nature and has stunning views for you to get lost in!
Cwm Idwal National Nature Reserve
Cwm Idwal National Nature Reserve is a popular hiking attraction, it takes a couple of hours to reach the end of the path but the breath-taking view of the reserve’s mountains and the lake in the centre is totally worth the effort!
Clwb Golff St. Denio Golf Club
Clwb Golff St. Denio Golf Club is a gold club with over 120 acres of grassland. It has an 18-hole course and is surrounded by views of mountains and valleys, islands, and wildlife that all reward golfers with stunning sights.
Snowdonia National Park
Snowdonia National Park is the perfect location for a short trip outside of Bangor. Situated just over 10-miles outside of Bangor, this park has some of the highest mountains with the best views on offer.Earn money
Even though Bangor is not as expensive as some other major cities in the UK, you might still consider getting a job or having a side hustle. Many students find a job within the university as student ambassadors or university application mentors: apart from gaining some relevant skills such as learning how to handle groups, working under pressure, and managing other students, you’ll gain some extra money that’ll help you to better enjoy your university experience.
Need a side-hustle with maximum flexibility? You could try part-time tutoring or becoming a web writer. Since the pandemic, opportunities to work remotely are now plentiful; the content creation and writing industry are always looking for people for just a few hours per week. According to The Balance (2022), the best platforms to find a job are Indeed (overall) and LinkedIn (best for connecting directly with recruiters). You can also check out StudentJob specifically for jobs suitable for students.
