If you think the name of the town above is long and challenging to pronounce, wait until I tell you there’s an even longer version that goes like this: Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch!
Although the town’s name is often abbreviated to Llanfairpwll or simply Llanfair PG, it’s the longer form that made the place famous, as it is the longest official one-word place name in Europe, and the second longest in the world. As you can imagine, in the age of social media, hardly a day passes without visitors stopping to take a selfie in front of the iconic railway station sign — or even attempting to read it.
Llanfairpwllgwyngyll is located on the Isle of Anglesey in North Wales, beside the Menai Strait, and there may be no better definition than “a small place with a big name”. But it is also a community proud of its language and heritage — and a destination that has plenty to offer visitors beyond its quirky fame.
Photo Credits
Photos of Menai Bridge and Britannia Bridge are from the Wales Asset database. © Hawlfraint y Goron / © Crown copyright (2022) Cymru Wales. Additional credits can be found on individual photos.
All the other remaining photos are property of Mathieu Gasquet / We Travel Wales.
How to Pronounce ‘Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch’, and its Meaning
Llanfairpwllgwyngyll on its own means “St Mary’s Church in the hollow of the white hazel.”
The full version — Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch — means “St Mary’s Church in the hollow of the white hazel near a rapid whirlpool and the Church of St Tysilio near the red cave.”
The extended form adds references to the whirlpool in the Menai Strait (known as the Swellies) and to the small chapel of St. Tysilio, located on a nearby island. The final -gogogoch (“red cave”) is apparently an addition inspired by the Cardiganshire parish of Llandysiliogogo (a community in the county of Ceredigion) and not by any local features.
The true author as well as the date of the longe version has never been officially confirmed, and a few variations on the name have existed throughout the years.
Why create such a name, you may ask? Well the long form was the idea for a publicity stunt in the Victorian era when railway tourism started to expand rapidly. To give the station the longest name of any railway station in Britain would be though to attract visitors and, spoiler alert, it worked! Today the village welcomes around 200,000 visitors per year.
As mentioned at the beginning, the 58-character name Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch is the longest one-word place name in Europe, and the second longest in the world. The top spot is held by Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu, located in New Zealand, with 85 characters.
Things to See and Do in and around Llanfairpwllgwyngyll
In the village, make sure to stop at Llanfairpwll Railway Station, where several signs display the full name of the town — giving you a one-of-a-kind photo opportunity. There’s a convenient car park and a shop where you can pick up souvenirs, including the inevitable T-shirt or hoodie emblazoned with the long name. The shop also has a small restaurant, so that’s lunch sorted.
Apart from the train station, there aren’t many sights to visit in the village itself, other than a few shops and St Mary’s Church (the “Llanfair” in the name), located just beyond the bustle of the station and village centre. The good news is that this area isn’t worth visiting only for the long name — there are quite a few attractions nearby, all within a short drive.
The first place I’d recommend is the Marquess of Anglesey’s Column, only a four-minute drive or a twenty-minute walk from the train station. This 27-metre-high Doric column stands in woodland on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Menai Strait. It was erected in 1817 to commemorate Henry William Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey, who played a key role at the Battle of Waterloo. You can climb its 115 steps for unparalleled views of the Menai Strait, the bridge, and the mountains of Snowdonia National Park.
The second place lies a bit further south and is ideal if you enjoy gardens and stately homes. Plas Newydd, managed by the National Trust, offers an ample car park, toilets, a shop, and a café serving hot food and drinks. The vast and beautifully maintained gardens and woodlands are perfect for gentle strolls in nature — and if you’re lucky, you might spot a red squirrel!
The view of the house on the edge of the Menai Strait alone makes it worth the visit. Inside, you’ll find a blend of military history, theatre, and art, including an impressive mural painted by artist Rex Whistler — one of the largest and most celebrated murals in the UK.
Just west of Plas Newydd lies another site for history enthusiasts: the Bryn Celli Ddu Burial Chamber (“Mound in the Dark Grove”), one of Anglesey’s most famous prehistoric landmarks. Completed in the late Neolithic period (around 2000 BC), it features a narrow passage leading to a small octagonal chamber where human bones, arrowheads, and carved stones were discovered during excavations in 1928.
If you visit at sunrise on the summer solstice, sunlight shines directly down the tomb’s passageway to illuminate the inner chamber — a remarkable feature of this ancient cairn.
North of Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, you’ll find Pili Palas Nature World, a wonderful family attraction home to meerkats, spiders, snakes, and a tropical house filled with butterflies fluttering freely around you.
Finally, the Menai Strait, which separates Anglesey from mainland North Wales, is also worth exploring. There are several viewpoints, walks and two iconic bridges — the Britannia Bridge and the Menai Suspension Bridge — as well as numerous small offshore islands. You can even take a boat trip to explore the strait from the water.
quick facts about Llanfairpwllgwyngyll
- The railway station has been in existence since 1848.
- The village community remains vibrant: as of the 2021 census, around 2,900 people live there, the majority of whom speak Welsh.
- A few well-known actors have connections to the town. English actress Naomi Watts lived there as a child, and Welsh actor Taron Egerton went to school there.
Best Time to Visit
The station is open all year round, so any time of year is a good time to see the iconic signs displaying the town’s name. Other nearby attractions may have reduced opening hours in the off-season and during winter — for example, Pili Palas Nature World is closed during the colder months.
Useful Information When Visiting Llanfairpwllgwyngyll
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Public Transport: The railway station is served by the North Wales Coast Line and North Wales–South Wales services, offering direct connections from Cardiff, Shrewsbury, Chester, and all the way to Holyhead. Various local bus services also operate, including routes 4A, 42, and X43. Read more about Public Transport in Wales.
Car Parks: There is parking available at the station, as well as another car park at 2 Ffordd Caergybi. Note that there are no EV charging points in the village.
Public Toilets: Available at the railway station and inside the shopping outlet/café area.
Marquess of Anglesey’s Column: Entry is £5 (or £3 for ages 5–17). The site is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day except Mondays. There is a café, toilets, an internal car park for disabled access only, and a drop-off point. The main car park is located just below and can be accessed on your left from the A5 road as you leave the town (see location on Google Maps). You then walk through the woodland from the car park to the column — it’s a short walk but please note that the terrain is uneven.
Plas Newydd House and Garden: Entry is £14.30 for adults and £7.20 for children. Free for National Trust members. More information is available on the National Trust website.
Bryn Celli Ddu Burial Chamber: Free entry. There is a small gravel car park along the Pont Y Crug Isaf road (Google Maps). From there, it’s a 10-minute walk, clearly signposted.
Pili Palas Nature World: Open from late March to late October. Entry fees are £12.95 for adults and £11.95 for children. See the Pili Palas website for details.
Menai Strait Cruises: Check Seacoast Safaris for more information about exploring the strait by boat.
