Visit Brecon
Top places to visit in Brecon
Explore scenic trails, delve into rich heritage sites, and immerse yourself in vibrant arts and local cuisine. Start your adventure here and discover all the unforgettable things to do in Brecon.
Theatr Brycheiniog
Brecon Theatre
Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon’s centre for theatre and the arts was opened in 1997, and is situated in what is regarded as one of the most picturesque locations of any arts venue in the UK. Sitting alongside the canal basin in the heart of Brecon, and serving the town and surrounding areas of Powys, Monmouthshire and beyond, it is rooted firmly in the community it serves, whilst offering much for the visitor and holidaymaker.
The venue currently provides a varied programme of theatre, dance, music and entertainment in its purpose built 477 seat auditorium and 120-seat studio/rehearsal space and produces regular brochures ,which are available here at Visit Brecon. It also hosts an exhibition programme in the Gallery and has a well- stocked bar and a café. The latter is handy if you are returning to the centre of Brecon after a stroll along the canal.
A peaceful waterway
Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal
Meandering through the Breconshire countryside, the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal is regarded as one of the most beautiful and peaceful waterways in the UK.
From the canal basin in Brecon, follow the line of the Usk Valley through the Brecon Beacons’ National Park. The stretch between Brecon and Talybont- on Usk also forms part of the Taff Trail – a well- known and popular cycle and walking trail that you can follow from Brecon all the way to Wales’ capital city Cardiff.
The canal towpath is well looked after by the Canals and River Trust and provides easy walking along most of its length, with several pubs and cafes along the way to provide refreshment when you need a break.
Canal boat trips and smaller craft to hire are all available at the Canal Basin and many visitors enjoy the short trip along the canal for its tranquillity and points of interest along the way.
Castle ruins
Brecon Castle
Brecon Castle is Norman in origin and the remains of the original walls now form part of the Castle Hotel. The best viewpoint is from the pedestrianised Castle Street Bridge but there is no direct access to the site. It was the creation of Bernard de Neufmarche, who took his surname from the village of Neufmarche near Rouen, the capital of Normandy, and was of the second generation of conquerors who extended Norman influence into the Marches of Wales.
By 1093 de Neufmarche and his knights had defeated the Welsh rulers of South Wales and begun to build themselves the castles from which they intended to control their new lands. Brecon’s position at the confluence of the rivers Usk and Aberhonddu was believed to be the major influence in its siting.
Recreation
Golf
Brecon boasts not one but two golf clubs, just a few minutes’ drive from the town centre. Brecon Golf Club, situated at the western edge of the town, is a 9 hole course designed by James Braid in 1902. It is a predominantly flat and easy walking course, offering a challenging but fair test for all levels of golfer.
Cradoc Golf Club, situated 2 miles north of the town, is an 18 hole parkland course designed by C K Cotton, the designer of the Old Course at St Pierre. With stunning views of the Brecon Beacons, the course offers a challenging yet entertaining test to golfers of all abilities, and additional facilities include a 12 bay covered floodlit driving range and a 6 hole academy course.
Hub and heart
Museum, library and Art Gallery
y Gaer is Brecon’s newly‑opened cultural hub, elegantly blending the neoclassical grandeur of the restored Grade II* former Shire Hall (built in 1843) with a contemporary new wing housing Brecon Library. Inside the historic building, the refurbished Brecknock Museum & Art Gallery features a magnificent Victorian Assize courtroom, newly revealed subterranean cells, and galleries showcasing nationally important collections: archaeological treasures, regional art, local history and social heritage, including the medieval Llangors log‑boat and the historic Llywel Stone.
The building also includes a welcoming café and outdoor landscaped gardens—Captain’s Walk Gardens—offering peaceful spaces to relax and enjoy views of the Brecon Beacons. Accessibility is a key feature throughout, with full wheelchair access and a Changing Places toilet. Visit Brecon describes y Gaer as an inspirational new centre that stimulates the senses through exhibitions, art, poetry, music and informal gatherings
Please note that a Changing-Places (Disabled toilet) is available here.
Brecon Cathedral
Architecture & Heritage
From fine Georgian-style houses, to chapels & railway buildings, discover our amazing architecture that Brecon town has to offer, and more.
The cathedral has a very long history, and is described by The Pevsner Architectural Guide for Powys as ‘ pre-eminently the most splendid and dignified church in Mid- Wales’, and there are notable features that may be of particular interest to historians and visitors.
The wreath of the immortelles, (long-lasting dried flowers), which was given to the Regiment by Queen VictoriaWales’s only surviving cresset stone, from which thirty small indentations have been gouged out in neat rows. In the days, when monks residing in the cathedral were expected to rise very early, these holes were filled with oil as a means of illumination to assist them in their devotions.
Military History
The Royal Welsh Museum
The Regimental Museum of The Royal Welsh houses a fine collection of military artefacts telling the story of the local regiment which has participated in many of the great military events in our history. The museum building dates from 1805 and was originally used as an armoury for the Brecon militia.
Front and centre is the Zulu War Room where you can study the exploits of the 24th Regiment during the 1879 Anglo-Zulu War, made legendary by the film Zulu.
Displays cover the involvement of the South Wales Borderers, Welsh Regiment and Monmouthshire Regiment in the two world Wars.
A fine collection of firepower tracing the development of soldiers’ weapons from the 18th Century to the present day is also on show.
Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal
The Royal Welsh Museum
Meandering through the Breconshire countryside, the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal is regarded as one of the most beautiful and peaceful waterways in the UK.
From the canal basin in Brecon, follow the line of the Usk Valley through the Brecon Beacons’ National Park. The stretch between Brecon and Talybont- on Usk also forms part of the Taff Trail – a well- known and popular cycle and walking trail that you can follow from Brecon all the way to Wales’ capital city Cardiff.
The canal towpath is well looked after by the Canals and River Trust and provides easy walking along most of its length, with several pubs and cafes along the way to provide refreshment when you need a break.
Canal boat trips and smaller craft to hire are all available at the Canal Basin and many visitors enjoy the short trip along the canal for its tranquillity and points of interest along the way.
