Flat green fields, then a red sandstone Roman city.
Cross the Mersey at Warrington and watch the city give way to Cheshire's fields. Chester's old streets are waiting when you step off the train.
Walk the walls the Romans began.
Walk above Chester's streets on red sandstone walls. A short walk away lie the remains of Britain's largest Roman amphitheatre.
Friday: City walls · Roman amphitheatre · Roman Gardens
The 11:25 from Manchester Airport is in Chester at 12:49, on weekdays. Timetable, 17 May to 13 September 2026
Friday and Saturday · 20 min walk from the station
Black-and-white streets, then a pause by the river.
The Rows put shops above the street; Storyhouse puts a library inside a former cinema. The River Dee is your place to pause.
Saturday: Storyhouse · The Rows · The Groves
Sand flats, open sea, then the Great Orme.
Beyond the Dee estuary, the railway follows the North Wales shore. Change at Llandudno Junction for the seaside town beneath the Great Orme headland.
The pier that walks out to sea.
The promenade curves around the bay towards the Victorian pier. In season, a tram climbs the Great Orme above the town.
Sunday: The pier · Great Orme Tramway · The promenade
The 09:43 from Chester reaches Llandudno Junction at 10:39, away again at 10:53; in Llandudno at 11:03, on Sundays. Timetable, 17 May to 13 September 2026
Sunday · 18 min walk to the pier
A river for a guide, and the hills drawing closer.
The Conwy Valley line turns inland beside the estuary, following the river through fields and wooded hills towards Betws-y-Coed.
Where the valley turns to mountains.
Rapids tumble beneath the village's stone bridge, with the wooded slopes of Eryri (Snowdonia) rising around you. Swallow Falls is about two miles away.
Monday: Pont-y-Pair · Swallow Falls · Gwydir Forest
The 10:10 from Llandudno is in Betws-y-Coed at 10:53, on weekdays. Timetable, 17 May to 13 September 2026
Monday · 7 min walk to Pont-y-Pair
A train that goes in through a medieval wall.
Follow the valley to Llandudno Junction, then cross the estuary beneath Conwy Castle. The railway enters town through an opening in its medieval walls.
Eight castle towers above a harbour town.
Look down from the battlements to narrow streets and the estuary, then find Britain's smallest house on the quay.
Tuesday: Conwy Castle · Town walls · The quay
The 09:07 from Betws-y-Coed reaches Llandudno Junction at 09:40, away again at 09:46; in Conwy at 09:49, on weekdays. Timetable, 17 May to 13 September 2026 · Llandudno Junction timetable
Tuesday · 5 min walk to the castle
One last look at the coast, then Manchester.
Retrace the North Wales shoreline before turning inland through Chester. Beyond the Cheshire fields, Manchester Piccadilly brings you into the city for your last night.
A last night in the world's first industrial city.
Step beneath the Gothic arches of John Rylands Library, trace Manchester's cotton story at the Science and Industry Museum, then find dinner in the Northern Quarter.
Wednesday: John Rylands Library · Science and Industry Museum · Northern Quarter
The 10:52 from Conwy is in Manchester at 12:54, on weekdays. Timetable, 17 May to 13 September 2026
Wednesday · 21 min walk to the library
Day 1 · Friday · Manchester Airport
Off the plane, onto a train. The airport station is linked to the terminals by covered walkways, and the example Chester train is direct.
Day 7 · Thursday · Manchester Airport
One last train, then home. Take the train from Manchester Piccadilly to the airport station, then follow the covered walkways to your terminal. Allow time for the walk and your airline's check-in requirements.
The 12:54 from Manchester is in Manchester Airport at 13:15, on weekdays.
One last train, then home.
Take the train from Manchester Piccadilly to the airport station, then follow the covered walkways to your terminal. Allow time for the walk and your airline's check-in requirements.
Your week, journey by journey.
Six rail journeys, with a second day to explore Chester. Example times for a Friday arrival; check your dates before booking.
- Day 1 · Friday
Manchester AirportChester
Departs11:25Arrives12:491 hr 24
Direct
- Day 3 · Sunday
ChesterLlandudno
Departs09:43Arrives11:031 hr 20
Change at Llandudno Junction
- Day 4 · Monday
LlandudnoBetws-y-Coed
Departs10:10Arrives10:5343 min
Direct
- Day 5 · Tuesday
Betws-y-CoedConwy
Departs09:07Arrives09:4942 min
Change at Llandudno Junction
- Day 6 · Wednesday
ConwyManchester
Departs10:52Arrives12:542 hr 2
Direct
- Day 7 · Thursday
ManchesterManchester Airport
Departs12:54Arrives13:1521 min
Direct
Check before you go.
Opening times, access, transport and events can change. Use these official pages to check the details for the day you plan to visit.
Train times are examples, not live departures.
The miniatures are AI-created illustrations. The toy trains use AI-created artwork and original 3D models. The map is illustrative; use the operator’s maps for travel planning.
See the image creditsTrain times & tickets
Times are for a week starting on a Friday, from the Transport for Wales timetables valid 17 May to 13 September 2026; other days differ, and the Great Orme Tramway runs in season only.
Allow time for terminal walks and your airline’s check-in requirements.
- Transport for Wales timetable booklets
- Transport for Wales timetable: Holyhead and Llandudno to Chester, Manchester and Liverpool
- Transport for Wales timetable: Llandudno to Blaenau Ffestiniog
- Manchester Airport: getting here by train
- Transport for Wales: Explore North and Mid Wales Pass
- Transport for Wales: the May 2026 North Wales timetable
Chester
Betws-y-Coed
Manchester
About the illustrations & map
The miniatures
Each miniature is modelled from a permitted source photograph; the trios bring those separate models together. Hidden roofs and far sides are interpreted.
The map
The map is an illustration based on Ordnance Survey railway data and terrain elevations, with heights exaggerated threefold. North is towards the top of the map. Coastlines and small features are simplified; use the operator’s maps for travel planning.
Map data: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (Open Government Licence) · relief from Mapzen Terrain Tiles on AWS Open Data, fetched 3 September 2026; United Kingdom terrain data © Environment Agency copyright and/or database right 2015. All rights reserved.