Did you know these 10 interesting facts about Wales

Whether you’re looking for an end-of-year break or planning your staycations for 2025, Wales is one place many have on their ‘need to visit’ lists and for good reason. I feel very grateful to live in beautiful Wales as it has so much to offer and it's a place I love to share with my readers. 

A land of folklore, dragons and stunning countryside, there is so much to discover in Wales. With this in mind, I wanted to bring you ten interesting facts about the land of the red dragon that you may not know. Whether you share these facts with your family during your road trip to one of the many activity holidays UK Wales offers, or you want to stun your friends with your random facts during a pub quiz, here are ten facts about Wales…

1. Did you know… Wales is home to seven cities? The capital is Cardiff, followed by Wrexham, Newport, Swansea, Bangor, St Asaph and finally, St David’s.


2. Did you know… there are estimated to be over three million people living in Wales. According to the 2021 census, the population of Wales was estimated to be 3,107,500, which is the largest ever recorded population in Welsh history.


3. Did you know… the Welsh flag wasn’t officially recognised until 1959? The Welsh flag, featuring a red dragon on a green and white background, wasn’t formally recognised until 1959.


4. Did you know… Wales is home to the second-longest-named place in the world? That’s right, a 58-lettered name place is only the second-longest-named place in the world. Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch is runner-up to an 85-letter name place found in New Zealand. If you want to impress your friends and family by pronouncing the town, you can learn here.


5. Did you know… Wales is the only country in the world to have a continuous waymarked path along the entirety of its coastline? You can enjoy unspoilt and unbroken paths along the entire coastline of Wales, spanning a whopping 870 miles. The pathway can take you from Chepstow in the South, all the way to the English border in the North near Chester.

6. Did you know… Wales is home to one of the smallest cathedral cities in the world? St Davids is the smallest city in the UK and the seventh smallest in the world. The city is no bigger than a village, surrounded by stunning coastal scenery.


7. Did you know… You can find three national parks in Wales? Covering 20% of Wales’ land mass, there are three national parks to explore, which contain five Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. These national parks are Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park and Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park.


8. Did you know… there are more castles per square mile in Wales than there are in any other European country? There are over 600 castles to explore in Wales – how many will you tick off the list on your next visit?

9. Did you know… Sheep outnumber people in Wales? Yes, that’s right, there are more sheep in Wales than there are people, outnumbering people by four to one.


10. Did you know… Wales is home to the world's fastest zip line? Yes, if it’s an adrenaline-packed activity you’re looking for whilst visiting the land of the red dragon, why not zip across the sky as fast as a dragon on the world’s fasted zip wire located in North Wales near the Snowdon range?