Welcome to Wrexham - from humble city to toast of Tinseltown
If you haven't yet heard much about Wrexham, type it into Google and take a look at the results.
You might just be surprised at what you see.
Visits from Hollywood royalty? Check. An astronaut wearing a Wrexham FC shirt? Check. Its own Disney+ docuseries? Check.
Not too bad for a small city in north-east Wales.
Where did it all start?
Often referred to as the unofficial capital of north Wales, Wrexham was, until a few years ago, like many other towns and cities across the country.
A great place to live, work and play, but perhaps somewhat of a hidden gem.
That all changed when acting A-listers Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney made the decision to buy Wrexham Football Club in 2020.
Cue worldwide interest and Wrexham making headlines across the globe.
Why Wrexham?
When being interviewed, the duo are often asked why they chose Wrexham.
And their answer? They fell in love with it here - the passion, the community, the history and the culture.
As a student, you're no doubt asking yourself very similar questions - why Wrexham and why Wrexham Glyndwr University? And rightly so, it's a big decision. There are so many reasons to choose to study here though - from our award-winning courses and our acclaimed teaching staff, to our fantastic facilities and £80m Campus 2025 investment project, the list goes on. Take a look at 8 reasons to choose WGU for more on these too.
As for Wrexham, it's a city that's star is definitely on the rise. Take a stroll around the streets and you'll discover a fantastic range of shops and quirky markets, as well as a growing number of indie art galleries, arts venues, museums, cafes and restaurants. It's also home to an array of events, including the country's biggest music industry event, FOCUS Wales, which welcomes over 250 artists to perform across 20 stages every year. If that wasn't enough, the area is a haven for outdoor pursuit enthusiasts with countless rivers, hills, mountain bike trails and rock climbing sites on its doorstep.
A bright future
It's not just the football club that's benefitting from its new owners either, the whole city is enjoying the effects of this golden touch.
From our students who are suddenly at the epicentre of a real-life Hollywood story and have a wealth of new opportunities at their fingertips, to local businesses, visitor attractions and shops who are all riding the crest of its wave.
After all, who doesn't love a film premier being held in their local cinema? Or the odd movie star popping by their university campus?!
On top of that, Wrexham was recently awarded city status as part of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations too.
Being a student here has never been so exciting (plus who knows who you might bump into...!).
Want to see what all the buzz is about for yourself? Explore our undergraduate, postgraduate or short courses and find out when our next open days are - we can't wait to meet you!