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How it rates

Wrexham sits between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee valley and is the largest town in North Wales. Close to the Cheshire border, it started life as a market town and the crossroads between England and Wales. In the 18th century, Wrexham was known for its leather industry, then it became a centre of the industrial revolution. It began when the famous entrepreneur John “Iron Mad” Wilkinson opened Bersham Ironworks in 1762. In recent years there has been much redevelopment in the town centre.

Architectural gems

The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is the longest and highest cast-iron aqueduct in the world. Designed and built by Thomas Telford and William Jessop in 1795, this beautiful piece of industrial architecture is nominated for World Heritage status. Other crowd-pleasers are Erddig Hall, a fascinating 18th-century house, and Chirk Castle, built by Edward I in 1310. Both are now in the care of the National Trust.

What's new

There have been many conversions and new-build apartment blocks. Demand has led to the establishment of new neighbourhoods on the outskirts of town, including 500 homes at the old Brymbo Steelworks site.

Travel

Wrexham General station has direct trains to Birmingham, London, Liverpool, Chester and Cardiff, while Central station has local routes. The A483 road was built to improve Wrexham's ease of access, connecting it with Chester and Shrewsbury, which in turn links it to cities such as Liverpool and Manchester.

Quality of life

The county borough of Wrexham is more than 70 per cent rural, full of villages, open space and stunning valleys. There are two main parks within the town and open parkland at Erddig, two miles from the centre. Work on a £95 million development - transforming the former Eagle's Meadow car park into a retail park - is due to complete in October.

Smartest streets

The Eagle's Meadow retail development includes popular city flats. Bairstow Eves has sold to owner-occupiers and investors. Marford Hill has large detached properties with both new-build and period houses. Rossett and Cross Lanes are popular villages. The closer to Chester, the higher the price.

Restaurants

The Lemon Tree is an hotel and restaurant serving Italian food by its head chef, Carmine de Pasquale. Pant Yr Ochan is a typical Welsh manor house with lovely views and plenty of awards. The helpings are described as “legendary”.

Nightlife

The Wrexham Studio Theatre stages regular dance and drama performances. Theatr Stiwt in Rhosllanerchrugog (which is three miles from Wrexham) is a centre for Welsh culture. Brook Street is home to the town's nocturnal delights. Club K1 and Liquid & Envy are here, as well as Scott's, which is Wrexham's oldest nightclub.

Education

Wrexham has a Welsh-speaking secondary school, Ysgol Morgan Llwyd. In 2003, three of the largest secondary schools were merged to create two larger super schools, Ysgol Clywedog and Rhosnesni High School. Wrexham has become home to the first Catholic and Anglican mixed faith school in Wales in the form of St Joseph's. The North East Wales Institute of Higher Education is seeking full university status.

Working life

Wrexham's economy has been transformed in the past 20 years from one dominated by heavy industry into a high-tech manufacturing, technology and services hub. The manufacturing sector and low unemployment rate have attracted workers from eastern Europe, mainly Poland. Wrexham industrial estate to the east of the town is the UK's second largest industrial park.

Upside

Wrexham is growing rapidly and the economy is flourishing. The rivers Dee, Ceiriog and Clwyd offer great game fishing, and the Dee Estuary, a short drive north, is known for its sea fishing. A £7million development, which will include the only ski jump in the UK, should be completed within two years.

Downside

For an ever-expanding population, the facilities are not yet up to scratch. There is plenty of regeneration in progress but locals will not see the reward for another year or two. Traffic congestion can also be a problem in the centre of town.

At a glance

3%

The decrease in property prices in Wrexham in the first three months of 2008

£142

The average price per square foot of property in Wrexham

Source: Hometrack

28.6%

The percentage of one-person households

Source: Office for National Statistics

131,000

The estimated population of the borough of Wrexham

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