About
Storiel — the Welsh word for gallery — is the principal public museum and art gallery for the county of Gwynedd, housed in a handsome Victorian building in the university city of Bangor. The museum brings together in one place the archaeology, geology, natural history, decorative arts, and fine art of north-west Wales, offering visitors an unusually comprehensive introduction to a region whose history stretches from the Ice Age to the present and whose landscape is among the most dramatic in Britain.
The archaeological collections are the intellectual heart of Storiel. Gwynedd was inhabited long before the Romans arrived, and the museum preserves material evidence of that deep past: prehistoric stone tools and Bronze Age metalwork from the hills above the Menai Strait, Roman artefacts from Segontium (the fort at Caernarfon, which guarded the western approaches of Roman Britain), and a range of early medieval objects reflecting the kingdoms of Gwynedd that resisted Viking and Norman alike. The medieval period is particularly rich, with material from the region's abbeys, churches, and castles illuminating life in the Principality of Wales before and after the Edwardian conquest.
The natural history collections reflect the remarkable diversity of environments within Gwynedd: the high mountain ecosystems of Snowdonia, the coastal habitats of the Llŷn Peninsula, the estuaries and woodlands of Meirionnydd. Specimens of local geology place the landscape in deep time, explaining the forces that shaped the mountains and carved the valleys now occupied by the towns and villages of north-west Wales.
The fine art collection spans several centuries of Welsh and British painting, with particular strength in nineteenth and early twentieth-century landscapes — works that responded to the wild scenery of Snowdonia at a period when the region was attracting artists, writers, and tourists in increasing numbers. Decorative arts and local crafts are also represented, including material relating to the Welsh slate industry and the distinctive craft traditions of the region.
Storiel operates a lively programme of temporary exhibitions, community events, and education work throughout the year. Admission is free, funded by Gwynedd Council. Arts Council accredited 2025.
Categories:
Plan Your Visit
💡 Visitor Tips
- Storiel is free to enter — no booking required for standard visits. Simply turn up during opening hours.
- The museum's Welsh language interpretation is excellent: bilingual signage is used throughout, and many labels offer real insight into the Welsh-language context of the collections.
- Combine your visit with a walk up to Bangor Cathedral, which is just minutes away — one of the oldest Christian sites in Wales, with a history stretching back to the sixth century.
- From Bangor, Penrhyn Castle (National Trust) is just two miles to the east — a vast neo-Norman mansion built on the profits of the Penrhyn slate quarry, with extraordinary collections and grounds.
- The Menai Strait is visible from the hillside above Bangor and accessible by foot — the two bridges (Menai Suspension Bridge and Britannia Bridge) are themselves engineering landmarks worth viewing.
- If visiting with children, ask staff about any family handling sessions or activity sheets available — the archaeology and natural history collections are well suited to younger visitors.
- Bangor has a good range of cafés and restaurants concentrated around the High Street and Garth Road — the city is compact and easy to explore on foot.
- Check the Storiel website or social media for details of the current temporary exhibition before you visit — the programme changes regularly and can significantly extend the time you spend.
Highlights
Prehistoric and Early Archaeology
Storiel holds significant collections of prehistoric material from the hills, coasts, and river valleys of Gwynedd — stone tools from Neolithic settlements, Bronze Age metalwork, and Iron Age material that speaks to a long human presence in this mountainous landscape. The collections chart the slow development of communities in north-west Wales from the earliest settlers after the retreat of the glaciers to the sophisticated Iron Age peoples who built hillforts across Snowdonia, and who were still living in this landscape when the Romans arrived on the shores of the Menai Strait.
Roman Segontium
The Roman fort of Segontium at Caernarfon, five miles from Bangor, was the most westerly permanent Roman fort in Britain and guarded the approaches to the Menai Strait throughout the occupation. Storiel holds significant finds from Segontium and the surrounding area — coins, pottery, personal objects, military equipment, and inscriptions — that illuminate life in one of the most remote postings in the Roman Empire.
These objects provide a vivid counterpoint to the large-scale site itself, now managed by Cadw, which visitors can explore nearby.
Medieval Gwynedd
The medieval Kingdom of Gwynedd was the longest-surviving and most powerful of the Welsh kingdoms, maintaining its independence until the Edwardian conquest of 1282–83. Storiel's medieval collections include material from the abbeys, parish churches, and secular settlements of the region — carved stonework, ecclesiastical metalwork, pottery, and personal ornaments — that document life in the Principality before and after the English conquest.
The collections help visitors understand the material world of the princes of Gwynedd and the communities they governed.
Snowdonia Natural History
The natural history collections reflect the exceptional ecological diversity of Gwynedd — one of the richest regions in Britain for wildlife and geology. Geological specimens explain the formation of Snowdonia's dramatic peaks, carved by glaciers from ancient volcanic and metamorphic rocks. Zoological and botanical collections document the species found in the mountain, coastal, and woodland habitats of the region — from arctic-alpine plants surviving at altitude to the seabirds of the Llŷn Peninsula and the rich marine life of the Menai Strait.
These collections make Storiel an important reference for natural scientists and a fascinating introduction for general visitors.
Collections
Archaeology of Gwynedd
Permanent galleries presenting the archaeological collections of north-west Wales from the Neolithic to the medieval period, including significant Roman material from Segontium and medieval artefacts from the kingdom of Gwynedd.
Natural Histories of North Wales
Displays covering the geology, flora, and fauna of Gwynedd — from the formation of the Snowdonian mountains to the coastal habitats of the Llŷn Peninsula and the wildlife of the Menai Strait.
Art of North Wales
The fine art collection with paintings and drawings depicting the landscape and people of north Wales from the eighteenth century to the modern period, alongside decorative arts and craft objects from the region.
Current Exhibitions
No current exhibitions. Please check the museum website for updates.