Menai Suspension Bridge

Menai Suspension Bridge is a road crossing linking Anglesey to the mainland of Wales over the Menai Strait. Its two limestone towers hold sixteen parallel chain cables that extend for 417 meters between the shores.

Thomas Telford designed the crossing between 1819 and 1826 as the first large modern suspension structure in the world. Its completion shortened the travel time from London to Holyhead from 36 to 9 hours.

The bridge design appears on the reverse of a 2005 British one-pound coin, representing Welsh engineering achievements through the centuries.

The crossing remains open for cars and cyclists connecting both shores daily. Pedestrians can walk over the structure on separate paths while taking in views of the strait below.

The limestone towers hold hollow chambers with internal cross walls reinforcing the structure. These hidden spaces help distribute weight evenly and secure the stability of the entire construction.

Location: Isle of Anglesey

Location: Gwynedd

Architects: Thomas Telford

Official opening: January 30, 1826

Elevation above the sea: 0 m

Height: 30 m

Length: 417 m

Longest Span: 176 m

Operator: Welsh Government

GPS coordinates: 53.22014,-4.16312

Latest update: December 5, 2025 16:31