It’s also liked by TT visitors and other holiday makers too who enjoy its secluded bay with sea front cafes, its camp site and a range of visitor attractions, not to mention its four pubs.
In Victorian times, the village was a hive of industry , home to the famous Laxey mines, producing lead and zinc, which were shipped around the world from the village harbour. The Lady Isabella, the huge water wheel which drove the pumps that kept the mines clear of flood water, is now a major tourist attraction in the village. Visitors can see it working and they can climb the steps to the platform at the top of the wheel to see spectacular views across the valley.
A popular resort in Edwardian times, Laxey also has a picturesque glen where visitors will find the Laxey Pavilion situated above the Laxey river.
The remnants of the old outdoor dance floor surrounded by its ancient gas lamp stands can still be seen.
By the riverside is a children’s play area and nearby is one of the village’s remaining sites of industry, the Laxey flour mill, which supplies its products to shops around the island.
The Laxey heritage trail takes visitors on a fascinating tour of the village’s attractions and, in some instances, its oddities, taking in remnants of the village’s industrial past, its football club and even a Victorian death mask.
Linked to Douglas and Ramsey by the historic electric railway system, Laxey remains a popular spot for visitors, many of whom will take a detour, travelling on the mountain railway to the cafe at the summit of Snaefell, the island’s only mountain.
Back in the village, visitors will find a thriving centre with a range of shops and cafes.
Laxey Post Office and gift shop is in Whitehouse Close (soon to be renamed Tramway Close).
It is open five full days, through lunchtimes, and a half day on a Saturday, offering a full range of postal services, vehicle licensing, bill payments and banking services as well as operating a foreign exchange bureau (Euros and US dollars available without pre order).
In addition, the shop is packed with a little bit of everything: newspapers and magazines, Manx souvenirs, partyware, gifts for all ages, King Cole wool, crafts, toys, books, wrapping, cards, beautiful little bits for your home, hardware/DIY and pet products.
Established for over 10 years, Trading Places of Laxey offers a unique experience where you can find antiques and collectibles, gifts and weird stuff, retro and vintage furniture and ’cool’ junk. Andy and Sue do their best to provide you with a warm welcome and an old-fashioned shopping experience.
Trading Places also provides house clearance and decluttering services. Pop in and visit this cornucopia, bulging at the seams with fascinating things. Worth a visit, if only for a mooch. You never know what you may findâ?¦..
The shop is open Thursday to Friday 12-4pm and Saturday 12-5pm. Phone 860555.
A stone’s throw from the Laxey Tram Station, The Mines pub encompasses many quirky features which sets it apart.
From the friendly welcome and overwhelming sense of belonging, to the tram-shaped bar and prestigious history of being the private residence of Captain Rowe (of Laxey Mines), The Mines is highly recommended by all.
Serving an excellent selection of real ales, gins, wines and spirits, The Mines will also be releasing its new spring menu full of delicious and homecooked dishes soon!
With regular live entertainment and the spacious beer garden, it has something for everyone.
Laxey Opticians is in the heart of the village by the tram station.
Owned and run by qualified optometrist Paul Summers since 2004, it offers private and NHS eye examinations as well as colour vision testing for children and adults.
Open Tuesday to Saturday, Laxey Opticians stocks a wide range of contemporary frames, including Rage, Mission, Qube and Freeway, along with daily-wear and extended-wear contact lenses.
Garff Commissioners, at 35 New Road in Laxey, provides public services throughout the sheading, including refuse collection, maintenance of public areas and provision of play areas.
The recently upgraded Quarry Road camp site is a hidden gem and is always busy throughout the season, particularly during TT and Manx Grand Prix fortnights.
Laxey beach is a popular destination for a traditional seaside experience, with its fabulous sands, famous diving-raft, and characterful harbour.
For more information about the area’s events and attractions, call in and speak to Peter and Martin at the commissioners’ office, or visit the Laxey and Lonan Heritage Trust Information Centre on Mines Road. There’s always a great welcome.
Laxey Dental Surgery has been a part of the village since 2002.
There is always a smile and a friendly welcome.
When you walk through the door you are immediately aware that you are in the hands of a professional team and it is no surprise to find out that many of the staff have worked at the surgery for 10 years or more. This dedication and loyalty provides a reassuring atmosphere, allowing patients to feel relaxed.
Dentists Colin Partington, Neil Gibb and Grant Hill have 77 years of post qualification experience between them.
Together with hygienists Heather Southworth and Ben Davenport, they hold a strong preventative philosophy and high ethical standards.
To find out more, take a look at the surgery’s website www.laxeydental.co.uk or you might like to follow the team on Facebook. Telephone calls to the reception team are always welcome too on 863422.
Nicola Bowker & Co is a firm of chartered accountants, specialising in supporting local businesses and residents with their accounting, book keeping, payroll and taxation matters for sole traders, individuals and limited companies.
With more than 30 years’ experience as a chartered accountant, Nicola and her staff of qualified accountants and book keepers can advise on taxation, both Manx and UK and are specialists in new business start up with services designed to meet all sizes of businesses.
The staff know all clients’ businesses personally and can offer advice to maximise the profits as well as minimise tax liabilities.
Many new clients are referred by existing clients. Often accountants are seen to be distant and aloof, but they make sure that all their clients understand their business finances and the tax implications.
Being in Laxey gives a fresh feeling to a trip to see your accountant, with plenty of parking available outside or nearby and a friendly welcome and a cup of tea offered whenever you drop in. Avoid the bustle of Douglas with Nicola Bowker & Co.
Occupying a prominent corner spot opposite Ham and Egg Terrace, the former Black’s stove shop is now home to JJ Ribbons, haberdashers, crafts, second-hand items, and design consultants.
The emporium is crammed full of everything from gifts to curtains.
’It’s like a Tardis. We cover the whole ground floor and there’s a bit of everything,’ said Jess Ball, who runs the business along with her sister, Justine.
She’s not wrong. The shop sells cards, soft furnishings, interior design items and there’s also a cafe.
’We open seven days. If the lights are on, we are here, and if we’ve not got it, we’ll try our damndest to find it for you,’ she added.
Almost opposite, across the road, by the now famous miner’s statue, is another village landmark, Brown’s cafe, where new owner Vicki Hewison offers a warm welcome.
The island’s oldest tea rooms have recently been refurbished and offer a range of cakes and scones baked on the premises, as well as savoury items from soup to quiche, snacks and jacket potatoes.
In sound eclectic tradition, the building also houses the Whim Boutique, an independent women’s boutique offering Italian clothing up to size 30, as well as bags, scarves, jewellery, fascinators and wedding attire.
Family owned since 1963, Swales Flooring has a showroom on the village’s main New Road, featuring a range of attractive vinyl wood flooring from Amtico to KAHRS engineered wood flooring from Sweden.
The team, which has been in the business for more than 50 years now, will offer customers a warm welcome.
As well as flooring, customers will find a range of 132 high quality Farrow and Ball paint colours.
These are not just attractive but are also water-based, eco-friendly and suitable for interior and exterior use. To complement this, there is also a range of superior quality wall papers as well.
So whether you are a holidaymaker searching for beautiful scenery and an entertaining day out, a shopper, someone in need of accounting or interior design advice, if you need an eye test or your teeth need attention prior to sampling some of the village’s gastronomic delights, Laxey really does have something for everyone
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