Attractions in Llandudno, North Wales

Llandudno is a Bustling Town with Attractions to Suit Everybody

Oct 2, 2009

On an isthmus reaching into the Irish sea and set between the Great and Little Ormes, Llandudno offers a sweeping bay and stunning scenery.

Llandudno’s North Shore is framed by a magnificent crescent-shaped promenade, with plentiful seating allowing visitors to take in the wonderful bay, and the waves washing over the mostly pebbled beach. During the summer, the promenade is also the scene for regular entertainment, from brass bands to Punch & Judy, a show which has been run by the same family for over 100 years. The Victorian pier (the longest in Wales) stretches into the sea, offering children’s entertainment and small gift shops.

A vast array of hotels and guest houses provide a tasteful backdrop to the promenade, offering accommodation to suit every taste and budget. Llandudno is the shopping jewel of North Wales, with big high street names, smaller boutiques and plentiful gift shops. Numerous tearooms and restaurants cater to the needs of weary shoppers and the tourists who visit the town each day.

Llandudno’s West Shore, lying alongside the Conwy Estuary, is altogether more quiet. Nestling beneath the Great Orme, the area is largely residential. This really is the place for families to enjoy the sands and the boating lake, which is much in use by model boat enthusiasts and a great attraction for young and old alike.

Getting around Llandudno is easy. Both the North and West Shores are linked by a small land train – a huge hit for younger visitors. The usual open top tour bus provides a good commentary of the town and its surroundings and makes it easy to visit different areas of interest.

The Great Orme which rises above the town, has long been a popular destination for tourists. There are various options available for those wishing to make the ascent. The Marine Drive provides vehicular access to the summit and there are numerous pathways of varying levels of difficulty. A Victorian tram, one of only three cable-hauled tramways in the world still operating, is available and, for the more daring, a cable car service (at a mile long, it is the longest in Britain) carries passengers to the top, although this is weather dependent. For families with young children, folding pushchairs can be taken onto the cable cars.

At the base of the Orme lies the stunning Happy Valley Gardens and, for the more active, an artificial ski slope and activity centre. Halfway to the summit, the Bronze Age Mines provide interesting archaeological evidence of the Orme’s history. These can be reached by a tram stop at the halfway point. Dotted around the Orme, the Kashmir goats are a fine sight, clinging precariously onto ledges.

At the summit itself, the views are breathtaking, especially on a clear day. As well as restaurants and gift shops, the summit has picnic areas, a children’s play area and crazy golf. Visitors can enjoy the scenery and a well-earned rest, before heading back to the town.

Venue Cymru is a theatre, venue and conference centre set on the promenade, which opened in 2007 on the site of historic theatre buildings dating from Victoria times. The venue now offers an eclectic range of performances from an international line-up.

Llandudno is the largest seaside resort in North Wales and, with good reason, the most popular. It has provided fun-filled holidays and day trips for generation after generation of families and it’s reputation looks set to continue.

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