Getaway to Llandudno, Wales

Llandudno is a seaside town situated on the northern coast of Wales. It is a fantastic place to getaway for a few days as it provides the visitor with plenty of shopping, restaurants and cafes, and sightseeing options. There is also a theatre that offers a range of shows to enjoy. One thing to keep in mind if you do plan on visiting Llandudno, especially during the summer, is that it will get crowded! However the farther you get from the center of town the quieter it will be. Once you’ve settled into your accommodation walk along the promenade that hugs the bay and take in the views of the hills that stand at each end of the bay…the Great Orme to the west and the Little Orme to the east.

Visiting the Great Orme is a must when staying in Llandudno. To get to the top of the hill you can drive, walk, hop on a tram, or take the cable car (depending on the weather). The views are incredible and you can follow the trails along the edge of the hill taking in views of the Conwy Estuary as well as towards the Isle of Anglesey. You can read more about the Great Orme here.

Another popular site to see…and one that is a bit out of town…is Conwy Castle. We took the hop-on hop-off bus to get there and it was definitely the way to go as parking in Conwy is very limited! We spent most of the time at the castle, but the town of Conwy is a wonderful place to meander around. Make sure and check out the 16th century Elizabethan townhouse called Plas Mawr which is the best preserved townhouse from that time period in Britain.

While in Llandudno take a walk along the picturesque pier that juts out into the bay from under the Great Orme. Standing at the start of the pier is the imposing Grand Hotel. Built originally as a bath house in 1855 the current hotel was redesigned and enlarged in 1902.

The pier itself is 700 meters in length making it the longest pier in Wales. It was opened to the public in 1877 and has undergone numerous renovations and expansions over the years. Today the pier is an activity filled place to wander with amusement rides, carnival games, and plenty of booths selling a wide assortment of trinkets and knick-knacks.

As you stroll along the streets of Llandudno you may spot some statues or artistic displays that pay homage to Alice in Wonderland. These are part of the Alice in Wonderland Town Trail that commemorates the classic novel “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”. Charles Dodgson (who wrote the books under the name Lewis Carrol) spent holidays visiting friends that lived in Llandudno. Their daughter ‘Alice’ was thought to be the inspiration for the Alice in the books.

Llandudno is also the jumping off point for many tours to Snowdonia National Park. However, during peak tourist season in the summer you will have to book any tours to this location in advance. We were also well-advised to make dinner reservations and even though we were there mid-week we still had difficulties securing evening dining times. I will include a couple of recommendations though…

for dinners…Indulge Restaurant (located just off the main street and so not as busy) and The Cottage Loaf (a pub that did get busy, but the meals came quickly and were hearty)

for a nice coffee and sandwich…Providero (on the main street with outdoor seating)

So whether you are looking for a short city break or a longer time to explore northern Wales, Llandudno will definitely provide you with what you’re looking for.