Best Things To Do In Llandudno, Wales

Wales is probably the most underrated UK destination, with several top coastal towns worth visiting such as Llandudno, which has a lot to offer when it comes to things to do.

Based in north Wales less than a 2-hour drive away from Liverpool, Llandudno is a charming historical coastal town that is a popular choice for families looking for a long weekend escape.

Having recently visited this quaint, delightful place, I was impressed with just how many activities there are to do and places to visit. So I’ve put together this list of the best things to do in Llandudno to help make your visit smoother.

So what exactly does Llandudno have to offer? Let’s take a look at what are some of the best things to do, in no particular order:

Chill out on Llandudno Beach

If (and it’s a big if!) you’re lucky enough to experience some sunny weather when in Llandudno, then there’s no better — or cheaper — activity than enjoying some leisure time soaking up the rays on one of the coastal town’s beautiful beaches.

Known as Wales’ biggest beach resort, Llandudno has two main beaches for you to enjoy — the North Shore beach and the West Shore beach.

West Shore Beach is the sandy beach out of the two, it faces Conwy Bay and is generally less crowded than the North Shore beach and you can expect some spectacular sunsets if you’re there on a sunny day.

North Shore Beach is one of the most popular areas in the town and is pretty central, near the pier and right off the promenade. Although it’s a pebbly beach its location is perfect with some gorgeous views.

Go for a coastal walk along the Promenade

Right before North Shore beach is Llandudno’s promenade, a flat surface that stretches a mile and a half and is an idyllic place to go for a morning stroll.

Several main hotels opposite the promenade are the perfect place to stay as well. When walking down the promenade I got a sense of Llandudno’s layout, beauty, and history.

Llandudno is a very historical town with a lot of architecture on the seafront that dates back to Victorian and Edwardian times. This gives you the sense of stepping back in time in a way, and it’s refreshing to visit a place that hasn’t been taken over with dull modern buildings and stores everywhere you look.

Enjoy Llandudno’s Pier

At one end of the promenade, you come to what is the longest pier in all of Wales. If you’re visiting Llandudno with young kids then the dock is a must-visit.

It has plenty of arcade games, amusement rides, food stalls, cafes, and bars selling everything from fish and chips, to donuts, candy, drinks, and more.

The pier is completely free to enter and the views looking back at the promenade and the rest of the town are really lovely on a nice clear day.

It’s another traditional, historical part of Llandudno that is charming and quite similar to piers in other well-known UK coastal towns such as Blackpool, Brighton, and Bournemouth.

Take a tram ride up to Great Orme

This was without a doubt one of my highlights during my 3-day visit to Llandudno. Based just a short 5–10 minute walk from the pier is Victoria Station, where you can catch a fantastic tram ride up to the summit of Great Orme.

Dating back to 1901, the Great Orme tramway is a unique, fun activity and an absolute top thing to do when in Llandudno. The tram ride takes around 15 minutes from Victoria Station to the summit of Great Orme.

Tickets cost £11.50 for adults and £7 for children and that is good value for money in my opinion. On the ride the tram ascends very steep streets, passing by local neighborhoods and offering amazing views of Llandudno and the north Wales coastline in the distance.

Once you reach the summit the views are even more spectacular; there are plenty of trails offering breathtaking panoramic views of the coast. I wasn’t expecting much from the tram ride and Great Orme but was taken aback by the entire experience.

You can easily spend an hour or more at the Great Orme summit before checking out its famous mines.

Explore the Great Orme Mines

While visiting Great Orme you definitely should not miss out on taking a tour of Great Orme mines.

This is a fascinating archeological site that dates back 4,000 years to the Bronze Age and it is known to be the largest prehistoric mine in the world.

The tour lasts 45 minutes and you get to explore the underground tunnels, with helmets provided for protection. If you have even just a passing interest in ancient history then I recommend discovering this incredible site.

Take a trip to Conwy Castle

Another top highlight for me during my stay in Llandudno was a trip to Conwy Castle. Conwy is a walled town based on the River Conwy and is just a short drive away from Llandudno — it takes about 40 minutes to reach by car or less than 2 hours by train and bus.

Conwy is most famous for being home to Conwy Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and recognized as one of the most impressive castles anywhere in Europe.

Again, I wasn’t expecting much when visiting this castle but was blown away by the sheer size of the well-preserved castle and the incredible views you can see here too.

Built several hundred years ago, the castle is a dominant, imposing sight as you arrive in the area. Learning about its history as you wander around the grounds, you get a sense and understanding of just why it was such an important fortress during medieval times.

The most impressive part of the castle grounds however are the tower structures which you can climb to the top. It’s quite a steep and dark climb up to the top of each tower, so I would only recommend this if you’re in good physical shape.

But the views of the nearby port, River Conwy, and Snowdonia in the distance are beyond stunning.

I also recommend spending a bit of time exploring Conwy which is a really lovely and quaint place, full of beautiful architecture and has plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants.

You can take a 30-minute boat trip around the Conwy estuary, which is informative and a great option for families — the views of the surrounding nature and countryside are really lovely. Conwy is also home to what is officially known as the smallest house in Great Britain, and a pretty cool place to visit.

Go skiing at the Llandudno Ski and Snowboard Centre

Finally, if you have some spare time during your trip to Llandudno and feel the need for some extreme sports, then I recommend a visit to the Llandudno Ski and Snowboard Centre.

Situated halfway up Great Orme, this ski center has a lot of fantastic activities available for all the family. With artificial slopes where you can practice your skiing and snowboarding skills as well as snow tubing, it’s also possible to take lessons here as well.

Not only that, but the center is home to Wales’ longest toboggan run! At a length of 575 meters, this is an exhilarating ride whether you’re young or old. You can also practice alpine adventure golf too, which is always a fun experience.

Best Places To Stay In Llandudno

Choosing a place to stay when visiting Llandudno is not an easy choice as there are so many top accommodation options to choose from. Here are three different options at three different price ranges for you to consider:

If you require a cheap place to stay when in Llandudno, then Llandudno Hostel is the best choice you can make.

Located just a short 5-minute walk away from the town center and the train station, this hostel has a good number of highly furnished rooms available, from cheap dorm rooms to private rooms.

The hostel offers a continental breakfast and has a guest lounge with four leather sofas, a TV, and a DVD player.

Another fantastic accommodation option in Llandudno is the Grand Hotel. Situated right at the foot of Great Orme and right next to the pier, the Grand Hotel is an imposing-looking traditional building and a top place to stay.

It has rooms with stunning sea views available, a main restaurant with continental breakfasts, and an evening buffet daily. It also has a 24-hour front desk and has classic entertainment from cabaret to singers every night.

If you’re looking for a more luxurious stay in Llandudno, then your best option is without a doubt Bodysgallen Hall and Spa. Based just a couple of miles from the beach, this is a 4-star spa hotel located in a 17th-century building on a 200-acre site.

With spectacular views, an indoor swimming pool, an award-winning restaurant, a spa, sauna, relaxation rooms, and more, this is a truly outstanding place to stay when in Llandudno.

Llandudno FAQs

Still not sure about visiting Llandudno? Let’s answer some of the most commonly asked questions about this beautiful Welsh seaside town:

How to get to Llandudno?

Llandudno is easy to get to by car, with several routes there from major UK cities close by such as Liverpool, Manchester, and Birmingham.

If you’re reliant on public transport to get to Llandudno, then the town does have a train station with lines to the likes of Cardiff, Bangor, Manchester, Birmingham, and more.

You’re the cheapest option when it comes to public transportation however are buses, with national coach services such as National Express and Transport for Wales offering very cheap bus tickets if you book in advance.

And if you’re flying into the UK, then the closest major international airport is Liverpool John Lennon Airport which is about 68 miles away.

How many days should you spend in Llandudno?

Llandudno is the perfect place to visit for a day trip if you’re not traveling a long distance from elsewhere in the UK. It’s possible to visit a lot of the town’s most famous tourist attractions in just one day, such as the pier or the tram ride to Great Orme.

I stayed in Llandudno for 3 days and this allowed me more time to explore the surrounding areas and take trips to places like Conwy Castle, I had a greater appreciation for the place having stayed for a few days.

When is the best time to visit Llandudno?

Summertime is the best time to visit Llandudno in terms of good weather, with Wales and the rest of the UK known to experience nice warm temperatures ranging from 25 to over 30 degrees.

This isn’t a given however as UK weather is often unreliable, to say the least! The summer months are also the peak season, so expect to pay higher prices in terms of accommodation and there will be a lot more tourists during this time of year as well.

Instead, I would advise visiting either in the spring or autumn months — I visited Llandudno in May and the weather was sunny and mild and the town wasn’t too full of tourists either.

So that concludes everything you need to know about things to do when visiting Llandudno. It may not be at the top of your list when visiting the UK, but it is a lovely place and offers a completely different kind of travel experience to the likes of typical UK destinations like London or Edinburgh.

Whether you plan on visiting Wales on a day trip from the capital or plan on a longer stay, Llandudno is a top UK seaside destination with so many awesome activities to do when there.

Whether you want to relax on the beach, take in the panoramic views at the top of Great Orme, or explore the history at Conwy Castle, Llandudno has so much to offer.

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading through my post on the best things to do in Llandudno and are now well-equipped for your visit to this delightful seaside town.

Originally published at https://theworldoverload.com on July 9, 2024.