Llandudno Guide, North Wales
Llandudno
Llandudno is the largest holiday resort in Wales.
The spectacular Llandudno Bay is a 2-mile stretch of sand and shingle between the headlands of Great Orme and Little Orme.
The town remains a classic example of a Victorian seaside resort complete with Victoria era pier and tramway. Queen Victoria herself was also once a visitor in her day. She watched a Professor Codman's Punch & Judy Show on the Promenade in 1860.
The town has good restaurants, cafes and bars and even a few nightclubs which can get popular during the summer months.
North Shore Beach, which lies along the Promenade, and West Shore Beach with views of Anglesey on a clear day are the town's two main beaches.
The Pier is on North Shore Beach which is also popular for windsurfing and sailing.
West Shore Beach is the quieter and less built-up of the two beaches and is particularly dramatic at sunset.
History
Llandudno became famous as a Victorian seaside resort in the mid-nineteenth century with the building of a railway into the area.
Visitors from the nearby industrial cities of Liverpool and Manchester in particular began to flock to the town in droves.
The construction of the Victorian pier added to the draw of this town of now roughly 20,000 inhabitants.
Attractions
The Parade in Llandudno is a line of hotels, guest houses, and shops parallel to the sea and was laid out in the Victorian period.
Also situated on The Parade are the Venue Cymru (formerly the North Wales Theatre and Conference Centre).
Great Orme
Great Orme is a headland formed by a mountain just next to Llandudno and is a major attraction for visitors to Wales' biggest seaside resort.
679 feet (207 meters) high, it was formed more than 300 million years ago out of limestone and dolomite.
For many the prime attraction of Great Orme is the stunning views from the summit. On the way up you get great views looking down on the town, seafront and Llandudno Pier.
As you climb the view expands along the north coast of Wales. To the south the great mountains of Snowdonia are laid out for you. Across the narrow Menai Straits can be seen the whole of the Isle of Anglesey, and out to sea the very modern landscape of the Gwynt y MorWind Farm.
There are various ways to get to the top of Great Orme, but the most popular is the tramway. The Great Orme Tramway opened in 1902 and vintage tramcars, all dating back to 1902, take visitors up and down to the summit at 5 mph, pulled by cable.
Llandudno Pier
Llandudno had a small, wooden pier constructed in 1858 shortly after the railway arrived in Llandudno, but it was replaced in 1878 with the current one.
At 2,295 feet (700 meters) in length, it is the longest pier in Wales and the fifth-longest in England and Wales.
Here in days gone by steamers to the Isle of Man would leave.
The pier is constructed of wrought iron lattice girders resting on cast iron columns, and decked with wood which has been replaced several times.
The pier was designed by Brunlees & McKerrow and is known for its elegant ornamentation and elaborate kiosks.
Musical performances took place in a bandstand at the head of the pier, but were moved to the Pier Pavilion constructed at the entrance to the pier in 1886.
The Pier Pavilion was destroyed by fire in 1994 and has not been replaced. Llandudno Pier is considered by many to be the finest example of a Victorian seaside pier still standing.
There are still the occasional sailings to the Isle of Man, and visits by historic steamships like the PS Waverley.
The pier is also a popular spot for anglers, but for most visitors it is simply the promenade that is the draw.
There are plenty of food vendors that serve up traditional summer holiday fare like ice cream, fish & chips, cockles & mussels, fresh doughnuts, etc.
As well there are numerous shops selling a variety of products including some classic souvenirs.
Along the landward pier extension are all kinds of fairground rides like slides and merry-go rounds, and the pier head is filled with the noise of amusement arcades.
There is even a bar at the end of the pier. All in all a classic seaside experience.
Churches
In a hollow just below the summit is St. Tudno's Church and cemetery. Still in use today, and until recently the parish church of Llandudno, it was built in the 12th century on a Christian site that dates back to the 6th century.
It is from where the name Llandudno derives. St. Tudno was a son of King Seithenyn and he built himself a small monastic cell nearby in the 6th century.
It is one of few remaining cable-operated street tramways in the world.
Holy Trinity Church is now the parish church. Holy Trinity was consecrated in 1874 and was built for the huge influx of English-speaking holiday makers who came to the expanding seaside resort.
Festivals
The town hosts a Victorian Festival over the May Bank Holiday with a parade of participants in Victorian fancy dress, bands and a funfair.
Shopping
Victoria Shopping Centre Llandudno, Parc Llandudno and Mostyn Champneys are the town's major shopping centres with the usual array of British high street shops. Mostyn Champneys is home to Llandudno Superbowl bowling alley.
Accommodation
Some recommended places to stay in Llandudno include The Grand Hotel, the three-star The Broadway Hotel, and the four-star St George's Hotel.
The Grand Hotel offers a restaurant, a ballroom for live entertainment and cabarets and also a full-size snooker table in the games room.
The Broadway is only a short walk from the seafront and railway station. Its restaurant serves up a cooked breakfast and evening meals.
St George's Hotel has sea views, a restaurant as well as airconditioned rooms with free WiFi.
Also recommended are Osborn House and the Empire Hotel which are part of the same group. Can-y-Bae is a gay-friendly accommodation close to Venue Cymru. Escape B&B is a five-star hipster's dream with Blu-ray DVD players and Bose iPod docks while the Clontarf Hotel is another friendly, boutique hotel with a touch of luxury.
The Cottage Loaf was originally a bakery (hence the name) and now a pub with rooms. The building utilizes wood salvaged from the wreck of the Flying Foam a coal schooner wrecked off the Welsh coast in 1936. It's known for its good food and beer. There's a pleasant outdoor terrace to enjoy too.
See a listing on hotels in and near Llandudno
Access
Llandudno is on the A546 and is a short drive from Colwyn Bay. From Chester follow the A55 to reach the town.
There are trains to Manchester Piccadilly in Manchester via Colwyn Bay, Rhyl, Prestatyn, Flint, Chester Station and Warrington.
From Liverpool Lime Street Station in Liverpool to Llandudno by train change in Chester. Journey time can be a little under 3 hours. By car the same journey is about 90 minutes depending on traffic which can be heavy in summer and Bank Holiday weekends especially.
The two nearest airports are Manchester Airport and Liverpool John Lennon Airport.
Nearby
Nearby attractions include both Conwy Castle and Caernarfon Castle. Heading towards the mouth of the River Dee across from West Kirby and Hoylake are the other North Wales resorts of Rhos-on-Sea, Colwyn Bay, Rhyl and Prestatyn.
Eat & Drink
Some good places to wine and dine include Dinos Llandudno for pizza and burgers, Carlo's Restaurant for Italian at 2 Pleasant Street and Indulgence Cafe for traditional British fare at 10 Clonmel Street.
For good Chinese head for Tops Chinese Restaurant or East on Augusta Street.
The town has several good pubs including The Snowdon on Tudno Street, The Carlton on Mostyn Street and The Station on Station Road.
Map
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