Find and book the perfect Welsh b&b or holiday cottage by the sea in Llandudno
Visit Llandudno: Wales' hidden treasure!
Llandudno is Wales' biggest seaside town, and by far the most popular. Home to long sandy beaches that stretch out for miles along both sides of the town, Llandudno was once a holiday town for upper class Victorians, and remnants of this history can still be seen throughout the town. Many of the 19th century architectural styles have been retained and renovated, lending a feeling of grandeur to Llandudno. Wandering through Llandudno feels like wandering back in time; from the long pier stretching out into the horizon, to the punch and Judy shows and the retro sweets, arcade games, and ice-cream, it's no wonder the seaside resort holds so much charm for families and older travellers alike. Such is the charm of the town that Alice Liddell, Lewis Carroll's inspiration for Alice in Alice in Wonderland used to holiday here with her own family. As such, there are statues of characters from the books dotted around the town, which can be followed along a trail marked by 55 bronze rabbit footprints.
Best Time to Visit Llandudno
Just like any city in the UK, the weather is at its best during the summer months of June through to August, with highs typically hovering around 20 degrees Celsius. These temperatures do typically drop at night which means its best to carry around a jacket or cardigan with you, but overall the summer is the best time to visit if you're looking to make sandcastles on the beach and top up your tan. During autumn and winter (mid-September through to March) the chances of rain – and even snow – are up, which can be pleasant if you like a brisk cold walk along the beach and through the beautiful countryside of Llandudno. However, arguably spring is the best time to visit for that, with warmer temperatures and a longer period of sunshine that the winter months get, there's plenty more time to go out and experience the town and surrounding area. Overall, the beautiful town of Llandudno has an incredibly mild temperate climate: there's barely any extreme temperatures, whether that be hot or cold, and typically visitors would describe the weather as pleasant – which is what you want from your seaside getaway.
How to Get to Llandudno
Found on the northern coast of Wales, getting to Llandudno is always a delight. The largest seaside resort in Wales, there are some great transport links. If you want to drive down – and we would recommend you do, as that gives you freedom to explore more of Wales' amazing coastal regions while you're there – then there are multiple different routes you could take. For those coming in from the north, the A55, otherwise known as the "Expressway" leads straight on to the motorway network that's been set up in the north. Those coming up from down south in England have the choice of the M6, M5 or M1, or there's the A5 for the scenic route through the Midlands, via Shrewsbury – which is a delight to drive. Driving won is the not the only way to reach Llandudno. Travellers also have the option to hop on a train, and a number of direct train services run from all over the UK direct to Llandudno. For those coming from London, there's a direct train from London Euston straight to the coastal town, and there's also the Transport for Wales services which has links to a number of major train stations across the UK, particularly the Midlands – such as Birmingham International, Manchester Airport, and Liverpool Lime Street. For those coming overseas wishing to get a train from the airport, a good suggestion would be investing in a BritRail Pass, which means you can travel cheaply all over the UK. Travellers from Dublin can also reach Llandudno on a ferry using either Irish Ferries or Stena Line, and the National Express coach service stops at destinations all over the country – including Llandudno. For those coming from further afield, the best airports to fly into would be any of the London ones, Manchester, Liverpool, and Birmingham, as these then have great transport links to the seaside town in Wales, with direct trains.
Where to book a holiday cottage in Llandudno
Llandudno Town Centre
Wales' largest seaside resort, you can be sure it comes with plenty of great, traditional bed and breakfast and other holiday rentals to choose from. The town centre is right in the middle of the Great and Little Ormes – one of the biggest tourist attractions in the area – and it's so close to the sea you can practically taste the sea air, as every good seaside resort should be. The beautiful town has retained a lot of its Victorian and Edwardian features, which means that despite the modern attractions and recent refurbishment, Llandudno still maintains its quintessentially English seaside town charm. Why not stay at the Escape Boutique B&B, a stereotypical Victorian style B&B accommodation right in the heart of the town's centre at the top end of Mostyn Street. The home away from home style holiday rental was first built during the 1950s, and it's right around the corner from countless restaurants, cultural events, teahouses and more.
Llandudno Bay
The seafront at Llandudno is immaculate, as if it was built yesterday – and yet with all of the charm of a seaside resort that's been there for over 100 years. There are countless Blye Flag beaches, the fantastic Llandudno pier, brooding medieval castle, Punch and Judy attractions, and plenty of seaside activities to fill up your time – so why wpuldnt you want to stay along the coast, right in the centre of the action? Osborne House is the perfect choice: a Grade II listed building, the fantastic townhouse is home to an equally fantastic B&B style hotel, with antique furnishings, champagne afternoon teas, and even a giant Buddha's head in the middle of the hallway. Set right out on the seafront, the Osborne House has fantastic views of Llandudno's pier and beautiful sea. There's also the Llandudno Bay Hotel, right on the beach front with almost every room having a great sea view and just minutes away from Venue Cymru - the local live music and theatre venue that is a big hit with both locals and tourists alike. The holiday rental was created from a series of old Victorian townhouses, and the style has been left both modern and authentically Victorian at the same time.
Things to do in Llandudno
The Great Orme
The Great Orme is a stunning limestone headline, that stretches over 2 miles in circumference, and a massive 207 metres in height. Its name come from an old Norse word for "sea serpent" thanks to the way it seemingly looms out of the sea over the town of Llandudno, and it proves to be a beautiful backdrop to the old Victorian town, setting the romantic tone to the traditional seaside town. The Great Orme is a Site of Special Scientific interest, and its home to hundreds of different species of butterflies, flowers, sea birds and more – the most famous of all being the Kashmir mountain goats, with approximately 150 wild goats roaming the area. There are a number of trails marked along the Orme, taking travellers to sites of particular interest; the Great Orme Bronze age Copper Mines, some of which are over 4000 years old, as well as an Iron Age fort, and a Neolithic burial chamber. There are also plenty of activities that provide endless entertainment for all the family: an open-air theatre, ski slope, toboggan run, golf course, and more.
Characters
One of the best teahouses in the entire area – if not in all of Wales – Characters really lives up to its namesake and delivers a lot of character. The whole place is covered with artwork, with wicker chairs and comfy sofas making you feel at home, and plenty of glittery cake stands to keep you deliberating for hours.
Llandudno Pier
Llandudno Pier has everything you could wish for from a typical Victorian pier. There are Punch and Judy stalls, retro arcade games, old fashioned sweet stores, and one of the best ice-cream spots in all of Llandudno. Wales' longest pier, it stands at 670 metres – and it's also one of the prettiest you'll find in Wales too. The pier stretches way out into the Irish Sea and plays host to some incredible events throughout the year: the May Bank Holiday Victorian Extravaganza, the Llandudno Air Show, various different jazz weekends, and even the annual bonfire night celebrations – although no actual fire is lit on the pier, of course.
West Shore Beach
There are a number of beaches in and around Llandudno that are just great, but if you want to get away from all of the hustle and bustle then head to West Shore Beach. Typically, West Shore Beach has more of a rugged beach feel to it, the beach is a treasure trove for any geologists - but it's also great for anyone looking to get some fantastic views over Anglesey and the Snowdonian mountains without screaming children and noisy tourists crowding every inch of the sand. This beach is the best place for a wander, an adventure, and a view of the sunsets.
Oriel MOSTYN Gallery
In the heart of Llandudno's town centre there is an elegant, heritage-listed, terracotta-and-brick 1901 building, which hides one of the best collections of North Wales' contemporary art you can find. Made up of six galleries in total, the Oriel MOSTYN Gallery is the site of some incredible contemporary art shows, often showcasing challenging exhibitions – the gallery was even one of the first to showcase female artist across the whole of Britain.
Llandudno Ski Slope
The Llandudno Ski Slope can be found on the site of the Great Orme – where travellers can also find the longest toboggan run in the whole of the UK. The Snowsports centre also has options for snowboarding and snow-tubing, and there's even Alpine Lodge bar on site. If snowboarding isn't your thing, however, then don't worry, the Llandudno Ski Slope is set amongst the Happy Valleys, which is the best spot for miles around to have a picnic, and look out over the exceptional views.
Llandudno Cable Car
Not everyone fancies hiking to the top of The Great Orme, especially as its peak stands at 679ft above sea level. That's why, in 1969, the Llandudno Cable Car was opened, offering the same incredible panoramic views, without any of the sweating. Incredibly popular, the cable cars aren't open when there are strong winds – so if you want to have a go, make sure you leave plenty of available days, in case you get turned away.