Llandudno
From MaxTravelz
Llandudno is a Victorian seaside resort and town in North Wales. It lies on the coast between Bangor and Colwyn Bay, and has a population of about 20,000. Llandudno is just off the main rail line between Chester and Holyhead, the latter being the main ferry port for travel to Ireland. Llandudno is served by a branch line from Llandudno Junction.
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Understand
Llandudno has the distinction of being the largest seaside resort in North Wales. The resort lies between two notable carboniferous headlands, the Great Orme and the Little Orme with the Irish Sea on one side and the estuary of the River Conwy on the other. It is these headlands and the two waterfronts, the North Shore and the West Shore, that give Llandudno its special appeal.
Although settlements have existed on the Great Orme since the Stone Age and an Iron Age hill fort survives at Pen-y-Dinas, Llandudno was developed as a seaside resort in the Victorian era. As such, it has Victorian charm - large Victorian houses, fine hotels lining the bay, a pier, boat trips round the headland, Punch and Judy on the wide promenade, an excellent lifeboat service, and a fine theatre with ballet, opera, orchestral concerts, ice shows and pantomime in season.
Get in
By train
- Through Train from London Euston, Mondays to Fridays 11am (3½ hours).
- Through Trains from Manchester, every hour on weekdays (2½ hours).
- Trains from Crewe, every hour on weekdays, change at Chester and/or Llandudno Junction.
- Trains from Cardiff, every two hours on weekdays, change at Llandudno Junction.
By car
From England: From the M6, take the M56 in the direction of Chester, North Wales. Take the M53 in the direction of A55, North Wales at the end of the M56. This becomes the A55, stay on this for 30 miles or so until you see signs for the A470 turn off. From here follow signs for Llandudno.
By plane
Nearest airports are Liverpool and Manchester but only Manchester is linked by train (from airport by train to Manchester Piccadily, then change train). By hire car, little to chose between the two - use the above directions.
By bus
Local buses operate from Rhyl (every ten minutes), Bangor (six per hour), Caernarfon and Llangollen but there are no daily long distance coach services to Llandudno. National Express have a daily service from London calling at Llandudno Junction (three miles away).
Get around
- Take the scenic Conwy Valley Train from Llandudno to Blaenau Ffestiniog.
- Red Rover Tickets cost £5 for unlimited day travel on the Conwy Valley train and on buses in Snowdonia.
See
- The Bronze Age Copper Mines on the upper slopes of the Great Orme.
- Fossils in the exposed limestone faces of Bishop's Quarry near the summit.
- The Victorian Pier, the finest in Wales, second longest in Britain and one of a dwindling number of recreational piers in the country.
Do
- Ride the traditional tram (built in 1902) to the summit of the Great Orme, enjoy the visitor centre and visit Randolf Turpin's Bar in the Summit Complex.
- Go for walks over the Great Orme, perhaps visiting Saint Tudno's church.
- Walk, cycle, drive or ride a coach around the Marine Drive. There is a toll of £2.50 for cars but that includes free parking at the summit car park, which is reached by a side road via Saint Tudno's Church.
- Possibly take the cable car from the Happy Valley to the summit of the Great Orme - it didn't run during 2005 but there are plans to operate later in 2006.
- Walk in the Happy Valley and the Haulfre Gardens and enjoy the magnificent views.
- Visit the Happy Valley artificial ski slope ot take the toboggan run from the top...
Buy
Eat
Drink
Sleep
Get out
- Conwy - fantastic castle and walled town, just 5 miles away from Llandudno.
- Chester - Roman walled city, 30 miles away.