Llandudno is where the Conwy Valley Line ends, but for many visitors where the fun really begins! The Queen of Welsh Resorts brims with things to see and do. Best of all, they’re all within walking distance of the station.
The town is mostly flat and easy to navigate, and even the steep slopes of the Great Orme can be explored by tram or cable car.
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Here are our top 10 things to do in Llandudno:
1. Llandudno promenade and pier
The seaside is why the resort of Llandudno exists, and it’s the first place most people head for. Why not? The Great Orme headland and its baby sister the Little Orme bookend a sweeping, sheltered bay to the north of the town.
The wide promenade stretches from one end to the other with plenty of shelters and seats along the way. Perfect for a pre-lunch stroll or a longer, soul-cleansing walk. Towards the Great Orme is Llandudno Pier, the longest in Wales and well worth an amble along its sea-weathered boards.
How long to walk from the station? 15 minutes to the pier, 5 minutes to the prom!
2. Great Orme Tram
The Victorian Great Orme Tram is one of the best ways to get to the Orme’s 679-foot summit. Nearly 120 years old, the tram is Britain’s only cable-hauled tramway travelling on public roads.
Its mile-long climb through the Great Orme Country Park and Nature Reserve also takes you past the Great Orme Copper Mines, an amazing attraction if you don’t mind enclosed spaces! There’s a shop and cafe at the summit, if you can tear your gaze away from the gorgeous views of Llandudno, Snowdonia, Anglesey and the north wales coast.
How long to walk from the station? 14 minutes
3. Venue Cymru
North Wales’s premier theatre venue boasts a packed programme of events. It’s always advisable to book shows in advance, but the centre also runs choir recitals and creative workshops and writing groups for young people, including dance classes.
Visit the Venue Cymru website to see what’s on. The centre’s café boasts some of the best views of Llandudno promenade, too.
How long to walk from the station? 11 minutes
4. Happy Valley and attractions
In the shelter of a former quarry on the Great Orme you’ll find the delightful walks and gardens of Happy Valley. Just a few minutes away from the pier, yet hidden from view, Happy Valley feels like a little world of its own.
If you’ve had enough walking and fancy a change of pace, try the dry ski slope or toboggan run. Otherwise you can find another lazy way up to the summit of the Great Orme, by way of the UK’s longest cable car.
How long to walk from the station? 20 minutes
5. West Shore
If Llandudno’s pebbly beach thwarts your children’s bucket-and-spade intentions, don’t despair. Follow the signs for West Shore and find another beach with enough sand for castles, moats, picnics and games galore. Because it’s slightly away from the town centre, West Shore boasts its own cafes, so leave the towel while you go for something to eat.
If you can, hang around until sunset. Watch the sun fill Snowdonia’s northern hills with golden light as it slips over Anglesey and away.
How long to walk from the station? 22 minutes
6. Church of the Holy Trinity
Llandudno’s original church was high up on the windswept summit of the Great Orme. You can still visit the church there, but be prepared for a hike even if you take the tram!
By the time Llandudno became a fashionable Victorian resort, it needed a more convenient church, so in 1860 the Church of the Holy Trinity was built. As then, it marks the centre of Llandudno and makes for a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of the main street.
How long to walk from the station? 3 minutes
7. Llandudno Museum
Llandudno’s museum brings to life local history. And there’s a lot of it – 350 million years, at historians’ best guess!
From the prehistoric copper mines on the Great Orme to the town’s present day status as one of the best preserved resorts in the UK, Llandudno Museum provides a wonderful introduction to the town and the area, helping visitors of all ages understand local people, landmarks and traditions.
Note: The museum is currently closed for refurbishment.
How long to walk from the station? 8 minutes
8. Mostyn Art Gallery
The town’s impressive art gallery (named after the Mostyn family, one of their many legacies in Llandudno and across North Wales) is just a stone’s throw away from the station.
Behind an elegant Edwardian terracotta facade, and thanks to a recent refurbishment adorned with a landmark gold spire, the original turn-of-the-century galleries have been merged into a more contemporary architectural design. Mostyn Art Gallery shows works from artists and makers from Wales and beyond.
There’s a shop and cafe too, making this a great place to spend a morning or an afternoon.
How long to walk from the station? 2 minutes
9. Llandudno Shopping
Head for Mostyn Street where you’ll find a mix of independent stores and well known brands, as well as plenty of places to eat and drink.
If the weather takes a turn for the worse, the Victoria Centre on the landward side of Mostyn Street will provide some refuge from the elements and a little more retail therapy.
How long to walk from the station? 6 minutes
10. Follow the Alice Trail
Eight-year-old Alice Liddell spent many summer holidays in Llandudno’s West Shore. The Liddells were friends with Charles Dodgson, who wrote fantasy children’s books under his more famous pen-name, Lewis Carroll. Hence the town’s connection with Alice in Wonderland.
The Alice Trail follows sculptures around the town that connect to places and characters in the famous books. It’s a great way to explore Llandudno.
How long to walk from the station? Start outside the entrance!