Colwyn Bay quickly developed as a resort town with the coming of the railway in the 19th Century. Among the wide range of historic buildings in the town is the oldest cinema in Wales (now with 21st Century technology) and many buildings built or designed by the renowned local architect Sidney Colwyn Foulkes. The late Victorian pier has not survived, but has been replaced by a new much shorter pier inspired by the original. You can also visit the Eiras Park multi-purpose stadium; the home ground of all the Wales Under-20s Six Nations Rugby games.
During World War Two, the Ministry of Food moved their headquarters to Colwyn Bay and organised the “Dig for Victory” campaign from here.
The Welsh Mountain Zoo, part of the National Zoological Society of Wales, is just outside the town. It has a wide range of animals and birds, including Sumatran tigers and snow leopards.
Colwyn Bay has a long sand and shingle beach, and the original Victorian promenade was redesigned in 2017. From the promenade you can spot fossils in the limestone boulders which form the sea defences. You can walk westwards along the beach to Rhos-on-Sea, home of the charming Harlequin Puppet Theatre, and visit many historic sites in the village, including St Trillo’s Chapel (the country’s smallest church, which seats 6 people), and Penmaenhead, where King Richard II was ambushed in 1399.