Conwy is a great place to base yourself if you ever want to visit North Wales. Before you head out to explore North Wales, there are interesting attractions in Conwy and Llandudno.
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If you are travelling around the United Kingdom, the best way is by car. Not only do you get to see more but you will find more hidden gems that the average traveller doesn’t see.
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Conwy
Town Wall
You will learn a lot about Edward I when you visit Conwy and North Wales for the history buffs. The Town Walls were built in the 1280s for defence and are still standing today for you to walk along.
You can walk the Wall from the esplanade to Conwy Castle. It is steep in parts, and the ground is uneven, but you have great views over the rooftops.
It’s not a long walk, 30-40 minutes, depending on how many stops you make to take in the views but well worth it.
Conwy Castle
Built in the 1280s by Edward I, Conwy Castle is now a shell of its former self.
The Castle has been rebuilt each time it fell into disrepair, which started happening not long after it was first built. That ceased in 1645, and we are left with what we see today.
You can learn all about the Castle’s history as you walk around, going up the spiral staircases and imagining just how big this Castle would have been.
If you love photography, then being on the bridge at sunset is the place for you. After the sun has set, you can capture the colour from the lights that dance upon the walls of the Castle.
If you love history and walking around ruins, this should be on your list of places to visit. Although it’s in ruins, the walls are still intact, as are the towers, giving you a sense of what it was like nearly 750 years ago.
Hours
| 1 Mar – 30 Jun and 1 Sep – 31 Oct. | Daily 9.30 am – 5 pm |
| 1 Jul – 31 August | Daily 9.30 am – 6 pm |
| 1 Nov – 28 Feb | 10 am – 4 pm. |
Last admission 30 minutes before closing.
Prices
Prices are dependant on the time of year you visit. Click here to view them.
Plas Mawr
Plas Mawr is the Elizabethan House that everyone should visit when in Conwy. Beautifully decorated down to the straw on the floor, you feel as though you’ve stepped back in time.
The audio guide is included in your ticket price is the best I have ever heard. As you go from room to room, Robert Wynn, who built the house in the 16th Century, and his second wife Dorothy, tell you what happens in each room with a bit of added humour.
An exhibition on the second floor shows you how people lived, superstitions, and how a medical diagnosis was made.
Colour, furniture and even food on the tables add to the reality.
Even if you do just one attraction in Conwy, this would be the one that I would highly recommend.
Hours
14 Mar – 30 Sep Daily 9.30 am – 5 pm. Last admission 30 minutes before closing.
1 Oct – 5 Nov Daily 9.30 am – 4 pm. Last admission 3.15 pm.
6 Nov – 28 Feb 2025 Closed.
Prices
Prices are dependant on the time of year you visit. Click here to view them.
Smallest House in Great Britain
Located on the waterfront, the Smallest House in Great Britain is a must-do. This place is so unbelievably small it has to be seen to be believed.
For £1, you can take a peek inside and hear a recording of the history of this fantastic house.
Once you step inside, stretch out your arms to see how little space there is. A 6-foot 3-inch man once lived here incredibly, as well as an elderly couple.
With no bathroom or kitchen, it’s hard to imagine how anyone can live here. Up the ladder to the second floor, you can see the bedroom.
Hours
Daily 10 am – 4 pm
Prices
Adult £1.50
Child (under 14) £1.00
Llandudno
If you don’t have a car, you can take the hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus and see the sights of Llandudno, the nearby town.
In Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll’s Alice spent her summer holidays in Llandudno. There are statues all over Llandudno that depict the different characters from his tale.
Hours
- When does it run?
- Daily Llandudno Red Route: 11th March – 5th November
- Llandudno Blue Route: 1st April – 5th November
- Llandudno All Routes: 1st April – 5th November
- Duration 24 hours
- Start time 10 am to 5 pm, every 30 to 60 minutes (depending on the route) 1 loop takes 45 minutes.
- Meeting Point You may board the bus at any stop. The voucher can be exchanged at any of the stops directly with the driver.
- Ending Point You may leave the bus at any stop.
Prices
- Adult (15-60) £15
- Child (3-15) £6.50
- Senior (60+) £13
- Student (Student card required) £13
- Family £38
Great Orme Country Park
Not only is Llandudno a beach town with a long esplanade to walk along, but you can explore the countryside in the Great Orme Country Park.
You can wander around all day up here exploring the views, visitors centre, Great Orme Copper Mines, and on the summit, the Rest and Be Thankful Cafe.
You can arrive by car as there is a car park on the summit or take the Great Orme Tramway up.
Great Orme Tramway
I arrived in Llandudno late afternoon, so I didn’t have time to explore, but I took the tramway to the summit to take in the views.
The Tram has been taking visitors to the summit since 1902. At peak times, it leaves every 10 minutes and 20 minutes other times.
This is a great way to see the views of Llandudno as you head up on the Tram. At the top, the views stretch up and down the coastline for miles.
The visitor centre at the summit is an exhibition on the history, ecology, and wildlife in the area. Interactive displays and videos help you learn about this fantastic spot.
The Tram stops halfway up, where you can get off for the Bronze Age Copper Mines and walk around. You walk through the station, see the system’s inner workings, and then catch the Tram either up to the summit or back down to the town.
St. Tudno’s Church, an Iron Age fort and Stone Age remains are also in the Country Park for you to discover.
Hours
Early April – Late October Daily 10 am – 6 pm. Closes during March 5 pm.
Prices
- Adults – £10.50 / £11.50*
- Children (3 to 16) – £7.50 / £8.65*
Family tickets and single-journey tickets are also available
*High season prices: July and August.
Conwy and Llandudno have fantastic attractions to visit, and it’s a great place to base yourself while you explore the rest of North Wales. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Where I stayed in Conwy
I stayed at the YHA Conwy, a convenient stroll from Conwy attractions and a good base to explore the North of Wales.
Here you have a large common kitchen and dining room to satisfy any hunger while having that comfortably at-home feeling. The rooms are private or shared, where you can enjoy nights exchanging travels with your fellow roommates.
If you would like to book this hostel, click here at Booking.com or other accommodation in Conwy here at Booking.com.
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Links
If you’d like to read more about my travels in the UK, click on the countries following links; England, Scotland and Wales.
If you want to check out UK passes and what you should get for where then read my blog on Explore the UK with Passes.
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The part of UK where we don’t know how to pronounce words 😆 How do you pronounce Conwy??!! Love your pics of Plas Mawr – I honestly didn’t expect to see so much colour from those times, it’s so often depicted as dull and gloomy! And the chamber pot under the bed in the little red house!! 😆
Thanks, Gabby. Conwy is pronounced Conway and you would love the Plas Mawr audio guide and the little red house. They are both amazing.
I spent 6 weeks this summer in Wales and I kept going back to visiting Conwy over and over. Loved this town! Great photos!
Thanks, Heather. Conwy is a great little town and so easy to get around.
That little house is just big enough for me … and wouldn’t take much to heat!
Such dramatic skies in Wales, I’ve only visited just over the border, but need to explore more—and bring my watercolor paints along to capture Conway…
You need to get to the little house, Jay. It is unbelievable.
Fascinating! I’ve only ever been to Cardiff, which is much more of a modern city. Your photos are beautiful! And I’m a sucker for ‘smallest house/street/etc’ places, so between those I may have to check this out.
Thanks, Kelly. I hope that enjoy yourself if you get here. I think it’s the type of town that you’d love.
I’ve always wanted to visit Wales and your post has inspired me to start planning my trip!
I’m glad you’ve been inspired to visit, Merry. I hope that you get here and have fun.
I’ve traveled throughout most of the UK, but have yet to make it to Wales. On my list now for sure!
I’m glad that you enjoyed it, Kristina. I hope that you get to visit one day.