Conwy is a great place to base yourself if you ever want to visit North Wales. Before you head out to explore North Wales, you will find interesting attractions in Conwy and Llandudno.
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If you plan on travelling around the UK, the best way to get around is by car. You get to see more, but you will find hidden gems the average traveller doesn’t see.
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Contents
Conwy
Town Wall
You will learn much about Edward I when visiting 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, go up the spiral staircases, and imagine 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 and towers are still intact, giving you a sense of what it was like nearly 750 years ago.
Hours
| 1st March – 30th June | 9.30 am–5 pm |
|---|---|
| 1st July – 31st August | 9.30 am– 6pm |
| 1st September – 31st October | 9.30 am–5 pm |
| 1st November – 29th February | 10 am–4 pm |
| Last admission 30 minutes before closing. Closed 24, 25, 26 December and 1 January. | |
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 you’ve stepped back in time.
The audio guide, which 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
| 1st March – 30th September | 9.30 am-5 pm |
|---|---|
| 1st October – 31st October | 9.30 am-4 pm |
| 1st November – 28th February | Closed |
| Last admission 45 minutes before closing | |
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-see. 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. Interestingly, a 6-foot-3-inch man and an elderly couple once lived here.
It’s hard to imagine how anyone can live here without a bathroom or kitchen. 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.
Lewis Carroll’s Alice, from Alice in Wonderland, spent her summer holidays in Llandudno. Statues depicting the different characters from his tale are all over Llandudno.
Hours
- When does it run?
- Daily Llandudno Red Route (Llandudno and Conwy) March – October
- Llandudno Blue Route (Great Orme Explorer) April – October
- Duration 24 hours
- The start time is 10 am to 5 pm, every 30 to 60 minutes (depending on the route), and one loop takes 45 minutes.
- Meeting Point: You may board the bus at any stop, and you can exchange the voucher directly with the driver at any stop.
- Ending Point: You may leave the bus at any stop.
Prices
To check availability and book, click here.
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 the Rest and Be Thankful Cafe on the summit.
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 Great Orme 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 area’s history, ecology, and wildlife. Interactive displays and videos help visitors 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 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
March – Early November Daily 10 am – 6 pm.
Prices
- Adults – £10.85 / £11.85*
- Children (3 to 16) – £7.75 / £8.95*
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 loved my time in Northern Wales. If you like to get out in nature and visit historical castles, this is the place for you. YHA Conwy is a great place to base yourself and see all the attractions that Conwy and Llandudno offer.
Parking is on-site, so you can leave your car and explore the old walled town and Conwy Castle. Conwy is also home to the smallest house in Great Britain and fantastic sunsets that you can enjoy from the outdoor area or huge dining room.
Facilities
- 24-hour access after check-in
- BBQ area
- Contactless payments
- Corridor zoning
- Dining room
- Evening meals
- Free parking on the premises
- Full mobile coverage
- Games
- Garden/grounds
- Licensed bar
- Lift
- Luggage store
- Mountain view
- Near bus stop/train station
- Outdoor games kit
- Outdoor seating
- Restaurant
- Self-catering kitchen
- Shared drying room
- Shared laundry room
- Shared lounge/TV
- Sole use available
- Unlimited breakfast
- Water refill station
- WiFi
How To Get Here
YHA Conwy is outside the walls of Conwy, but it’s an easy walk to all its attractions at Sychnant Pass Road.
How To Book
If you would love to explore this extraordinary area, click here to start your adventure in Northern Wales.
If you want to learn about UK passes and what you should get for where read my blog on Explore the UK with Passes.
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Links
If you’d like to read more about my travels in the UK, click on the following links to the countries: England, Scotland, and Wales.
If you want to learn about UK passes and what you should get for where read my blog on Explore the UK with Passes.
If you’d like to read more of my blogs on Australia, you can find them on the following links; Queensland, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Camping and Silo Art.
You can also click on the links for New Zealand, the United Kingdom, or Photography.
Travel Resources
- Flights & Accommodation—You can search for the cheapest flights and accommodation using Booking.com, Skyscanner, Tripadvisor, and WayAway, which offers 5% cashback.
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- Train & Bus Tickets UK & Europe—Use Trainline to plan and book your rail and bus travel in the UK and Europe.
- Travel Insurance is the number one thing to pack when you’re travelling. Cover-More Australia, Cover-More New Zealand, EKTA, Travel Insurance Master, and Insubuy keep you insured during your travels.
- Attractions—buy before you leave home with these great sites: Big Bus Tour, Get Your Guide, GoCity and Viator.
- House Sitting is a great way to save on accommodation, and Trusted Housesitters offers house sittings worldwide.
- Photo Editing is a great way to bring your photos to life, and you can try Luminar Neo, which I use.
- Visa Applications—apply online for your visa requirements with iVisa.
- Sim cards—Try Airalo, the world’s first eSIM store, which solves the pain of high roaming bills by giving travellers access to eSIMs (digital SIM cards).
If you want more tips, try my Travel Links and Resource page.
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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.