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LLANDUDNO

Welcome to Llandudno, the finest holiday resort in Wales
and a part of Conwy County Borough in the United Kingdom.
This is an independent web site dedicated to Llandudno:
  
The Queen of the North Wales Resorts

Llandudno lies between two limestone headlands, both great attractions
 for tourists and naturalists alike, the Great Orme and the Little Orme
with the Irish Sea on one side and the estuary of the River Conwy on the other.

Llandudno Pier   The Victorian Pier, is one of Llandudno's greatest attractions. At 2,295 foot long it is the longest pier in Wales and one of the finest recreational piers in the United Kingdom. The Llandudno landing stage is still used by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company for occasional excursions to Douglas  and by the Waverley and Balmoral Steamer Preservation organization.

On Llandudno's wide promenade by the pier entrance.  A popular attraction on sunny afternoons.

Other folk take to the sea in traditional cruising launches or for excitement in speed boats and both types of vessel normally offer trips daily during the long Llandudno season.

Donkey and Pony Rides    Donkey and Pony Rides have been a popular attraction on Llandudno’s sandy beach for over 125 years and continue to appeal to the children of all ages.  They were introduced by Elizabeth Hughes (the Donkey Lady), and her descendants continue the tradition with others to the present day.

Professor Codman's Punch and Judy at Llandudno      Another great attraction here at Llandudno, Punch and Judy still entertain the children in the traditional manner, just as they have always done. ‘Professor’ Codman brought Punch to Llandudno in 1860 and the Codman family still run the puppet show daily during the summer on the wide promenade near the pier.  Photograph Easter Sunday 2006. That's the way to do it!

Alice in Wonderland    The Mad Hatter presents his complements to the assembled throng watching the mid-day parade at that great annual May-Day attraction, the Llandudno Victorian Extravaganza, whilst the equally colourful Queen of Hearts harangues those on the other side with requests for a slight bow or a modest courtesy.     The real Alice, Miss Alice Liddell, for whom those famous "wonderland" stories were written by Lewis Carol, spent her childhood summers at Penmorfa, the house that her father, Dean Liddell, built, as a holiday home, almost on the beach at the West Shore, Llandudno.     All this and very much more will be carefully and most colourfully explained at the Alice in Wonderland Centre in Trinity Square, Llandudno.

All the fun of the fair at the Llandudno Victorian Extravaganza.

Venue Cymru Llandudno or the North Wales Theatre    Venue Cymru, one of the greatest theatrical attractions in the whole of North Wales offering excellent drama, ballet, opera, ice shows, orchestral concerts, brass and military bands, musical comedy, pantomime and stand-up (or should it be stood-up) comedians.  Venue Cymru is physically and dynamically linked to the adjacent North Wales Conference Centre.

Llandudno Museum   The Llandudno Museum at Chardon House (centre of picture) in Gloddaeth Street is a fine attraction for archaeologists and antiquarians.  Nearby is another of Llandudno's interesting attractions (in New Street behind the church, in the picture) a collection  dedicated to that much neglected aspect of the 1939-45 war, The Home Front Experience.

The Great Orme Marine Drive   Take the Vintage Motor Coach tour from Prince Edward Gardens round the Great Orme via the Marine Drive.  Or drive round in you own car and take a diversion to Saint Tudno's Church, or the Bronze Age Copper Mines or to the Summit. The toll of £2.50 includes parking on the Great Orme at the Summit Car Park. Refreshments may be bought at the "Rest and Be Thankful" café, just half way round the Marine Drive.

Saint Tudno's Church   On the northern side of the Great Orme, nestling in a sheltered hollow, is the church of Saint Tudno with its churchyard and the adjacent town cemetery, still in regular use. This little church, open daily during the season, was built in the 12th century on a Christian site dating from the 6th century and dedicated to the memory of its founder St. Tudno.

The Great Orme Tramway   Take the world famous Cable Tramway, one of just three cable hauled street tramways in the world and one of the great narrow-gauge transport attractions of North Wales, to the summit of the Great Orme. The tram climbs steeply up the very narrow Old Road and then crosses the five-way junction at Black Gate to join Ty Gwyn Road at its junction with Wyddfyd Road and Llwynon Road. The public bus service to Tyn y Coed crosses the line at this point. The tramway then runs at the side of Ty Gwyn Road to the half way tram station near to the Great Orme Bronze Age Copper Mines, another of Llandudno's world famous attractions, which can be visited before continuing by tram to the summit.

The Great Orme Summit Complex Travel by tram from the Victoria tram station in Church Walks or by aerial cable car from its Happy Valley terminus (see below) or take your own car, climbing the 1 in 4 ascent of the Great Orme to the Summit Complex.  By car or on foot one can also travel via the Marine Drive (see above) to the copper mines and the summit.

Llandudno Lifeboat It is on the Promenade near St. George's Place that the Llandudno Lifeboat, with its tractor, can often be found at weekends.  The lifeboat house is in Lloyd Street, midway between the two shores, to facilitate emergency launch from either beach. The lifeboat jetty can be seen on the left in the photograph below.

Llandudno Bay has good sands, a wide promenade many excellent hotels, good shopping and behind the town are the twin mounds of Deganwy Castle.    A view from the Great Orme above the Happy Valley

Relax in the Happy Valley on the lower slopes of the Great Orme with the sea, a cafe and many other attractions including extensive gardens, a putting green, the Summit Cable Car and the Ski slope and toboggan run. The ski slope viewed from an aerial cable car as it climbs the Happy Valley high above the trees on the left hand slopes of the hillside surmounted by the Iron Age hill fort of Pen Dinas. At just over one mile from the Happy Valley to the Summit it is the longest aerial cable car line in Britain. Passengers travel four to a cabin and enjoy unrivalled views.

The Haulfre Gardens   Do visit the Haulfre Gardens on the south facing slope of the Great Orme - Llandudno's other gardens. An excellent place for a cup of tea or a light lunch. The house was at one time owned by Thomas Lipton, the Victorian grocer and tea importer.  The gardens were first laid out by Henry Davis Pochin the inventor of white soap who went on to plant the famous Bodnant Garden in the Conwy Valley.

Y Tabanacl   The former Welsh Baptist Church at the corner of Llewellyn Avenue and Upper Mostyn Street is now used as the Llandudno Heritage Centre. The adjoining Schoolroom currently houses the ‘Stori Llandudno’ exhibition. The chapel is a perfectly preserved example of a 19th Century Welsh Baptist chapel with unique features. It was regularly used by Eglwys Unedig Gymraeg the United Welsh Church of Llandudno until 2006.

Llandudno Library and Tourist Information Centre   Located in Mostyn St, Llandudno's main shopping street, is the Town Library, an attraction in its own right, which is also surrounded by the acclaimed Victoria Shopping Centre.  The Library is also the starting point of the Llandudno Town Trail. Within the library is the tourist information centre, an excellent local history reference section, a general library and a large computer suite.

St George's Hotel, built 1854, the new resort of Llandudno's first promenade hotel. It is one of the very many fine hotels on the promenade and in the town, Llandudno has been serving tourism in Wales for over 150 years.   for 2008  Llandudno Hotels and Guest Houses

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Llandudno's Victorian Pier with the Little Orme, Craigside, Bodafon Fields and Craig y Don,
across the bay.  Bodafon Farm and Fields is the home of several major attractions including:
 the Llandudno Festival of Transport etc. and the North Wales Bird Trust.

Llandudno - Queen of the North Wales Resorts

Compilation and photographs © 2002/2007 by Noel Walley  – last updated April 2008.