Top 10 things to do in Llandudno, Wales (for the best seaside weekender!)

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Top 10 things to do in Llandudno, Wales (for the best seaside weekender!)

Llandudno in North Wales is far from your average seaside town! With plenty of activities, museums, hikes and nature to discover – there’s truly something for everyone. Here are the top 10 things to do in Llandudno for the best seaside weekender!

1) Go on the Llandudno to Conwy hop-on hop-off bus

To help get your bearings and get to know Llandudno and neighbouring Conwy a little better, I highly recommend going on the Llandudno: 24-Hour City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour.

You’ll find out all about the history of the area from its early settlements in the Stone Age and Bronze Age copper mining to the Victorian seaside holiday boom up to present day. But whether it’s your first time to the area or your tenth, I guarantee you’ll learn something new and interesting.

It’s also a practical way of getting around the area if you travelled to Llandudno by train!

Sit on the open-top, double-decker bus and enjoy the beautiful views of these two seaside towns and surrounding countryside. Stops include: Llandudno Pier, Llandudno Museum, Great Orme Copper Mine, West Shore Beach and the medieval castle in Conwy – just to name a few hot spots!

Side note: You MUST hop off at Conwy! It’s a beautiful little seaside town only 15 minutes away from Llandudno and worth the trip just for the castle alone. You can also visit the smallest house in Britain whilst you’re there which is also really cool!

It’s perfect for a lovely summer seaside weekender.

Mel stood at the top of Conwy Castle overlooking Conwy quayside with the marina in the background and boats sailing — View of Conwy Harbour from Conwy Castle

2) Take the cable cars up to the top of the Great Orme

One of the top things to do in Llandudno is check out the “Great Orme”. A fantastic limestone headland overlooking Llandudno Bay, offering unbeatable views of Puffin Island, Anglesey, Snowdonia, the Isle of Man and Conwy Valley.

It’s an amazing hike but unforgivingly vertical! So if you want all the glorious views but with a little less sweat – the cable cars are the best way to go!

They are the longest in Britain and thanks to their panoramic views and unique perspective, it’s one of Llandudno’s most popular attractions.

The cable cars are mainly open during the warmer months so double check before you go to make sure they’re operating – and bring cash just in case!

Yellow cable car with Llandudno pier in the background — Photo credit

3) Visit the Great Orme Copper Mine

Speaking of the glorious Great Orme! Whilst you’re in the area, make sure to visit the equally awe-inspiring, Great Orme Copper Mine.

Now bear with me friends, as this isn’t just any copper mine. It dates back over 4,000 years to the Bronze Age and is considered to be one of the most important archaeological discoveries in recent times!

Uncovered in 1987 during a scheme to landscape the area, it’s thought to be the largest prehistoric mine ever discovered!

It also sheds an enormous light on how civilised ancient British society was structured over 2,000 years before the Romans invaded.

But don’t take my word for it – cosplay as a caver for the afternoon and go explore these ancient tunnels yourself!

You can also stop off at the Great Orme Copper Mine on the Llandudno: 24-Hour City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour.

Great Orme Copper Mine in Llandudno, Wales — Photo credit

4) Follow the Alice in Wonderland Trail

At first it seems a rather odd addition to Llandudno but the town’s connection with Lewis Carroll actually runs far deeper than anyone would think!

Llandudno was actually home to the real “Alice” who inspired the books. Her family had a house on Llandudno’s West Shore and were close friends with Charles Dodgson. Who we know best by his pen-name, Lewis Carroll.

Not many details have come to light other than that. However, residents in Llandudno has embraced the connection with the introduction of its ‘Wonderland Town Trails’.

Take a leap into fantastical wonderland (just like Alice!) with augmented reality! Download the ‘Alice Town Trails’ app and follow the trail of statues and carved figures from the Hearts Quarter up to the promenade.

It’s such a fun way to see the best of Llandudno too!

Wooden statue of the rabbit from Alice and Wonderland in Llandudno town centre

5) Llandudno Museum and Art Gallery

Find out more about the story of Llandudno (told over 340 million years!) at the Llandudno Museum and Art Gallery.

Founded by Francis Edouard Chardon in 1925, the museum houses a collection of 9,000 artefacts and fine art covering natural history and geology, local art, social history and military history. All of which were collected by Francis on his travels over the course of his fascinating life and left for the people of Llandudno to enjoy. What a guy!

The museum is considered to have some of the finest archaeological items held in an independent museum in Wales. These include: Roman artefacts, a Neolithic skeleton and prehistoric tools – plus bone and pottery recovered from the Great Orme Copper Mines!

A MUST-SEE when visiting Llandudno!

If you’d like to find out more about Welsh culture, heritage and history, you can take a day trip from Llandudno. Stops include: Snowdonia National Park, Caernarfon Castle, Conwy Town and Castle – all from the comfort of a minibus.

Llandudno promenade and seafront in Wales with a row of victorian terraces and a pebble beach

6) Check out the grey seals at the little Orme

Did you know that more than half of the world’s grey seal population lives and breeds around the UK coast? Llandudno residents certainly do as the Little Orme is home to a large population of ADORABLE grey seals!

No surprise here it’s one of my favourite things to do in Llandudno! I love watching the seals swim around Angel Bay and chill on the beach at low tide.

You have the possibility of seeing them pretty much all-year round too! But be careful. Don’t disrupt them by getting too close. Just admire their cuteness from afar. 😊

Grey seal up close looking over a rock face

7) Have a mooch down Llandudno promenade and pier

What would a seaside town be without its own Victorian promenade eh? Well, Llandudno Pier has got a little something “extra” as it boasts stunning views of Llandudno Bay, the Great Orme and beyond!

The grand grade II listed pier is the longest in Wales and filled with plenty of attractions, independent knick knack shops, arcades and food stalls.

There’s also a state-of-the-art ferris wheel, kids funfair rides and live music at the Oceansbar. Or just enjoy a stroll taking in the sea air and some coffee with cake at the Pier Head Cafe.

8) Enjoy the day at Llandudno West Shore Beach

If you don’t fancy Llandudno’s busy pebble beach, why not enjoy a day at Llandudno West Shore Beach? It’s only 20 minutes walk away and has a lovely sandy beach with impressive views of the Great Orme.

Enjoy kite-surfing, sunbathing and a front row seat to a fabulous sunset looking across the water!

If you don’t want to walk it, the Llandudno: 24-Hour City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour stops here as well.

Picture of Llandudno West Shore Beach taken from a far with rows of houses, cars and green hills in the background

9) Visit the Home Front Museum

Take a trip down memory lane to life in wartime Britain by visiting the Home Front Museum.

Opened in 2000, the museum houses a personal collection of Home Front related memorabilia collected over 40 years.

It gives an insight into civilian life during World War II through a unique living history experience captured in its displays. The historical collection, includes: gas masks, ration books and items from the ‘Dig for Victory’ campaign.

The building that the museum is housed in has a history all its own too. Dating back to the mid 19th century, it was once a garage owned by Frank Meredith and his two sons and turned into an Auxiliary Fire Service during World War II.

Sadly both of Frank’s sons were killed whilst in service but are remembered on the town’s war memorial.

After the war, the building was reverted back into a garage and changed hands several times until 1990 when it became home to this unique wartime collection.

The museum itself is only small so you should make your way through in about half an hour. However, it’s well worth a visit and a fascinating time capsule of Llandudno’s war efforts.

Black and white picture from World War 2 with a bombed building in the background

10) Go shopping on Mostyn Street

If you’re a regular reader of Footsteps on the Globe, you’ll know that I’m not a big fan of shopping. But Mostyn Street in Llandudno is definitely an exception!

With its rows of lovely independent gift shops and boutiques, it’s a treasure left over from the Victorian seaside holiday boom that feels like you are walking down a street from the past.

But one of my favourite things to do on Mostyn Street is to get chippy chips! Llandudno is famous for its fish and chips and has even been named the “fish and chip capital” of Wales.

Just make sure to keep an eye on said chips. Those pesky Llandudno seagulls are known for their ruthless chip thieving!

Top 10 things to do in Llandudno, Wales (for the best seaside weekender!)

Top 10 things to do in Llandudno, Wales (for the best seaside weekender!)

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