Conwy is a small walled town on the coast in North Wales, United Kingdom.
It is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and a perfect base for exploring everything North Wales has to offer. The gateway to Snowdonia and easy access to the Island of Anglesey, the Victorian seaside town of Llandudno and the timeless Llyn Peninsula.
Access : Coordinates: 53.28, -3.83 / By car : Half way along the A55 Chester – Holyhead road. Parking south of the castle.
By train : Conwy is readily accessible by train with direct services to Llandudno Junction from throughout the UK and London Euston (about 3 hours). From Llandudno Junction to Conwy it is a 5 minute taxi ride. There is smaller rail station in the centre of Conwy which is on the main Holyhead line with a taxi rank outside the station. By bus : Arriva buses available from Bangor – Llandudno (5/X5) and Betws y Coed – Llandudno (19). Nation Express coaches serve Bangor and Llandudno from other parts of the U.K.
Get around : The town is small and easy to walk about. If you are venturing out of the town centre area, you may want to catch a bus. There are various day and rover tickets available that enables you to hop on and off buses and trains for the area. Booklets can be found at the tourist info centre (right near the train station).
Highlights :
- Conwy castle. M-Sa 10AM-4PM, Su 11AM-4PM, extended hours in Spring/Summer/Autumn.. Built by Edward I in 1289, it is smaller than Beaumaris or Caernarfon castles, but it has a lot of charm. It sits at the mouth of a tidal inlet, and the views of the sea on one side and gently rolling green hills on the other are lovely. Offers joint ticket with Plas Mawr. Tours are 1 hour long and cost £1. £6.75/adult £20.25/family £5.10/concession.
- Plas Mawr (The Great Hall), Hight Street, LL32 8DE. Mon – Sun: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm. One of the finest surviving town houses of the Elizabethan era to be found in Britain, partially restored and otherwise maintained in its original condition. Fascinating look at what a wealthy merchant’s life was like at that time. There is beautiful original and restored plaster work and paint. Head up to the small tower for a 360 degree look at the town and castle. Offers joint ticket with Conwy Castle. £5.75/adult £4.35/concession £17.25/family.
- Aberconwy House, Castle Street, LL32 8AY, Believed to be the oldest town house in Wales dating from the 14th-century. Restored to reflect daily life of yesteryear. Get a joint visit ticket with the Conwy Suspension bridge (both run by the National Trust).
- St. Mary’s Church, Rose Hill Street. A beautiful church with a grassy, pleasant cemetery with some interesting old headstones.
- Working riverfront. you can even buy Conwy mussels that have been brought in by the fisherman and here is the ‘smallest house’ in the UK. Perfect place to eat fish & chips with wonderful views. If you continue walking along the Marina Walk for 15 minutes you will come to Conwy Marina with wonderful views from the marina pub overlooking the boats and yachts. Conwy Golf Club (voted Welsh Club 2007) is also on the marina as is a beach.
- The Smallest House in Great Britain (Quay House). 10AM-4PM Spring-Autumn. Recognised by the Guiness Book of Records it is along the quay. The house is 72in wide by 122in high. £1/adult, 50p/child.
- Bodnant Garden, Tal-y-Cafn, near Colwyn Bay, LL28 5RE (4 miles south of Conwy). 20 Feb – 31 Oct 10AM-5PM, 1-21 Nov 10AM-4PM.. is probably the best in Wales, with wonderful flowers and plants, including the beautiful Laburnum Arch of golden blooms that bloom in late May, as well as the Pin Mill. Adults £7.50, children £3.95
Activities : Town Walls. The original town walls are still standing and can be walked along. Climb into one of the 22 towers and stroll along the outline of the original town of Conwy. There are some wonderful pictures to be taken here and it’s free to walk the walls. free.
Conwy Brewery tour, Unit 2, Ty Mawr Enterprise Park, Tan y Graig Road, Llysfaen, LL298UE. Must prebook tours. They offer standard tour/tastings as well as brew your own beer packages. £10-350.
1 Surf Snowdonia, Dolgarrog . artificial wave pool Surf Snowdonia
Sightseeing boat. takes you on a 30 minute ride up and down the Conwy river. Normally runs on school holidays and most weekends through spring and summer.
Go next : Snowdonia / Caernarfon / Llandudno
