NAME OF LOCATION: Llandudno, North Wales
BACKGROUND
Gee Vee Travel were doing a March trip to Llandudno and my mother decided to book this particular holiday for her, my father, and myself.
Although I have visited Llandudno many times, they have usually been day trips from home (Chesterfield) ... Read review
This traditional, family run, independent hotel offers uniquely styled accommodation in ... more
picturesque Llandudno.Found on the north coast, this is the largest seaside resort in Wales, near to Snowdonia. Llandudno uniquely combines the Victorian splendour of a coastal resort with the modern attractions and amenities of a bustling town. It is a popular tourist destination for visitors of all ages, offering something of interest to everyone. The hotel is renowned for its comfort and friendly, relaxed and informal atmosphere. We are committed to provided a high standard of service at affordable prices. The Williams family is now in its 3rd generation of caring for our guests, many of whom have been returning for over 30 years.
Information: :Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
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Advantages: plenty to do in Summer Disadvantages: less to do in Spring or Autumn
...doing a March trip to Llandudno and my mother decided to book this particular holiday for her, my father, and myself.
Although I have visited Llandudno many times, they have usually been day trips from home (Chesterfield) or from other North Wales destinations that we have stayed at, so staying in Llandudno would be a great change.
I read several Ciao reviews on the topic so that I knew what was available in March - ... ...plenty of time to explore Llandudno itself on the first evening and all day Thursday. We also had time after our excursions.
ATTRACTIONS
Our hotel (The Four Oaks) was right on the promenade and just a short walk from both the town centre and the North Wales Theatre (Theatr Gogledd Cymru).
About 10-15 minutes walk away from our hotel was the pier, which zigzags out from under the Great Orme and has cafes and ... more
NAME OF LOCATION: Llandudno, North Wales
BACKGROUND Gee Vee Travel were doing a March trip to Llandudno and my mother decided to book this particular holiday for her, my father, and myself.
Although I have visited Llandudno many times, they have usually been day trips from home (Chesterfield) or from other North Wales destinations that we have stayed at, so staying in Llandudno would be a great change.
I read several Ciao reviews on the topic so that I knew what was available in March - not a lot, most things open from Easter to October, and Easter was 3 weeks after my trip! Typical.
However, do not be despondent as we found plenty to do in and around Llandudno. Our Driver took us out on 2-day trips but we had plenty of time to explore Llandudno itself on the first evening and all day Thursday. We also had time after our excursions.
ATTRACTIONS Our hotel (The Four Oaks) was right on the promenade and just a short walk from both the town centre and the North Wales Theatre (Theatr Gogledd Cymru).
About 10-15 minutes walk away from our hotel was the pier, which zigzags out from under the Great Orme and has cafes and amusement arcades. My father and I walked the length of it (quite some distance) but there are plenty of seats on route if required and met a fisherman at the far end, who we had quite a chat with. We noted that the pier attractions did not open till 10am or later - some were only just opening at 10.30.
The Great Orme Bronze Age Copper Mines are open from 1st Feb to Oct 31st 10am to 5pm. We did not get chance to do this attraction as the transport to get to the top of the Orme does not open until Easter and my parents are both physically disabled (but could still have entered this attraction as neither are wheelchair bound). They just can't walk up tall hills easily. (Although come to that, neither can I!)
Alice In Wonderland centre - I looked out for this attraction but didn't see it. Open almost all year. 10am to 5pm every day between Easter and end of October (4pm Sundays) and Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm November to week prior to Easter. Closed 2 weeks in November, Xmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.
Llandudno Town trail - a Circular (ish) trail of interesting points. I saw no 3, 4, 7 and 15 (out of 15). No 3 on Vaughan Street pointed out plaques on the Post Office and Mostyn Art Gallery. The Art gallery is free to enter - I didn't go in as my parents expected me back at a particular time and point.
Please note that if you want to use the public toilets in Llandudno that you need 20p to use a cubicle (sexist rule - as men can go in free if they only want to use the urinal, they can then use a cubicle if they want as you don't need the money to slot in the door of the cubicle as a person collects the money before you go in). Many cafes have got toilet facilities - remember that Toiledau means Toilets in Welsh and that Merced is Ladies, Dynion is Gents and Anabl is Disabled.
My favourite café (Samantha's in one of the mini market style shops) did not have toilet facilities (However, we were able to get 3 meals and 3 drinks and still have change from £10 - and they did not skimp on the food - we had baked potatoes with salad and it was piled quite high and even my tea belly dad was surprised at the size of the mug of tea he got for 80p - it was nearly a pint sized mug!).
I also saw a sign for a War Museum - which if I ever take Robert (my boyfriend) to Llandudno I will definitely visit.
Nearby are the following attractions, which are worth a look if you have access to transport. 1. Trefriw Woollen Mills - traditional weaving sheds in the beautiful Conwy Valley, Snowdonia, which is on the B5106 on the way to Betws-y-Coed. There are exhibitions of how wool is woven into particular products and a shop. Free Admission, but regret no school/student parties - open All Year Monday to Friday 9.30am to 5.30pm (Winter 5pm) (Saturday 10 am to 5pm). Weaving all year - except Christmas holidays. Can also see carding engines, spinning mules and hand spinning demonstrations - see www.trefriw-woollen-mills.co.uk for more details.
2. Betws-y-Coed - small village south of Llandudno with its own railway museum (which is available for a small cost (about 20p each). Plenty of shops to visit and very popular in summer with the tourists.
3. We also visited the Llechwedd Slate Caverns at Blaenau Ffestiniog. I would have preferred to do this on another day - we drove up in the Snowdonia mountains and the heavens opened - our driver could hardly see 2 feet in front of the bus so we did not see any of the beauty of the Snowdonia mountains and when we got to these caverns it was very slippery underfoot - so my parents chose not to go down into the caverns themselves and just look around the Victorian village with pub and shops. A wonderful café area. www.Llechwedd-slate-caverns.co.uk Telephone 01766 830306.
4. Porthmadog - not much here if you don't like shopping (or it is raining, as it was when we went). Great value café opposite Woolworths, and diagonally opposite the Post Office, with a separate room for smokers and non-smokers. We had 3 "snack" meals (expecting small portions) of baked potato for me and my dad, and fish & chips for mum and 3 drinks, for just under £15. Again these meals were good portions - my mum struggled to finish hers! I think it was called Queenies or Queen something.
5. Anglesey - the place with the longest name which I can not pronounce (or spell)
6. Caernarvon - the place I wanted to get to but our excursion was cancelled due to bad weather. This has a Castle which I could have got into cheaper (or free) with my English Heritage as they are part of Cadw (the Welsh Heritage group).
7. Conwy - This also has a Castle which I could have got into cheaper (or free) with my English Heritage as they are part of Cadw (the Welsh Heritage group). We drove through Conwy to get to Betws-y-Coed but did not stop.
TRANSPORT Coach to the hotel, but at Llandudno there is a cable car (www.llandudnocablecar.co.uk), which is open Easter to October and a Great Orme Tramway www.greatormetramway.com, which is open daily from 10am to 6pm from late March to late October.
In addition, during the summer months there are coach tours similar to the ones in London, which give audio commentaries about places of interest.
We walked around the town centre but there are also local buses and taxis available. We were near the coach park, but I did not see a bus station. I also noticed a train station on Vaughan Street.
PRICE Not really applicable. Would need about £15 to £40 per person per day, I believe. Maybe more if you're a shopaholic. I prefer the bargain centres and pound shops.
GOOD POINTS 1. Plenty to do - even if it rains 2. Road signs are in both English and Welsh - usually with the Welsh at the top!
BAD POINTS 1. May need a car to get around to some of the further away attractions. 2. Not all open in Winter months.
AFTERWARDS Learn welsh for next visit! May be not but here are some useful Welsh phrases Bore Da - Good morning Hwyl - Bye Paned o de - cup of tea Nos da - good night Cymraeg - Welsh Cymru - Wales Croeso I Eyri - Welcome to Snowdonia Caffi - Café Dim - No (i.e Dim Ysbwriel means No Litter).
MORE INFORMATION FROM Look out for Croeso/Welcome cards as these can get you money off at various attractions and are available from the Welsh tourist board.
Tourist information centres in N Wales include Llandudno 01492 876413 (Llandudno.tic@gwynedd.gov.uk) Conwy 01492 592248, Betws-y-Coed 01690 710426 and Porthmadog 01766 512981.
www.star-attractions.co.uk may have more details on some of the places and attractions listed above - as I have used their leaflet for Attractions of Snowdonia.
Advantages: spectacular place Disadvantages: british weather
...a bit about the place. Llandudno is situated in the north of Wales. Llandudno is Wales's largest resort, situated between the Great and Little Ormes with The North Shore and the quiet, sand dunned West Shore. It is a Victorian town and still has many of its old Victorian elegance even though it now has many modern attractions. They have a Victorian weekend every year around the end of May, where throughout the whole town everything is Victorian. ... ...active from reaching the summit. Llandudno was fast becoming a very popular tourist resort, so it wasn't long before local businessmen latched on to the idea of a cable tramway. A little over 15 months after construction work started at the bottom of the Orme, the line was declared safe by the Board of Trade. On 31st July 1902 the first car moved off from Victoria Station, to the sound of the town band playing "God save the King". Suddenly, Llandudno's ...
luseantom 30.04.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Llandudno (Wales)
Advantages: Plenty of shops to look at, loads of hotels and guest houses, loads of Churches Disadvantages: Very expensive, Very wet and windy, Need loads of money
...only spent one day in Llandudno and if we'd have known what it was like when we stayed there then we would have stayed there for the remainder of our holiday.
We stayed on Chapel Street in a really nice, clean guest house called Hafan Y Mor Guest House. The room was spotless clean as was the rest of the guest house. The only comment I have to make was that the walls were paper thin and you could hear everything.
The people were really friendly ... ...everything you could want in Llandudno including, pubs, shops, cafe's, Churches, guest houses, banks and more.
The only comment I have to make is what I said in my previous review the majority of the people were cold and unwelcoming. Even in the cafes many of the waitresses seemed pushed to serve us.
Llandudno was the positive part of our holiday. Though the weather was wet we could stand it because we were in and out of the shops constantly. My ...
Mickie26 15.09.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Llandudno (Wales)
Advantages: The beach, victorian everything! Disadvantages: none !!
...explore or play games then Llandudno is the place to go. Llandudno is based in North Wales about 20 minutes drive away from Liverpool. Llandudno is a great Victorian tourist place because of its amazing attractions the brilliant views and ice creams (they are brilliant.) There are a load of great attractions here are a few:
Llandudno is home of two great hills (but some call them mountains) called the great Orme and the little Orme These are facinating ... ...Today I went to Llandudno and we where sitting near the sea but on some concete and this man was shouting at the top of his voice " come on the speed boat, come on the speed boat." He done his job well because he got us to come on.
As we are a bit tight on money at the moment their was two boats. One of them was an eight minute speed boat ride and their was another a cruise round the great orme the prices where £3.50 per person for a eight minute ...
ste231191 02.05.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Llandudno (Wales)
Advantages: Plenty To See And Do, Nice Sandy Beach Disadvantages: Largely Closed During Winter
Llandudno has always been one of my most favourite parts of North Wales. When I was a young Child my Parents had a Camper Van and we would spend many weekends in this area.
As a Seaside Resort I always found that Llandudno had much more character to it than many of the other traditional Seaside towns that I was familiar with, including the nearby resort of Rhyl.
When I was recently asked by a group of friends if I fancied a daytrip to Llandudno ... ...The town of Llandudno has a long and rich history. It was named after St Tudno, a 6th century Saint that introduced Christianity to this area.
The modern town has plenty of Shops and seems to be a busy, thriving place. There are a few amusement arcades along the front but these have been kept to a minimum. The main shops are to be found on Mostyn Street, which runs inland but parallel to the font. There is also a new, modern Shopping Centre that ...
micksheff 14.05.2007 (13.05.2007)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Llandudno (Wales)
Advantages: Nice beaches, good shops, good walks. Disadvantages: None
I remember visiting Llandudno with my parents when I was a child, for our annual holiday. I have happy memories of building sandcastles, playing on the two Ormes and walking along the long crescent promenade eating ice creams! Ah, happy days!
I have been to Llandudno a few times since, but only for a couple of hours on a day trip from home in the Midlands. While we were on holiday on Anglesey we went back onto the mainland to Llandudno on a couple ... ...On our visit to Llandudno one of the furniture shops had a huge dining chair outside in the street for advertising purposes, the seat of which was at least four feet from the floor. In fact we saw the staff putting it back in the shop later on and it barely fitted through the door! Anyway Dave lifted mom up onto the seat of the chair and proceeded to take her photograph, much to the amusement of the passers by!
We decided to take a trip up The Great ...
SusanLesley 07.08.2001 (21.07.2002)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Llandudno (Wales)
Value for Money
Sightseeing
Shopping
Nightlife
Ease of getting around
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Advantages: Beautiful, majestic, varied Disadvantages: None at all!
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Advantages: Quite adventurous, good fun, interesting Disadvantages: Not enough open yet
year from 10am until 5pm.
The address of the mines is:
Great Orme Mines Ltd
Great Orme
Llandudno
North Wales
LL30 2XG
Tel/Fax (01492) 870447
And there is also a website at www.greatorme.freeserve.co.uk
By the way some of the answers to the questions below are a bit silly but they have to be completed to submit the opinion! ...
Advantages: Beautiful scenery, good value, fresh air Disadvantages: It only runs in the summer!
This is an opinion that I have been meaning to write since we moved here to Llandudno 18 months ago, and I have finally decided it is time I got round to it!
I realise that this is probably the wrong time of the year to post this one as we?re all thinking about Christmas, but this will remind you of summer holidays ? they are just round the corner you know!
Anyway to get to the point I have always liked Guide Friday tours and have so far taken them in Bath, York, London, Stratford, Whitby, Cardiff and Oxford and have enjoyed them all, so when I realised we had one here in Llandudno I had to try it out!
What is a Guide Friday Tour?
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Basically it is a tour of the local area taken on an open topped bus (known as a toast rack to us older folk!) with a commentary about the landmarks ...
