I live just near Llandudno in North Wales, in the smaller town of Conwy. But I frequently go out to Llandudno to do my shopping and just generally walk around. I love that although it is a seaside town it isn't like some which have arcades every 2nd shop. It has a little bit more class than some seaside towns but it still has the fun seaside feel.
****Things to Do****
Go up the Orme by cable car and see the most amazing views. Beware though the cable car only runs in good weather, if there is wind they shut down. You can also use the tram, which is a nice vintage way to see the roads up the Orme. If you prefer you can pay a toll and drive the scenic route up the Orme yourself by Marine Drive. However, the cafe at the top of the Orme is abysmal, and I refuse to eat there, perhaps bring your own food or eat in Llandudno first. At the top of the Orme is mini golf, which isn't top of the range, but is a fun hour or so for the family to enjoy.
While up the Orme, perhaps visit the
Great Orme copper mines, take a tour through the old mines and learn a bit of history too. It's a bit expensive at £18, but a great bit of history for the family, and an entertaining way to spend a couple of hours.
Go skiing at the
Llandudno Ski centre, or even go tubing for £6 each or tobogganing for only £4 each, they also have a family adventure gold centre, for only £3.50 each. It does get busy so if you have a big party remember to book ahead.
Go visit the famous
Llandudno pier, there is plenty for children to do - slides, rides and ice cream and if you fancy a trip on a speedboat you can get on one near the pier and have the most exhilarating ride. There is also fishing for the adults and donkey rides during summer on the beach for the children to enjoy.
On
West Shore there is a duck ponds and play area and a lovely beach to play on.
To experience a bit of culture, go visit the
Llandudno museum or the
Home Front Experience where you can learn about life during the war and sit in an Anderson Shelter while you hear the (fake) bombs overhead. My niece and nephew very much enjoyed this at it was only £9 for a famly ticket.
A bit farther afield in Colwyn Bay is the
Welsh Mountain Zoo, a relatively small zoo, but very sweet and lots of fun things to see a do and much cheaper than the bigger zoos at only £31.40 for a family ticket.
****Coffee Shops****
I love nothing more than going out for a coffee and a cake. But since I am allergic to milk, the places I can go for my weekly coffee are very limited. I thought I'd give a special part of this review to those few places that make coffee for vegans or those with dairy allergies.
Coffee Culture is a little coffee shop above Waterstones. It serves soya milk coffee, but no dairy free cakes. The coffee is reasonable, but can be a bit sweet if you ask for syrup.
Costa Coffee serves nice tasting coffee, but I don't like the actual coffee shop, it's always so busy and there is no where nice to sit and relax. Also there is nothing I can eat at all there.
Newly opened is Cafe Nero. I decided to try this out the other day and I really enjoyed it, the coffee wasn't too bitter and was smooth and tasted nice, the latte had plenty of foam and there are lots of nice places to sit upstairs. And some of the sandwiches are dairy free, which is always good if. I'm hungry
For those who can eat and drink milk, Badgers in the Victoria Centre is perhaps one of the nicest coffee shops in Llandudno. It's not dairy free and it is expensive, but I love the specialist coffees with cream, and the cakes are to die for. Treat yourself to a cream bun or a homemade crumpet and feel truly extravagant as the waitresses dressed in their Victoria clothes serve you.
The Hambone is a very popular sandwich bar, serving the best selection of sandwiches and the chips are amazing. They have recently opened a restaurant and coffee shop and I have to say I really love both their coffee and their food. They sometimes have soya, but not always, and when they do it really depends on whether they know what they are doing, more than once they handed me soya coffee with curdled milk and I've had to explain to them how to prepare soya. But the food is lovely, a bit expensive but very nice and they will keep it dairy free if you ask and make it clear that traces of milk are OK. It is very busy though.
If you want a traditional bit of fish and chips, try out the Tri-Bells on Lloyd Street for some gorgeous chips, perhaps a little pricey or Fish Tram Chips on Old Road, right by the tram station that takes you up the Orme.
****Shopping****
There are some main shopping areas in Llandudno - the Victoria Centre is a precinct of various shops and cafes and eateries,
Parc Llandudno is a retail park with some big shops like Debenhams and Costa Coffee and the streets of the town are lined with plenty of shops to keep any one amused for hours.
For those partial to a bit of second hand there are plenty of charity shops and a very good second hand baby clothes store to visit.
There is also big asda for all your grocery shopping needs and the Mostyn Champneys Retail Park which holds all the usual businesses like argos and pets at home.
I really love Llandundo, it's nice for a day out, even when I've been many many times, and although it can get busy during summer it doesn't put me off. Even during winter I enjoy a nice roam through the charity shops, and I bought everything I could ever need for my baby at the second hand store. When I feel like getting out the house, I pop into Llandudno, have a nice coffee and peruse the shops. The perfect seaside town.
