Lovely Llandudno

With direct trains from Chester, Llandudno has been on my must-visit list for a while. So, with the sun on our side, Oli and I popped off for a little weekend getaway - just the two of us - to explore the town together. We had a gorgeous twenty-four hours, and were so lucky with the weather, wit stunning blue skies and a light breeze throughout the day.

If you're considered a trip to this charming seaside town in North Wales, here's our top tips for things to do in twenty-four hours in Llandudno:

Where to Stay

We stayed in The Marine Hotel on the promenade, and had a room in the very roof of this Victorian hotel, which was warm and cosy - especially during the evening as a storm rolled in across the Irish Sea and rain pattered against the windows. The hotel itself is a bit tired and in need of a revamp in places - the walk to the underground swimming pool in particular felt a little bit unloved (though the pool itself was delightful, like stepping into a bath!) However it was clean, the food was good, and the staff were kind and helpful.

Play on the Beach

The North Shore beach is smaller than the one on the other side of the peninsula, but is nice and sheltered with gentle waves and a sandy cove near the pier. The rest of the shoreline is very pebbly, but Oli enjoyed scrambling over the rocks (and filling her pockets with pebbles!) and searching for shells while dodging the waves. The promenade is a beautiful walk along the front, offering incredible views of the Orme and out to the sea, and there's often events taking place along the way.

Walk along the Pier

Llandudno Pier is a must-visit. Built during the Victorian era, and later extended, it's packed with things to do - Oli went on the little fairground rides (you have to pay for tokens to go on these), played in the arcades (these have a card top-up system for a lot of the games), and we bought a couple of souvenirs before going on the Ferris Wheel which had amazing views across the bay.

Explore the Great Orme

Dominated by the Great Orme, Llandudno offers several ways to reach the summit - we wanted to try the Cable Cars but they were closed during our visit, so we opted for the Land Train, which takes a circular tour around Marine Drive. We had a wonderful guide who kept up an interesting and informative commentary throughout the journey, and we stopped near the summit (at a little café called Rest And Be Thankful!) to take in the views.

Spot the Wildlife

The Great Orme itself is home to a colony of Kashmir Goats (the ones that act as the mascots for the Royal Welsh Guards!) and while they're apparently usually very easy to spot, they all seemed to be hiding during our journey so we only briefly saw one or two as they hopped about the hillside. During a morning walk, Oli was thrilled to spy sealions playing on the jetty, and there are boat trip around the coast which is home to colonies of seabirds and other marine life.

Explore the Town

Even just wandering around was a lovely experience with covered arcades, loads of independent shops and souvenir stands, as well as high-street brands all jostling for space among the pretty streets. Llandudno exudes Victorian charm, and they're very proud of the their connection to Lewis Carroll, so there's a fun Alice In Wonderland trail to find characters from the stories throughout the town. Oli and I enjoyed lunch at Take A Break café, then a light evening meal at Forte's, which Oli demolished and declared "yummylicious!"

Have you been to Llandudno? Let us know your favourite spots so we can add them to our list for our next visit!