'''Conwy''' is a small walled town on the coast in North Wales. 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.

Get in

Conwy is readily accessible by train or bus with direct services to Llandudno Junction from throughout the UK and London Euston in 3 hours with taxi office on site to Conwy which is a 5 minute journey. There is smaller station in the centre of Conwy which is on the main Holyhead line with taxi rank outside the station.

Get around

The town is small and easy to walk about. If you are venturing out of the downtown area, you may want to catch a bus. There are various day and rover tickets available including the new 'taith rover' that enables you to hop on and off buses AND trains for the area you've bought the rover for. Booklets can be found at the tourist info centre (right near the train station).

See

  • '''Conwy castle''', built by Edward I in 1289, 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. Costs __4.50 or __7 joint ticket with Plas Mawr. Open daily April, May, and October from 9:30 to 17:00, June to September until 18:00, November to March Monday to Saturday 9:30 to 16:00, Sunday 11:00 to 16:00. Website: www.cadw.wales.gov.uk Tours are 1 hour long and cost __1.
  • The original '''Town Wall''' is still standing and can be walked. 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.
  • '''Plas Mawr''' (The Great Hall), 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. Costs __5 or __7 joint ticket with Conwy Castle. Open April to August Tuesday to Sunday 9:30 to 18:00, closed Monday, shorter hours September and October. Closed November to March.
  • '''Aberconwy House''' 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''' is beautiful and has a grassy, pleasant cemetery with some interesting old headstones.
  • '''Conwy Butterfly Jungle''' just outside the town walls in Bodlondeb. It is a bit dear at __5.00 per adult as it's very small indeed and literally takes about 2 mins to walk around and there aren't that many butterflies in the house. Unless you are a butterfly buff then probably not worth a visit.
  • '''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.
  • '''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.
  • Buy

    You can pick up fancy lingerie at a tiny boutique off the main square. For tourist trinkets, visit the Conwy Tourist Bureau shop up the road from the Castle.

    There are a number of independent specialty shops, including one that has a goth clothing department in its basement. There are a few art shops and a high-end chocolate shop. Just opened is a surf-style clothing store on the high street. Also on the high street is a gourmet food deli Jackdaws that sells wonderful Bara Brith on the counter and an almost-always-busy butcher's shop that sells baps and fresh-made sausages, Welsh Oggies and Welsh Rarebit to make at home. Bangor Road has a 'Fair-Trade shop' that sells foodstuffs and gifts (just before the gate exiting the town's main road, past Lancaster Square).

    For some really unique gifts, jewellery and home wares visit [http://www.loulimoo.co.uk Loulimoo @ The Press Room] cafe on Rosehill Street. All products are beautifully handmade and to the highest quality.

    Eat

    The town has standard UK fare -- you can pick up fish and chips, baps, kebabs, and ice cream on nearly any street.

  • '''Galleon's''' and '''Fisherman's''' are fish and chips outlets at the end of High Street on the waterfront.
  • There is an Indian restaurant that serves passable but unexceptional food.

    The Italian Restaurant Alfredos on the square near the station served pretty decent food at a reasonable price.

    The bakery on the main street has wonderful scones in the morning, if you're lucky! The bakery do lovely, giant, chocolate coated cream cakes, that are just too nice!

    The town is too small to have any fast food franchises.

    The Castle Hotel serves wonderful meals and snacks with some award winning chefs at the grill.

    There's a nice tea room at the upper end of the high street called Pen Y Bryn Tea Rooms and serves excellent Welsh Rarebit and home made cakes and also Sunday lunch and a dinner cafe (Amelie's) across from the Castle Hotel.

    Bistro Conwy serves excellent Welsh fare locally produced.

    The Press Room serves excellent food and is found next to the castle and has outdoor seating.

    Drink

    There are a few small pubs. Some feature pub trivia in the evenings. On the riverfront, the Liverpool Arms pub has outdoor seating overlooking the riverfront. On the other side of Bodlondeb (a short walk around the riverside, or even shorter drive), there is Conwy Marina where you can find an upmarket pub with vast outdoor seating overlooking the marina.

    For non-alchoholic drinks, Coffi Conwy is a Costa/Starbucks/Cafe Nero style coffee house. Across from the castle is Tower Coffee House, which is built into one of the wall turrets and gives great river views.

    Sleep

    There are a number of small B&Bs, and some luxury B&Bs and hotels, available. If you can, reserve a room ahead of time at a Visitor Center (most Visitor Centers can reserve rooms for you throughout the UK). Alternatively there are many self-catering cottages in Conwy.

    Stay Safe

    Conwy is a save and tourist-friendly beautiful little town.

    Get out

  • '''Bodnant Gardens''', 4 miles south of Conwy, are 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. Costs __6, open daily March to October from 10:00 to 17:00.
  • '''Snowdonia''' is very close, with many small villages to explore and mountains to climb, as well as the spectacular Snowdon Mountain Railway.