Itinerary Planner

48 hours in Llandudno

48 hours in Llandudno

Travel writer Roger Thomas and his wife Liz take a two-day break. You can follow in their footsteps at any time of the year. Whatever the season, Llandudno is full of life.

Day one

10am. Let’s start right at the top. By which I mean the summit of Great Orme, the soaring 207m (679ft) headland that’s an essential part of Llandudno’s character.

Until October, you can get there by tramway or cable car. In winter, it’s a short, steep drive from the seafront. Our bird’s-eye view takes in the sweep of the bay and the mountains of Snowdonia. The Orme itself is uniquely diverse, home to a country park, ancient copper mines and an amazing variety of wildlife, including a herd of Kashmiri goats and some of the rarest plants in the world.

11.30 am. Coffee time. There’s a great choice of coffee shops – and much else – in Llandudno’s busy canopied shopping streets just behind the prom.

2pm. After lunch we do what everyone does – take a walk along the pier. Wales’s longest pier carries us almost half-a-mile out to sea, and for every step of the way we soak up views of that picture-perfect, paintbox-coloured seafront – pure eye candy – that makes Llandudno such a special place.

3.30pm. We find out more about Llandudno – from its ancient roots to its birth as a resort – at the town’s museum (now closed for refurbishment, but scheduled to reopen in autumn 2019 – see llandudnomuseum.co.uk). Then we call into the nearby Home Front Experience, an immersive little museum that takes you back to World War Two.

7pm. Time to eat. We’re spoilt for choice but plump for Dylan’s Restaurant, located in an extraordinary seafront setting. The food is as good as the surroundings – do what we did and go for the whitebait and sea bass.

Day two

10am. We call into Llandudno Tourist Information Centre (in the Victoria Centre on Mostyn Street). As well as providing local knowledge on what to see and do, you’ll also get great gift ideas from its well-stocked range of local craft products, food and drink.

Llandudno’s 19th-century links with Alice Liddell (the real Alice in Wonderland) are fascinating. We trace her connections with the resort on the Alice Trail. Starting from the information centre and with the help of the map (there’s also an app available from alicetowntrails.co.uk), we follow the White Rabbit’s bronze footprints past landmark characters from her fantasy world like the Mad Hatter and Queen of Hearts. It’s the ideal way to really get to know this heritage-rich resort that hasn’t changed that much since Alice’s time.

Noon. Sand and sandwich time. We grab a sandwich and head for the North Shore, a popular beach complete with boat trips, donkey rides and Punch and Judy. There’s lots of summery sandcastle-building going on (though, to be honest, I prefer it in its bracing, reviving winter persona). Llandudno’s second beach – the West Shore – is peaceful throughout the year, with sweeping mountain views an added bonus.

2.30pm. We head for Mostyn, a personal favourite and one of Wales’s leading galleries, where cutting-edge art (and a seriously good gift shop) are housed in an ornate red-bricked building.

4pm. We’re not quite shopped out, so pay a visit to Parc Llandudno, the modern retail park on the edge of town.

7pm. Time for a slice of showbiz at Venue Cymru, North Wales’s largest entertainment complex, which stages a huge variety of starry performances. It’s a major venue with world-class productions – everything from top West End shows and Welsh National Opera to big-name stars from pop, comedy and drama. 

Product Information

  1. The Summit Complex

    Llandudno

    From this striking position, the Summit Complex offers you breath-taking views of Llandudno, areas of Snowdonia National Park, the Isle of Anglesey and the Irish Sea.

  2. Great Orme Country Park Visitor Centre

    Llandudno

    With models, interactive displays and exciting films the whole family will enjoy finding out more about the diverse wildlife and history of the Great Orme.

  3. Llandudno Pier

    Llandudno

    A traditional seaside pier dating from the late 1800s with an array of shops, cafes, bars and attractions - and fun for all the family!

  4. Llandudno Museum & Gallery

    Llandudno

    The Museum has six permanent galleries telling the stories of Llandudno's past including the earliest inhabitants, to the creation of the Victorian resort, and its place as a safe haven during the Second World War.

  5. Alice in Wonderland Town Trails

    Llandudno

    The Alice in Wonderland town trail, map and souvenir guide is available for purchase from the Tourist Information Centre. Explore Llandudno, whilst discovering the connections of Alice Liddell (the real Alice in Wonderland).

  6. Llandudno North Shore Beach

    Llandudno

    The North Shore is Llandudno's principal beach, and is a sheltered beach with a long Victorian pier and wide promenade and set in the shadow of the impressive Great Orme headland.

  7. Venue Cymru

    Llandudno

    The 1,500 seat theatre at Venue Cymru is one of the UK's leading receiving theatres.

Itinerary Distances

FromToDistance * (metric)
The Summit Complex (53.33373,-3.85335)Great Orme Country Park Visitor Centre (53.33225,-3.85441)0.16
Great Orme Country Park Visitor Centre (53.33225,-3.85441)Llandudno Pier (53.32755,-3.83037)1.51
Llandudno Pier (53.32755,-3.83037)Llandudno Museum & Gallery (53.32458,-3.83368)0.36
Llandudno Museum & Gallery (53.32458,-3.83368)Dylan's (53.32197,-3.81333)1.25
Dylan's (53.32197,-3.81333)Llandudno Tourist Information Centre (53.32349,-3.83178)1.11
Llandudno Tourist Information Centre (53.32349,-3.83178)Alice in Wonderland Town Trails (53.3237,-3.82908)0.16
Alice in Wonderland Town Trails (53.3237,-3.82908)Llandudno North Shore Beach (53.32498,-3.82478)0.29
Llandudno North Shore Beach (53.32498,-3.82478)Mostyn Gallery (53.32131,-3.82514)0.37
Mostyn Gallery (53.32131,-3.82514)Venue Cymru (53.32206,-3.81619)0.54
Total Distance *5.75 miles
Estimated Journey Time11 minutes

* Approximate distance by road

Don't Miss

Don't Miss

Don't Miss

Don't Miss

Don't Miss

Don't Miss