Colwyn Bay

In a nutshell. Aqua adventure meets snow leopards, red pandas and Sumatran tigers

While Colwyn Bay has been attracting visitors since the Victorian era, it’s not afraid to move with the times. In recent years, the seafront has been transformed with the arrival of the Porth Eirias development (home to Michelin award-winning chef Bryn Williams’s bistro) and the construction of a whole new beach. Not that there’s anything wrong with Colwyn Bay’s original beach, a spacious stretch of sand backed by a three-mile promenade, an airy seafront walkway that runs into neighbouring Rhos-on-Sea.

Our green spaces are pretty special too. Colwyn Bay has won a Wales in Bloom award for its fabulous floral displays on numerous occasions.

On the edge of town, Eirias Park is a 50-acre green oasis with a boating lake, bowling-green, playground and the Colwyn Leisure Centre. The park is also home to Stadiwm CSM, a first-class sporting venue that hosts prestigious rugby union matches and popular outdoor concerts.

The Colwyn Bay of yesteryear, a fashionable seaside resort favoured by prosperous Victorian travellers, hasn’t entirely disappeared. The architecture of the old town is still evident in the ornate shopfronts and gabled buildings. Follow the Colwyn Bay Heritage Walk to find out more.

At the heart of Colwyn Bay since it first opened as a venue in 1885, Theatr Colwyn is Wales’ oldest working theatre and cinema – and it’s still going strong, now modernised to offer a 21st-century entertainment experience.

In addition to the theatre, Colwyn Bay has a bustling nightlife community centred on its many pubs, bars and restaurants. Recent developments include a micro pub, a brewpub and a stylish bar housed in a former printworks and stationery store called Sheldons.

And behind the town lies Pwllycrochan Woods, a delightful belt of deciduous woodland latticed with footpaths and guided nature trails.

Colwyn Bay’s prime attraction, perched panoramically on the hillside, is the Welsh Mountain Zoo – National Zoo of Wales. It’s a caring conservation zoo, with many rare and endangered species from around the world including snow leopards, red pandas, Sumatran tigers, chimpanzees and Californian sea lions. Children love it.

A variety of great festivals and events take place in Colwyn Bay throughout the year. From the big name stars including Sir Tom Jones, Bryan Adams and Paloma Faith wowing the crowds at Stadiwm CSM, fun in the sun at Prom Xtra, through to the quirky Uke-a-Bay Ukulele event.

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