Llandudno is the largest seaside resort in Wales, on the edge of the Creuddyn peninsula jutting out into the Irish Sea. Known as the 'Queen of the Welsh resorts', Llandudno has everything you could possibly want from a seaside resort, from fun daytime activities to engaging nightlife.

Just a few miles from the northern tip of the Snowdonia National Park where there's an abundance of nature and scenery to explore, making Llandudno a superb choice to enjoy the very best of Wales, from the comfort of one of our fine holiday cottages.

The history of Llandudno

The town's history stretches back to as early as the Stone Age. Evidence of human development can be easily seen within the copper mines of the nearby Great Orme headland, and copper is thought to have been mined from the Great Orme as far back as 4,000 years ago. Mining continued until the 1850s when the Great Orme finally began to provide less copper than was cost effective to mine.

Llandudno duly prospered as a mining, fishing and agriculture town, but during the 1840s a Liverpool architect named Owen Williams proposed to the owner of the land on which the the then-village sat, Lord Mostyn, that it should be redeveloped as a holiday resort. Llandudno boomed, becoming a popular holiday destination for visitors from Liverpool, Manchester, Crewe and the West Midlands, aided by its connection to the national railway network in 1858.

Things to do and see

The Great Orme is one of the key attractions in the area. The Orme rises to an elevation of over 200 metres, making it a popular spot for a bracing walk on the Welsh coast. The Summit Complex at the top serves hot food and drinks before a leisurely walk back down the promenade, though if walking is not your favorite aspect of a holiday the Great Orme tram ride is a very comfortable method of travel, in either direction.

The Orme is run as a nature reserve, and its animals, sea birds, plant life and countless butterflies are at their finest in the Great Orme Country Park, visited by countless nature-lovers every year.

Keen shoppers will want to head to Mostyn Street, Llandudno's main high street. Every type of shop selling everything you may want or need during your Llandudno break can be found on Mostyn Street. You can also pick up local arts, crafts and knick-knacks from the Mostyn Street Indoor Market.

Llandudno Pier is another popular attraction, filled with shops, arcades and anglers dangling lines over the water's edge hoping for a bite. The pier was built and opened in 1858 but had to be rebuilt just a year later following a devastating storm. The end of the pier offers fine views over the town, the Great Orme and the Little Orme, the Great Orme's smaller sibling.

If your visit to Llandudno happens to be over the Bank Holiday weekend in early May, you may find yourself surrounded by the extraordinary sights and sounds of the Victorian Extravaganza. This is a three-day celebration of Llandudno's history as a tourist resort, with parades and exhibitions, music and costumes filling the town.

For a relaxing meal or drink after a day's exertions, make your way across to Market Street and the Cottage Loaf. This is a wonderfully characterful pub in the centre of the town, built from the timbers of a coal-carrying schooner that was wrecked off the coast of Llandudno in 1936, and offering hearty home-cooked meals and a wide range of beers and wines in a traditional, welcoming setting.