This Victorian seaside town on the Welsh coast has a long wooden pier, a 19th-century tram to the Great Orme summit, and two curved beaches along its crescent bay.
Llandudno stretches between two limestone headlands along North Wales's coast. You can walk the 700-meter pier to buy traditional Welsh fudge, spot wild mountain goats wandering through town streets, or take the 1902 tramway up the Great Orme. The town's connection to Alice in Wonderland comes alive through bronze sculptures of characters like the White Rabbit and Mad Hatter, marking places where Alice Liddell, who inspired the story, spent her holidays.
Getting Around the Great Orme
The Great Orme rises 207 meters above sea level, with three ways to reach its summit. You'll climb aboard original early twentieth-century cars on the Great Orme Tramway, one of only three cable-hauled street tramways remaining worldwide. Drive or walk the four-mile Marine Drive around the limestone cliffs for clear views across the Irish Sea. The cable car from Happy Valley glides above the bay, giving you a bird's eye view of the town below.
Victorian Architecture and Streets
Cream-colored Victorian buildings line The Parade's wide boulevards, preserving the town's 1800s appearance. During the Victorian Carnival each May, Mostyn Street transforms into an active fairground with traditional games and food stalls. Victorian hotels and guesthouses stand along the North Shore promenade, many still welcoming guests as they did 150 years ago.
Beaches and Waterfront
North Shore beach stretches along the curved bay with golden sand and clean waters recognized by Blue Flag certification. For a calmer atmosphere, head to West Shore beach with its sand dunes and sheltered waters. The Grade II listed pier, built in 1877, stretches more than 700 meters into the sea - the longest in Wales. Walk under its canopied walkways to find candy shops, ice cream stands, and local craft stores.
Cultural Spaces and Events
Inside a restored 1901 building on Vaughan Street, Oriel Mostyn gallery displays contemporary art exhibitions. At Venue Cymru, you can watch West End musicals, Welsh National Opera performances, and comedy shows throughout the year. The annual LLAWN arts festival fills shop windows with art installations and brings street performers to town squares. Look for the Alice in Wonderland bronze sculptures throughout town - each one marks a location connected to Alice Liddell's childhood holidays that inspired Lewis Carroll's story.
