This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Llandudno.
Llandudno is a quintessentially Victorian seaside resort on the North Wales coast. In true seaside-town style, tea rooms jostle for business with cafes offering classic fare like fish and chips. The pier (the longest in Wales) offers family-friendly amusements and treats to appease the little ones. Summertime on the promenade is likely to feature vintage entertainment such as Punch and Judy shows.
Riding the historic tramway to the top of the headland known as the Great Orme offers views across to the Isle of Man and the peaks of Snowdonia National Park, on a clear day. If trams aren’t your transport of choice, there is also a cable car, which has equally impressive views. It is also possible to walk up to the top.
Geology buffs will enjoy exploring the hillside’s Bronze Age copper mine, about halfway up the Orme. Its tunnels, first mined four thousand years ago, are still being uncovered and it is thought to be one of the largest prehistoric mines in the world.
On the other side of the bay is the Little Orme, a quieter and undeveloped alternative to its "Great" neighbor, home to lots of birds and lovely sea views.
For an alternative vista, join one of the regular boat tours departing from a jetty on the promenade. Fishing trips can also be booked here too.
Llandudno hostel options are pretty limited, but accommodation is likely to be central and many hostels and guesthouses have taken root in the area’s period Victorian buildings.
For nights out, the town has a number of pubs -- many of which also sell meals. There is also a large entertainment theater called Venue Cymru which sometimes plays host to nationally renowned bands and comedians. It also stages plays and frequent film screenings.
Llandudno has a train station, which links Chester with Holyhead (for ferry services to Ireland) and a separate station, Llandudno Junction, a few miles out of town, has further connections to major UK cities like London and Birmingham.
Staying in a hostel here offers a good base to check out the nearby beach town of Conwy (five miles away) with its impressive castle, and slightly further afield for Snowdonia National Park (thirty miles) and for onward journeys to Ireland from Anglesey.
Written by local enthusiast for Llandudno hostels
Laura T