Overview

If you have never visited Llandudno, then we recommend you giving it a visit. It’s what we call a “ chase the weather resort “ If it’s raining in Wales, you have every chance of it being dry, ( but don’t bank on it, ITS WALES. Llandudno is a must visit Welsh seaside holiday resort, holding a very attractive promenade lined with well maintained hotels, and overlooked by the Great Orme headland. It town has been well maintained by the council, and it offers so much to do for both young and old. WE HAVE FIVE REVIEWS FOR YOU, AS THIS WILL GIVE AN OVERALL REPORT ON RESORT ======================================================================== Llandudno was a small copper mining village way back in the early 1800’s that stood alongside the sea shore of Liverpool Bay, attracting miners to hew out mines on the Great Orme headland. Slowly the little village grew, and during the mid 1800’s families such as the MOSTYNS and Williams family, along with wealthy businessmen, transformed the village with the idea of having a holiday destination built here. It soon grew into a prosperous little town, with a number of small hotels springing up. Boarding houses were developed to catch the ever increasing visitors, and the sea shore became lined with properties that quickly opened up the need for hotels that now took their place along the seafront. A small wooden pier was then built as an added attraction, which was opened in 1858. It was just a 24 foot wooden structure that allowed small steam ships to dock on the pier. However, this was damaged in 1859, so then it was only possible for small steam boats to use the repaired pier, but only at high tide. This was demolished in 1876. Then a newly formed Llandudno pier company built and opened another pier in 1877, but this time with a new idea of having a 45 degree turn along its length. In 1886, an extension was added which took it to its present day length of 2295 feet long. It proved to be such a success that a 2000 seated pavillion theatre was built on the pier. Starting in 1890 a steamship company was bringing visitors in by boat from Liverpool to disembark on the pier to enjoy day trips. Then a service commenced with short day trips around the coast. PHOTO 1. The almost two mile promenade lined with hotels up to THE LITTLE ORME ======================================================================== The increased influx of visitors arriving annually, joining the large population now settling in Llandudno, meant that many new and larger modern hotels started to be built, situated along the seafront. During 1865 plans had been formed to unite a group of boarding houses on Gloddaeth crescent, so that by 1872 these boarding houses were pulled down and replaced by the lovely Imperial Hotel. This offered a far higher graded standard of a stylish modern hotel. This soon established itself as the place to be, and even Prince LEOPOLD ( a son of Queen Victoria ) stayed here in 1873. PHOTO 2 THE IMPERIAL HOTEL ================================ The Imperial hotel soon established itself and well and truly regarded as one of the finest hotels in Llandudno, and employed many local people as well as those trained at London hotels. During the late 1930’s an aunt of ours worked here at the hotel, and then, after leaving school my own mother joined my aunty and trained to work here as well. During the Second World War, the hotel was taken over by the government in 1940, and became the headquarters of the Inland Revenue, and many of the government staff were then staying at the hotel. PHOTO 3. St George’s crescent and the Great Orme ================================================ The fashionable crescent and many hotels line the crescent leading up to The Great Orme. Orme is an old Norse word meaning Sea serpent, or worm, given to it by the Vikings because it resembled a serpent shape. The Great Orme summit offers views across Liverpool Bay, The Carneddau mountain range looking over towards Snowdonia itself, then over the Menai Strait towards Anglesey There is a 3.2 mile (5.2km) circular walk around the headland, or you can take your own car for the pleasant drive around the base of the headland, after paying a small fee at the toll gate by Happy Valley. PHOTO 4. THE PARADE ========================== This delightful area houses many fun activities, such as a Big Wheel, which during the evening and late into the night is gaily lit up, there are a few stalls, and fish and chip huts, as well as the entrance to the pier itself. During 1950 as a young child, I was allowed to wear my new gift of long trousers and my grand parents took me on a steam ship from the pier for an afternoon cruise to Puffin Island. PHOTO 5. THE GRAND HOTEL AND PIER ====================================== Along the pier stands The Grand Hotel, ( not so Grand nowadays ) and guests can get out directly onto the pier for an evening stroll to watch the wonderful sunsets Llandudno is so famous for. Later history shows that in 1969 the Pier received money to help them upgrade the pier, and soon shops, and attractions lined the pier, helping the pier to gain a grade 11 listed award. Above the Grand Hotel, and the Pier, stands the Great Orme, now a nature reserve, and is home to Two Hundred Feral Kashmir goats, and the Welsh guards come here to select their regimental goat who leads the parade of the Battalion during their many official duties. PHOTO 6 MOSTYN STREET ============================ Running parallel with the shore line is MOSTYN STREET which is the main shopping street, with lots of small holiday type shops, and eating places, nothing worth mentioning, but all the same, interesting stores to hold your attention. Worth a stroll if nothing else to do. It’s along here you find the main church of Llandudno. PHOTO 7 HOLY TRINITY CHURCH. ================================ The Catholic Church was built in 1872, to support the fast growing town centre. Land was given by the MOSTYN family estate, and the architect, George Felton designed the church for them. This is a good example of the Victorian era, finished on its exterior with local limestone, brickwork, with Bath stone dressing. Inside are intricate wooden carvings, by famous wood craftsmen. Robert Thompson carved his usual signature of a tiny mouse on the Vestry door, and Handle Edward carved an Angel in the 1970’s PHOTO 8 TRINITY STREET VICTORIAN HOUSES ========================================== Off MOSTYN Street lies Trinity Square, then Trinity Street, which has many Victorian houses built in the late 1800’s, all very fashionable for their time, setting the fashion for the rest of town. My aunty had a basement flat here for many years, where my family and I would meet her while on holiday. She was very proud of her little home, and it was only a three minute walk to the Imperial hotel each day, which stood on Vaughan street, and from there it was a straight walk along to the main station of Llandudno. PHOTO 9. Vaughan Street ========================== Built as the approach to Station PHOTOS 10 and 11. LLANDUDNO STATION. ==================================== In 1858 a basic single storey station was built to serve the copper mines in the area, and then passenger trains were soon operating on a line running from Llandudno junction into town. It’s interesting to note, that often, due to a shortage of locomotives, Horses were used to pull the wagons, and when the weather was very bad, the passengers who were fit enough, had to push the carriages themselves, along the 3 mile journey. During 1858 Vaughan Street was laid out as the approach to the station. But as Llandudno began to be built up, a new station building was built with a glass canopy, and this was opened in 1892. Lord MOSTYN made the rail company build a glass canopy so as to contain the smoke from the trains so as not to sully the atmosphere of the town itself. This station had five platforms, because at its peak, trains would be arriving every 4 minutes, and Hansom cabs would line up alongside the railway carriages, such was the popularity of Llandudno. At this time, sidings were also built so that the trains could then be put into these sidings to receive a good clean up, and to allow coal to be supplied for the trains. During 1892, the new Llandudno railway station also added the attraction of a funicular rail, from its Victoria station along the Great Orme tramway, which was unveiled in 1902. This Tramway station lies along Church Walks, which begins at the island on The Parade by the Grand Hotel, and runs straight ahead up to the tram station itself. You catch the tramway at Victoria station, but do note, that no advance tickets may be purchased, it’s on a first come first served basis, but services run very often. So beware of this, and avoid busy season periods. This Great Orme tramway offers a very interesting short ride, with the full journey to the summit of about a mile, taking about 30 minutes, but it also includes you having to change trams half way up, and it’s the only tramway ride that uses public roads as well. From 1923 to 1947, the railway was owned by the London, Midland Scottish railway company. Later, in 2014, now owned by NetworkRail, it upgraded the station, and provided the glass frontage, and replaced the then unused sidings with a carpark, on the original platforms four and five. Today, Wales Rail Services run the line, with regular services to Blaenau Ffestiniog. PLEASE READ OUR HISTORICAL REVIEW OF BLAENAU FFESTINIOG =========================================== As well as our HISTORICAL REVIEW OF TANYGRISIAU =============================== Which also provides history of the famous Ffestiniog narrow gauge railway. The more recent renovation of 2014 now owned by Network Rail, upgraded the station, and provided the glass frontage as seen today, and a carpark on the original platforms offour and five. ======================================================================= PHOTO 12. Explore Llandudno ============================== Great Orme is the start of a ride that explores Llandudno, and here you can catch the Explorer bus tour, which offers a great little tour around Llandudno, taking you along both shores around the headland, departing from the main attractions around the pier, visiting parts of the Great Orme, running you along to the West shore, which is a nice little beach, very quiet, with a number of attractions that provide entertainment for all ages, including a boating pool, and the West Shore miniature train railway, set up to help all those interested in miniature train development. Only in use occasionally, but worth seeing when riding past it.then round in a large circle towards the Little Orme, before returning you back to the pier. There is also a little Llandudno land train, again departing from the pier, and this offers a ride around the Marine drive which winds around the cliffs of the Great Orme, with views over towards Anglesey and puffin island. Then it heads to the Second of two beaches, this one on the West shore, as it journeys on towards views of Conwy castle, then passing through the town centre, and this is an ideal 60 minute excursion if you are unable to walk far It runs Feb until December 2025. ===================================== PHOTO 13. GREAT ORME AND HAPPY VALLEY ========================================= Happy valley is the oldest public park in the area, once a quarry, then developed into a 1800’s botanical garden, and here you will find a number of attractions, including a ski-slope , Ariel cable car views, toboggan ride, and a small golf course, with car parks available. A cafe and restaurant looks inviting enough, and disabled toilets, although basic, is available. HOWEVER, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR A DISABLED PERSON. Although a pleasant walk up from the shore, it would be very hard on your carer, and even a scooter would find it difficult, so take the car, enjoy the drive up, and park up when needed. START by driving towards the rear of the Grand Hotel, and take the narrow slip road left opposite the Grand hotel, and follow this all the way up to the car park at the far end, then return to the pier. SEE EACH PHOTO AND DETAILS BELOW. PHOTO 14. Happy valley woodland drive PHOTO 15. Ski-slope and toboggan ride The toboggan ride allows you to sit up straight, on the textile covering of the sled, with . legs on the outside next to the wooden runners which allow braking. PHOTO 16. Cable car views on slopes of the Orme On return drive PHOTO 17. views over Liverpool bay and pier. ==================================== Now we suggest a drive along to the West Shore ======================================= departing from Happy Valley, passing the Grand Hotel, at the island GO round and take second exit If driving along the promenade, when you reach the island by the pier, TURN LEFT This is Church Walks, and follow to reach the TRAMWAY TURN LEFT on Old Road. TURN RIGHT, and go to second right DRIVE DOWN to the island TURN RIGHT on duel carriageway on Gloddaeth Street Drive on to then reach the shore for the West Shore This area is famous for its association with Alice in Wonderland. PHOTO 18. ALICE IN WONDERLAND ================================= The writer of the book, Lewis Carrol, was inspired to write the book after visiting the real Alice Liddell, after spending a holiday with the family at Penmorfa, on the West Shore, which they bought and in 1861, Alice was eight years old at this time. You will find sculptures of parts of the book, as well around the town centre, and Happy Valley. THIS SCULPTURE of Alice can be seen opposite the railway station. PHOTO 19. BOATING LAKE very often you will find modelled boats sailing around the lake. PHOTO 20. Changing booths overlooking SNOWDONIA The picture shows Snowdonia and its peak far in the distance. Like all local people of the area, we managed to walk up to the peak after a hard 7 hour walk from its base. It’s far easier to take the train ride up, but some have to show off don’t they ? ====================================================================== Now we suggest you read our other Four reviews about LLANDUDNO This will offer a suggestion on where to stay for your break. DO ENJOY YOUR VISIT TO THIS VICTORIAN RESORT

Transport & Parking

Difficult, but does have street parking, and car parks. It’s a very popular resort so be patient and you may just time a good space on its street parking. Many hotels do not actually have their own parking facilities, and car parks are usually full, so it may be worth considering arriving by train or buses.

Access

It’s an old resort, so many hotels and guest rooms have not yet managed to turn disabled friendly, so check before booking a room anywhere. It’s generally a nice flat level town, but hilly towards the Great Orme area, but chosen wisely, disabled will have a great holiday here at Llandudno.

Toilets

There are public accessible toilets, but generally very basic, so you may need to check before arriving how you will cope

Staff

Generally, staff at hotels and shops are quite good, and willing to support you. Guest houses may have steps to contend with, just check with them.

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