Best Places to Visit in North Wales: Things to Do Llandudno

The best places to visit in North Wales include Llandudno's Great Orme, the medieval castles at Conwy and Beaumaris, and the adventure parks of Snowdonia. Llandudno itself makes the ideal base, with its Blue Flag beach, Victorian pier and famous tramway. The Esplanade Hotel sits right on the promenade, so you can enjoy comfortable seafront rooms and reach the region's best attractions with ease.

North Wales packs a lot into a small corner of the map. In a single trip, you can climb a mountain, walk the walls of a medieval castle, and still be back on the beach in time for dinner. It suits families, couples and adventurers alike, and the good news is that most of the top attractions sit within easy reach of one seaside town.

That town is Llandudno. Nicknamed the Queen of the Welsh Resorts, it has been welcoming visitors for over 150 years thanks to its sweeping bay, Victorian pier and Blue Flag beach. It is also one of the easiest places to base yourself for exploring the wider region. Here are some of the best places to visit in North Wales, along with our favourite things to do in Llandudno itself.

Ride the Great Orme Tramway

Start close to home with the Great Orme, the limestone headland that rises above the town. You can walk it, drive the toll road, or let the historic tramway carry you to the summit. The tramway is a genuine one-off: it opened in 1902 and remains Britain's only cable-hauled tramway operating on public roads. As you climb to 679 feet, the whole bay opens beneath you, and on a clear day, the views stretch as far as the Isle of Man and the Lake District.

At the top, you will find walking trails, grazing wild goats, a summit café and a Bronze Age copper mine. If you are weighing up the best things to do in Llandudno, North Wales, this one belongs near the top of the list.

Explore the castles at Conwy and Beaumaris.

North Wales is castle country, and two of the finest sit just a short drive from Llandudno. Conwy Castle, built by Edward I in the late 13th century, is one of the best-preserved medieval fortresses in Britain, and you can still walk its towers and town walls for views across the estuary. Across the water on Anglesey, Beaumaris Castle is often called the greatest castle never finished. Its perfectly symmetrical design was left incomplete when the money ran out.

Both form part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing and make an easy, rewarding day out.

Chase adventure in Eryri (Snowdonia)

For a bigger thrill, head inland to Eryri, better known as Snowdonia. Zip World has transformed the region's old slate quarries into an adventure playground, home to Velocity 2, billed as the world's fastest zip line. If speed is not your thing, the national park rewards a slower pace too, with mountain walks, the pretty village of Betws-y-Coed, and the tumbling waters of Swallow Falls. There really is something here for every energy level.

Enjoy the promenade, pier and Llandudno restaurants

You do not have to travel far to have a good day. Llandudno's promenade is made for a gentle stroll, with its traditional pier. It is the kind of classic British seaside that is becoming harder to find.

When it comes to food, the town spoils you. Llandudno restaurants run the full range, from fresh seafood and cosy cafés to relaxed pubs and modern bistros, and many of the best places to eat in Llandudno are tucked into the streets just back from the front. If you love Welsh produce, plenty of places to eat in Llandudno, Wales, that put local lamb, seafood and cheese at the heart of the menu.

Where to stay: The Esplanade Hotel

With so many hotels in Llandudno to choose from, it helps to know what matters to you. The town has everything from small guesthouses to grand seafront properties, but few match the location and character of The Esplanade Hotel. It stands right on the promenade, so the beach, pier and tramway are all on your doorstep.

The Esplanade has been welcoming guests since the 1920s, when five Victorian townhouses were combined into a single hotel. A recent refurbishment has modernised the rooms while keeping that easy seaside warmth. Because breakfast is served every morning, it works beautifully as a bed-and-breakfast in Llandudno, and the dinner, bed-and-breakfast packages mean you can round off the day with a meal without stepping outside.

That meal comes courtesy of The Goat, the hotel's own restaurant and bar, right on the seafront. Open to guests and non-guests alike, it serves modern dishes built around fresh Welsh produce, plus a proper traditional Sunday roast. You can see the menus and book a table here.

Arriving by car? Parking in a busy resort can be a headache, so it pays to book a hotel in Llandudno with parking. On-site parking at The Esplanade means you can leave the car behind and explore on foot, which is one more reason it stands out among the Llandudno hotels lining the front.

So, whether you are after a relaxing seaside stay or a comfortable base for adventure, The Esplanade is one of the easiest places to stay in Llandudno to recommend. Book your room and start planning your trip to the best places to visit in North Wales.