10 Best Things to Do in Llandudno

North Shore Beach is one of the best beaches in Llandudno to enjoy summertime activities such as sunbathing, windsurfing and parasailing. Also called Llandudno Beach, the sheltered beach has a beautiful Victorian-style pier and a promenade that spans from the foot of Great Orme to Little Orme.

The eastern end of the promenade is popular among families as it has a playground, paddling pool, restaurants, cafes and concession stands. Shopping malls such as Victoria Shopping Centre and Marks & Spencer are within a 5-minute walk of North Shore Beach promenade.

The Great Orme tramway has been carting passengers to and from Llandudno since the 1900s, making it one of the oldest street tramways in the world. The route consists of 3 stops, namely Victoria Station in the town centre, Halfway Station and the Great Orme Summit Station. In Halfway Station, you need to disembark and switch trams.

Along the way, you’ll pass through the picturesque Great Orme Country Park and Nature Reserve. The tramway runs daily from March to early November.

Llandudno’s Great Orme Mines are regarded as the largest prehistoric copper mines in the world. These narrow tunnels date back to the Bronze Age and feature a 475-ft-deep (145-metre-deep) Victorian mine shaft. If you’re not claustrophobic, we highly recommend exploring these passageways, many of which seem to be built by young children.

The mine visitor centre is where you can see a model of a Bronze Age village and an extensive collection of authentic artefacts and mining tools. The Great Orme Mines are within a 5-minute walk of the Tramway’s Halfway Station.

The Llandudno Cable Car carries passengers from the Happy Valley Botanical Gardens towards the Great Orme Summit Complex, offering panoramic views of the Irish Sea throughout the 20-minute journey. Established in 1969, it’s one of the longest cable car systems in Great Britain, with the highest peak at 80 feet (24 metres) above sea level.

The Great Orme Summit Complex features a restaurant, bar and souvenir shops, as well as family-friendly facilities such as an adventure playground and a golf centre.

JNL Llandudno Ski and Snowboard Centre is where you can enjoy slope-based activities throughout the year. Its most popular feature is the Cresta Toboggan ride, which is the longest of its kind in Wales. The ride spans 1,886 ft (575 metres) in length and offers beautiful views of Llandudno Bay.

Other facilities here include snowboarding, skiing and snow tubing, as well as a miniature golf course. JNL Llandudno Ski and Snowboard Centre is 0.5 miles (0.8 km) east of Great Orme Tramway’s Halfway Station. The center offers a range of lessons for beginners, intermediate and advanced skiers and snowboarders.

Conwy Castle is one of Llandudno’s most impressive medieval castles. Built between 1277 and 1307, it features 2 barbicans and 8 high towers overlooking the Welsh countryside. During your visit, you can explore the bow-shaped great hall, royal chambers, kitchen and chapel to get a sense of life back in medieval times.

Located on Rose Hill Street, it’s a 20-minute drive from Llandudno’s North Shore promenade. This well-preserved fortress offers fantastic ruins to explore and a fascinating journey through history.

Happy Valley boasts beautifully landscaped gardens and hills that offer stunning views of Llandudno’s most popular attractions. As one of the town’s oldest public parks, it’s home to a distinctive landmark, a drinking fountain featuring a bust of Queen Victoria from 1887.

On sunny days, locals flock to Happy Valley Botanical Gardens for activities like hiking, jogging and picnicking. Visitors can also enjoy a game at the onsite miniature golf course, making it a perfect spot for relaxation and recreation amidst natural beauty.

Llandudno Pier is a charming Victorian-era harbour that’s popular for its extensive range of restaurants, food stands and bars, as well as family-friendly activities all year long. Stretching an impressive 2,295 feet (699 metres) over the Irish Sea, it stands as one of the longest piers in the UK.

You can find 2 arcades at Llandudno Pier. The main arcade, Leisure Island, is located at the entrance to the pier and the Deck Arcade is housed in the original Victorian bandstand at the pier head. 

The whole family will have fun exploring Llandudno's connection to Alice in Wonderland through an Alice in Wonderland Trail. Alice Liddell, the girl who inspired Lewis Carroll's book, spent her summer holidays in Llandudno.

Today, children can discover the town's connections to Alice in Wonderland by following the dedicated trail. It’s clearly marked by 55 bronze rabbit footprints and takes in related sculptures along the way, including a Mad Hatter statue on the promenade and the White Rabbit in North Western Gardens. You can follow it with a paper map that you can pick up from the Llandudno Tourist Information Centre.

Venue Cymru is where you can enjoy a variety of live performances in Llandudno. It can accommodate over 1,500 people at a time, making it one of the town’s largest theatres and conference centres. Located on the promenade, it has 2 restaurants with views of Llandudno Bay.

There’s also an onsite cinema where you can watch the latest Hollywood films, as well as an arena hosting touring musicals, theatre and workshops throughout the year. Venue Cymru caters to those with disabilities with services such as assistance dogs, audio-described performances and dementia-friendly screenings.