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With the recession that has hit the world, many people had been looking for “staycations”, holidays that are based within the holidaymaker’s country. Such a number of places have seen a surge in popularity, one such country is the UK, traditionally an expensive country, which has become affordable for many people. A notable town within the UK is the coastal seaside resort of Llandudno, or as it’s often named: “the Queen of Welsh Resorts”.
It’s easy to see why it’s such a popular destination within the UK, located on the North Wales coast, and nearby both the tranquil settings of Snowdonia & the historical cities of Chester, Manchester & Liverpool. Furthermore, whilst Llandudno has seen an increase in prices & the general cost of living, it’s still remarkably cheap compared to many other seaside resorts in the UK. However, with the recovering pound & the UK economy picking up in general, not to mention the growing popularity in the Llandudno area, having a cheap holiday may not be as possible as once was. Here are some tips with helping you have a great value for money break in Llandudno.
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Stay in Cheaper Accommodation Outside Llandudno
Premium space on the seafront attracts the highest costs, with rooms costing upto £200-£300 a night, Llandudno has such unique geography that even on the outskirts of Llandudno on the less popular West Shore, Deganwy, Glanwydden & Penrhyn Bay, you can still have sea views that are comparible to the famous North Shore. All are within 10 minutes bus ride from Llandudno’s town centre.
Furthermore, the Llandudno bed and breakfast scene is thriving with smaller, cheaper yet just as pleasant establishments. Many operate slightly off the beaten track, but with easy links to Llandudno’s rail & bus services, so they are not difficult to get to.
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Enjoy The Lunchtime Specials in Many of the Restaurants in Llandudno
When you are on holiday in Llandudno, you can take advantage of many of the local restaurant’s lunchtime specials when staying in the area. Particularly on Upper Mostyn Street. Offers change all the time, so it wouldn’t be particularly effective to list the offers here, but certainly you can get a good meal & a drink for about £7-£8 in a good restaurant if you look hard enough.
As said, many of the eateries in Upper Mostyn Street are where to go, but you may wish to look around the Tram Station on Church Walks as well.
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Plenty of Free Things To Do!
Llandudno is probably one of the leading venues in Wales for great things to do for free, there are plenty of ways to pass your time on Holiday without spending a penny. These can include:-
- A trip up The Great Orme – the headland at the very North of the town with stunning views & great walks, there is also an entertainment complex at the top. If you fancy a walk it’s free, but many people either drive up (small charges to access the toll road “Marine Drive” and in the car park), or take the tram up, which is just under £6 return. There is also a visitor centre at the very top which is free to have a look around. There is also a Cable Car service which runs (except in windy weather) from happy valley to the summit of the orme, if you are willing to pay. Also, keep a look out for the resident goats! These were given to Queen Victoria in the 19th century and have lived and thrived on the orme ever since. For those who like animal photography, following a herd of goats on the Orme has to be one of the finest days out imaginable.
- A Sunbathe and a Swim – Believe it or not, Llandudno has often been called “Sunny Llandudno” in many tourist guides, and during the summer months can have an unbelievable amount of hot sunshine. Trust the author, who in one week on the beach in Llandudno had a far greater tan than his friends who had flown to Spain! The sea in Llandudno is also beautiful, though it may be worth waiting for the tide to go out a little if you wish to lie on the sand, as the upper part of Llandudno beach is highly pebbled. There is also a well maintained paddling pool on the eastern part of the North Shore, easily walked to along the promenade, and a small model boating lake on the west shore.
- A visit to the pier – Llandudno Pier is the longest in Wales, and the fifth longest in the UK. At a staggering 2’285 feet, the pier is just 200 feet shorter than Scafell Pike is high. On sunny days, the water below the pier shines an impressive emerald green colour. Admission is free, and the pier boasts many small shops and cafes along it’s length. A bandstand is located at the end, in which brass bands often perform in the summer months. In clear weather the pier also offers stunning views of the Great Orme and Anglesey to the west, Llandudno Bay, Liverpool and the Wirral to the east, and on especially clear days, the Isle of Man to the north. A must do on every visit to LLandudno.
- The Happy Valley – Llandudno’s “Happy Valley” was the centre of Victorian tourism to the resort. It is walked up to from near the pier entrance, and it’s beautiful gardens and lush pine trees give it a real mediterranean feel. On the walk up, why not stop and rest and explore the prominent cave on the left, nicknamed by locals as “Elephant Cave”. On reaching the top of happy valley, there are two great and distinctive items in front of you: the ski slope (complete with lift), and the Tobogan run! Both are relatively cheap to use if you wish. Of course, you can always just stroll around the beautiful steps that encircle happy valley, once again with stunning views or Llandudno and the surrounding coast.
So a trip to Llandudno needn’t cost the earth, why not check out some of the specatular scenery in this gem of a North Wales resort!
And for your stay in Llandudno I would recommend The Queen’s Head Glanwydden, a bed & breakfast offering affordable Llandudno Accommodation on the outskirts of the town.
Great considered provoking post, I enjoyed reading this these days.