From the summit of the Great Orme (206m/679 ft.), you get a panoramic view of the North Wales coast. You can walk up to the top if you're really energetic, but we advise other means. At Happy Valley, exotic sheltered gardens lie at the foot of the Great Orme, near the pier at the west end of the Llandudno Bay promenade. Take the Great Orme Tramway (tel. 01492/879306; www.greatormetramway.com) to reach the top. The tramway has been carrying passengers to the summit since 1902. It operates every 20 minutes only between late March and October daily 10am to 6pm. It costs £5.40 round-trip for adults, £3.70 for children 13 and younger. It is closed in winter, during which period you can drive along a spectacular cliff-edge road, the Marine Drive, which winds uphill in a circular route that reaches a point near the summit of the Great Orme. Cars pay a toll of £2.50 each.
Just above the Marine Drive is the ancient Church of St. Tudno, from which the town derives its name. The present stone building dates from the 12th century, but the church was founded 600 years earlier. Between April and October, it's open 24 hours a day, and between June and September, there are open-air worship services every Sunday at 11am. For more information about the church and its services, or to gain entrance during other times of the year, contact the rector, John Nice, at tel. 01492/876624, or go to www.llandudno-parish.org.uk/sttudno.html.
At the end of the north-shore promenade, one of Britain's finest Victorian piers was built jutting 699m (2,295 ft.) into the bay at the base of the Great Orme, with an ornate covered pavilion at the end. You can find entertainment, food, fishing, or just relaxation on the pier. The north-shore beach is busy in summer, with traditional British seaside activities, including donkey rides, Punch-and-Judy shows, boat trips, and a children's fun land across the promenade.
The seafront's most visible public monument is the Venue Cymru Theatre, the Promenade (tel. 01492/872000; www.venuecymru.co.uk). Built in the early 1990s, it had what amounted to the longest stage in Britain, until the more recent construction of a theater in Bournemouth surpassed it by a mere 15 centimeters (6 in.). Throughout the year, it's the venue for a changing roster of entertainment that includes everything from opera to rock-'n'-roll concerts. Most shows begin at 8pm and tickets cost £9 to £35.
Amgueddfa Llandudno Museum, 17-19 Gloddaeth St. (tel. 01492/876517; www.walescymru.com), displays the development of Llandudno as a seaside resort. Period rooms are open to viewers. It is open Easter through October Tuesday to Saturday 10:30am to 1pm and 2 to 5pm, Sunday 2:15 to 5pm; and Tuesday to Saturday 1:30 to 4:30pm the rest of the year. Admission is £3 for adults, £2 for children, and £5 family ticket.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
