Visit Llandudno

Category: Attractions

  • Visiting Llandudno in 2014

    IMG_1709As the curtain falls on a stellar year for Llandudno in entertainment and culture, it’s time to look forward to 2014 which promises to be an even better one for the seaside town.

    An event in its first incarnation in 2013, it will be interesting to see how the LLAWN festival for this year tops the one before. A micro-festival curated by specialists, this event was extremely popular as indie artists from all over displayed their work across the town. There was also plenty in the way of live performances which delighted audiences of all ages and the organisers will certainly look to build on their already palpable success.

    One occasion which is not just for a great day out but for a great cause is the Llandudno Air Show which celebrated a fantastic array of new and old planes. Any attendees for 2013 will have revelled in the image of a Spitfire and Hurricane flying together and with a majority of the proceeds going to various charities, you may even see a fleet of planes in the skies this May.

    It’s hard to compile a list of all top events in Llandudno without including the mammoth Llandudno Victorian Extravaganza. The undisputed king in family entertainment for North Wales, this occasion which takes place all over town has get involved with. There are fairground rides (some not for the faint-hearted), stalls and all kinds of acts popping up throughout the weekend and 2014’s edition is only bound to be bigger and better.

    Although not strictly in Llandudno, the Gwledd Conwy Feast in October is just a 5 minute drive away and is well worth the short journey. Tuck into a cosmopolitan mix of food, drink and fantastic live events as you celebration the cultured side of North Wales in style in this historic town. 2013’s feast saw record attendees despite some driving rain and its popularity is a trend that’s unlikely to buck any time soon.

    This is only a small sample of some of the fun you can enjoy in Llandudno over the coming 365 days and for all new events as they’re announced, make sure you check out Visit Llandudno for all the best.

  • Christmas Time in Llandudno

    This weekend’s super Llandudno Christmas Fayre brought with it the season to be jolly with great fun and excitement to be had for all. What other activities in Llandudno are there this Christmas time? The simple answer is many, many more.

    As ever, Venue Cymru located just along the promenade completely embraces the Yuletide feeling and has plenty to get kids and grown-ups excited alike.

    Panto is big on the billing throughout December with a wonderful array of performance of Sleeping Beauty available throughout the month. Stars of Coronation Street and Coach Trip are set to take to the stage over charming nights in winter but make sure you book ahead as tickets are being snapped up!

    Another event to not be missed is Noel, Noel: a showcase of beloved classical music that offers a fantastic break from the frantic high street.

    Want to shake off that wintry bite on your toes? Then get involved in the Zumba night being held by North Wales’ premier instructors in the field of dance.

    Moverz’n’Shakerz are two girls who love to get people into fitness and their event on the 6th of December is going to set the tone for an early New Year’s Resolution or two! There’s a brilliant fancy dress competition for you to get down to with the winner being treated maybe treated to one or two free drinks from the bar!

    A more classic dancing occasion awaits you at the Grand Christmas Ball on the 21st of December at Venue Cymru. After tucking in to some great Christmas food, you are invited to take to the dancefloor with a partner and wow your friends, an ideal time for you to all bond in the spirit of Noel.

    An altogether different time is to be had at the Antiques and Collector’s Fair in Llandudno this season. Set just after the last of the turkey has been gobbled up on the 28th, this will be a great event for all those with an eye for a bargain or two.

  • Llandudno Christmas Fayre 2013

    Llandudno Christmas FayreThere are few events which encapsulate the spirit of Christmas but the Llandudno Christmas Fayre is definitely one of them. This year, this grand occasion looks to be even grander than ever with much to see and do.

    After a stupendous 30,000 people attended last year’s event (10,000 more than the actual population of Llandudno itself!) the festivities seem to draw the crowds in from far and wide in the north and what’s not to love?

    The whole area really comes to life as artists and crafters share their work for your interest and there is so many different types for you to look at and inevitably buy! From jewellery to photography, you’re unlikely to want to leave long after the fayre ends on the 24th of November after starting on the 21st.

    If you’re after something a little stronger than sherry to accompany your Christmas meal, there are plenty of superb vendors who specialise in supplying only the best in local produce. Celtic tastes are high on the menu but top quality offerings from the Llangollen Brewery and Pieroth Wines are not to be ignored either.

    Feeling peckish? Then make your way over to one of the plentiful stalls which specialise in excellent foods throughout the event. From the gourmet efforts of Amuse Bouche to some sweets and treats for the kids, you’re sure to find a delight to fill that gap. Rustic, savoury or sweet; you name it and the Llandudno Christmas Fayre will provide.

    There will be plenty of live music and exhibitions for your enjoyment to with the RSPB returning to Llandudno after all their work at this year’s Extravaganza. Without doubt though, there’s only one man all the kids will want to see and Santa Claus in North Wales is always a special time for all with tickets to see him in his Alice in Wonderland themed grotto only £4!

    With this and so much more to look forward to, there’s only one place you should be this November in Llandudno to really get you in the mood for Christmas.

  • Cariad Ink Festival in Llandudno

    When you think of Llandudno with its gorgeous beaches, infamous ice creams and family Cariad Ink Festivalorientated days out, you’d be forgiven for thinking that there isn’t much of an alternative scene going on in this seaside town. This is exactly what the organisers of the Cariad Ink Festival are trying to change this November and December.

    If you look back on the Llandudno of years gone by, you’d seldom see anyone but a travelling sailor adorning some ink. Now though, there is a growing popularity and demand in modern culture for talented tattooists and this is something North Wales can proudly boast to have. Cariad Ink is set to highlight the best from the area and around the world.

    Already an established event after a smaller occasion in the earlier part of 2013, tattoo fans are set to descend on Venue Cymru in their hundreds. February’s edition was a partly-charitable affair with some proceedings going towards research for Motor Neuron Disease, a true reflection on the collective spirit found in the Queen of Welsh Resorts. With £1500 kindly donated to the cause, organisers are set to build on their success and make it a more family-friendly occasion this time round.

    Any tattooist worth their salt will be in attendance with so many booths being installed and snapped up by newcomers and old hands alike. There is talent from all over and they’re all on hand to tattoo either the avid or the new in one of the most relaxed atmospheres you can find.

    For just £15 on Saturday, you’ll find yourself immersed in a truly brilliant day of ink, music and food with plenty of mementos available from the vendors. Local musicians such as the up and coming Cherry Tree Walk are due to take to the stage and bring the house down. The band have found fame after relentless and dedicated touring and are the ones to watch when they headline Saturday night.

    Sunday brings with it a smaller-scale but don’t let that fool you – it will be just as brilliant as the previous day. For just £10, you can enjoy more live music as well as a thrilling performance from the North Wales Pole and Aerial Arts Academy before the overall winners of the tattoo competitions are announced.

    All children under 12 can enjoy the whole event for free over the 30th of November and 1st of December with weekend tickets coming in at a reduced £20.

    If you’re looking to uncover some true tattooing talent, after ink of your own or just want to find out more about the alternative community, this festival is the one for you.

    Save Me From the Robots by Cherry Tree Walk

    “tattoo gun” by www.flickr.com/photos/curmudgeony/

    License available at creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en_GB

  • Venue Cymru in Llandudno This November

    A little bit of everything waits for you this Bonfire season at the iconic Venue Cymru in Llandudno North Shore Beach FrontLlandudno – the first word in theatre, entertainment and fun in North Wales.

    Right at the start of the month, you and the family can come together to enjoy the Dancetastic Festival that is a fantastic event for all. Spread over the course of a few days, all age groups can boogie on down and enjoy workshops, story-telling and creative fun!

    On the 10th, sit back in awe as choral acts from across come together to compete in the North Wales Choral Festival with plenty of famous names on the billing. If you’re an avid fan or just an interested party, this is an unmissable weekend of brilliance for all.

    If you want to carry on the theatrics then you could do no better than an audience with the Vienna Festival Ballet as they deliver a haunting and beautiful rendition of Snow White. You may have seen the Disney film but nothing brings it to life quite like seeing the fairytale on-stage. The Russian State Ballet also bring their superb version of the Nutcracker to the Queen of Welsh Resorts on the 11th of November.

    On a music theme, you can partake of some amazing performances from celebrity names and beloved cover bands alike.  Jane McDonald of Loose Women is the big-hitter this November and is sure to bring her affable charm to the stage along with her belting voice to boot.

    Fancy some cinema in the best surroundings? Venue Cymru hosts plenty of films all month long with box-office smashes like Rush and Turbo looking likely to entertain after massive critical success.

    A warm, Christmassy feeling surrounds the venue come the end of November and if you want to be the first to know what’s on the agenda, make sure you come back this time next month!

  • Llandudno Set to Hit the High Notes

    One of music’s most beloved forms is coming to the seaside town of Llandudno this Llandudno Choral FestivalNovember, a festival that has been evolving over time and in its 25th anniversary for 2013. It can only be the North Wales Choral Festival, a fantastic weekend of music for the whole family.

    Participants range from the young and old in a variety of different competitions which include youth, male voice, ladies, mixed and barbershop. With a generous cash prize available to the winner, there is sure to be an electric array of fantastic choirs each determined to sing their hearts out. The funding is a sign of the dedication to the genre and to enhance the future prospects of local choirs and indeed the international acts who will be attending.

    Famous names in the industry are set to light up the town in November with the fantastic Sioned Terry the most recent acquisition to the already bulging line-up. As a mezzo-soprano, she’s enjoyed a great year in her career with performances all over the country and a promising record lined up for release. Slightly more from the left field is Wynne Evans, who most famously plays the tenor for GoCompare’s television adverts. Eager to separate himself from his character, Evans will be headlining the event on Saturday.

    Children aren’t typically known for their love of choirs (unless they are in them!) but help is at hand with workshops and talks available to entertain and educate them throughout the weekend. As part of the Schools Day, child choirs will be able to compete with the eventual goal of improving their skills and increasing their passion. The promise of a fine trophy to show off to their classmates will be quite the incentive!

    If you’re visiting the area then it’d be good to soak up the atmosphere of Llandudno during your stay. Walk along the North Shore and its fantastic pier, enjoy a Punch and Judy display by the beach or take a seat in one of the town’s famous cafes. Whatever you’re after, Llandudno can provide long after the festival is finished.

    There’s only one place to be this year to experience the best choirs and that’s at Venue Cymru from the 8th to 10th of November.


    Highlights of the 2011 show available from the official Choral Festival here.

    “Choir of the Day” by www.flickr.com/photos/pickton/

    License available at creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en_GB

  • The Arts in Llandudno

    Llandudno and the Orme

    The success of the very recent Llandudno Arts Weekend has shone quite the positive light on the local area and its growing influence on the arts. However, there has always been an artistic backbone to the community dating to its glory years and is something to explore when you visit Llandudno.

    As a place filled with inspirational people, it seems right to begin with the smallest. Alice Liddel was a young girl of about 10 native to Oxford who loved nothing more than coming to Llandudno with her family. She had struck up a friendship with the shy and introverted Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, a close family friend who would regale her and her sisters with fantastical tales each more inventive than the next. On a fateful boating trip, Dodgson recounted a story that took Liddell so aback that she asked for a manuscript. Using Liddell as inspiration, he set about crafting something enjoyable for younger ages. It involved the adventures of a young called Alice falling down a rabbit-hole.

    Alice in WonderlandDodgson’s early draft was so well-received by all those who read it that it was recommended he take it to a professional publisher. With the title Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and under the pseudonym Lewis Carroll, instant approval followed with the book’s reception being overwhelming with it spawning a sequel.

    Everyone knows the rest of the story but not everyone knows the tale of a young girl who inspired genius and one who love Llandudno dearly. Wonderful Alice in Wonderland statues are situated all over town as testament to its effect on the author’s muse.

    LemmyAnother artistic name drawn to Llandudno is of musical roots. Hard rock legend Lemmy of the band Motorhead, iconic for those mutton chops and hard-hitting voice, enjoyed a stay in his earlier years. Working at the Hotpoint centre on the way to fame and fortune, Lemmy would often rehearse with a local band called The Sundowners to hone his talents and surprisingly, learnt how to ride a horse. He moved at the age of 17 but after 35 years away, he still holds Llandudno dear after returning to play at Venue Cymru to an ecstatic crowd.

    A name very popular in the world of art was Sylvia Leigh, an artist famed for her subversive style and subtle takes on modern life. Sleigh emigrated at an early age to the United States of America where in later life her work was acclaimed. One of her most prominent works is The Turkish Bath, a 1979 painting that shows men naked – a drastic change to having women as the only naked models. Her pieces promoted sexual equality and in her own words, “I liked to portray both man and woman as intelligent and thoughtful people with dignity and humanism that emphasized love and joy.”

    “Alice in Wonderland” by jackieleigh and “Mr. Lemmy Kilmister” by Edvil licenses available here.

  • Llandudno Arts Festival Weekend 2013

    The inaugural Llandudno Arts Festival is set to be a free micro festival that has been created by Marc Rees, captain of the illustrations Adain Avion project. The festival weekend takes place on the weekend of 20th, 21st 22nd September 2013.

    The very first Llandudno Arts Weekend (LLAWN01) will be setting out to celebrate Llandudno’s fascinating and colourful history, where attendees explore why exactly why the town was bestowed with the title Queen of Welsh resorts – and see Llandudno hotels in all their glory.

    The jam-packed weekend will re-introduce the old Victorian visitor favourite to the shoreline, with the Bathing Machine – which was an essential component to seaside etiquette in the 19th century.

    Llandudno promenade will become a playground for visitors of all ages, with a number of events, local & international artists along with mobile theatres and galleries to house a series of performances and installation that connect with the town’s history.

    There will be plenty of parallel activities and events that will bring the entire town of Llandudno to life, created in collaboration with the LLAWN01 key partners that include; MOSTYN, Helfa Gelf, Royal Cambrian Academy, Migrations, C.A.S.C, TAPE Community Music and Film, Conwy County Borough Council, Venue Cymru and many more.

    Llandudno is popular with visitors across the United Kingdom, thanks to the reputation is has held over a number of centuries. Perhaps most famously visited during the Victorian era, Llandudno loves to celebrate and embrace its rich heritage and culture with events like the LLAWN01.

    The festival is absolutely free for everyone and presents an exciting development for the event calendar, should this year get off to a fantastic start. If you are local, or happen to be visiting Llandudno during the 20th-22nd September, don’t miss this fantastic event, full of entertainment, history, culture, arts and music!

  • Work to start on Llandudno pier landing stage

    llandudno pierWork will begin on the landing stage of the famed Llandudno Victorian pier as the attractions owner takes over the project. The responsibility of structural work has been passed on from Conwy County Borough Council, to owners Six Piers Ltd.

    Delays on the project were announced early in April, putting hold on plans by Waverley Excursions to run trips from the pier in May and June. The work was started in June last year, with a £200,000 investment from Gwynt y Mor windfarm operators RWE npower renewables.

    There were delays on the project that were announced early in April, putting a hold on plans by Waverley Excursions to run trip from the pier in May and June. The aim to begin with was to have the work competed by this summer, allowing ships such as the Waverley and the Balmoral to dock at the pier, and have the ability to return to Llandudno to its status as a stop-off point on seaside excursion routes.

    Simon Mason, General Manager of the Llandudno Vcitoian Pier said that they are now hoping that work will be completed by September 3rd – in time for the arrival of the Waverley.

    Simon Mason, general manager of the pier, said the company was looking to begin work within two weeks, and aimed for a completion date of September 3 – in time for the arrival of the Waverley.

    He said: “It’s been decided it would make financial sense for it to be handed over to Six Piers, and we’re looking to have it ready by September, in time for the Waverley to come in.

    “Obviously that’s quite a tight time scale, but that’s our aim.”

    He added that MP Marine, which already carries out some structural and decking work on the pier, had been chosen to work on the fenders.

    Jim Jones, section head for Tourism and Community Development at Conwy, said: “Work will be carried out by Six Piers and is due to start very shortly; it’s expected to take about 10 weeks in total. The aim is to complete in early September (subject to weather conditions)”.

  • Plans to improve Happy Valley in Llandudno

    Happy ValleyA voluntary group has a host of plans to improve a popular beauty spot in Llandudno – Happy Valley. Parts of the Happy Valley have been neglected in recent years, and this group is working to find a way of repairing and restoring a water feature that is known to locals as The Cascade.

    A voluntary group has a host of plans to improve a popular beauty spot in Llandudno – Happy Valley. Parts of the Happy Valley have been neglected in recent years and the Friends of Happy Valley Group is working hard to try and restore it, so that families can enjoy it on days of good weather.

    The group are aiming to repair the pumps of The Cascade, which must be done in a way that will not harm the frogs and toads that are known to live in the environment. Replacing the water feature is liable to cost up to £30,000 and although the group are willing to do much of the work themselves, the funds required are proving difficult to gather up.

    The friends group of Happy Valley have had success through getting electricity running on to the Alice and Wonderland bandstand, which opened last year. Events taking place here are set to be controlled and regulated and the first will be performances by a choir by Sound and Motion, who will appear there on June 28th from 11am to 4pm.

    “We want to see families using the park more, and parents could sit at the tables while their children explore the cave,” said the Chairman.