Five hundred pounds buys a day with real polish: the Great Orme by tram and cable car, tea in a country house, a show at Venue Cymru and a sea-view room to fall into afterwards. This is the classic Llandudno day, done properly.
The Day, Hour by Hour
9:30amCheck your bags in at your promenade hotel or guest house, then stroll along the promenade towards the pier end of town. The bay is at its calmest in the morning.
10:00amBoard the Great Orme Tramway at Victoria Station on Church Walks. The cars have been hauled up the Orme by cable since 1902 and the gradient on the lower section is not for the nervous.
10:20amStep off at Halfway for the Great Orme Mines. Four thousand years ago this was one of the largest copper mines in the ancient world, and you can walk through the original tunnels. Allow an hour.
11:30amBack on the tram to the summit for the view, then down by the cable car into Happy Valley. It is said to be the longest passenger cable car in Britain and it does not hurry, which is rather the point.
12:30pmWander down through the Happy Valley gardens and along Mostyn Street for something light in one of the cafés. You are saving room.
2:30pmTaxi out to Bodysgallen Hall, about fifteen minutes away. Before tea, walk the gardens; the knot garden alone justifies the journey.
3:00pmAfternoon tea in the drawing rooms, £35 a head with a 12.5% service charge. Finger sandwiches, warm scones, clotted cream and the sort of cakes that make conversation unnecessary.
5:00pmTaxi back to town, change, and take a short walk on the pier before dinner.
6:00pmEarly dinner in town. Some restaurants near Venue Cymru offer pre-theatre menus, which are both quicker and kinder on the wallet.
7:30pmA show at Venue Cymru on the promenade. Touring musicals, comedy, ballet and the occasional big-name concert all pass through. Ticket prices depend on the production, so check what is on before you plan around it.
10:30pmA nightcap in your hotel bar, or a walk along the lit-up promenade if the evening is fine.
What It Costs
| For two | Cost |
|---|---|
| Great Orme Tramway | £22.50 |
| Great Orme Mines | £27.50 |
| Cable car, down (allowance) | £22.00 |
| Light lunch (allowance) | £25.00 |
| Taxis to Bodysgallen and back | £30.00 |
| Afternoon tea at Bodysgallen, with service | £78.75 |
| Early dinner in town (allowance) | £70.00 |
| Venue Cymru show (allowance) | £80.00 |
| Sea-view room with breakfast (allowance) | £130.00 |
| Total (of £500) | £485.75 |
That leaves £14.25 in hand. Enough for a programme, an interval drink and an ice cream on the walk home.
If It Rains
Swap the Orme for the Llandudno Museum in the morning and the Mostyn Gallery after lunch. The tea and the show are indoors already, so a wet day costs you very little.
Adjusting the Budget
Spend a Little More
- Swap the sea-view room for a night at Bodysgallen Hall itself.
- Choose the best seats at Venue Cymru and add interval drinks.
- Add a glass of Champagne to afternoon tea for £15 each.
Spend a Little Less
- Take the tram both ways and skip the cable car.
- Stay in a guest house one street back from the front; the view is a short walk away.
- Have fish and chips on the prom instead of a sit-down dinner.
Miss Mostyn Advises
- The cable car stops when the wind gets up. If it does, take the tram both ways and spend the difference on a better seat at the theatre.
- Venue Cymru shows sell out, particularly in summer and at Christmas. Book before you book the room.
- Midweek and out of season, sea-view rooms can be had for well under my allowance.
- Bodysgallen afternoon tea is popular at weekends; reserve a table.
Questions Visitors Ask
What is the best way to spend £500 in Llandudno?
Combine the Great Orme by tram and cable car with afternoon tea at Bodysgallen Hall, a show at Venue Cymru and a night in a sea-view room. It covers the town’s three great pleasures: views, food and theatre.
How long does the Great Orme Tramway take?
The full ride from Victoria Station to the summit takes around twenty minutes, with a change of cars at Halfway Station.
Is Venue Cymru on the seafront?
Yes. It sits on the promenade towards Craig-y-Don, an easy walk from the town centre hotels.
Prices were checked in October 2026 and are for two adults. Fares change, the tramway and cable car run seasonally (roughly late March to the end of October) and the cable car stops in high wind, so check before you set out.