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Castle
Conwy Castle (Castell Conwy)
Fortress built for Edward I between 1283 and 1287; Cadw says restored staircases let visitors walk the battlements.
Directions Website Report a problem with Conwy Castle (Castell Conwy)
A mini guide to
Conwy, Llandudno & the North Coast Castles
A walled medieval town, a Victorian seaside resort and Edward I's coastal castles
Photos
1 / 10Welcome to the area
A walled medieval town, a Victorian seaside resort and Edward I's coastal castles
Conwy is a walled market town on the west bank of the River Conwy. Conwy Castle and the town walls were built for Edward I between 1283 and 1287, and Plas Mawr, Aberconwy House, the Smallest House and the Conwy Suspension Bridge are all within a few minutes' walk of each other.
Llandudno, on the Creuddyn peninsula, grew into a major Victorian seaside resort, and its pier at 700 metres is the longest in Wales. The Great Orme headland above the town has a cable-hauled tramway, walking routes and copper mines. Beaumaris, Penrhyn, Caernarfon and Rhuddlan castles are further along the coast, and Bodnant Garden lies in the Conwy valley.
Highlights
Start here
If you only have a few hours, these are good places to begin.
Medieval walls
Conwy Town Walls
Medieval defences built between 1283 and 1287 to work with the castle, in a circuit around the town.
Historic house
Plas Mawr
Elizabethan town house in Conwy, built in the 16th century by Robert Wynn and now cared for by Cadw.
Historic house
Aberconwy House
Medieval merchant's house of the 15th century, one of the oldest dateable houses in Wales, run by the National Trust.
Curiosity
Smallest House in Great Britain
Tiny house on Conwy quay, reputed to be the smallest in the United Kingdom.
Directions Report a problem with Smallest House in Great Britain
Bridge
Conwy Suspension Bridge
Grade I listed bridge, one of the first road suspension bridges in the world, now open to pedestrians only.
Find your way
On the map
The map shows Conwy, Llandudno & the North Coast Castles and the streets around it. The Getting there page lists nearby stops and stations.
Insider tips
Before you go
1
Walk the town walls
The medieval walls surround Conwy and were built with the castle between 1283 and 1287. Cadw describes restored staircases that let visitors walk a circuit of the castle battlements.
2
Ride the Great Orme Tramway
The tramway describes itself as Britain's only cable-hauled public road tramway and says it opened on 31 July 1902. Check its site for the season and times.
3
Use the Conwy Valley line
Visit Conwy points out the line from Llandudno to Betws-y-Coed and Blaenau Ffestiniog, which gives a car-free route into Eryri.
4
Book the busier castles
Conwy, Beaumaris and Caernarfon castles are run by Cadw and Penrhyn Castle by the National Trust; check each site for opening times and ticket options.
Tips from the Britlens editors
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Open the mini guide →Photo credits
- Conwy, Llandudno & the North Coast Castles (area photo): Source: Llywelyn2000Derivative: User:MathKnight, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Conwy Castle (Castell Conwy): Source: Llywelyn2000Derivative: User:MathKnight, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Conwy Town Walls: David Dixon, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Plas Mawr: Tom Parnell from Scottish Borders, Scotland, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Aberconwy House: Michael Garlick, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Smallest House in Great Britain: JK the Unwise, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Conwy Suspension Bridge: Adam.thomp07, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Llandudno Pier: NoelWalley at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Great Orme Tramway (Tramffordd y Gogarth): Ian1000 at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Great Orme: Velela at English Wikipedia, Public domain, source
- Great Orme Mines: David Dixon, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Mostyn: Ian S, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Bodnant Garden (Gardd Bodnant): Llywelyn2000, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Beaumaris Castle (Castell Biwmares): Llywelyn2000, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Penrhyn Castle (Castell Penrhyn): Llywelyn2000, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Caernarfon Castle (Castell Caernarfon): Llywelyn2000, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Rhuddlan Castle (Castell Rhuddlan): Julie Anne Workman, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Pembrokeshire Coast (St Davids & Tenby): Ввласенко, CC BY 4.0, source
- Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons): Dave.Dunford at English Wikipedia, Public domain, source
- Gower & Swansea (Abertawe): Llywelyn2000, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Cardiff (Caerdydd) & the Bay: Tevfik Teker, CC BY 3.0, source
- Eryri (Snowdonia): Julian Herzog (Website), CC BY 4.0, source
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits
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