Lllandudno - the town

Llandudno is a small, purpose built town and largest seaside resort in Wales. In the 19th century it was developed from a small village located at the beautiful crescent- shaped bay on Irish Sea, to accommodate the growing demand for sea-bathing. 

We visited 'the Queen of the Welsh Watering Places' in July 2020 just after the lockdown, and it was probably the quietest July in the history of Llandudno. 

After visiting the seashore,  
we made a dive into the town centre.


Most of the elegant Victorian buildings had been erected along broad streets, it gives the place a sense of vast space. 

One of the historic buildings is Palladium (lower, upper-left), up at Gloodaeth Street. It used to be a theatre, now a Wetherspoon. Its history shows how people's taste and time-passing preferences have changed over the decades. 


Around the roundabout, where South and North Parade meet, is the Llandudno main artery, Mostyn Street, named after the rich aristocrat who had a vision to make Llandudno a proper modern Victorian holiday resort. He built literally from a scratch. 

The Mostyn family runs the estate business in Llandudno and North Wales to this day and their headquarters is somewhere around the roundabout on Mostyn Street.


The influence of the Mostyn family goes further ahead with Mostyn Street leading to Mostyn Broadway and then Mostyn Avenue. Mostyn Street is parallel to the seashore with many shops and entertainment businesses.


A three-day Victorian Extravaganza is held every year during the May bank holiday weekend. Mostyn Street becomes a funfair with a mid-day carnival parade around the Promenade and town. 


The gentle breeze of Llandudno Bay and the opulent aura of Victorian leisure time gives plenty of relaxation in less busy time. 

However, Llandudno tries to gain interest in the demanding tourist market by organising events such as the before mentioned Victorian carnival. Another one is the mini arts festival 'LLAWN' (Llandudno Arts Weekend)  running from 2013, over three days of the weekend in late September.


As with every English seaside resort, there is a variety of venues serving a tourist sense of entertainment. Cafes, hotels, restaurants, pubs, shops, amusement or penny arcades.


The town's name is derived from its patron saint, Saint Tudno. The great majority of the population had worked in the nearby copper mines, only small percent was involved in fishing. 

The Welsh National Eisteddfod were held here several times, one of the most important events for Celtic culture.

Some of the parts of the town declined but there has been sense of determination of revival. Paradoxically, with tourism travel less available worldwide after Covid situation, such little small British resorts may gain in value. Staycation is the order of the year or even years to come.