The greatest seaside town that’s home to UK’s best pier – ‘thriving shops and no potholes’

Despite the challenges facing some UK seaside towns, many continue to thrive and remain popular destinations for the perfect weekend away. From fish and chips and Victorian architecture to sweeping beaches, bustling amusement arcades and traditional piers, our coastal resorts are truly special places and need to be looked after.

One town that has stood the test of time is Llandudno – a major Victorian seaside resort on the Creuddyn Peninsula in North Wales. The town, often described as the greatest in the country and dubbed the “Queen of Welsh Resorts”, is located on the Irish Sea coastline between the limestone headlands of the Great Orme and the Little Orme. It offers the perfect blend of traditional seaside nostalgia as well as a host of popular attractions, including its pier which was named the best in the UK in 2025. The town itself has received many accolades over the years, making BBC Countyfile’s list of eight best seaside towns in 2024 and was named this year the best to visit by Time Out.

“It’s always been a popular place for tourists. It’s a lot to do with its Victorian nature. We’ve got more Grade II listed buildings than any other seaside towns in Wales,” 66-year-old Jerry Sweeney, who has lived in Llandudno for 21 years, tells the Daily Express.

According to official heritage records, the town has around 350 listed buildings. The high concentration of protected Victorian architecture reflects Llandudno’s meticulously preserved aesthetic.

Mr Sweeney adds: “I think people like it because it’s well-kept. For the last 10 years, we’ve been gold medal winners in Wales in Bloom, and we’ve been gold medal winners in Britain in Bloom for the last three times.”

The local, who is standing on the promenade overlooking the sea with his wife Carol, says Llandudno is perfect for elderly visitors and those with mobility issues as it’s mostly flat. He also cites a number of popular attractions in and around the town, including the award-winning pier.

The 700-metre Llandudno Pier offers sweeping coastal views and is packed with classic amusement arcades, fairground rides, food stalls and puppet shows. It was named the UK’s Pier of the Year for 2025 by the members of the National Piers Society.

“We also have the beaches here and the pier,” Mr Sweeney says. “The pier is well looked after, and that’s the main thing, but when you walk down the end and look back to see Llandudno the views are amazing.”

Llandudno features two main beaches – the lively North Shore Beach and the quieter West Shore Beach. The former is known for its donkey rides, Punch and Judy shows, boat trips and access to the pier, while the latter is a popular spot for kitesurfing, kite buggying and watching the sunset.

Mr Sweeney continues: “Also, if you take a walk up the Orme, you’ve got the dry ski slope, a beautiful walk down to St Tudno’s Church, you’ve got the tram, there’s lots to do.”

His wife, with a smile on her face, then intervenes: “And we’ve got shops here! Not everyone does now.” Mr Sweeney then says: “And banks that are open!”

Llandudno is considered one of the main shopping destinations in North Wales, offering a combination of independent boutiques and high street brands. The main high streets features names such as Waterstones as well quirky souvenir shops.

Despite its success as a seaside town, Mr Sweeney insists Llandudno does not suffer from overtourism. Although it gets busier during the peak summer months, the locals says the town was “built” for visitors.

When asked if overtourism is an issue, he replies quickly: “No, never. This town was built for tourism and it is what it’s famous for.”

He continues: “People often come when they’re young and then come back again. They then come back for generations with their kids and grandkids.”

Sat on a bench on the end of Llandudno Pier is 69-year-old Susan Steel who is visiting the town from Shrewsbury for the day. She is part of a coach group who arrived at 9am and are set to leave at 4pm.

“We’ve just stopped at the pier and it looks great. It’s nice that it’s so busy as you go to a lot of holiday places now and they’re quiet,” she says. “It seems like it’s thriving here. We’ll definitely come back as there’s plenty to see and you need time to do it all.”

Mrs Steel, who previously lived in Plymouth and Llandudno, says she has visited Llandudno before and quickly fell in love with the town. As well as the pier, she enjoys the Victorian architecture and history of the area.

She explains: “You can see what the past is like here, it’s been kept. We’ve just been to the Home Front Museum (check) which brought back some nostalgia.

“It’s really busy here as well, which is nice to see. I think there’s lots of trips from across the country.”

Unlike other towns in North Wales, such as Rhyl where the Express reported was “plagued with dog poo“, Llandudno is considered a clean and well-kept resort. Although it attracts around 6.8 million visitors annually, the streets, promenades and pier remain very well-maintained and tidy.

Maureen Spackman, who is visiting from Cheshire for the day with her friend, Pauline Sharpes, says: “We’ve been a number of times over the years and it’s so clean! It’s flat too and there’s no potholes. There’s seating all along here too which is nice.

“I don’t mind going to Blackpool occasionally, but this is much more relaxed. Especially when you’re old dears like us!”

The 81-year-old explains how the atmosphere in Llandudno strikes the perfect balance between bustling and not overwhelming. She also notes a number of cafes in the town that are perfect for a coffee.

There are a number of places to eat and drink within walking distance of the promenade, including Botanical Babe, which is ranked as the town’s best cafe on TripAdvisor, The Loaf Coffee and Sandwich Bar and The Lemon Tea Rooms.

“A lot of places are in a state of disrepair now, but not here. It’s really nice,” Mrs Sharpes, 78, adds. “There’s plenty of shops and they’re decent shops.

“You don’t get the yobos here, do you? It’s more relaxed. You don’t see any trouble here and that’s why we like to visit.”

From the promenade, you can see out to the Irish Sea as well as The Great Orme. The massive limestone headland dominates the town’s landscape and visitors can ride the vintage Great Orme Tramway, which is one of the oldest street funiculars in the world, to the summit.

The Great Orme is known for its stunning panoramic views of the ocean and its wild Kashmiri goats. Just a short distance away is Angel Bay – a quiet spot rated for spotting seals.

Although the median age of people living in Llandudo is 50, which is higher than the average of 40 across towns in England and Wales, 30-year-old Hannah Kenworthy says the town offers plenty to young people. She lives in the area with her boyfriend Cam Whalley and believes they could stay in Llandudno for the rest of their lives.

“Llandudno will always be home, we love it here,” Ms Kenworthy says. “There’s so much to do – we’ve got the Orme which is great and the dry ski slope.”

She adds: “Then in town there’s Johnny Throws and stuff in the town centre so there’s lots to do. But a lot of people come for the beach and pier – they’re the main attractions.”

Johnny Throws, which opened in the summer of 2023, has quickly become a popular indoor entertainment venue in Llandudno. It offers activities such as axe throwing and augmented reality (AR) darts alongside a licensed bar and pizza.

“It’s a nice place to live. The beach is great and the people are friendly – most people are in Wales,” Mr Whalley, 22, adds. “The pier definitely helps with the tourism, it’s a big pull. The bank holidays and summer months are the busiest and it does get quieter in the winter.”

However, like Mr Sweeney, the 22-year-old insists the town “never gets saturated”. He adds that “it’s a very accommodating place for people of all ages” and even has a nightclub – Club 147.

“There are nice restaurants in the town and plenty of places to eat, no matter your age. There’s a nightclub too,” Mr Whalley explains. “Some of the front hotels here are quite expensive though, but they’ve got amazing views, so I understand why.”

According to booking.com, hotels located on the seafront range from £50 to £180 per night. Some of the more expensive options include the St George’s Hotel – Llandudno, a four-star Victorian-era building renowned for being the first luxury hotel built in the town in 1854, and the Imperial Hotel, which boasts a prime seafront location.

As the day draws to a close in Llandudno, and the tour parties pack buses to return home, it’s clear to see what makes the town so special. It has maintained its traditional charm and remains one of the most cherished seaside towns in the UK.