With summer on the horizon and two more bank holidays to look forward to, there are plenty of opportunities to explore some of the prettiest coastal towns in Wales during the sunny weather. From bustling Tenby - which attracts two million visitors a year - to scenic Abersoch, there are plenty of stunning towns to choose from if you want a long weekend away.
In fact, four of our beautiful seaside towns have been rated as some of the best in the UK by Which? magazine. The magazine has compiled a list of the best seaside towns in the UK, as voted by 3,000 visitors who rated the towns on the beach, attractions, scenery, value for money, and more.
While the top three spots on the list were taken by seaside towns in England and Northern Ireland, many Welsh towns featured on the huge survey, with one making the top four. Here are the four seaside towns in Wales that made it into the top 20 spots on the list.
Portmeirion
This pretty seaside town in Gwynedd was rated as the best in Wales, coming in at fourth place on the list. The unusual village was the brainchild of Welsh architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, who was inspired by Italian towns like Portofino.
On a sunny day, it would be easy to believe you were in a quaint Italian village rather than in north-west Wales. With a Mediterranean piazza, woodlands, gift shops, and restaurants the village is a popular tourist attraction for those visiting the area. The town is also famed for being the location of the 1960s cult TV series The Prisoner and there is a shop dedicated to the show within it.
Portmeirion has an entrance fee and is set in a subtropical forest with some of the UK's largest trees, a Japanese garden, and a derelict castle to explore. The village got a customer score of 83%, with visitors loving its architecture and estuary setting.
St David's
Located within the stunning Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, St David's - Britain's smallest city - was ranked ninth on the list. With its huge 12th century cathedral, St David's has been a place of pilgrimage for centuries.
The cathedral has been at the site, as it stands today, since 1181 when it was begun by Norman Bishop Peter de Leia. St David himsel also founded a monastery there around the period of 590/601.
Its city status was restored in 1994 by the Queen after losing it in 1886. As well as being a bustling place to explore, full of independent shops and eateries, it is close to some of Wales' most gorgeous beaches, including Whitesands which is just two miles away. Overall, St David's was given a customer score of 81%, scoring highly for beaches, tourist attractions, accommodation, and value for money.
Conwy
Conwy is rich in history, with plenty for visitors to see and do - possibly why it has made Which?'s list. The small town came in at thirteenth place on the list, with a score of 80% and was given high ratings for its tourist attractions and scenery.
The pretty walled market town stands on the bank of the River Conwy and is home to Conwy Castle - a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its eight towers offer spectacular views over the town and the surrounding area. In stark contrast, the town is also home to the smallest house in Britain, measuring just 10 x 6ft.
Surrounded by the countryside and overlooked by the mountains of Snowdonia, there's plenty of beautiful scenery to admire too. The town also offers a whole host of places to eat and drink, from fine dining restaurants to traditional pubs.
Llandudno
Coming in at sixteenth place on the list was Llandudno, with its elegant nineteenth century pier. The north Wales coastal town was given a score of 79% overall, with high ratings for its shopping and beaches.
The longest pier in Wales is home to bright fairground rides, ice cream, and shopping, providing the perfect family afternoon out. The town's promenade and pastel-coloured hotels offer beautiful views over the North Shore while Great Orme serves as Llandudno's own mini mountain with its quaint cable car.
For those looking for a more action-packed way to spend the day, Llandudno Snowsports also has a long run to test out your skiing and snowboarding skills. Just 4.6 miles away from Conwy, Llandudno could make the perfect stop off on a north Wales road trip to while away the afternoon.
READ NEXT:
