Things to do in Aberystwyth
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Marine Terrace
A stroll along Marine Terrace, the walkway overlooking North Beach, is the most genteel pursuit on offer and one that harks back to the town's erstwhile halcyon days as a Victorian resort. When you reach the bottom of the 1.5-mile prom, it's customary to kick the white bar, although the locals can't seem to explain the rationale behind this ritual.
North Beach is lined by faintly shabby Georgian hotels, albeit with a couple of notable exceptions. The top-heavy Royal Pier lumbers out to sea under the weight of its cheerfully tacky amusements arcade. North Beach is also the main swimming beach as South Beach has few facilities, although both beaches have lifeguards and an…
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Constitution Hill
At the northern end of North Beach is Aberystwyth's headland, 430ft Constitution Hill . From the wind-blown balding hilltop there are tremendous, long coastal views - 60 miles from the Llŷn to Strumble Head - and you can spot 26 mountain peaks including Snowdon. The site has been redeveloped in recent years with new children's attractions, including gold panning and go-karts. The erstwhile Victorian tearooms have been rebuilt in line with environmental considerations and the resulting Consti Café is a café by day and licensed steakhouse three nights per week. It also features displays of the wildlife you can spot on a, ahem, constitutional around the hill. One relic of…
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National Library of Wales
Sitting proudly on a hilltop half a mile east of town, the National Library is a cultural powerhouse, holding millions of books in many languages. The Hengwrt Room is where it displays all of the really important stuff, such as the 12th-century Black Book of Carmarthen (the oldest existing Welsh text) and the 13th-century Tintern Abbey Bible. Other galleries display an ever-stimulating set of changing exhibitions.
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Vale of Rheidol Railway
Old steam locomotives (built between 1923 and 1938) have been lovingly restored by volunteers and chug for almost 12 miles up the valley of the River Rheidol to Devil's Bridge (an hour each way). The line opened in 1902 to bring lead and timber out of the valley.
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Orangery
The smartest place in town brings a sense of contemporary style to the erstwhile Talbot Inn, an 1830 coaching house, dividing the space between the restaurant and a cocktail bar. The menu focuses on Welsh staples, especially lamb, with the odd pasta and risotto dish thrown into the mix.
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Ceredigion Museum
Houses entertaining exhibitions on Aberystwyth's history – everything from old chemist furnishings to hand-knitted woollen knickers and a wall devoted to the Little Britain TV series.
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Aberystwyth Arts Centre
One of the largest arts centres in Wales, Aberystwyth Arts Centre has excellent opera, drama, dance and concerts (all of which can also be booked at the tourist office), plus a bookshop, an art gallery and a good, albeit slightly uncomfortably stylish, café. The cinema in particular shows a good range of world and foreign-language cinema. The centre is half a mile east of the town centre.
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Consti Café
On Constitution Hill, the erstwhile Victorian tearooms have been rebuilt in line with environmental considerations and the resulting Consti Café is a café by day and licensed steakhouse three nights per week. It also features displays of the wildlife you can spot on a, ahem, constitutional around the hill.
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Olive Branch
A newcomer to the local dining scene, this Greek restaurant is open all day for fair-trade Arabic coffee, snack lunches and traditional Greek dinners with a mix of dips, spreads and hot and cold meze. If the fug gets too much downstairs, head up to the quieter, nonsmoking restaurant on the second floor.
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Little Italy
With red-and-white chequered tablecloths, this is the cosy, wine-bottle-in-baskets kind of Italian eatery. It's also popular, with a big menu of traditional Italian favourites including good vegetarian options. There's also a decent Sunday lunch.
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Cliff Railway
Victorian tourists enjoyed a stately ride to the summit of Constitution Hill from 1896 onwards, and you can too, on the trundling little Cliff Railway, the UK's longest electric funicular and possibly the slowest too at a G-force-busting 4mph.
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Varsity
Spacious, simple and student-friendly, Varsity has huge pipes running around the ceiling and big windows for street-watching. It's packed weekend nights and relaxing during the daytime when you can make the most of the free wi-fi internet.
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Harry's
Candlelit, warm and friendly, this smart restaurant serves up an imaginative menu of tasty, well-presented meals in a bistro-style setting. Local fish is a house speciality and there's a stylish bar area for a pre-prandial snifter.
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Treehouse
Located upstairs from an inviting food shop in an attractive Victorian house, this excellent organic restaurant uses locally grown produce. A wide menu of organic fare makes this one of the best places for lunch in town.
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Ultracomida
With its blend of Spanish, French and Welsh produce, this is a foodie's Nirvana: a delicatessen out front with a cheese counter to die for and communal tables out the back for tapas and wine. The deli platters are excellent, offering a choice of meat, fish or cheese (£8.95).
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Mecca
This great little café serves up superb espressos and a range of specialty teas and coffees. Directly opposite, the Mecca shop is great for stocking up on caffeine-addict paraphernalia.
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Gannets Bistro
A cheery, long-standing bistro, this bistro offers hearty food in huge portions, with lots of fresh fish, simply cooked. There are decent vegetarian options and mains.
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Treehouse
The sister property to the Treehouse deli and restaurant, this great little boutique specialises in organic and fair-trade homewares and baby goods.
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Rummers Wine Bar
Right by the river, this popular place has seats outside for summer nights, a friendly vibe and some live bands. Bar food is served evenings only.
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Commodore Cinema
Commodore Cinema shows current mainstream releases in the evening and has a weekend matinee. There's even a bar for a pre-flick beer.
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Cabin
A simple little coffee shop with lots of pictures of old film stars on the walls, this is a relaxed spot for coffees and snacks.
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Aberystwyth Male Voice Choir
Rehearses at the RAFA Club from 7pm to 8.30pm most Thursdays.
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La Taberna Casa Miguel
Spanish cuisine and tapas are the house specials at this popular little eatery one block back from the pier.
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Farmers Market
A big farmers market - and crafts fair - clusters around the Market Hall on the third Friday of the month.
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Siop Y Pethe
Siop Y Pethe is a good, small bookshop with some Welsh-language books and information on local folklore.
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