Things to do in Conwy
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Ty Gwyn Hotel
- Conwy, Wales
- Restaurants › Pub
This village pub, 5 miles southwest of Conwy in the village of Rowen, has a gorgeous riverside garden and simple pub food with homemade curries and bar meals. Try to time a visit with the practice session for the local male voice choir, held each Friday at 21:00.
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Conwy Castle
Rising from a rocky outcrop with commanding views across the estuary and Snowdonia National Park, Conwy Castle may look like a fairytale construction. But it's very much solid, with eight fierce, slightly tapered towers of coarse dark stone and four additional turrets poking from the interior. The castle took just five years (1283-87) to build, with 1500 workers helping at the height of construction, and remains today one of the greatest examples of medieval military architecture in the UK.
After the Civil War in the 17th century, it fell into disrepair and the Council of State ordered it to be partially pulled down. Inside it's more tumbledown than its Unesco partner at …
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Conwy Suspension Bridge
With its Gothic turrets, Thomas Telford's handsome suspension bridge looks, at first glance, like an extension to Conwy Castle. It was completed, however, in 1826, the same year as Telford's other milestone bridge over the Menai Strait - both of them intended to speed the movement of people and goods from London to Holyhead.
Like its Menai cousin, it was eclipsed a quarter of a century later by an adjacent steel bridge designed by Robert Stephenson (who also designed the arch where the railway punctures the old town walls). The Conwy suspension bridge is now pedestrian and you can visit its restored tollhouse, furnished as it was over a century ago.
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Plas Mawr
Plas Mawr, one of Britain's finest surviving Elizabethan town houses, was built in 1585. The tall, whitewashed exterior is an indication of the owner's status, but gives no clue of the vivid friezes of the interior. The admission price includes a helpful audio tour; a combined ticket including entrance to the castle costs £6.85/5.85 per adult/child.
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Aberconwy House
Near to Plas Mawr, this timber-and- plaster building is the town's oldest medieval merchant's house, dating from around 1300. It has a gift shop downstairs for souvenirs.
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Royal Cambrian Academy
The twin white-walled galleries host a full program of exhibitions by members, plus visiting shows from the National Museum Wales and elsewhere. The academy also hosts the excellent Annual Summer Exhibition from July to September, featuring the cream of fine art in Wales under one roof.
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Press Room
An arty café that is great for a coffee stop and lunches, this place has real South American coffee, funky artworks on the walls, a menu of tasty café fare and a garden area for alfresco elevenses. It's just by the entrance to the castle and also serves evening meals Thursday to Saturday.
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Bistro Conwy
It may not be the cheapest in town, but this intimate little bistro with a cosy ambience and an attractive setting in a secluded little red-brick cottage offers modern and traditional Welsh cooking. Vegetarians will feel particularly well served by the broad menu.
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Conwy River Trips
Conwy River Trips runs 30-minute sightseeing and nature-watching trips from the harbour, both out through the estuary and upstream into the Conwy Valley (adult/child around £5/3). However, note that the River Conwy is tidal here, so the timetable varies.
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Amelie's
Named after the Audrey Tautou film, Amelie's is a welcoming French-motif bistro with wood floors and flowers on the tables. Tasty mains include vegetarian options. It's a relaxed place, popular for an easygoing lunch, right at the heart of town.
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Tower Coffee House
An airy café with great views across the estuary to Deganwy. Downstairs there's a rather incongruous dungeon-style area - watch out for the shrunken head.
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Alfredo Restaurant
This local institution is now rather tired looking but continues to serve up family favourites such as pizzas, pastas and meaty mains with an Italian twist.
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Smallest House in Great Britain
The Smallest House in Great Britain is a curiosity with dimensions of 72 by 122 inches & a mention in the Guinness Book of Records.
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Conwy Outdoor Shop
This useful, friendly store has kit for sale and advice on local activities, and will arrange bike hire for around £16 per day.
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Bridge Inn
- Conwy, Wales
- Restaurants › Pub
For a pub meal, the Bridge has food all day, daily specials and Sunday roasts, albeit in a slightly rough-around-the-edges setting.
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Potter's Gallery
Run by members of North Wales Potters, the gallery showcases ceramic works and promotes understanding of studio ceramics.
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Edwards Of Conwy
Edwards Of Conwy is an award winning butcher-cum-deli with pies and hot meals to take away.
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Conwy School of Yachting
Sailing courses and boat hire are available from Conwy School of Yachting at the harbour.
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Conwy Butterfly Jungle
Conwy Butterfly Jungle is a nature park with displays of exotic flora and fauna.
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Press Room Café
Located by the entrance to the castle and with an outdoor courtyard, this arty cafe is a useful spot for lunches and coffee, followed by a visit to the gift shop next door.
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Conwy Castle & Town Wall
Probably the most stunning of all Edward I's Welsh fortresses, built between 1277 and 1307, Conwy Castle rises from a rocky outcrop with commanding views across the estuary and Snowdonia National Park. Exploring the castle's nooks and crannies makes for a superb, living-history visit but, best of all, head to the battlements for panoramic views and an overview of Conwy's majestic complexity.
The 1200m-long Conwy town wall was built simultaneously with the castle, guarding Conwy's residents at night. You can walk part-way round the wall; the best views are to be had from Upper Gate.
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Bistro Bach
For modern Welsh food in an intimate bistro setting, the recently renamed Bistro Bach remains the smartest option for dinner in town. The menu takes in the traditional Welsh mains of lamb and beef, but gives them a more contemporary spin.
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