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Pembrokeshire

Photo: Dylan Moore  (CC BY-SA 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons

Holidays in Pembrokeshire

There's a reason Pembrokeshire fills up first every summer. Here's how to find the right place to stay — and what to do once you've dropped the bags. Britain's only coastal national park — beaches and puffins.

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Holiday ideas in Pembrokeshire

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Weather in Pembrokeshire

Thu

9° -2°

💧8%

Fri

8° 2°

💧5%

Sat

10° 8°

💧45%

Sun

11° 4°

💧67%

Mon

7° 4°

💧21%

Tue

9° 4°

💧62%

Wed

9° 3°

💧32%

Forecast: Met Office

All places to stay in Pembrokeshire

Must-have facilities
Caerfai Bay

Caerfai Bay

✓ Family-run site since the 1930s with sea views throughout

🏖️ 0.29 miles from Caerfai (Excellent water quality)

St Davids

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Itineraries

Haunted Britain

From the blog

Pembrokeshire packs a lot into a small corner of Wales: a coastline that keeps changing character, two very different bases in Tenby and St Davids, and more small museums and castles than most people expect. With 247 places to stay on BritStays across the region, it works just as well for a long weekend as it does for a full week. Here's how to put the days together without spending half of them in the car.

Choosing your base

Tenby is the obvious starting point if you're travelling with children or want plenty on the doorstep. It's where you'll find the Tudor Merchant's House, a National Trust property tucked into the old town, along with the Wilson Museum and the Tom Mathias Museum. St Davids suits anyone who wants somewhere quieter and more contemplative, with the Treasury of the Cathedral as the centrepiece. Many people split the difference and base themselves near one, then make a day trip to the other.

Days out with children

The Blue Lagoon water park in Tenby is the reliable fallback — the sort of place that happily absorbs a whole morning or afternoon, whatever the sky is doing. Pair it with the Vintage Funfair for a day that needs no persuading, and keep a little in reserve for ice cream at nook afterwards.

If your children lean more towards machines than rides, the Amgueddfa Cyflymder - Museum of Land Speed and the Welsh spitfire museum both reward curiosity, and the Carew Cheriton Control Tower gives a real sense of wartime Pembrokeshire without being overwhelming.

Rainy day options

Pembrokeshire weather turns quickly, so it pays to have a wet-weather list ready before you need it. Good candidates:

  • Cardi Bach Heritage Centre and the Teifi Valley Railway Museum for anyone with a railway streak
  • History of Coal Mining, for the industrial story behind the landscape
  • Internal Fire - Museum of Power, where the engines are the whole point
  • Pembroke Museum and Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre, easily done together
  • Amgueddfa Sir Gâr - Carmarthenshire Museum and the Cartref Dylan Thomas - Dylan Thomas Boathouse if you're heading east

Most of these are small, independent places, so check opening times before you set off — particularly outside the summer months.

Outdoors

Freshwater West is the one to see if you only have time for a single stretch of coast: a wide, wind-scoured National Trust beach that looks entirely different at each end of the tide. Treat it as a walk rather than a sunbathing spot, and take warm layers even in August.

For something gentler, Colby Woodland Garden is all sheltered paths and planting, which makes it a good choice on a breezy day when the coast feels too exposed. It also works well with younger children who need room to run without a cliff edge nearby.

Castles and heritage

You could build a whole break around castles here. Castell Cilgerran / Cilgeran Castle and Cardigan Castle sit well together, as do Pembroke Museum and the castles further west. Upton Castle, Castell Llanhuadain, Newport Castle, Haverfordwest Castle and Amroth Castle round out the list. Two or three in a day is plenty — any more and they start to blur.

Where to eat

Pembrokeshire does pub food well, and these all hold five-star hygiene ratings: the Wisemans Bridge Inn, The Dial Inn, The Brewery Inn and the Sloop Inn. Any of them makes a sensible anchor for a day out — book ahead at weekends and in school holidays, because the good ones fill early. For a lighter stop, nook is the ice cream option.

Turning it into a short break

A three-night stay splits neatly. Day one: Tenby on foot, taking in the Tudor Merchant's House and the Wilson Museum, with the Vintage Funfair or Blue Lagoon as the afternoon reward. Day two: head west to St Davids and the Treasury of the Cathedral, then on to Freshwater West. Day three: pick two castles — Upton Castle and Castell Llanhuadain, say — and finish at Colby Woodland Garden or an early supper at The Brewery Inn.

Practical notes: lanes are narrow and often single-track with passing places, so allow more time than the map suggests. Carry cash for smaller museums and car parks, keep waterproofs and a towel in the boot year-round, and if you're set on a particular pub meal, ring the day before rather than turning up and hoping.

Frequently asked questions

Where's the best base for a first visit to Pembrokeshire?

Tenby suits families and anyone who wants plenty within walking distance, including the Tudor Merchant's House, the Wilson Museum and the Blue Lagoon water park. St Davids is the quieter choice, with the Treasury of the Cathedral at its heart. There are 247 places to stay on BritStays across the region, so you can pick either and day-trip to the other.

What is there to do in Pembrokeshire when it rains?

Plenty. The Blue Lagoon water park in Tenby is an easy indoor option for children. For museums, try the Cardi Bach Heritage Centre, the History of Coal Mining, the Amgueddfa Cyflymder - Museum of Land Speed, Pembroke Museum, Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre, the Teifi Valley Railway Museum or Internal Fire - Museum of Power. Many are small independents, so check opening times first.

Which Pembrokeshire attractions are National Trust properties?

Freshwater West and the Tudor Merchant's House in Tenby are both National Trust. Colby Woodland Garden is another well-known garden and arboretum in the area worth adding to the same trip.

Which castles are worth visiting in and around Pembrokeshire?

There's a good spread: Upton Castle, Castell Cilgerran / Cilgeran Castle, Newport Castle, Cardigan Castle, Castell Llanhuadain, Haverfordwest Castle and Amroth Castle. Two or three in one day is comfortable; more than that and they tend to blur together.

Where can we eat with children after a day out?

The Wisemans Bridge Inn, The Dial Inn, The Brewery Inn and the Sloop Inn are all pubs and inns with five-star hygiene ratings. For something lighter, nook does ice cream. Book ahead at weekends and during school holidays.

What can we do in Pembrokeshire with an aviation or engineering interest?

The Welsh spitfire museum and the Carew Cheriton Control Tower cover the wartime side, while the Amgueddfa Cyflymder - Museum of Land Speed and Internal Fire - Museum of Power appeal to anyone who likes engines. The Teifi Valley Railway Museum and Cardi Bach Heritage Centre add the railway angle.

Pembrokeshire on the map

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🎭 Theatres near Pembrokeshire

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Theatr Gwaun

Theatr Gwaun

Fishguard · 10.1 mi

 Folly Theatre

Folly Theatre

Tenby · 11.9 mi

 The Torch Theatre

The Torch Theatre

Pembrokeshire · 10.2 mi

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