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Photo: Llywelyn2000 (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons

Holidays in Wales

Planning a holiday in Wales? You're in good company — it's one of the UK's best-loved escapes, and this guide brings the best places to stay together in one place. Snowdonia, the Pembrokeshire coast and castle country.

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53 places matching your filters.

White Tower Holiday Park

White Tower Holiday Park

✓ Just minutes from the beach near Snowdonia's mountains

🏖️ 1.82 miles from Morfa Dinlle (Excellent water quality)

Llandwrog, Caernarfon, North Wales

Sleeps 8

£405 per break

Check availability
Florence Springs Glamping

Florence Springs Glamping

✓ Glamping accommodation with private hot tubs and fire pits

🏖️ 2.54 miles from Lydstep (Excellent water quality)

St Florence, Tenby, South Wales

Sleeps 6

£485 per break

Check availability
Lydstep Beach

Lydstep Beach

✓ Heated indoor pool and spa treatments on site

🏖️ a few minutes' walk from Lydstep (Excellent water quality)

Pembrokeshire, South Wales

Sleeps 8

£269 per break

Check availability
Penally Grange

Penally Grange

✓ Private gated entrance for exclusive, peaceful access

🏖️ 0.84 miles from Penally (Excellent water quality)

Tenby, South Wales

Sleeps 8

£785 per break

Check availability

More around Wales

Itineraries

Haunted Britain

From the blog

Getting your bearings

Wales is a region best taken in chunks rather than all at once. The coastal counties — Pembrokeshire, Gwynedd, Anglesey, Conwy, Ceredigion and Swansea and Gower — give you beaches, harbours and castles within a short drive of each other. Inland, Powys, Carmarthenshire and Monmouthshire are quieter, greener and better suited to slow mornings. Cardiff sits at the southern end if you want a city day in the mix. There are 4,003 places to stay in the region on BritStays, so it's worth picking one area and booking something central to it rather than trying to cover three counties from a single base.

Family days out

If you've got children who need a bit of noise and movement, Aberystwyth earns its keep. The Amusement Park is the obvious draw, and Borth Animalarium nearby gives you a wildlife stop that works for a range of ages. Up the coast, the Narrow Gauge Railway Museum at Barmouth is a short, manageable visit — handy if you're already heading to the beach and want something to break up the day.

Castles tend to do well with families too, because the running-about happens naturally. Castell Biwmares / Beaumaris Castle is the sort of place where children explore and adults read the boards at their own pace, and Castell Cilgerran / Cilgeran Castle has a dramatic setting that needs no explaining.

Rainy days

Wales rewards people who have a wet-weather plan. Powys alone has enough small museums to fill several damp afternoons:

  • Brecon Museum and the Royal Welsh Regiment Museum, which pair neatly for a half day
  • CARAD Rhayader Museum and Gallery, good for a quieter hour
  • The Robert Owen Museum, Abbey Cwmhir Museum and the Clive Museum, all modest in scale and easy to add on
  • The Andrew Logan Museum of Sculpture, which is unlike anything else on the list
  • Talgarth Mill, where there's usually something practical to watch

Elsewhere, Amgueddafa Ceredigion Museum in Aberystwyth is a sensible fallback on a blown-out seaside day, Lampeter Museum and Llanerchaeron Museum cover Ceredigion's inland corners, and Amgueddfa Sir Gâr - Carmarthenshire Museum is the main indoor stop in Carmarthenshire.

Outdoors and open air

Dyffryn Gardens is a National Trust property and the easiest outdoor choice if you want paths, planting and somewhere to sit — good for mixed groups where not everyone wants a hike. For something more exposed, Twyn y gaer Hill Fort in Monmouthshire gives you a walk with a purpose at the top of it; wear proper footwear and don't count on shelter.

Coastal walking is the other obvious draw, and Castell Oxwich and Newport Castle both work well as turning points on a longer walk rather than destinations in their own right.

Heritage and houses

Beyond the big castles, there's a run of smaller, less-visited sites worth a detour. Upton Castle in Pembrokeshire, Llangibby Castle and Moynes Court all suit people who'd rather have space than a full car park. Plas Machen is the stately home option, and Brewhouse is the region's second National Trust property. Opening arrangements vary considerably at the smaller sites, so check before you set off — several are seasonal.

Where to eat

Four places with top hygiene ratings are worth knowing about. Y Ffarmers and the Triangle Inn are both pubs and inns, the sort you want at the end of a walk rather than in the middle of one. The Elan Hotel is another pub and inn option if you're staying inland and don't fancy driving on after dinner. For coffee and something lighter, Narrative Coffee is the tea room pick — useful mid-morning before a museum, or as a regroup point when the weather turns.

Building a sensible day

The trick is one outdoor thing, one indoor thing, and a proper sit-down between them. A Powys day might run: Talgarth Mill in the morning, lunch at the Triangle Inn, then Brecon Museum and the Royal Welsh Regiment Museum together in the afternoon. On the coast: Castell Cilgerran / Cilgeran Castle early, Narrative Coffee, then a beach walk and the Amusement Park at Aberystwyth if energy allows.

Making it a short break

Three nights is about right for one area. Give day one to a headline castle such as Castell Biwmares / Beaumaris Castle or Upton Castle, day two to walking — Twyn y gaer Hill Fort or Dyffryn Gardens, depending on the forecast — and keep day three loose for the museums you didn't get to.

Practically: book pub tables in advance at weekends, carry cash for smaller museums, and allow longer than the map suggests for driving in Gwynedd and Powys. Fill the tank when you can rather than when you must.

Frequently asked questions

Which National Trust properties are in this region?

Two of the listed landmarks are National Trust: Dyffryn Gardens and Brewhouse. Dyffryn Gardens is the better choice if you want gardens and level paths rather than a walk.

What is there to do in Aberystwyth with children?

Aberystwyth has the Amusement Park, Borth Animalarium for wildlife, and Amgueddafa Ceredigion Museum as an indoor option if the weather turns.

Where should I go on a rainy day in Powys?

Powys has a good spread of small museums: Brecon Museum, the Royal Welsh Regiment Museum, CARAD Rhayader Museum and Gallery, The Robert Owen Museum, Abbey Cwmhir Museum, the Clive Museum, the Andrew Logan Museum of Sculpture and Talgarth Mill. Several can be combined in a single afternoon.

Which places to eat have 5-star hygiene ratings?

Four do: the Elan Hotel, Y Ffarmers and the Triangle Inn, all pubs and inns, plus Narrative Coffee, which is a tea room.

Which castles are worth visiting in Wales?

Castell Biwmares / Beaumaris Castle and Castell Cilgerran / Cilgeran Castle are the headline visits. Upton Castle, Llangibby Castle, Newport Castle, Castell Oxwich and Moynes Court are smaller and generally quieter.

How many places to stay are there in Wales on BritStays?

There are 4,003 places to stay in the region. Picking one area — such as Pembrokeshire, Conwy, Anglesey or Monmouthshire — and basing yourself centrally within it works better than trying to cover several counties from one place.

Wales on the map

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🎭 Theatres near Wales

All UK theatres →
The Albert Hall

The Albert Hall

Powys · 14.0 mi
🎭

Theatr Powys

Powys · 14.2 mi
🎭

Amphitheatre

Powys · 14.5 mi

🎭 Venues with something on in Wales

What's on at each, with tickets and places to stay within walking distance.

🎪 What's on in Wales

Events from SkiddleSkiddle

Not Your Average Pub Quiz

Fri 13 Nov · 18:30

Not Your Average Pub Quiz

Llanidloes Community Centre, Llanidloes · 12.2 mi

Tickets on Skiddle ↗

 Under 16's Club Night

Sat 14 Nov · 18:00

Under 16's Club Night

Llanidloes Community Centre, Llanidloes · 12.2 mi

Tickets on Skiddle ↗

 National Dance Company Wales presents Blue | Glas

Wed 18 Nov · 19:30

National Dance Company Wales presents Blue | Glas

Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Aberystwyth · 17.3 mi

Tickets on Skiddle ↗

 National Dance Company Wales presents Blue | Glas

Thu 19 Nov · 19:30

National Dance Company Wales presents Blue | Glas

Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Aberystwyth · 17.3 mi

Tickets on Skiddle ↗

 Llanidloes New Years Eve Party

Thu 31 Dec · 19:00

Llanidloes New Years Eve Party

Llanidloes Community Centre, Llanidloes · 12.2 mi

Tickets on Skiddle ↗

 The Old Library Sessions

Sun 7 Feb · 14:45

The Old Library Sessions

The Old Library, Aberystwyth · 18.1 mi

Tickets on Skiddle ↗

 Beauty & The Beastiality - Adult Panto!

Fri 26 Feb · 19:30

Beauty & The Beastiality - Adult Panto!

Llandinam Village Hall, Powys · 16.9 mi

Tickets on Skiddle ↗

 Heart of Wales 7s 2027

Thu 1 Jul · 14:00

Heart of Wales 7s 2027

Cae Hafren, Llanidloes · 13.1 mi

Tickets on Skiddle ↗

Explore Holidays in Wales

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