For travellers heading to North West Wales along the coast, it’s likely that you will have passed through Colwyn Bay on the A55, or by train. On a clear day, approaching the town provides the first real glimpse of the golden sandy beaches and beautiful coastline that North Wales provides. But, have you ever considered stopping in the town or the adjoining village of Rhos-on-Sea to see what’s on offer? With a long, sweeping promenade overlooking a sandy beach, a renowned and popular zoo on the hillside, stunning woodland walks and an ever growing list of great independent eateries, here’s a look at the best things to do in Colwyn Bay & Rhos-on-Sea.
As a hugely popular seaside resort, hordes of people would visit Colwyn Bay in Victorian times. The town was vibrant with grand beachfront hotels, a large pier and host of other attractions to draw in visitors. It’s fair to say that sometime over the past few decades the town lost its charm and visitor numbers dwindled, while the popular resort of Llandudno a few miles further along the coast continued to thrive. The past decade has seen significant investment to redevelop the town, and restore the charm, with the intent to draw back the visitors. It’s a work in progress, but with a multi-million pound regeneration of the beach and promenade area alongside a host of fresh new hospitality businesses setting up in the town, things are looking good.
EXPLORING COLWYN BAY
Having been bought up in the area, I rarely visited Colwyn Bay as a child as it just didn’t offer as much as other nearby towns. We recently relocated back to North Wales, and had a list of potential places to buy property and live. Colwyn Bay wasn’t one of them, however the opportunity to rent a nice apartment in the town came up while looking for a home. We thought we’d give it a chance, started exploring, and found we were pleasantly surprised with the feel of the town and what was now on offer. Skip forward two years and we’ve bought a property and still live here. There’s still work to do in the town centre for sure, but progress is being made and I’ve discovered a wealth of beautiful green spaces, awesome independent businesses and a beautiful beach within walking distance.
COLWYN BAY BEACH
The main draw to Colwyn Bay is arguably the long expanse of sandy beach. A three mile promenade stretches along the bay from Old Colwyn in the east towards Penrhyn Bay in the west. A huge regeneration over the last decade has improved the sea defences, redeveloped the promenade and improved the main stretch of beach. The result is a clean and vibrant promenade area, overlooking a beautiful and award winning Blue flag beach. With art installations, plenty of seating and historical information installed along the promenade, it’s an enjoyable space to explore. There are sections of the beach that are dog friendly, and clear signage is visible to inform visitors.
The focal point of the beach at Colwyn Bay is the Porth Eirias building on the seafront. Housing a restaurant and cafe, alongside Môr – a water sports accessory store and Evolution Bikes, a bicycle shop. This section of beach is the most popular for visitors, and a summer weekend can see the beach full of people sunbathing, swimming and stand up paddle boarding alongside other water sports. The Irish Sea may be on the chilly side, but it doesn’t deter people from getting the water. A more recent development on the promenade is the rebuilding of a much shortened pier to replace the old Victorian Pier which was removed in 2018 after much of it fell into the sea. The new pier, at 140 feet long compared to 750 feet of the original, is reutilising some of the original ironwork features, and the design is based on the original colour scheme.
EPIC SUNRISES AND SUNSETS
The benefits of being on the north coast, is that the beach is awesome from dawn until dusk. Arrive early in the morning and you’ll see the sunrise in the east. Arrive in the evening and you can watch the sun setting over the Little Orme headland. Summer time sunsets on Colwyn Bay beach can leave the sky glowing bright orange. It’s an epic view to take in.
TAKE A WALK UP THE LITTLE ORME AND OTHER SIMPLE WALKS WITH EPIC VIEWS IN THE CONWY & LLANDUDNO AREA
WELSH MOUNTAIN ZOO
Colwyn Bay’s premier attraction is the WELSH MOUNTAIN ZOO, located on the hillside above the town. Dating back to 1963, it is the oldest and longest running zoo in Wales. Set in 37 acres, the zoo’s hill top setting provides spectacular views across the coastline as well as the Carneddau Mountains. Much of the Welsh Mountain Zoo is also set within the woodland above the town, so be prepared for some steep hills during the visit.
The Welsh Mountain Zoo features over 140 species of animal including Sumatran Tigers, Chimpanzees, Snow Leopards and Eurasian Brown Bears. Alongside these, you’ll also find Humboldt Penguins, Californian Sea Lions and a host of other animals. The zoo has a strong focus on education and conservation, and a co-operative breeding programme with other animal facilities.
THEATR COLWYN AND ORIEL COLWYN
When your in town, take a look at what’s on at Theatr Colwyn and Oriel Colwyn. THEATR COLWYN is the oldest working cinema in the UK, and the oldest working theatre in Wales, originally dating back to the 1880’s. The building has seen many guises over the decades, was rebuilt after a fire in the 1930’s and has had several name changes before becoming Theatr Colwyn in 1991. Having had a break during the Covid-19 pandemic, the venue is now building up it’s portfolio of cinema and live theatre performances for the coming months. ORIEL COLWYN is a gallery space located within the same building, focusing on some photography exhibitions featuring local and international photographers. It’s a fantastic space to explore the works of local artists.
ZIP WORLD STADIUM
For fans of sports and music, the Zip World Stadium at Eirias Park has delighted locals with a variety of musical shows and sporting events over the past few years. A multi use outdoor sports stadium with an athletics track and rugby pitch, the stadium has hosted several U20’s Rugby Union International tournaments and has also seen training visits from the main Welsh Rugby Union squad. Since 2012, the stadium has also been home to the annual Access all Eirias music shows which has featured the likes of Elton John, Lionel Ritchie, Little Mix and Paloma Faith, as well as hosting BBC Proms in the Park.
GREEN SPACES AROUND COLWYN BAY
If the beach gets a little too busy, there are plenty of lovely green spaces in Colwyn Bay to explore, which are all close to the town centre.
EIRIAS PARK: Located to the east of the town, Eirias Park can be accessed directly from the beach near Porth Eirias. The park is home to the aforementioned Zip World Stadium, but also has fifty acres of parkland to explore, set around a small boating lake. The park also has a skate ramp and leisure centre with a swimming pool.
QUEENS GARDENS: A short walk from the centre of Colwyn Bay, Queens Gardens is a lovely green space, set with the backdrop of the stunning Rydal Penrhos School. The gardens have well tended flower beds and manicured lawns, with plenty of benches to sit and relax.
PWLLYCROCHAN WOODS: Pwllycrochan Woods, the steep wooded hillside behind the town of Colwyn Bay is the perfect spot to explore. There are numerous well marked trails that meander through the woodland, with plenty of information signs along the way. Trickling streams and the sound of birdsong make you feel a million miles from a built up area.
EATING AND DRINKING IN COLWYN BAY
Moving from a large urban space to a small coastal town has its obvious benefits (fresh air, sea and sand), but one of the deal breakers for choosing where to live for us, were the hospitality options on offer. For me, great independent hospitality businesses are really important. Wherever I visit somewhere new, I will try and search out the best independents, rather than opting for the big commercial chains. If you’ve ever visited North Wales, you’ll notice that the the high streets of the smaller towns do not feature all the large chain restaurants that we have become so used to, aside from the obvious coffee and fast food chains. This gives great local, independent businesses the chance to thrive.
Thankfully, for such a small town, Colwyn Bay has these in abundance, which really helped make our decision to stay. From contemporary coffee shops to tap rooms, long established family run restaurants to celebrity chef operated eateries, there is something to suit everyone in Colwyn Bay. Here’s a look at some of the best.
Cool Café Vibes
We hit the jackpot on our first visit to Colwyn Bay for coffee and cake. I’d go as far as to say it was one of the deciding factors of choosing our apartment in the town. HAUS, located on the popular Penrhyn Road ticked all of our boxes. A lovely contemporary space with exposed brick walls, industrial furnishings, lots of greenery and a really great vibe, HAUS is our go to spot in Colwyn Bay for breakfast, brunch, or coffee and cake. They are also licensed, so you can grab yourself and glass of wine or a beer if you like. You’ll get a super friendly welcome from owners Chris and Marita, and the breakfast and brunch dishes are superb. Keep an eye on the specials board for some really creative dishes prepared by Chris.
Best Bars
There’s no shortage of pubs in Colwyn Bay, but there are a few stand out destinations worth a visit for a great night out. Start your evening with a table at THE BAY HOP, an Alehouse and Bottle Shop on Penrhyn Road. They’ve probably lost count of how many CAMRA awards they have been given, and have an ever changing range of local and international beers on tap, from lagers to stouts with everything in between. If Craft Beers are your thing, take a stroll along Abergele Road to BLACK CLOAK BREWERY AND TAPROOM. With a range of their own beers on tap or in cans, you’ll also find a huge variety of guest beers to sample in their bright and airy taproom.
For some cool city bar vibes, head back to Penrhyn Road and grab a drink at SHELDONS BAR. They offer wines, cocktails and craft beers and a range of small plates and light bites. Finish off your evening at BRIGGS WINE BAR, a really cool and chilled out space providing wines, cocktails, spirits and craft beers.
Awesome Dining Spots
Top of the list of the best dining spots in Colwyn Bay is VIRGILIO’S PIZZERIA AND PORTUGESE GRILL. A friendly welcome awaits at Virgilio’s, which has operated in Colwyn Bay for decades. Featuring a range of Portugese dishes, as well as Italian favourites, it’s a great place to spend an evening. For a real treat, head to BRYN WILLIAMS AT PORTH EIRIAS, with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the beach. The bistro serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and also has a weekly changing set menu, with a focus on utilising as much local produce as possible. Another favourite in the town is the PEN-Y-BRYN in Colwyn Heights. A large pub with a seemingly endless amount of rooms, the interior is filled with old bookcases and fireplaces and there is a large beer garden with views across the coast. There’s a varied menu and their Sunday roasts are fantastic.
EXPLORING RHOS-ON-SEA
A couple of miles west of Colwyn Bay, the promenade reaches the small harbour village of Rhos-on-Sea. It’s an idyllic seaside setting with boats bobbing on the harbour at high tide, and people enjoying the small sandy beach during the summer months. There a small jetty where you’ll find families fishing for crabs or launching small boats. The large breakwater just out to sea provides shelter for the small sandy cove.
A triangular set up of three streets – Rhos Road, Colwyn Avenue and Penrhyn Avenue provide a host of boutique gift shops, cafes and restaurants for visitors to explore. There are a couple of points of interest in the village worth seeking out, when taking a break from the beach.
For families, find the HARLEQUIN PUPPET THEATRE a short walk from the village centre. The UK’s only remaining purpose built puppet theatre, built in 1958, has been putting on performances and entertaining children for decades. Heading west out of the village towards Penrhyn Bay along the promenade, ST TRILLO’S CHURCH is thought to be the smallest church in the UK. At only eight by eleven feet, the tiny stone church can only seat six people and dates back to the early 16th century, although it was restored in the 1930’s. It’s a fascinating building.
GREEN SPACES NEAR RHOS-ON-SEA
For one of the best views in the local area, a fifteen minute walk or short drive from Rhos-on-Sea will take visitors to the entrance of the BRYN EURYN NATURE RESERVE. Once the location of a hill fort, Bryn Euryn is a historical point of interest, as well as a beautiful green space. A signposted set of steps leads up from the road near the car park and begins a short incline up the hill, before arriving at the remains of Llys Euryn – an old medieval mansion though to date back to the 1400’s. With little of the original structure remaining, a conservation project took place in 1999 where the site was cleared and made safe.
Carrying on from Llys Euryn, the trail heads through the woodland which occasionally opens to provide glimpses of the surrounding scenery. Following signs for the Summit Trail, heading out of the woodland, a steep incline leads up the hill towards the summit where there is a trig point and information board. The summit of Bryn Euryn provides 360 degree views of the surrounding area including an unobstructed view of Colwyn Bay, and exceptional views of the Conwy Valley and Carneddau Mountains.
VENUTURE FURTHER AFIELD WITH A SCENIC LOOP OF THE CONWY VALLEY
EATING AND DRINKING IN RHOS-ON-SEA
Much like Colwyn Bay, the drinking and dining scene in Rhos-on-Sea has evolved over the past few years to suit modern tastes. The traditional cafés and ice cream parlours are still there to be found, but alongside these are new bars and restaurants to attract the younger crowds.
Coffee and Cake
Everywhere you look in Rhos-on-Sea you’ll find a café of some description, but if your looking for a great breakfast and lunch stop, head to MARMALADE on Rhos Road, who have a great and varied menu. For grab and go sandwiches, salads and coffee head to VINTAGE KITCHEN on Penrhyn Avenue. Make sure you leave enough space for one of their impressive range of cakes. The portions are huge! COAST CAFE & GIFT SHOP across the road from the harbour is also a popular spot.
For Beer and Wine Lovers
For the wine lovers out there, head to THE GRAPE TO GLASS on Penrhyn Avenue. A superb wine shop and tasting room run by Tim Watson, The Grape to Glass has a huge range of wine from across the world to suit all tastes. The wine is displayed by style rather than country, which is a breath of fresh air, making it much easier to find something you’re likely to enjoy. It’s a wine shop that you can visit and be educated by the staff, in a relaxed and informal environment. Tables can be booked to sample a selection of ‘wines by the glass’, which is a great way to try out something new without having to buy a bottle.
WHY NOT TAKE A TOUR OF GWINLLAN CONWY AND THEIR AWARD WINNING WINES WHICH IS NEARBY?
Across the road from The Grape to Glass, craft beer fans should head to ELEMENTARY. Again run by Tim Watson (hence the name and Sherlock connection), Elementary is a craft beer can shop and bar with a huge range of craft beers from across the world. In the same vein as the wine shop set up, the beers at Elementary are displayed by style so you can take a journey from low alcohol and lager style beers through to dark beers and stouts. There are beers on tap from the local WILD HORSE BREWERY, and a selection of awesome gins and other spirits. Book a table in the bar, or hire out the atmospheric vault at the rear of the bar, which definitely has a speakeasy vibe.
Fill your stomachs
Rhos-on-Sea has a great selection of restaurants on offer. For Italian food lovers, and those with a large appetite, head to LA DOLCE VITA, a staple of the Rhos-on-Sea dining scene. A restaurant with an extensive menu of Italian and British cuisine, it stands the test of time and is still one of the more popular restaurants in the area.
A relatively newcomer to Rhos-on-Sea, THE PEACOCK LOUNGE opened just before the Covid-19 pandemic and successfully adapted its business to suit the circumstances and now operate three sites. The Peacock Lounge is a stylish restaurant and cocktail bar which provides great food in a modern and contemporary setting.
For something slightly outside of the village, HICKORY’S SMOKEHOUSE brings a taste of Southern USA to North Wales. With an American bar vibe, the menu consists of barbeque style meats, steaks, burgers and ribs which can all be washed down with great beer. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Hickory’s is also popular with sports fans.
WHERE TO STAY IN COLWYN BAY
Accommodation options in Colwyn Bay are fairly limited, although there are several guest houses and B&B’s dotted around the town. The town centre features a TRAVELODGE for visitors who want something simple and familiar.
A highly recommended accommodation option is BRYN WOODLANDS HOUSE, which is located in the town centre. A family run, luxury boutique guest house, Bryn Woodlands offers a friendly welcome, nine bedrooms with a four star rating, a great breakfast and owners who can provide friendly and helpful information about the surrounding area.
GETTING AROUND COLWYN BAY & RHOS-ON-SEA
DRIVING: Colwyn Bay is located mid way along the North Wales coast and can be reached by the A55 expressway (Junction 21 exit). It’s approximately 45 mins from Chester and approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes from the M6 motorway.
TRAIN: The Colwyn Bay railway station is one of the main scheduled stops on the mainline between Holyhead and London, with direct trains to London Euston taking less than three hours.
EXPLORING THE NEARBY AREA
Looking for more to do in the area?
Head to a coastal castle: EXPLORING THE RUINS OF GWRYCH CASTLE IN ABERGELE
Check out another Victorian seaside resort: A GUIDE TO THE BEST ATTRACTIONS IN LLANDUDNO
For fans of gardens: VISIT THE STUNNING TRUST BODNANT GARDEN
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