UK seaside town with incredible onr-mile tram that shares the road with cars
Step back in time in this 'vibrant' Victorian coastal resort recently crowned one of the best UK towns to move to in 2025. Located on the Creuddyn peninsula in Conwy County Borough, Wales - Llandudno ticks all the necessary seaside criteria.
Here, you'll find two golden sandy beaches, the UK's 'best pier' which stretches out 700 metres into the Irish Sea (also making it one of the country's longest), as well as a slew of acclaimed Fish & Chip shops and arcades. Llandudno is also just an hour's drive to Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) - the highest mountain in Wales, nestled in the stunning Snowdonia National Park.
But, what really sets Llandudno apart from the rest is its Great Orme Tramway - which has been attracting droves of tourists since 1902. Described as an 'engineering marvel of its age', the Great Orme Tramway is the only cable-hauled tramway still operating on British public roads. READ MORE: UK island named 'patch of paradise' which could be anywhere in the Mediterranean
The Great Orme Tramway has been running for more than 100 years (Image: Daily Post Wales)
"The journey begins at Victoria Station, a short distance from Llandudno's seaside and pier," explains Great Orme Tramway's website. "Climb aboard one of our beautifully restored tramcars and start your ascent through the winding roads of the Great Orme.
"At the Halfway Station exhibition, you can discover the remarkable history of Victorian engineering and observe the Tramway's powerful funicular system in action, before changing trams. Continue your journey to the Summit where the views are breath-taking. On a clear day, it's possible to see as far as the Isle of Man, Blackpool and the Lake District!"
You can direct trains from London to Llandudno - which is much quicker than driving (Image: Getty Images)
Once at the summit, you can get out of the tramcar and visit the Great Orme Country Park Visitor Centre, or simply admire the views with a summer picnic. The Bronze Age Copper Mines are also a stone's throw away from the summit.
Content cannot be displayed without consent
The attraction, which takes more than 200,000 passengers each year from Llandudno Victoria Station to the Great Orme, has been featured in a slew of TikTok videos. "Great scenic way to get up to Great Orme. I've been on it a few times," one person hailed in the comments section. Another agreed, writing: "Love it! I visit every year," while a third added: "Aren't we lucky to have views like this in north Wales?"
Want the latest travel news and cheapest holiday deals sent straight to your inbox? Sign up to our Travel Newsletter
Located more than 250 miles from London, getting to Llandudno takes a gruelling five hours and seven minutes by car. However, direct trains from the Big Smoke can slash two hours off the journey. If you're flexible with dates, you can grab a single adult fare for as little as £29.
Accommodation in Llandudno varies depending on your budget. For example, a weekend's stay (Friday, July 11-13) at the four-star Llandudno Bay Hotel will set you back £219, based on two adults sharing. However, staying at the Grafton Guest House, which still has raving reviews, costs just £170 on the exact same dates.
The tram is runs Monday-Sunday from March 23 to September 30, and operates from 10am until 6pm. Standard return adult tickets start from £10.85, while children (aged three-16) will have to pay £7.75.
*Prices based on Trainline and Booking.com listings at the time of writing.
Do you have a story to share? Email us at yourmirror@mirror.co.uk for a chance to be featured.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
2 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Grandad stuck in holiday destination as dream Greece trip takes nightmare turn
Alan Kirby, 67, a car valeter, from Marston Magna, Somerset, thought the pain in his side at dinner was from throwing his stepdaughter's children around in the sea in Zante A British holidaymaker is trapped in Greece on a ventilator, facing a £14,000 hospital bill due to an error with his travel insurance. Alan Kirby, 67, a car valet from Marston Magna, Somerset, initially believed the pain in his side was a result of playing with his stepdaughter's children in the sea in Zante. However, when he woke up struggling for breath, he sought medical advice and doctors recommended he return to the UK for a biopsy on a lung mass they feared could be cancerous. Before Alan could return home, his health worsened and he was placed on a ventilator, preventing him from taking a commercial flight back to the UK. He was subsequently airlifted to a private hospital in Athens. Alan's health battles come as travel experts Brits to claim a card that delivers free healthcare in 34 different countries. Have you had a holiday go wrong? If you'd like to tell your story, email webtravel@ Hospital officials contacted Alan's insurance company, which revealed that the Brit was aware of the mass - something he claims British doctors had identified as benign fatty tissue and told him not to worry about. This classified it as a pre-existing medical condition, which he had not declared to his insurers, thus invalidating his cover and leaving the family with a £14,000 bill. Alan is currently on a ventilator in a hospital covered by his Global Health Insurance Card, and is too ill to fly home on a standard flight. However, he lacks the insurance to cover a £45,000 private medical flight home. His family are uncertain if he has cancer, or if his symptoms are due to pneumonia, which he is now fighting. His distraught family are fundraising to cover the cost of the ambulance flight home, and are speaking out to raise awareness of potential holiday insurance mistakes. Alan's stepdaughter Liza Whitemore, 40, a private care assistant from Wincanton, Somerset, said: "We know we've made the mistake [with the insurance] - that's the problem. "My mum had gone into the bank that she had insurance with and they said, 'just go on holiday, you don't have to do anything'. They didn't know about the mass. And he was well before - he was working as a car valeter the day before the holiday. "He's still on a ventilator. There's a talk about him going into a coma, but we don't know if it's cancer or pneumonia doing the damage. He's fine, then he's not, he's fine then he's not. He's really breathless - on the phone he can't say more than a few sentences. We're just desperate to get him home." Alan was three days into his break with his partner Helen Whitemore, 62, Liza and her three daughters, when he became unwell on July 5. He appeared "dreadful, grey and pale" during a family meal in Tsilivi, so returned to the hotel. "At dinner he had aching pain all down the right side of his torso. He thought it was from throwing my kids while playing in the sea earlier in the day," Liza continued. He awoke feeling breathless and visited a local clinic in the morning, and after thorough testing was transferred to a nearby hospital. The pair say they believed he had a chest infection and required antibiotics. "But the doctor, who must have had the clinic's test results, said, 'antibiotics won't cure cancer'," said Liza. "Everyone was petrified, nobody knew what was going on. After five hours, they told my mum she needed to go back to England for a biopsy, because they couldn't tell from the X-ray if Alan had cancer." The hospital had discovered a growth in Alan's right lung, which he was already aware of, but claims British medics had informed him was a harmless fatty tissue mass in December 2024. Two days later Alan was "fitting" in his hospital bed, confused and dehydrated with oxygen levels of just 36%. "They placed him on a non-invasive ventilator and there was discussion that evening of putting him in a coma but then they said he might not wake up because of his lungs," said Liza. The insurance firm agreed to transport Alan to a private hospital in Athens via a helicopter ambulance. He was unable to fly to the UK because it was too lengthy a journey and he was required to stay on a ventilator. However, when Alan reached Athens, the insurance company contacted Lisa to say they were examining Alan's pre-existing conditions. The investigations took five days and the insurance company requested Alan's UK GP records - and uncovered Alan's 'pre-existing condition', the growth in his lung. Now, the insurance company has informed Alan's family they will cover Alan's care up until the investigations began - five days of private hospital care costing £14,000. Alan was transferred to Athens' General Hospital, where his care is covered by his GHIC card, and he continues to receive treatment with a ventilator and antibiotics. Back in Somerset, Alan's family are now striving to raise the £45,000 needed to bring him home via air ambulance.
Daily Mirror
32 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
'I'm a travel expert - one beautiful British beach belongs on Australia coastline'
Luskentyre Beach in Scotland is so beautiful it has been compared to the Whitsundays in Australia and has been named one of the most stunning beaches in Europe. A travel expert has revealed one special beach that will steal a place in British tourists' hearts - and they don't even have to leave the country. Countless Brits fantasise about jetting off to Australia to bask on its iconic beaches. But the hefty price tag for a flight down under can be daunting. Thankfully, there's no need to dig deep into your pockets for adventure on sandy beaches worthy of a place in Australia. Britain boasts its own stunning shores that rival the famed golden coasts of Australia, as Travel guru Annabel Symonds explains. Annabel, co-founder of Londoner in Sydney, has revealed that Scotland 's Luskentyre Beach on Harris Island bears an uncanny resemblance to Queensland Beach in Australia's Whitsundays. She exclaimed: "That's right, Luskentyre Beach on Harris Island in Scotland reminds us of one of the best beaches in the world." Renowned for its shimmering clear turquoise waters, Luskentyre Beach offers a tropical vibe that belies its Scottish location, complemented by pristine white sands that form a dramatic contrast with the sea, reports the Express. The beach's sand is celebrated for its soft, powdery quality, enhancing the beach's allure and providing the perfect spot for sunbathing, picnicking, or unwinding with a book. And let's not forget the picturesque Scottish hills in the background, offering a scenic vista that makes Luskentyre Beach an ideal destination for photographers looking to capture some truly spectacular shots. Adventurous visitors often trek up Beinn Dhubh, the nearby hills, to snag the ultimate photo of the stunning azure waters. Annabel remarked: "This Scottish beach has water so bright that you'll think you're sailing on the Whitsundays. If you're lucky, you might even spot some seals and if you're very lucky, see deer wandering around on this beach too." Seals are sometimes observed lounging on nearby rocks at Luskentyre Beach, whilst visitors may also encounter dolphins, red deer or golden eagles, making it an ideal spot for wildlife watching. The beach has earned recognition as one of Europe's "most stunning" coastal destinations by Lonely Planet and has also claimed the title of Beach of the Year in the Countryfile Magazine Awards. The stretch of sand sits adjacent to the village of Luskentyre, a tranquil hamlet peppered with white stone cottages. Residents occasionally provide horseback excursions along the shoreline. Visitors can browse the beachside hut shop offering refreshments and ice cream alongside local gifts and artwork showcasing regional craftsmanship. The nearby Cake Shed café serves freshly baked treats and scones. The beach benefits from its proximity to Tarbert, Harris's principal ferry terminal, where tourists can discover numerous eateries, cafés, shops and the renowned Isle of Harris Distillery. What sets Luskentyre Beach apart as an exceptional destination is its relative seclusion compared to other celebrated coastlines. This allows guests to savour the scenery undisturbed and, crucially, at a fraction of the cost of a trip abroad. If you're seeking an extraordinary destination, then Luskentyre Beach is certainly worth considering for a visit.
Time Out
4 hours ago
- Time Out
One of Sydney's best rooftop bars is turning 10 – and they're celebrating with Vegemite-laced cocktails
A British-Australian engineer, Henry Deane was responsible for converting Sydney's original horse-drawn and steam-powered trams to electric power in the 1890s. It's also the name of the classy cocktail lounge perched above the Millers Point pub, Hotel Palisade – named in honour of Deane's whopping big contribution to Sydney. You can really appreciate the beauty of our Harbour City from the top floor of this rooftop bar. It's got the kind of views that make you feel proud as punch to live here – spanning the Harbour Bridge, city skyline, the beginnings of the Parramatta River and even Barangaroo below. And while Mr Deane lives on in the history books, we reckon this would've been one of his favourite spots for a cold one, too. As Time Out's Editor in Chief Alice Ellis said in her five-star review, 'Henry Deane cocktail lounge may just sit atop an old Sydney pub, but an afternoon spent there will have you feeling on top of the whole world.' This year, the swish cocktail bar turns ten – and to celebrate, the team has launched a fresh food and cocktail menu, complete with Vegemite-laced tipples. Classic cocktails are available – and they're done well, too. But why not try the Miss Marshie – made with Ketel One vodka, toasted marshmallow, fizz and pineapple foam – it's fancy and a little bit sweet. For something that tastes like a holiday, go for the Circa 1915, featuring Hotel Palisade Portside gin, coconut, mandarin and makrut lime. Feeling brave? Try the Home Slice, a grown-up riff on an Aussie breakfast staple, made with sourdough bread-soaked vodka, verjuice, charcoal-activated vanilla syrup and Vegemite. It's subtle, elegant and well-balanced. The share-style food menu changes with the seasons – but you can always count on it complementing the cocktails. Kick things off with a finger-like golden potato hash topped with a squiggle of abalone sauce and finished with smoked pork dust. Fresh chopped prawns come with a butter bean dip, fermented honey and a hint of chilli; and marinated grilled chicken is paired with a punchy green sauce and preserved lemon. Next time you've got a friend visiting from Melbourne, or you wanna score a brownie point or two on a first date, head up to the rooftop and order a cocktail at Henry Deane. Promise they're anything but watery. Find out more here. These are the best rooftop bars in Sydney.
