Conwy is a town in North Wales, renowned for its medieval Castle and almost complete town walls. The town, at the north east edge of the Snowdonia National Park, has a picturesque harbour and overlooks the estuary of the River Conwy.

Stay awhile in old Conwy town, visit this most magnificent of medieval castles, walk the town walls, and you will appreciate why Conwy has been awarded World Heritage Site status. The castle itself is one of the most impressive examples of medieval military architecture and offers spectacular views of both the estuary and the foothills of Snowdonia.

The town walls can be walked between Uppergate Street and Berry Street, but be wary if you are afraid of heights!. The circuit of walls, over three quarters of a mile long and guarded by no less than 22 towers, is one of the finest in the World.

Once an english bastide town that would bar the gates to the Welsh, today Conwy is a bustling little Welsh resort that welcomes visitors from far and wide.

Ancient buildings sit comfortably among more recent dwellings and there is an abundance of places to visit. Top of the list is the magnificent castle built by the English king Edward 1 in the 13th Century, but there is much more to visit including Plas Mawr, an architectural gem, said to be the finest surviving town house of the Elizabethan era to be found anywhere in Britain.



A short walk down the high street towards the quay side and you will find Aberconwy House a 14th-century merchant's house believed to be not only the oldest house in Conwy but the oldest town house in Wales. Aberconwy House has been carefully restored to reflect the daily life of its residents over time.

On the quayside you may enter the smallest house in Britain, but don't forget to duck your head! Or visit the Aquarium and Conwy Mussel Museum. Sample the Conwy mussels that are still farmed to this day and exported world-wide. Who knows, you might bite upon a pearl! in bygone days Conwy
pearls were said to have been used in the crown jewels of England. I can't vouch for the quality of the pearls (I remember playing with them as mini-marbles as a child) but I can vouch for the quality of the mussels ..my wife Eira Wyn made a delicious meal of the big fat Conwy mussels for our family christmas party this year 2009/10.

Take a boat trip on the river past the fine new marinas toward the Great Orme's Head, or sail upriver to see the full beauty of the Conwy Estuary and the Conwy Valley.

Or you might choose to simply get a bag of fish and chips and sit on the harbour wall and watch the world go by!

But Conwy also offers the chance to see what is one of the most horrible buildings in Britain.....the extension to the public library close to the quayside. You could not find a more inappropriate place for such an ugly concrete monstrosity.. a true carbuncle on the face of Conwy.

A SHORT HISTORY OF THE TOWN:

In the year 1283 King Edward 1 and his English army had completed the conquest of Snowdonia and terminated the rule of the Welsh princes. The capture of Dolwyddelan Castle gave Edward the control of the Conwy valley and he moved to Conwy in March of 1283. Here the monastery of Aberconwy, the spiritual heart of Gwynedd and the burial place of Llewelyn the Great, was destroyed and a new home for the monks was built at Maenan some 8 miles away. All that remained was the unfinished abbey church which was to become St. Mary’s Church the parish church of the new town, which it still remains.


Edward immediately set about organizing the building of the Castle and within 4 short years this " the most magnificent of Edward 1's Castles" would be substantially complete.

Conwy Castle has withstood the passage of time and today the views from the battlements are breathtaking looking out across mountains and sea and down to the roofless shell of the castles 125ft Great Hall. It is from these battlements that visitors can best appreciate Conwy's other great glory, its ring of town walls. Conwy is the classic walled town. Its circuit of walls, over three quarters of a mile long and guarded by no less than 22 towers, is one of the finest in the World.

Conwy has some very fine hotel accommodation, pubs, restaurants, and tea rooms, all offering excellent food and drink with a warm welcome and friendly service. There are two great chippies, with one close to the harbour but beware those pesky seagulls!

Other attractions include:

Aberconwy House.
A 14th-century merchant’s house that is the only medieval merchant’s house to have survived the turbulent history of this walled town over nearly six centuries. Furnished rooms and an audio-visual presentation show daily life from different periods in its history.

The Smallest House in Britain.
Built originally as a fisherman’s cottage on the quay front, its last occupant was 6’ 3” but amazingly it measures 9’ 9” high by just 6’ wide!

Plas Mawr or “Great Mansion”.
Plas Mawr was built in 1576 and is possibly the best preserved Elizabethan townhouse in Great Britain. Built by Robert Wynn between 1576 and 1585, it dominates the town with its gatehouse, stepped gables and lookout tower. The interior with its elaborately decorated plaster ceilings and fine wooden screens, reflecting the wealth and influence of the Tudor gentry in Wales, has been almost entirely restored.

Conwy Suspension Bridge and Toll-keeper’s House.
Designed and built by Thomas Telford, the bridge was completed in 1826. It replaced the ferry, which was previously the only means of crossing the river. The house has been restored and furnished as it would have been a century ago.

Conwy Quay
Have a look at the 'Lower Gate' part of the town walls. Take a trip on the explorer cruise around the bay with Conwy Boats or visit the Conwy Mussel Museum on the Quay (Free Entry).