Of all the places in Wales many consider the county of Swansea the prettiest. The county is in the south west region of the country and includes the Gower peninsula and the Mumbles. In the following article I introduce the reader to some of the many things that account for Swansea being an excellent place in which to take a vacation.
Swansea (the city)
During the second World War vast areas of Swansea were destroyed by German air raids. As a result the city of Swansea has been under, almost constant, redevelopment and rather than decreasing the rate of investment, especially recently, is increasing. Around the time of Dylan Thomas the city was generally considered ugly and even Thomas himself referred it as his “ugly, lovely town” but today a city could hardly be more different.
One of the areas which has changed most drastically is along the seafront and the docks. Superb world class museums reside in this part of Swansea such as the National Waterfront Museum. Other superb museums found in the Maritime Quarter are the Dylan Thomas Centre and the Swansea Museum but you will also discover a host of cafes, coffee bars and shops as well as the fantastic LC leisure Complex. The LC is an excellent place to take the kids as it has such things as a climbing wall and a play area as well as the usual gym equipment.
Swansea Nightlife
Most of Swansea’s nightlife is focused around the areas of Wind Street and Kingsway. Around these areas you will find a massive choice of restaurants, pubs and bars. Two of the finest restaurants are La Brasseria (Mediterranean and French) and Il Padrino (Italian cuisine).
If you enjoy all things Latin American then you really must pay a visit to the incredibly vibrant Cafe Mambo, found at 46 The Kingsway. As well as being a great evening venue you may also want to visit during the day to grab a light snack or small meal.
For those in search of a more traditional British pub then the Cross Keys Inn on Mary Street will tick all of the right boxes. This 18 th Century building is the oldest pub in Swansea.
The County Of Swansea
While Swansea, the city, is a fantastic vacation destination for those looking for a lively break, the area around the city is a superb destination for a more leisurely break. The county has a truly awesome selection of breathtakingly beautiful places to visit and top of many a persons list of favorite places are the Mumbles and the Gower Peninsula.
The main reason why the Gower Peninsula is known so widely is that it is here that you will find what many consider to be the United Kingdom’s finest beaches, Three Cliffs Bay. Rather than being a single beach the bay sports a selection and this whole coastline is littered with well known beaches, such as Rhossili Bay, and a multitude of lesser known smaller coves. The Gower Peninsula is also where you will find Swansea’s best castles, Weobly Castle, Penrice Castle and Pennard Castle.
As well as the three castles mentioned above Swansea also has Oystermouth Castle which is found in the area now more generally known as The Mumbles (technically Oystermouth). Although many consider the Mumbles just a suburb of the city it is historically separate and sports all of the appearance of a typical seaside resort. Now an increasingly popular place to live with those with larger budgets the area gains its name from the nearby twin islets.
Want to find out more about hotels in Swansea, then visit Karl Fraser’s site which has the most comprehensive listings of Swansea bed and breakfast.
