Llandudno

Llandudno was laid out from 1849 by the Mostyn estate as a single planned resort rather than growing piecemeal, which is why the crescent of stucco hotels along the North Shore is uniform and why the street grid behind is regular; the design has survived largely intact, and the town is often described as the most complete Victorian seaside resort in Britain. The pier, opened in 1878, is 700 metres long, the longest in Wales. A Punch and Judy show has been performed on the promenade by the same family since 1860. Alice Liddell, the model for Alice in Wonderland, holidayed here as a child, and a trail of carved figures marks the connection. Two headlands, the Great Orme and Little Orme, close the bay at either end, and a second, quieter beach lies on the West Shore.

What you actually see

• The planned crescent - a uniform sweep of Victorian hotels along the bay.
• The 700-metre pier - the longest in Wales, opened in 1878.
• The Punch and Judy - run by the same family on the promenade since 1860.
• The two headlands - Great and Little Orme closing the bay at each end.

When to go

April to October; the town is busiest in summer and over bank holidays. Spring and autumn are calmer and the Victorian frontage looks better in low light. Many attractions close for winter.

Honest expectations

The North Shore beach is shingle rather than sand, and the sandier West Shore has strong currents. Parking along the promenade is charged and limited. Some pier businesses are closed out of season, leaving a long empty walk.

Nearby

The Great Orme rises at the town's edge; Conwy and Bodnant Garden lie south.