Colwyn Bay is a town, community and seaside resort in Conwy County Borough on the north coast of Wales overlooking the Irish Sea. The town is dominated by the tourist trade, because of its famous beaches, newly restored pier, and regenerated seafront. The Colwyn Bay of yesteryear, a popular seaside resort visited by Victorian travellers, has not entirely disappeared, as the architecture of the old town is still evident in the ornate shopfronts and gabled buildings. The buildings throughout the town, tell a story of the rich history, with some structures dating back to the1860s. During World War II, Colwyn Bay housed the headquarters of the Ministry of Food, as well as becoming a hub for diamond cutting and polishing, which was used to help fund the war effort. There are several churches, catering to most religions, beautiful open green spaces, excellent schools and great transport links, Colwyn Bay really is a fantastic location to consider as your base, for families, couples, and retirees. It has some good local amenities, is close to many primary and secondary schools, offers great outdoor culture and has an array of housing options available, from flats and apartments to grand older homes and buildings.

Education

Colwyn Bay has a choice of primary schools, including Ysgol Nant-Y-Groes, Saint Josephs and Welsh-Language Ysgol Bod Alaw. All the primary schools are well respected in the area and are direct feeder schools to the main secondary schools, Eirias High School, and Ysgol Bryn Elian. There is also a private school in the area, Rydal Penrhos, a methodist public school, which operates over multiple sites. Eirias High School was recently voted one of the best state schools in the UK. All the schools are of walking distance from the main residential areas and on bus routes for those a little further afield.

Shopping

Colwyn Bay has a lovely high street with some the of big name shops as well as some lovely independent shops. Below are just a small selection of what the town has to offer.

Bayview Shopping Centre- The main shopping hub, with larger retailers including Morrisons, Home Bargains and Superdrug, as well as a few smaller independent outlets, the shopping centre is the main port of call in the town. There is also a large coffee shop within the centre, offering an extensive menu of drinks and meals.

Ink Art Gallery- This relative newcomer to the town has made a big impact. This Gallery offers an amazing space for local and national artists, they host painting and life drawing classes, live music events and even a children’s art club. The Café within offers both amazing cakes and coffee, as well as some decadent Cocktails later in the day. The onsite shop sells art and craft supplies, as well as interesting clothing, pin badges and trinkets. It’s definitely worth a visit!

The Grate Cheese Deli – This beautiful little shop in the town centre offers a vast amount of cheese form countries all over the world, as well as charcuterie, pates, oils, crackers, biscuits,

coffee and much, much more. Run by a local couple, and now in its fifth year, this shop has become a real asset to the town, particularly if you like cheese!

The Bay Gallery – The Bay Gallery is a community art and craft gallery in the centre of town, run as a small charity by local volunteers, which offers local artists the opportunity to exhibit and sell their stunning work. The Gallery also runs weekly art classes and workshops.

Get Outdoors

There is easy access down to the prom from the town centre, passing under the railway bridge leads you directly onto the newly reinstated pier and a short walk to Porth Eirias, the multi-million pound waterfront project opened in 2013. Porth Eirias is home to the award-winning Bryn Williams Bistro, offering a top class menu and idyllic views over the sea. There is also a water sports centre, specialising in paddleboarding, open water swimming and other water activities. There is a children’s playpark located right next to the building and a refreshments kiosk close by. If you’re looking for green spaces, then Colwyn Bay has plenty to offer. There is 50 acres of parkland at Eirias parc, we have tennis courts, a bowling green, picnic areas and a couple of different playgrounds.

Entertainment

Welsh Mountain Zoo – Colwyn Bay’s prime attraction, perched panoramically on the hillside in Upper Colwyn Bay, is the Welsh Mountain Zoo, a National Zoo of Wales. It’s a caring conservation zoo, with many rare and endangered species from around the world including snow leopards, red pandas, Sumatran tigers, chimpanzees and Californian sea lions and are part of many breeding programmes. Children and adults will love it. There is so much to see and do, and the views from up there are simply stunning.

Theatr Colwyn- Wales’s oldest working theatre and cinema, this charming theatre in the heart of the town has been in use since 1909, hosting theatre shows, comedy, live music and screening movies. The attached Oriel Gallery is also worth a visit with its cutting-edge photography.

RGC Eirias Parc- Home of North Wales Rugby since 2011, Eirias Stadium has a capacity of just over 6,000 people, plus 9 hospitality suites. The stadium hosts many local games as well as international fixtures, training camps and presentations.

Eirias Stadium- When not in use by the RGC, the stadium at Eirias hosts other sporting events, live music, outdoor theatre and movie events throughout the year.

Colwyn Bay Leisure Centre- Has a 100m swimming pool, state of the art gym, hosts an array of fitness classes, multiple multiuse sports pitches and also has a great on site café. The recently refurbished athletics track and field can be used by the public on a booking basis.

Colwyn Bay Library- Opened in 1905, to celebrate the coronation of King Edward VII, Colwyn Bay Library is a real community hub run by the Conwy Council. The library has much to offer including Free Wi-Fi, free access to public computers, as well as printing, scanning and photocopying services. There is a dedicated children’s library, which also runs clubs and groups for families and the building has great disabled access, ideal for both wheelchairs and prams, there is also a lift available.

Eating and Drinking

Virgilios- this amazing family-run pizzeria and Portuguese grill restaurant that has been in business for over 35 years.

Sip Café- This lovely little licensed café in the heart of Colwyn Bay, offers quality homecooked food and locally sourced coffee. Independently owned and run, the

beautiful rustic décor makes it the perfect place to relax with a coffee or meet up with friends and enjoy a glass of wine or two.

Haus- Unwind, catch up and indulge at Haus Coffee shop, a great little café that aims to blend German hospitality with Welsh creativity. Serving fantastic breakfasts, brunch and lunches, as well as speciality coffees, Haus offers a warm and inviting atmosphere and some very delectable cakes.

Wetherspoons- This local Wetherspoons resides within the former Princess cinema, built around 1914, and known as the Picture House. A grand three-storey pub/restaurant, Wetherspoons offers a great atmosphere and plush interior, whether it is for drinks, coffee, snacks, or meals. A really popular meeting spot in the heart of the town or a stop off on the way through, being mere feet away from the train station.

Venue @The Clockhouse- A popular Indian eatery on the main road in Colwyn Bay, this restaurant has now been going strong for over 25 years. With its authentic décor and great service, the spacious Clockhouse offers an extensive range of traditional Asian dishes and European cuisine at very reasonable prices, as well as an all-you-can-eat buffet available at weekends. This restaurant has become extremely popular with customers of all ages.

The Black Cloak – This small brewery and taproom on the main high street has become extremely popular with visitors and locals alike. Winner of Pub of the year in 2022 by Abercolwyn CAMRA, this small but perfectly formed space is cosy and welcoming, serving their own brew ales alongside a vast array of both local and worldwide offerings. This small business has flourished over the last few years and has now opened a second brewery Taproom in Denbigh.

Travel

Originally, a tramline was operated between Llandudno, Rhos-on-Sea and Colwyn Bay, until the late 1950s, however this has now been replaced by trains, buses and roadway. The Town is served by Colwyn Bay railway station, run by Transport for Wales and Avanti West Coast. Located right in the centre of town, offering rail transport to the whole of the UK, with Chester, a hugely popular city, merely 40 minutes journey away. The A55, the main express way, passes right through Colwyn Bay, offering easy links to all major roads. The local bus services are excellent in the town and allows all day travel between towns and further afield.