Aberystwyth Tourism


leaning signpost

Touristy Stuff

Wet Ones

Café / Pubs
Museum
Arts Centre
Sports Centre
Cinema
Shopping
Library
Board Games
Card Games
TV

Wet Sundays

Pubs
Cinema
Board Games
Card Games
TV
Leave

Shopping

Aberystwyth high street is full of shops that you can see in any high street in Britain - with a few sea-side shops thrown in. A few exceptions are:

  • The Mecca - speciality teas, coffees & paraphernalia
  • Siop y Pethe - Welsh book shop
  • Maeth y Meysydd - whole foods and herbs, packaged in the shop
  • Old Bakery Cookshop - stylish cookery equipment
  • Jump down this page to the Local Commerce section for more shopping links

Early closing is on Wednesday afternoon but only a few locally owned shops close these days.
Many travel agents and banks will exchange currency as will the Post Office (where it's commission free)

Markets

“small
fragmented
markets”

The recent building boom in Aberystwyth have led to the movement of the market into less and less favourable locations which have left the ancient market town with several small fragmented markets. Aberystwyth's loss is Machynlleth's gain whose large thriving market justifies the term 'market town'.

Market HallMarket Hall

Market Hall:

Open year round Monday-Saturday: about 11-5 but not all the stores are open all the time.

Saturday Market

Saturday market:

Weekly on Saturday(!) around the Market Hall a dozen or so stalls

Farmers MarketFarmers Market

Farmers market:

One or two dozen stalls every 1st & 3rd Saturday of the month along North Parade (or sometimes along Baker Street) selling local farm produce

European MarketEuropean Market

European market (touring):

2 dozen stalls 2-3 times a year along North Parade

Winter MarketWinter Market

Winter Market:

Large market held on 3 days along Park Avenue (1st Monday after the 12th of November and the subsequent 2 Mondays). This market is accompanied by a funfair in the evening

Summer Clarach MarketSummer Clarach Market

Summer Market:

Large 'summer' market held in Clarach from Easter to the end of July then moving to Tre'r ddol till the end of September

Mac' Market:

Large popular weekly on Wednesday's in Machynlleth

Property, Accommodation, Hotels and Bars


Wildlife Enthusiast

Harbour Swans

The combination of rural, coastal, mountains, rivers and estuaries provides a rich variety of habitats for wildlife. Buzzards and Red Kites are often seen above the local hills. The tidal Dovey estuary, is home to many birds and a resting and feeding area for many more exotic species in migration. The coastline is home to seals and the bay home to dolphins.



Kids Activities

Most of these activities are only suitable for the summer and most would require parental supervision - especially around water and tides.

Need: Transport + Money

ynyslas Dunes and Beach

Need: Transport

Nant Y Moch Reservoir

Need: Money

Stream Train at Devils Bridge
  • Cafe's with board games: Fresh Ground & Blue Creek
  • Leisure Centre
  • Municipal Tennis Courts
  • Boat Ride
  • Camera Obscura
  • Cliff Railway
  • Steam Train
  • Cinema (Often there are matinee showings during the summer school vacation)
  • Summer Season (Music children's theatre in the Arts Centre)
  • Cambrian Coast train to Harlech - Day return

Free

Harbour Swans
Plas crug play park
skate park
  • Beach: Clarach / North Beach /South Beach / Tan-y-Bwlch - Rock Pools (Aberystwyth North & South beaches often have lifeguards during the summer school vacation)
  • Swans & Ducks: Harbour
  • Castle Grounds
  • Cycle Ride
  • Play park: Castle / Plas Crug
  • Picnic: Beach / Castle
  • Walk over Consti'
  • Walk up Pendinas
  • Walk Cwm Woods / Penglais Nature park
  • Treasure Hunt
  • Skate + Cycle Area (Boulervard St Brieuc, just on from the Cop Shop)
  • Wellie walk
  • Watch Steam Train at the Station
  • Blackberry Picking (August & September)
  • National Library Exhibitions
  • Museum
  • Books: Children's section of town library
  • Arts Centre galleries
  • Outdoor Paddling Pool (Only filled during the summer season)

Paddling Pool Stream Train at Aberystwyth

Near-by

As anyone who's been here for a while will tell you, one of the best things about Aber' is its doorstep! And right on the doorstep of Aberystwyth are the following:

  • 4km SouthEast Guide to History of Nanteos Mansion (ghosts and all!) and its current use as a Country Hotel and Restaurant.
  • 18km South Guide to the village of Pennant including lots of history


Extra notes - for visitors who plan

Aberystwyth byelaws include:
  • Alcohol may not be consumed in the streets
  • Between the 1st May and 30th September dogs are not allowed on the beaches and should be kept on leads near the beaches.
Tourist Information Office
A 3 minute walk from the Railway station towards the sea, just past Boots Chemists
Launderettes
Bath St (sic), next to Cinema
North Parade, near Cycle Shop
Bridge St, near the middle
Walking up to Arts Centre / Campus
If you're not used to hills, slow down just after the hospital car park
Walking up Constitution Hill
Good boots as it's slippery when wet
Park & Ride Bus
Every 15 minutes
Rain
A hat's usually better than a brolly (there's less 'lift')
Supermarket
The Spar next to WH Smiths is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Coop - open till 22:00 most nights
Most open on Sunday 10:00-16:00
Easy to find meeting points
Pier
Bandstand
Town Clock
In front of Railway Station
In front of Barclays Bank
Post Office
2 Minute walk from Town Clock towards centre of town - just past Woolworths
Phone Cards - mobile
Most newsagents and supermarkets
Phone Cards - pre-paid international
Some Newsagents
Park Avenue Toilets (2 minutes from Train Station)
Spacious
Clean
Hot Water
Separate baby changing room
Sunday Evening
Most cafés & restaurants are closed
Beach Shower
on the Southern side of the Bandstand
After heavy or prolonged rain the train line around Dovey Junction often floods, so it's not unusual for buses to be used for train passengers between Aberystwyth and Machynlleth


.... more local images on a larger map