Cheap Hotels Swansea
What to see by foot: Swansea
    
It is worthwhile to hire a bicycle and ride along the five mile perimeter of
the bay from the Maritime Quarter to Swansea's Victorian seaside resort of Mumbles.
This is the same route that the world's first railway service followed in 1807.
The views around the bay are spectacular and there are plenty of places to stop
and grab a bite or simply sit in a café.
There are two castles worth visiting within the city: Swansea Castle and Oystermouth
Castle. Swansea Castle originally was a centre of administration, as well as
residence, but was badly destroyed in the 14th century. In the 19th century
the castle was still in use, as a debtor's prison. Oystermouth Castle, which
was originally called Ystumllwynarth, is one of the best preserved castles in
Wales. The present castle is Norman stronghold dating back to the 12th century.
From the castle the views are simply magnificent, overlooking Swansea Bay. In
the summer months opera and Shakespearean performances take place here, using
the castle as a backdrop.
Swansea city and county boast over 54 public parks and although Clyne Gardens
and Country Park is considered the prettiest, Cwmdonkin is another park worth
visiting. With beautiful seaside views, it inspired the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas
who wrote Return Journey and The Hunchback In The Park here. The park has a
beautiful Italian water garden, bowling green and tennis courts.
In the city centre, visit Plantasia, an indoor park consisting of exotic species
encased in a climactically controlled glass pyramid. This park sustains some
5,000 fauna specimens throughout its computer regulated zones, such as arid,
desert and rainforest. The park also boasts a butterfly house, tropical fish,
and insect and reptile displays.
There are two museums within the Maritime Quarter worth visiting: the Swansea
Maritime Museum and the Swansea Museum. The Maritime Museum includes Wales'
largest display of floating exhibits, a working woollen mill, transport displays
and a tram shed containing an exhibition devoted to Mumbles Train - the world's
first fare paying passenger railway. The Swansea Museum includes a priceless
collection of rare Swansea and Nantgarw porcelain, a cabinet of curiosities,
dinosaur skeleton and the 4,000 year old mummy of the Egyptian priest Hor.
Swansea Market, on Oxford Street, is one of the largest indoor markets in the
southern UK. A wonderful place to browse, stroll and shop, there are many shops
and stalls here, selling everything from local produce to jewellery, art, crafts
and souvenirs.
Selection of hotels in this region:
Ramada Encore Swansea | | Express by Holiday Inn Swansea | | Ramada Jarvis Swansea | | Holiday Inn Swansea | | Aberavon Beach Hotel | | Swansea Marriott Hotel | |
Click below for a
full list of hotels and online booking
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