City travel guide for Swansea

Swansea and the surrounding area are a combination of beautiful unspoiled coast and landscapes. The scenery in this part of Wales is simply stunning with some exciting wildlife, picture postcard villages and lively towns. Swansea bay is the perfect location to relax and enjoy yourself whether you prefer to spend your time cycling around the countryside, walking in and around Swansea, bird watching or living it up in the cities attractions, shopping facilities or nightlife. There is so much to do in this area for the whole family what ever your age or interests.

Swansea offers a host of indoor and outdoor activities, most of which are open what ever time of year, making Swansea perfect whatever the weather or season. There is so much heritage and culture to explore as well as excellent festivals and events. Plus as you would expect from a coastal city there is a multitude of watersports on offer as well as magnificent coastal and inland walking, with plenty of bike tracks. For the more adventurous why not try paragliding, handgliding and microlighting.

Just a short distance from Swansea is the Gower Peninsula, this was the first area in the UK designated as an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Here you will find a mixture of green hills, rugged lime stone cliffs, secluded sandy bays, wooded valleys, and spectacular commons grazed by wild ponies.

If the vast sweep of Swansea Bay is not enough beach for you then take in the picturesque coastal resort of Mumbles or Rhossili, which offers breathtaking views. However there is more to Swansea and Gower than beaches and outstanding natural beauty, all its secrets are waiting to be explored and discovered.

Arts

Brangwyn Hall
Major concert hall for classical music.
Telephone: 01792 635 489

Glynn Vivian Art Gallery
An excellent selection of international and local art in a variety of art forms.
Location: Off Alexandra Road
Telephone: 01792 655 006

Swansea's Art Workshop
A changing program of contemporary art and a craft shop, displaying work from top craft makers from all over Britain.
Telephone: 01792 652 016

The Dylan Thomas Center
Regular poetry readings, talks, celebrity interviews and exhibitions.
Telephone: 01792 463 980

Egypt Center
Home to the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts outside the British Museum in London.
Telephone: 01792 295 960

Attractions

Plantasia
Enjoy this 'hot house garden' right in the center of Swansea. Here you can explore a wealth of exotic wildlife from plants, flowers, butterflies and reptiles, plus much more on the voyage of discovery.
Location: Off the Strand, behind the cinema
Telephone: 01792 474 555

Swansea Museum
Discover the past of Swansea, see on ancient Egyptian mummy and many more delights.
Location: Off Victoria Road
Telephone: 01792 653 763

Swansea Maritime & Industrial Museum
Learn about Wales maritime and industrial past in this excellent museum.
Location: Off Oystermouth Road, behind the leisure center.
Telephone: 01792 650 351

The Dylan Thomas Center
Celebrate the life of Swansea's most famous son Dylan Thomas the outstanding poet.
Location: Off Victoria Road
Telephone: 01792 463 980

Singleton Park & Botanic Gardens
An excellent venue for an afternoon stroll, wonder among the exotic plants, gardens and greenhouses, home to some tropical plants.
Location: A few miles from Swansea, near Sketty
Telephone: 01792 298 637

Glyn Gardens
Beautiful gardens with a delightful selection of flowers.
Location: A few miles from Swansea, near Black Pill
Telephone: 01792 298 637

Mumbles Gardens
All weather tennis courts, bowels and nearby crazy golf.
Telephone: 01792 361 354

Clubs

Were ever you are basing your stay in Swansea you will always be able to reach one of the many pubs, wine bars or nightclubs. The vast selection of pubs and wine bars also buzz with live music and entertainment. You will find pubs that deal in traditional ales and many serve good food.

During the day many off the pubs are a delight to sit in or outside if the weather permits and people watch while you relax in the friendly environment. While at night the atmosphere livens up for a great night and gives you a chance to party hard. The number of nightclubs in Swansea is growing and all offer an excellent night out.

If you travel to the surrounding area of Swansea you are sure to find a friendly country pub or a sea shore tavern

Leisure

There are so many sports and leisure activities to enjoy in Swansea and the surrounding area from hard core sports of paragliding, microlighting, sailing, surfing, cycling and walking, plus many more you could think of, to more leisurely activities of strolling through villages and parks, or along Swansea Bay itself.Swansea Leisure Center
An excellent leisure center with fun pool, hydroslide, a spacebowl, a giant slide, and great facilities for the under 7's including, the pirate shipwreck and a wave machine. Plus for those who do not want to get wet there are fitness suites, Badminton, squash, Keep fit classes and more.
Location: Off Victoria Road
Telephone: 01792 649 126Ashley Road Golf Course
9 hole pitch and put with pay and play.
Telephone: 01792 207 544Singleton Boating Lake
Boating Lake, Crasy Golf, and children play area.
Telephone: 01792 296 031Swansea Tennis Court
Indoor and outdoor tennis.
Telephone: 01792 650 484Morfa Stadium
Running track, all weather pitches indoor facilities.
Telephone: 01792 476 578Penlan Leisure Center
Modern leisure center with family pool and fitness facilities.
Telephone: 01792 588 079

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Pubs

If you travel to the surrounding area of Swansea you are sure to find a friendly country pub or a sea shore tavern

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Restaurants

There are many places to dine and eat out in Swansea with a range of culinary delight from all over the world; there are also many traditional Welsh menus well worth a try. Listed below is a sample selection of wha

Continental

Continental Grill
Location: 21 Wind Street
Telephone: 01792 654 121

Indian

Balti Place
Location: 22a Woodfield, St Moriston
Telephone: 01792 797 020

Nawab
Location: 12 Christina Street
Telephone: 01792 470 770

Italian

Pizzeria Vesuvio
Location: 200 Neath Road, Landore
Telephone: 01792 648 346

Bellitalia
Location: 31B St. Helens Road
Telephone: 01792 512 421

Chattery Restaurant
Location: 59 Uplands Crescent, Uplands
Telephone: 01792 473 275

Brewers Fayre
Location: Commercial Inn, 403 Gower Road, Killay
Telephone: 01792 203 980

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Shopping

Swansea is the major shopping center of West Wales. In the Quadrant Center you'll find everything from modern department stores, high street names to smaller unique clothes shops and boutiques. The remainder of the shopping area stretches from High Street to Oxford Street and the Kingsway. A must visit for any fresh food produces is Swansea Market were you will find many foods including traditional Welsh specialties and Swansea Laverbread.

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Transport

Air

Swansea nearest airport is at Cardiff Wales airport, only 50-minute away from Swansea be car. Direct flights link Dublin and other European cities with Cardiff Wales Airport.
Telephone: For Cardiff Wales Airport 02920 71 11 11

Car

Swansea is easy to reach by road. The M4 Motorway runs directly to Swansea, the M6, M5, M42 and M50 connect the area to the North and South West England and the Midlands.

Coach

The main bus station is also close to the center. National Express Coach services run all over the U.K. offering a good service from a wide range of pick up points and destinations.
Telephone: National Express - 0990 80 80 80

Rail

Swansea train station is situated close to the center and there are services to Swansea from all over the U.K.
Telephone: 0345 48 49 50

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UK Map

Swansea

Arts

Attractions

Clubs

Leisure

Pubs

Restaurants

Shopping

Transport

UK City Guides