Conwy: Hotels for a trip between castle and town walls

Conwy offers various starting points for a trip: Castell Conwy and the town walls, historic houses, the mussel tradition and trails in the surrounding area. If you’re looking for a hotel in Conwy, you can first consider whether you’re most interested in architecture and UNESCO heritage, local history, a guided town tour or the landscape around the estuary. Rail, road and cycle routes also provide practical reference points for planning.

Castle, town walls and townhouses

Castell Conwy was built by King Edward I and completed in just four years. Visitors can take a full walk along the restored battlements. The site thus combines a brief construction history with a distinctive walking experience.

The Conwy Town Walls are distinct from the castle: they form part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and are among the most outstanding and complete town walls in Europe. Walking along the walls, you can enjoy views of Castell Conwy, the estuary and Eryri (Snowdonia). A short section between Watch Tower and Wing Gate is currently closed. Take this restriction into account and check conditions before your visit.

The Conwy Town Trail offers a guided option. The 80-minute tour takes you through the walled town and the UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you plan to take this route, check locally for any changes to the trail.

Plas Mawr is the finest surviving Elizabethan townhouse in Britain; visitors can explore 17 rooms there. Robert Wynn bought a mansion for £200 and remodelled it as Plas Mawr between 1576 and 1585. Aberconwy House is different: it is the only medieval merchant’s house in Conwy to have survived the walled town’s eventful history for almost six centuries.

The town’s architectural history also includes its smallest measurements. The Smallest House in the UK in Conwy is 72 inches wide, 122 inches high and 120 inches deep. The last person to live in Britain’s Smallest House was Robert Jones; he was 1.905 metres tall.

Mussel tradition and culture

Conwy has had a mussel industry since Roman times. The Conwy Mussel Museum presents its history and the town’s tradition of pearl fishing. This local mussel history adds another aspect to the town’s story, alongside its architectural landmarks.

The Royal Cambrian Academy of Art regularly runs life-drawing classes throughout the year. If you’d like to include one in your trip, check the specific dates in advance. Scenic boat trips are also offered on the Conwy Estuary; they may be seasonal, so it’s a good idea to check the dates before your trip.

Trails in the surrounding area

Nearby, the nearly one-mile-long Redshank Trail runs through RSPB Conwy Nature Reserve to two bird hides and offers the chance to spot wetland birds. The two-mile-long Grey Heron Trail passes through salt marshes at the estuary to Vardre Viewpoint. Waders roost there at high tide. The two trails differ both in length and in their described destinations: bird hides on one, salt marshes and a viewpoint on the other.

Getting here and finding your way around

Conwy railway station is on the Crewe–Llandudno Junction–Holyhead line; check current services before your trip. Conwy can be reached via the A55. National Cycle Network Route 5 is 150 metres from the Conwy Town Walls, although local signage may change.

There is a bus stop directly outside the main entrance to Conwy Culture Centre; Conwy railway station is 250 metres away.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Trefriw, Llanfairfechan, Colwyn Bay, Pentrefoelas, Llandudno Junction, Penmaenmawr, Llansannan, Towyn.

For the broader travel overview: Conwy.