Conwy is one of the great medieval towns of Britain. Its 13th-century castle and almost entirely complete circuit of town walls form part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site alongside Caernarfon, Harlech and Beaumaris — Edward I’s ring of castles built to control Wales. The compact town within those walls is full of historic buildings, independent cafes and restaurants, and a working harbour. From Betws-y-Coed the drive north along the A470 and A55 takes about 30 minutes. It is one of the most worthwhile half-days or full days out from the village.
Built by Edward I between 1283 and 1289 as part of his conquest of Wales, Conwy Castle is one of the most formidable medieval fortresses in Europe. Eight massive round towers, the remains of the Great Hall and the Royal Apartments are all accessible. The castle was built in just four years by an estimated 1,500 workers — an extraordinary feat of medieval engineering — at a cost that would represent hundreds of millions of pounds today. Climb the towers for panoramic views across the estuary, the mountains and the rooftops of the walled town below. Managed by Cadw; adult entry is around £12, with discounts for children and families. No need to book ahead except during busy school holiday periods.
Conwy’s town walls stretch 1.3 kilometres and are among the most complete medieval circuits surviving anywhere in Europe. Three original gateways survive, and much of the wall walk is open to the public. Walking the full circuit — partly elevated, partly at street level — takes about an hour and reveals the town from above in a way that no amount of walking the streets can replicate. The walls are free to access and can be combined with a visit to the castle to form a two-hour exploration of medieval Conwy.
Plas Mawr, an Elizabethan townhouse on the High Street built between 1576 and 1585, is one of the best-preserved Renaissance buildings in Britain. The original plasterwork decoration, the warren of interconnected rooms and the authentic period furniture make it a genuinely absorbing visit. Managed by Cadw; entry charge applies. The High Street also holds Aberconwy House, one of the oldest surviving merchant houses in Wales, managed by the National Trust. The Smallest House in Britain — a genuine curiosity at just 3.05 metres high and 1.8 metres wide — stands on the quayside and has been lived in continuously until 1900.
Below the castle walls, Conwy’s working harbour remains busy with fishing boats. Conwy mussels have been harvested from the estuary for at least 700 years and appear on menus throughout the quayside restaurants. The waterfront is a natural place to eat after a morning of sightseeing: several restaurants serve fresh seafood with views across the estuary to the hills beyond. The Conwy suspension bridge — built by Thomas Telford in 1826 and now managed by the National Trust — is free to walk across.
Conwy is barely five minutes from Llandudno on the A55, making a combined visit straightforward. Llandudno is one of the best-preserved Victorian seaside resorts in Britain, with its curved promenade, pier and seafront hotels intact. A morning in Conwy followed by lunch and an afternoon on Llandudno’s seafront makes a very full day from Betws-y-Coed. Return via the A470 south through the Conwy Valley rather than the A55, and you add 10 minutes but gain a much more scenic route home.
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