Address: 28 Albert Drive
Telephone: 07899168719
Mobile: 07899168719
Email: james@conwyguidedtours.com
Website: https://www.conwyguidedtours.com/
I am an Official White Badge Guide for Conwy and Llandudno and a Gold Award Tourism Ambassador for Conwy. I absolutely love North Wales and revel in sharing its many delights with visitors and locals alike.
I set up Conwy Guided Tours to offer personable high quality tours which offer a relaxed and easy-going experience built on a solid foundation of engaging knowledge and colourful stories. I regard it as a privilege getting to meet people from all over the world and tailoring tours to suit their passions, interests and priorities. The most popular Tours currently include Conwy Castle, Conwy Town, Llandudno and The Conwy Ghost Tour but I deliver any combinations of these alongside completely bespoke experiences to provide the perfect experience for visitors.
With a degree in history and having taught the subject for 30 years I have always been fascinated by the many layers of the past that are packed into the towns of Conwy and Llandudno, each of which is unique in its own way. But these vibrant coastal resorts are not all about the past and there is so much more to share in towns with enviable reputations for food and drink, art, natural beauty, bustling quaysides and promenades, engineering marvels and locally sourced goods available from a wide range of independent shops, galleries and delicatessens.
Castles
Conwy Castle is one of the most spectacular medieval fortresses in Britain, its soaring towers and curtain walls dominating the estuary and town below. Built by Edward I as part of his dramatic conquest of Wales, it remains an awe-inspiring attraction where visitors can walk the battlements and step inside the story of the Middle Ages. On my guided tours, the stones truly come alive through expert interpretation of how the castle was built, defended, and lived in. I share vivid stories of kings, soldiers, and ordinary people, along with the dramatic events that shaped Conwy’s past.
Churches Chapels and Cathedrals
St Mary's Church is a grade I listed building at the heart of Conwy. It is one of the most historic churches in Wales and parts of it date from the 1170's when Aberconwy Abbey was founded here by Cistercian monks. It went on to become central to Welsh learning and national identity with close ties to the Princes of Gwynedd.
From the arrival of St Tudno in the 6th century, whose small church on the Great Orme marks the area’s earliest Christian roots, places of worship have shaped Llandudno’s identity as centres of community, learning, and local life. As the town expanded rapidly as a Victoria
Coastline
Conwy sits on the banks of the tidal estuary of the River Conwy and continues to enjoy a vibrant relationship with the sea. Today its mussel industry is a famed as its pearls were in the past. The harbour is testament to the active fishing industry and coastal management has included world firsts in engineering.
Llandudno’s coastline, framed by the Great Orme and Little Orme headlands, creates a natural bay that has long provided shelter, striking scenery, and access to the Irish Sea. In the 19th century this setting made the town an ideal seaside resort, with the North Shore beach, promenade
Folklore and Traditions
There are many stories that have been told in this part of the world for centuries. From the first woman in Wales to convicted of and executed for witchcraft to the many ghost stories that linger in the town and fascinate visitors. Many of the stories are linked to some of the most bloody events in the town's past.
Food and Drink
Conwy’s food and drink scene mixes tradition with creativity, from cafés within the medieval walls to fine dining and restaurants serving fresh local produce and seafood. Independent bakeries, great fish and chips, and friendly pubs give the town a warm, memorable flavour.
Llandudno offers a lively blend of classic seaside treats and modern dining, from promenade restaurants to relaxed bistros and coffee spots. Local ingredients and stylish bars add a contemporary twist to the town’s Victorian charm.
Gardens and Stately Homes
Plas Mawr is the finest and best preserved Elizabethan townhouse in Britain and Aberconwy House is the oldest secular house in Wales. Along with the famed castle there are multiple historic properties to explore in Conwy.
History and Prehistory
Conwy’s history is written in stone, from its great Edwardian castle and town walls to streets that still echo with medieval life. Trade, defence, and community shaped this fortress town, where centuries of Welsh history sit side by side.
Llandudno’s story reaches back to prehistory, with ancient copper mines on the Great Orme showing life here over 4,000 years ago. From early settlements and St Tudno’s church to its rise as a planned Victorian resort, ancient roots meet seaside heritage and natural beauty.