At a glance
Colwyn Bay is a North Wales coastal town between Rhyl and Conwy — the Welsh Mountain Zoo is the principal attraction (snow leopards, orangutans, red pandas; 3–4 hours). The town has sandy beaches, Rhos-on-Sea's small harbour, and a restored Victorian pier. Good rail access from Chester, Rhyl, and Bangor. A practical mid-coast base that is generally more affordable than Llandudno.
About Colwyn Bay (Bae Colwyn)
Colwyn Bay was developed as a planned resort in the late Victorian era by the Pwllycrochan Estate, which laid out streets of substantial villas on the hillside above the railway and built the infrastructure of a resort — the promenade, the pier, the gardens — in a relatively short period from the 1870s onward. The result is a town with a coherent if modest Victorian character: good stone and brick architecture on the upper hillside streets, a promenade that retains its proportions even if some of the buildings behind it have changed character, and the park and garden spaces that defined the Edwardian resort ideal.
The Welsh Mountain Zoo, established on the Pwllycrochan estate gardens in 1963, has grown to become the dominant attraction that makes Colwyn Bay a destination as well as a through-point on the North Wales coast. The zoo's conservation focus — its breeding programmes for endangered species, its membership of the European Endangered Species Programme — gives it a contemporary purpose that goes beyond the traditional zoo model, and the hillside gardens in which the animals are kept have a quality of setting unusual for urban zoos. The views from the upper sections of the zoo across Conwy Bay to the Great Orme and Llandudno are, on a clear day, among the finest panoramas from any zoo in Britain.
What to see and do
- Welsh Mountain Zoo — snow leopards, orangutans, red pandas, Asiatic lions, and extensive bird collection; 3–4 hours.
- Colwyn Bay Beach — sandy beach with Conwy Bay views; promenade and pier.
- Rhos-on-Sea — smaller beach with traditional fishing harbour at the eastern end of the bay.
- Eirias Park — free public park with sports facilities and open space; summer events programme.
- Victoria Pier — restored Victorian pier on the seafront.
- Llandudno and Great Orme — 5 miles west by road or rail; full day options.
Getting to Colwyn Bay
By rail: North Wales Coast Line — Llandudno Junction 8 minutes, Rhyl 12 minutes, Chester 40 minutes, Bangor 25 minutes. Station is at sea level; the Welsh Mountain Zoo requires an uphill walk or short taxi ride.
By road: A55 Junctions 22–23. From Chester: approximately 40 miles. From Manchester: M56, A55 — approximately 80 miles.
Parking: Town centre car parks and promenade pay-and-display. The Welsh Mountain Zoo has its own car park on the Pwllycrochan Avenue approach.
Find it on the map
Frequently asked questions
Colwyn Bay is known principally for the Welsh Mountain Zoo — one of the major zoos in Wales, set on the hillside above the town with views across Conwy Bay. The town also has Rhos-on-Sea beach (Penrhyn Bay to the east) and a seafront promenade. The Victoria Pier, restored after decades of neglect, is a heritage attraction on the seafront. Colwyn Bay was developed as a Victorian and Edwardian resort and retains substantial architecture from that period — the hillside Eirias Park and the old town centre reflect this heritage.
The Welsh Mountain Zoo is a charitable zoo on the hillside above Colwyn Bay, managing a collection of animals including snow leopards, Sumatran orangutans, red pandas, Asiatic lions, and numerous bird and reptile species. Set within mature gardens with views across Conwy Bay, the zoo has a strong conservation and breeding programme. It is one of the larger zoos in Wales and takes approximately 3–4 hours for a thorough visit. There is an on-site café and picnic areas throughout the grounds.
Colwyn Bay is served by Colwyn Bay railway station on the North Wales Coast Line — services run to Chester (40 minutes), Rhyl (12 minutes), Llandudno Junction (8 minutes), and Bangor (25 minutes). The Welsh Mountain Zoo is a 20-minute uphill walk or short taxi ride from the station. By road, the A55 passes through the town — Junction 22 (Colwyn Bay west) and Junction 23 (east). From Chester: A55, approximately 40 miles. From Manchester: M56, A55, approximately 80 miles.
Colwyn Bay Beach is a long stretch of sandy beach below the promenade, with views west across Conwy Bay to the Great Orme and Llandudno. Rhos-on-Sea Beach (Traeth Rhos) is at the eastern end of Colwyn Bay, slightly separated from the main beach and with its own character — a smaller, quieter beach with a small harbour. Penrhyn Bay Beach is further east, approaching the Little Orme headland. All are sandy and generally less crowded than the Rhyl and Llandudno beaches.
Colwyn Bay occupies a central position on the North Wales coast — Llandudno is 5 miles west, Conwy 8 miles west, and Rhyl 12 miles east. This makes it a reasonable coastal base for visiting both ends of the north coast without committing to either. Accommodation is generally more affordable than in Llandudno, and the rail connections are good. The Welsh Mountain Zoo is the primary reason to base in Colwyn Bay specifically rather than a neighbouring town.
Beyond the Welsh Mountain Zoo and the beach, Colwyn Bay has Eirias Park (free public park with pitch and putt and outdoor events), the Theatr Colwyn arts centre, and good access to the hillside residential areas above the town for walks with sea views. Rhos-on-Sea has a small fishing harbour that retains traditional character. Llandudno's Great Orme is a 10-minute drive west. The Conwy Valley Railway to Betws-y-Coed connects from Llandudno Junction, 8 minutes by train from Colwyn Bay.