Tourist Wales .co.uk

Llandrindod Wells

Your position in "Tourist Wales" is:  Home > Places > Llandrindod Wells

Llandrindod Wells (Llandod for short) is a spa town about 35 miles inland from Aberystwyth. It is famous for its Victorian buildings and its annual Victorian festival.

Click here for a map of Llandrindod Wells. See this site's map page for details on printing the map. Note that on the map:

• Ithon Road (coloured road at top left) is the A4081 to the A470 Rhayader to Builth Wells Road.
• The coloured road running to the top of the map from the top of Temple Street is Tremont Road and is the A483 to Newtown.
• Temple Street at the bottom of the map is the A483 to Builth Wells.

Tourist Information

The phone number for the Tourist Information Centre is: 01597 822600. The centre itself is in "The Automobile Palace" where Spa Road joins Temple Street (i.e. not where it is shown on the map).

Some useful websites:

• General information.
• Victorian Festival.

Information last reviewed: 11th/7/06.

Parking

• Car parks along High Street (pay-and-display).
• Road parking along Princes Avenue down to the lake.
• Free off road parking by the lake on Princes Avenue and behind the buildings by the lake.

Information last reviewed: 11th/7/06.

Museums

• Town Museum: on Tremont Road (shown as Temple Street on the map) opposite where South Crescent joins it. This is a small museum covering the local area. My daughter was 3 & 1/2 when I first took her on a short visit to it. We both enjoyed the combination of me showing her things and her asking me about things that caught her interest. Both my children particularly enjoy the cabinet of mystery objects. This offers plenty of scope for the children to ask about things that interest them and you can also use the supplied information sheets to see if they can remember which draw a certain object was in. For more information on "Llandrindod (Radnor) Museum" phone 01597 824513.
• There is a beautiful cycle museum in "The Automobile Palace" where Spa Road joins Temple Street. My daughters were 3 and 6 when we visited the museum. They both enjoyed looking at the early machines, especially when the curator demonstrated one of them for them. The unfamiliar designs of some of the bikes was a source of amusement for all of us. For more information on the "National Cycle Collection" phone 01597 825531.

Information last reviewed: 7th/9/06.

Parks and Playgrounds

• Rock Park. This is an area of woods with a ravine that has buggy friendly paths. The entrance is between Norton Terrace and Park Terrace (top left quarter of the map). We use this for shaded picnics and to let the kids drag us around exploring. There is also a huge statue of a dog near to the spa buildings.
• Along Princes Avenue is a wooded and grassed area. Here there is also a large fenced playground with a separate area for small children. This is one of the best playgrounds in this part of Wales, it is well kept and a favourite of our children. Note that during autumn 2006 this park is being renovated.
  
  The woods here are a great place for short nature walks. When my daughter was five we looked at the dead trees, new plants growing in the clearings etc. Note that this area tends to get overgrown by the summer.

A good way to link the two park areas above is to follow the footpath at the end of Park Terrace under the railway line, along the small stream, until you get to Temple Street. If you cross over and go between the buildings opposite you will be on Western Promenade at the top end of the parks area along Princes Avenue.

Information last reviewed: 19th/9/06.

Walks

• Around the Rock Park itself (see section above). Whilst in the park you can follow the road that runs past the Spa building and take the footpath (not buggy friendly) to Lover's Leap. This is an area of woodland with an unfenced precipitous drop down to the river.
• In the park along Princes Avenue is a very large lake (see photo 1) that has buggy friendly paths right around it. We often take the kids for a walk around here. It is also a good place to feed the ducks. The shop next to the lake sells duck food.

Information last reviewed: 11th/7/06.

Shops and Eating

The shopping is Llandrindod is quite limited. The main shopping areas are:

• Middleton Street (includes Boots).
• Station Crescent and along Tremont Road (shown as Temple Street on the map) to Spa Road.
• Between Park Terrace and the Spa Road railway bridge.
• There is a Somerfield supermarket between Middleton Street and the railway line. Its car park is by the Spa Road railway bridge.
• There is a Kwik Save on Station Cresent near the railway station.

Places to eat:

• We usually eat in the "The Big Five" down the side alleyway of the Somerfield (see above) or
• in "Garlands Cafe" halfway along Middleton Street or
• the cafe upstairs in the building by the lake in the Princes Avenue park.
• There is a fish and chip shop by the car parks on High Street.
• Picnic in Rock Park (see "Parks and Playgrounds" above).
• Picnic on the picnic tables by the off road parking by the lake in the Princes Avenue park. The shop on the lower level of the building by the lake sells hot and cold drinks, ice creams, sweets and a few cakes.

Information last reviewed: 11th/7/06.

Toilets

• Station Crescent by the railway station (basic). Nappy change facilities in toilets.
• By the Town Museum on Tremont Road (shown as Temple Street on the map) opposite where South Crescent joins it (basic). Nappy change facilities in toilets.
• The lower level of the building by the lake in the Princes Avenue Park (best in town). Nappy change facilities in toilets.

Information last reviewed: 11th/7/06.

Other Attractions in the Area

Quackers Indoor Play Centre

This is a bright colourful play barn. There are two big slides, one of which is quite a challenging drop slide. There are the usual climbing areas, ball pit etc, as well as a separate toddlers section. There is also a cafe.

All children must wear socks and to use the drop slide you must be wearing long sleeved clothes. Adults are free to use the equipment as well. My daughters first used this centre at three and five. They both stormed around the main two storey play area for 2 and 1/2 hours. My younger daughter did feel happier with me or my wife helping her though.

"Quackers" is quite difficult to find. From Llandrindod take the A4081 and after about 3 miles turn down the B4358 for Newbridge on Wye. "Quackers" is signposted on your left just before you enter Newbridge, its entrance is marked by an old aircraft (see photo 2). From Rhayder take the A470 to Builth Wells. After about 8 miles you come to Newbridge on Wye. Take the B4358 towards Llandrindod Wells. Just after you leave the village "Quakers" is signposted on your right. Note that the "Halt Cafe" that you will pass on the A470 is a good place to stop with children.

For more information phone 01597 860111 or visit Quackers Now.com. You will need to check opening times if you intend to visit on a week day during school term times.

Information last reviewed: 19th/9/06.

Disclaimer: This site is based on the author's experiences with his own children and therefore the advice may not be applicable to other children. The comments provided are the author's own opinions and should be treated as such. The author does not accept any responsibility for any damage, loss or injury resulting from the use of this site.