Aberaeron in Ceredigion has been named the prettiest town in Wales, with its pastel-coloured terraced houses and relaxed harbour charm earning it the title ahead of more famous contenders like Tenby and Hay-on-Wye.
While Portmeirion in Gwynedd is often cited for its colourful, Italian-inspired architecture on a private peninsula, and Tenby in Pembrokeshire is known for its pastel Georgian houses and medieval lanes, Aberaeron has repeatedly topped lists as the prettiest town in Wales. Hay-on-Wye in Powys, dubbed the 'town of books', and Conwy with its 13th-century UNESCO World Heritage fortress, are also among the country's most admired settlements.
What makes Aberaeron stand out
Writing last month, Love Exploring described the town: "With its terraced houses painted in cheerful pastel shades, Aberaeron stands out as one of the prettiest towns on the West Wales coast. Set around a small harbour where yachts bob and seagulls wheel overhead, it has a relaxed charm." The publication also noted the town's honey ice cream and its role as a base for coastal walks or dolphin-spotting boat trips along Cardigan Bay, as well as its position on the Wales Coast Path, making it popular with walkers and cyclists.
The fishing town, with views across Cardigan Bay, is renowned for its Georgian and Regency-style townhouses framing the harbour. It offers a quieter alternative to Tenby or Portmeirion, with promenade strolls and the chance to spot bottlenose dolphins and grey seals.
Food, shops and celebrity praise
Aberaeron is known for its fresh seafood restaurants and cosy pubs, along with its famous honey ice cream at The Hive, nestled along the harbour side. Independent shops include the bookshop Gwisgo Bookworm, and the town sits on both the Wales Coast Path and The Coastal Way.
The town has drawn celebrity attention, with Jeremy Clarkson praising it as "achingly beautiful". Following a short break, the Clarkson's Farm star said: "Every one of the terraced cottages around the harbour is a different colour. There was a trendy-looking shop selling honey ice cream and an old Citroën van where you could get Hackney-style hipster street food." He added: "It was achingly beautiful, and it was full of Enid Blyton kids going fishing and eating chips out of newspaper." Clarkson claimed his stay at the Harbourmaster Hotel surpassed his time at the Four Seasons in Miami, Florida, saying: "This is the best hotel ... in the world. The staff were fantastic, the view was pretty, they sold Hawkstone, and for dinner, I had deep-fried cockles followed by sea trout." The Harbourmaster Hotel is a five-star boutique establishment on the Georgian quayside, with 11 rooms, a bar and a seafood restaurant.
