A glorious seaside spot with a brilliant cafe, beach, play areas and a fantastic quirky place to stay the night has been discovered by a family who say their children fought back tears when they had to leave.
Discovering Llanfairfechan
British coastal resorts have long been popular hotspots for families, but the seaside village of Llanfairfechan is one that many have overlooked. Despite being just off one of the country's busiest roads, this beautiful little spot feels like a hidden gem. It is lovely and quiet, and rarely mentioned when people talk about great seaside towns in Wales. Slipping under the radar has its perks: it was so peaceful that visitors often had the stretch of beach all to themselves. Long walks splashing in the waves while admiring glorious views out to Puffin Island and Anglesey, and over to the Great Orme and Llandudno, are a highlight.
Llanfairfechan grew as a resort town in north Wales in Victorian times and was a favourite spot of Prime Minister William Gladstone. It features a lengthy promenade next to the sea, a beautiful row of pastel-coloured villas, and the spectacular Penmaenmawr mountain as a backdrop, giving it a picture postcard feel. When the sun is shining, it is the most perfect place for a family visit. Locals jokily call it 'Llanfairote', a playful nod to the Spanish island.
Things to Do
There are two free play areas, a skate park, a boating lake, and from May through summer, an adorable free community paddling pool open daily from 10am to 7pm. With the vast expanse of beach to explore, there is loads to do without spending a penny. The beach offers glorious views along the Welsh coast, and if you look closely, you can even see the shape of Beaumaris Castle and as far as Penrhyn.
While there is plenty to entertain in Llanfairfechan itself, it also offers a perfect base for wider explorations. A walk to Aber Falls or a short journey to the historic town of Conwy to visit the castle are highly recommended.
Where We Stayed
The family stayed in one of the colourful seafront villas, the pretty pink Claremont, with glorious views right next to the beach. This family-owned home has been passed down through several generations and has recently become a very chic holiday let thanks to the interiors inspiration of owner Kate. The family spent three years renovating the property with an eclectic mix of stylish furnishings. Kate said: 'This house is very special to us and has been in my family for over 80 years. It's been a real labour of love, we have been letting the house out for coming up to 4 years now and it is really rewarding having other families fall in love with the house and area.'
The house boasts wonderful airy rooms spread across three floors, with bed accommodation for up to eight people, including a room with bunk beds for children. There is also a private back garden that gets the sun in the mornings, and a long stretch of garden at the front looking out to the sea. On the ground floor is a stylish kitchen and dining room, while upstairs is the main living room, both making the most of spectacular bay front windows with views across the beach and sea to Puffin Island and Anglesey. It was glorious to sit in these windows and watch the sun set over the islands each evening, and see the bright lights of Llandudno prickle to life on the coast as night fell.
The owners have kindly left board games available for use during the stay. The children fell in love with the place and were fighting back tears when they had to pack up to head home after a sunny weekend.
Food and Drink
The village boasts a brilliant local cafe and takeaway called Seagrass. It is recommended to book takeaway ahead of arrival as it gets busy. The fish and chips are epic, with an unusual light batter and chips in the traditional style. Weekly specials include spicy fried chicken with salad, and children enjoy chicken and chips. Pizzas are also very popular. With good weather, one can sit out on the beach to eat food from takeaway boxes. They also cook up epic brunch dishes, freshly-baked cakes, traybakes, and ice creams. For something more casual, a traditional beachside cafe on the Promenade offers hot and cold food.
Another recommendation is Johnny Dough's pizzas in Conwy, serving giant fresh wood-fired pizzas. If you head there before 6pm, kids can make their own pizza.
Staying There
The Claremont on The Promenade in Llanfairfechan is a full house holiday let that sleeps up to eight people, with four bedrooms and three bathrooms. The minimum break is three nights, while four-day short breaks start from £645. Good availability remains for bookings in June and September 2026. All bookings are via the Claremont by the Sea website. Llanfairfechan is just off the North Wales Expressway (A55) between Llandudno and Bangor, and there is also a train station.
