Pontypridd, a market town just off the A470, offers a compelling winter day trip with its 150-year-old indoor market, award-winning dining venues, and the scenic Ynysangharad Memorial Park. While many visitors know the town's Lido from summer months, the area holds equal appeal on crisp winter mornings, from frosty park walks to festive town-centre events.
The town centre will stage a 'festive takeover' on December 5 this year, featuring an ice rink, reindeer, Christmas-themed entertainment including a silent disco, and Santa's Grotto.
Shopping and Market Quarter
Pontypridd's Market Quarter stands as proof of a town that maintained its belief in the traditional indoor market. Run by the John family, this 150-year-old market houses conventional butchers, fruit and vegetable stalls, Welshcakes, bakers and much more to fill your cupboards, while also offering books, memorabilia stalls, music and a card shop.
For something different, Mill Street is home to independent bookshop Storyville Books and Martha's Homestore, both championing pop-ups and fairs from local artists and artisan enterprises. At Martha's, visitors can discover vintage or contemporary gifts alongside cards, prints and candles. Further up Taff Street sits KooKoo Madame, a destination for fashion enthusiasts, accessory lovers and gift seekers. The town also features standard high street retailers including B&M, Boots, Superdrug and Peacocks.
Dining Destinations
Pontypridd hosts an award-winning authentic Chinese/Korean restaurant and a pub featured in the Good Food Guide. Starting in the Market Quarter, Janet's Authentic Northern Chinese Restaurant evolved from a humble street food stall within the market itself. Janet's offers authentic cuisine from her native Chinese region, which draws considerable influence from Korean cooking. Signature dishes such as volcano rice, beef bibimbap and honey fried chicken earned Janet the coveted Champion title at the 2021 British Street Food Awards.
Nearby, the Bunch of Grapes pub is a firm favourite amongst real ale enthusiasts, with an exceptional Sunday lunch. Prince's Restaurant is another cherished Ponty institution, an 80-year-old café with windows brimming with freshly baked cakes, pastries, pasties and bread. Expect it to be busy, but a milky coffee and custard slice make it entirely worthwhile. The menu includes cottage pie, tuna roll, gravy and corned beef slice.
Zucco on Mill Street produces exceptional coffees, cakes, pastries, pizzas and cocktails, the latter two typically available on weekend evenings. Perched overlooking the confluence of the River Taff and River Rhondda, cocktail speakeasy Tipsy Owl, winner of Best Bar at Wales Hospitality Awards 2025, awaits discovery down a purple-lit alleyway off High Street. Gatto Lounge offers an extensive loungers menu. Newly opened bars Paddy O'Bryns and Hotel Brigadoons, a pop-up situated within the former HSBC bank building — soon to be reimagined as a hotel and bar — are also worth a visit.
Things to Do in the Park and Beyond
Pontypridd's National Lido of Wales sits within the magnificent Ynysangharad Memorial Park, which deserves equal attention. This expansive green space in the heart of the town is teeming with wildlife, beautiful trees and plants, tennis courts, a cricket pitch and vast open areas to explore. The lido play area also serves as a fantastic playground for younger visitors.
Should the weather take a cooler turn, the nearby Pontypridd Museum offers an opportunity to delve into the town's rich industrial heritage. The recently reopened Muni hosts live music performances, cinema screenings and a variety of activities. Meanwhile, just across the road, YMa offers a packed festive programme of events.
