The WalesOnline team has named Tenby, in Pembrokeshire, the best seaside town in Wales. The classic resort, according to the team, has everything travellers and tourists need for a perfect trip, at any time of year – not just summer.
The team admits it is biased towards holidaying at home in the UK and says it would choose a Welsh weekend break or summer holiday any day. For them, Tenby is a no-brainer that ticks all the boxes, and the town's flag is well-waved by tourists and travel writers across the country.
Epic, sandy beaches stretch for miles, a boat-filled harbour is edged by pastel-painted houses, and cobbled streets are lined with fish and chip shops, brightly coloured bucket-and-spade displays and nostalgic shops. Tenby pairs that nostalgia and its castle walls with flecks of modernity and contemporary comfort, and the team reckons it cannot be beaten.
Food and drink in Tenby
From Michelin-approved fine dining at the local golf course to fresh crab sandwiches, warm Welshcakes and top pizza, the town has plenty to keep every taste well-fed. Links, the golf course restaurant led by a local chef, serves simple but tasty dishes made with Welsh produce, including hot-smoked salmon with cucumber and buttermilk, and heritage tomatoes with buffalo mozzarella. The atmosphere is relaxed but refined, with an unpretentious yet exciting menu.
Loafley Bakery and Deli on Upper Frogmore, a cobbled street packed with eating options, offers freshly made pastries and well-filled salads and sandwiches. Top Joe's Pizza brings Naples to Pembrokeshire with perfected crusts and toppings such as Inferno, wild boar salami and fresh chilli, while nearby Tap & Tan serves cold cocktails, beers and smoked meats.
D. Fecci and Sons on Lower Frog Street has been serving fish and chips since 1935, using Pembrokeshire potatoes and groundnut oil to keep haddock, cod and calamari light, with fresh mackerel added in summer. At the colourful harbour, the tiny Simply Seafood hut sells locally caught and sustainable lobster and crab rolls, prawns, cockles and whelks. The unmissable Sergeant's Lane is home to Tenby Brewing Co, whose warren of tap rooms and bars makes it a much-photographed spot.
Tenby's beaches
Visitors are spoilt for choice with Castle, Harbour, South and North beaches, all looking out over Carmarthen Bay and beyond. Castle Beach is tucked below the ruins of Tenby Castle and is the smallest of the town's sandy beaches, but arguably the most interesting. From there, St Catherine's Island and its old fort can be seen; it used to be a zoo and featured in the final episodes of BBC's Sherlock. At very low tide, the sand is continuous with South Beach, forming a two-mile stretch of golden beach.
The beaches are perfect for sandcastle building, and the bigger stretches are good for rounders on quieter days. Rocky cliffs and caves can be explored around the castle and South Beach, with care needed near cliffs. The sea deepens gradually, giving plenty of shore space for paddling. Castle Beach and South Beach have Blue Flag status. North Beach, sandwiched between Harbour Beach and the North Cliffs, is popular with locals and visitors.
While Tenby's beaches are busy in summer, they are large enough to escape the crowds, and late September or early October can bring late-summer or autumn sun.
Things to see and do near Tenby
Folly Farm Adventure Park and Zoo, about 20 minutes outside town, blends a zoo, vintage fairground, indoor and outdoor play areas and accommodation. It is home to more than 100 species, including the only giraffes in Wales, African lions, Eastern black rhinos and more. Other nearby options include Hetherton World of Activities, with adventure golf, bumper boats and a tree tops trail, and Wild Lakes, an aqua park with a slip and slide, wakeboarding and climbing walls.
In the town centre, Tenby Museum and Art Gallery is the oldest independent museum in Wales. Established in 1878, it holds collections of local geology, biology, archaeological and maritime artefacts, along with exhibits on the culture and heritage of south Pembrokeshire. A small gift shop near the entrance sells local books and gifts.
A must-visit on any trip to Tenby is Caldey Island. This monastic island is a 20-minute boat journey from Tenby Harbour or Castle Beach, depending on the tides. The island has been inhabited since the Old Stone Age, and its monastic history goes back to the 6th century, when St Pyro established a hermit's cell. Benedictine and Cistercian orders have lived there over the years. Now owned and run by a community of Cistercian monks, the island has a shop, post office, lighthouse and short walks with views of the Pembrokeshire coast. It is open to the public on summer weekdays and Saturdays, with tickets from the Caldey Island kiosk at the top of Tenby Harbour. Mackerel fishing and seal-spotting trips can also be booked at the harbour.
What a trip to Tenby costs
At the height of summer, prices rise and front-line B&B rooms overlooking South Beach can be hard to find. Ashby House on the beachfront, for example, is currently available on Booking.com for two nights for two adults at £230. Solo travellers may find B&Bs with single rooms at lower prices. Kiln Park, the town's big Haven holiday park, is within walking distance of the town centre and beaches, with two pools, entertainment and more than 30 activities; caravan prices range from £49 for the basic package to £585 for the diamond-standard option.
Outside high season, bargains are easier to find. Whistler House, a 16-bed house overlooking the harbour and out to sea, costs £1,385 for a three-night break in October, or £461 per night. Split 16 ways, that becomes a bargain. A pint at venues such as the Clarence Hotel or the local Sailing Club costs around £4.50 to £5, while lager elsewhere averages £5 to £6. A 99 ice cream averages £3.33, with shops like Lollies offering a wide choice of sweets.
Alternatives to Tenby and the UK shortlist
Already visited Tenby? The team also recommends New Quay as an underrated Welsh coastal town, and Beaumaris as a quieter spot and a Michelin Guide favourite with a foodie reputation, ideal for a staycation or day trip during the summer holidays.
Tenby is also up against a UK-wide shortlist in the poll to find the best seaside town in the UK. The other contenders are Falmouth, Torquay, Amble, Scarborough, Southport, Portstewart, Folkestone, Leigh-on-Sea, Skegness, Wells-next-the-Sea, Gullane, Blackpool, Lyme Regis and Clevedon.
