Tenby is one of Wales’ most popular and prettiest seaside towns. It’s an extremely popular place with tourists who come from all over England and Wales to enjoy the great beaches, excellent local cuisine and picturesque town centre. Tenby is tucked away from the hustle and bustle of nearby Swansea and lies in 50 miles to the west in the country of Pembrokeshire. Dinbych-y-Psgod is the Welsh name for Tenby which means ‘little town of fishes’. Indeed, the seafood is excellent in Tenby and there are many fish restaurants in Tenby serving up the freshest fish in South Wales! Tenby and the surrounding area is popular with walkers and outdoors enthusiasts and there are some excellent coastal walks leading out into the wild that are accessible from the town centre. Keep on reading to find out more about this pretty Welsh town!
Where to stay
Due to the increasing amounts of tourists visiting Tenby there is no end to the accommodation options available to you! There are many hotels and hostels in Tenby to suit all budgets and needs. If you’re thinking of coming to Tenby but don’t fancy staying in a hotel then why not consider staying in a holiday apartment or seafront cottage? Wimdu offer a wide range of accommodation options throughout Tenby – find your ideal place to stay in Tenby today!Fun Facts
- Acclaimed Welsh singer-songwriter Euros Childs resides just west of Tenby in the village of Freshwater East.
- There are more sheep in Wales than there are people!
- Tenby and the surrounding area are known as ‘Little England Beyond Wales’ due to the established English community living there.
What to see and do in Tenby
Tenby has a wealth of tourist attractions to keep you busy when the sun isn’t allowing you to laze about on the beach or in the beer garden of one of the many pubs in the town! Keep reading to find out the best things to see and do in Tenby!Learning about Tenby’s History
Tenby’s hilltop position made it the perfect place for a fort in times gone by and the Normans built a walled town and castle in what is now modern day Tenby. Parts of the town wall still exist and you can get an understanding of what Tenby used to be like in times gone by. Tenby’s narrow, cobbled streets are great for exploring and you’ll find many craft stores, souvenir shops and shops selling traditional ice cream and pies. Tenby Musuem & Art Gallery, perched on the side of Castle Hill in Tenby is an excellent place to learn more about the town’s long and illustrious history. You can learn not only the social history of the area but also the geology and archaeology of Tenby and the surrounding area. The art gallery located in the same building displays works by local artists such as Gwenn John and David Jones. The great outdoors in and around Tenby
The hills and coastline surrounding Tenby are a walkers paradise and there are many excellent paths for walkers of all levels and fitness. Perhaps the best and most accessible walk is the Pembrokeshire Coastline Walk – cross Tenby’s South Beach and head toward Giltar Point, from here the walk begins and there are some stunning views both along the coast and out toward Caldey Island. Tenby’s beaches are also excellent for swimming and the gentle waters and clean beaches make it a perfect place to spend a summers day relaxing! Caldey Island
Caldey Island is just a 20 minute boat ride from Tenby Harbour and is a great place to spend a few hours on. The island is one of the UK’s holy islands whose monastic history stretches back 1500 years. To this day, the island is still populated with practicing Benedictine monks. From where the boat drops you on the island it is just a 10 minute walk to the island’s only village. Here you’ll find the impressive monastery, pretty houses, a gift shop a small museum. A small tea room on the island is a lovely spot to admire the view out to sea and enjoy some local ‘bara brith’ (Welsh cake soaked in tea). There are several nice paths around the island where you can enjoy a stroll. Boats are frequent to and from the island, especially in the summer, but make sure you check when the last boat leaves!Getting Around
Tenby has a train station with direct lines to Swansea, Cardiff and Pembroke Dock. From Cardiff there are direct trains to London and Manchester. A regular bus service also links Tenby with Swansea although it tends to be slower than the train. Driving to Tenby is relatively straightforward and the M4 motorway stretches all the way from London to Swansea. From Swansea smaller ‘A’ roads leads to Tenby. Tenby’s narrow streets mean it is not the best place for cars and parking is extremely limited in the town. If you are travelling to Tenby by car the best thing to do is leave it on the outskirts. The town is very compact and you’ll find that you can cross it very quickly. 
