Colwyn Bay Accommodation

Rhyl's rich seaside holiday history explored in the Moments in Time Exhibit

More Photos from the Moments in Time Exhibit on Rhyl Prom

Superb Choice of golf clubs in and around both Rhyl & Prestatyn

Plenty of amusements & family seaside fun at Rhyl

Rhyl Tourist Information & Attractions

Budget seaside family holidays in Wales don't get much better than Rhyl. Holiday makers have been coming here to Wales' holiday North coast for many years, and Rhyl pulls on both it's seaside history plus it's evolved with the times. (checkout the new Moments in Time Exhibition on the West Prom!) You can still ride on a donkey on Rhyl's beaches (and the donkeys here have won awards!)- a timeless experience that kids love. Rhyl and slightly quieter neighbour Prestatyn offer four beautiful sandy beaches which stretch for 7 miles, and what's more Rhyl and Prestatyn Central beaches both have Seaside Awards for cleanliness and superb water quality. The indoor Sun Centre water complex offers a host of exciting rides, and a ride up to the top of Sky Tower for panoramic views of the area is a must.

They get the sunshine up here on the North Wales Coast, more than the UK average, plus Rhyl offers a choice of pubs, restaurants, bars and nightclubs combined with pedestrianised shopping and a lively promenade with plenty of bingo and amusement centres. Rhyl does family friendly well, with a choice of accommodation options, sheltered beaches and a grand selection of attractions, plus a good theatre too! The surrounding area is also blessed with numerous North Wales attractions including walking the Offa's Dyle Coastal Path, visiting nearby castles - Conwy Castle is only a short drive, and visiting nearby Victorian seaside resort Llandudno and adjacent Great Orme Nature reserve. Wales family holidays don't get better than this!

Rhyl Attractions

There's been work afoot on Rhyl's renowned West Promenade in 2006, which is being improved with pretty seaside gardens. In addition the new Drift Park project (due for opening in 2007 is going to offer an interactive play area, an open air theatre, a play zone and garden area plus mini golf. All good news for holidaymakers to the North Wales Coast. One of the best things about Rhyl's many attractions is that they're all clustered quite close together, with most like Sky Tower, the Apollo Cinema, The Village and Aquarium all situated on the Promenade. If you've young kids in tow then this is certainly a major convenience, plus there's a choice of both indoor and outdoor Rhyl attractions.

Rhyl already boasts a host of attractions! Inside Rhyl's Sun Centre, one of Wales' Top Ten family attractions, there rides and slides for all the family including riding the rapids on the tube, a Lagoon Pool with tropical storms - spook, and the ever popular Surf Pool Check the Sun Centre website right for more details. Moving along the attraction list, Rhyl's Sky Tower is situated on the promenade next to Children's Village and stretches up 240 feet, with an observation tower at the top. Also on the promenade at Rhyl (facing opposite Sky Tower) is the Palace Fun Centre which offers 10 pin bowling and the dare devil Geronimo drop slide (25 foot vertical drop if you dare!)

Take a ride on Rhyl's miniature railway (weblink right), or visit Rhyl's Seaqarium situated on the promenade. (also weblink right). There's an under water tunnel in this seaquarium and numerous different species such as salamanders, moray eels and frogs. Feeding demonstrations with an educational slant are inclusive.

Rhyl Tourist Information Centre, The Village, West Promenade, Rhyl, Denbighshire. LL18 1HZ. Tel: 01745 344515

Rhyl Beaches, Blue Flag Beaches

Two endless miles of clean sandy beach awaits you at Rhyl. These golden sands at both Rhyl and Prestatyn are a key attraction for holidaymakers visiting the area, particularly families.

Building sandcastles, sheltered bathing, a glorious promenade which forms part of the Sustrans Cycle Route, and a choice of attractions lining Rhyl's sandy beaches are what you can expect from this North Wales seaside holiday haven. See the Sustrans Cycling weblink right for details on how you can cycle the easy cycle path (great for families) from Rhyl promenade to Prestatyn Prom. You can move westwards too, towards Rhos on Sea.

Rhyl is also one of the few remaining Wales and UK seaside resorts offering donkey rides on the beach. One of the Rhyl donkeys - Sophie - was recently voted North and Mid Wales Donkey of the Year! Joe Jones, the proprietor and aged 62 is keeping the tradition alive - his great great great grandfather offered donkey rides on Rhyl's beaches way back in the 1800s.

There's a large paddling pool too on the Rhyl promenade (open only in the summer season), which is great for the tots.

Rhyl Pavilion Theatre

The Pavilion Theatre in Rhyl, also situated on the coast is a big affair seading upto 1031. The performances here range from drama to music, and include some great classic prestigious acts such as the Four Tops on the music side, and often plays and musicals with a family appeal such as Gregory's Girl and more.

Perfect for a family night out during your holiday, which won't break the bank, checkout the Pavilion's weblink right for forthcoming performances.

The Pavilion Theatre, Promenade, Rhyl, Denbighshire, LL18 3AQ. Tel Box Office: 0870 330 0000.

Old Rhyl Seaside History & Bodelwyddan Castle nr Rhyl

Rhyl really started to take off as a seaside resort in the mid 1830s, and it quickly developed a reputation for traditional seaside holidays welcoming all. There was a pier here at one time - fishing off the end of it was popular. Also, Rhyl had a small influx of Hungarian Refugees in 1956 after the uprising when many fleed. They stayed in the Derbyshire Miners' Holiday Camp in Rhyl. Rhyl, with nearby Prestatyn, both of which had numerous holiday camps from Pontins to Miners camps, really would be an excellent location for a Holiday Camp history museum. Someone should hop to it!

Pick up the great copy of 'Sunny Rhyl' at the tourist information centre, which outlines the history of this North Wales seaside resort, with numerous great photos included. Well worth buying a copy.

Just inland from Rhyl (see weblink right) is Bodelwyddan Castle - a fairly new castle as Welsh castles go - Bodelwyddan dates from 1830 to 1852 and was designed by architects Hansom and Welch for the Williams family who built their fortune off the back of lead mining in the area. Their fortune declined in the 1850s alongside the decline in the lead industry. The Williams family finally sold it in the 1920s and it became a girls school (Lowther College - there's an exhibition on Lowther on-site and see some fascinating photos on the website right). Clwyd County Council picked it up in the 1980s, and in conjunction with the National Portrait Gallery and the Victoria & Albert Museum and others, Bodelwyddan Castle's Victorian grandeur has been restored.

There's still signs of the practice trenches in the gardens, used as a training ground during the First World War. Parts of the building do date from the 15th century when there was probably a smaller manor house here. There's a few ghost rumours here, and 'Most Haunted' experiences include a lady seen in the Sculpture Gallery, a soldier wandering about in one of the galleries and a blue lady in the Terrace Tea Rooms. Surely on the kitsch TV series 'Most Haunted' visting list is Bodelwyddan Cadstle. Portraiture is an important aspect of the exhibits, hence the National Portrait Gallery's input. See numerous portrait paintings around the site. Well worth a visit, with a kids playground, a choice of exhibitions, various events and talks throughout the year, a tea roomand various trails (some woodland) on-site. Bodelwyddan Castle, Bodelwyddan, Rhyl, Denbighshire. LL18 5YA. Tel: 01745 584060.

Rhyl Golf Club

Situated on the Coast Road, Rhyl Golf Club is a challenging 9 hole golf course featuring large fairways and guarded greens. A proshop and clubhouse are on-site.

Rhyl Golf Club, Coast Road, Rhyl, LL18 3RE. Tel:01745 353171. Checkout the Rhyl Golf Club Website to the right.

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