Llandudno Great Orme Tramway

Constructed in 1902, it is the only cable-operated street tramway left in all of Great Britain, and one of only a few remaining in operation around the globe. This means it is a truly unique experience!

Llandudno has been a beloved seaside resort town for more than 150 years, attracting tourists from all over thanks to its pristine, sandy beaches (which have been awarded the esteemed Blue Flag status) and traditional pier. It’s the kind of seaside town that used to be found everywhere, but are now becoming increasingly rare. You can even go for a donkey ride and watch a Punch and Judy show; by all accounts, it’s a classic attraction for all ages.

Another of Llandudno’s major attractions is the Great Orme, and its tramway. The Great Orme itself is a limestone headland, jutting out into the blues of the Irish Sea. It is run as a nature reserve, and a number of endangered flora and fauna live on the Great Orme peninsula, including a critically endangered flower, the Wild Cotoneaster, which is only known to have six plants, all of which are found here.

It is worth making the trip to the top of the Great Orme for the breath-taking views: the vista of the Llandudno Bay is visible in any weather, allowing you to marvel at the sea, the Little Orme and Llandudno itself, but really, you’ll be hoping for a clear day. When the weather is kind, you’ll be able to see all the way out to the Isle of Man, and even the Lake District. It truly is magnificent.
Also at the summit are a variety of smaller attractions, including a crazy golf course and a children’s play area, alongside a lovely café and a shop. The Great Orme Copper Mine is here, too – a spectacular Bronze Age mine that dates back 3500 years.

The good news is that you don’t have to be a veteran hiker to make it to the summit: that’s where the great Great Orme Tramway comes in. It is not, as it appears, a “cable car”; instead it operates on the funicular principle, similar to the well-known ones in Cape Town and Budapest, meaning that the cars are stopped and started by the movement of the cable. The two cars always meet in the middle, allowing you to see people on their way back as you’re starting your journey to the top.

The journey to the summit of the Great Orme measures roughly 1.5km, which allows for some glorious views along the way, though make sure to get off at the Halfway Station on your way up – here, there is a small museum, which takes you through the fascinating century of the tramway’s history, introducing you to the Victorian engineering which originally powered it, through to its conversion to electricity in 1958. After this, you can get back on a tram with a new appreciation of it and head to the summit for those fabulous views.

That’s not all Llandudno has to offer; aside from the pier and the beaches, there are also a number of great golf courses and theatres, as well as some fantastic walks through valleys and up mountains. Nearby you’ll also find Conwy and its medieval castle, the popular resorts of Abergele and Rhos-on-Sea, and the picturesque town of Betws-y-Coed, the gateway to Snowdonia National Park. Keen to begin your adventure? Then click here to view a full list of our self-catering holidays.