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Around and About in Wales

People coming to the UK often forget just how small the country really is, and how well connected it is. With so much focus put on London, it's easy to ignore the rest of the country, but when you consider that from London to the very northernmost tip of Wales you could pay less than £10 for a train ticket and spend only three hours travelling, the country suddenly opens up to you.

 
There is, of course, another advantage to getting out of the capital, London is a lot more expensive than the rest of the country, so a couple of days travelling about and staying in different places will actually save you extra money. Meaning you can afford to splash out a little bit extra on one of the luxury hotels in Mayfair (it’s worth checking out Millennium Hotels for some great deals).

 

Colwyn Bay

Right up in the north of Wales, barely twenty miles down the road from Anglesey is Colwyn Bay. The 'bay' as it's affectionately known is a relatively small fishing village, and is best known as a great base for either Anglesey, or for Snowdonia National Park which starts right on the doorstep. A train up from Euston will set you back the mighty sum of £10 if you book in advance, and you'll find yourself in some of the most wild and striking landscapes in the UK.

 
Pembroke

For a similar sum of money, albeit a couple of hours extra on the train, you could instead decide to go to the most popular part of South Wales, Pembrokeshire. Pretty much all of Pembrokeshire is a designated National Park, so it's a great place to go exploring. The beaches are also fantastic, a little to the north is St David's beach, known for decent surf and kilometres of white sand. Boat trips out to some of the small islands are a must, and keep your eyes peeled for the local wildlife, it's not uncommon to see seals, occasionally basking sharks, and the odd dolphin hanging around of Pembroke.
 

Cardiff

The beating heart in the middle of Wales, Cardiff is a big city (although not on the same scale as London) but offers a completely different experience. Relaxed during the day, and cool during the night with loads of live music – from huge bands to tiny folk acts – great clubs and pubs, and a whole lot cheaper than London, Cardiff is a great place to stay. It is also dripping in history, with great museums and galleries, and is well worth a day or two exploring. Most conveniently, there's a direct line to London, so a ticket will cost you £20 and take no more than two hours.