What a great way to kill an hour and have a tea, or a dessert, or a meal and donate to a great cause. There were a number of food options but I popped in because I was walking by after lunch so had a tea and dessert. Food was good. Atmosphere is why you go. I did not have a booking but they were able to fit me in anyway. Lots of cats around the toys for you to engage with them. Fun, unique experience for sure!
Excellent museum if you can stomach the ugly history of human "justice." There are interactive plays. Lots of rooms and exhibits to wander through; you can get lost LOL. Staff are engaged and loved sharing their knowledge. I've worked with the John Howard and Elizabeth Fry Societies for years and have never looked into who they were so was pleased that both appeared in this museum. I was able to learn about their involvement in justice reform. Tickets can be purchased online but I was able to buy upon arrival.
Castle has been reclaimed into exhibition space. Purchase your ticket online ahead to save a few dollars. The castle housed art galleries and a lace exhibit in addition to a temporary exhibit on a local designer, Paul Smith. There is an option to purchase additional tours, cave or Robin Hood. I did the cave tour which took you under the castle and provided a bit more of a history to the visit. Not an exceptional castle/historic tour but if you are into checking out exhibits it is an option to visit. Some beautiful views of the city and some garden space to take some time to relax. Don't miss the statues outside the castle and the "oldest pub in England" at the bottom of the castle.
Must visit pub. Built into the cliff with caves makes this a very cool building and great dining experience. Popped in one day for a pint and went back the next day for a meal; both were good. Atmosphere cannot be beat. Take some time to wander through all the nooks and caves; very cool.
Beautiful, quiet hostel hidden down a quiet lane. I stayed in a private room w/ensuite. It is a tall building so a number stairs depending on what floor you are staying. I did not use the facilities outside of sleeping there. The room was clean and fresh with windows that open. The bed was comfortable with a desk and stool; bathroom was updated as well. The wifi did not work in my room so I did have to go downstairs to login. Staff were accessible and stored my luggage until my room was ready (no additional cost).
Great location with lots of coffee shop, restaurant, and store options in the immediate area. Walking distance to may of the historic tourist destinations. I parked at the Victoria Centre Parkade which was a large 24 hour parking lot which was only a half km walk away.
Excellent hostel for a tourist visiting the hotspots.
Stopped in for early lunch after the castle and apparently had really good timing because I was able to get a table in front of the restaurant. Due to covid restrictions, seating is limited.
Staff was friendly and the food was amazing! So glad I found this gem!
Sept 2021: There are restorations going on. The castle itself is a large area and not a ton of other things to experience; fun to creep through the hallways and stairs. What is inside the castle is no extra admission cost. There is the Royal Welsh Fusiliers museum and a couple other small exhibits about the history of the family and castle. Cost is really reasonable and you need to book ahead of time online. I believe this is a covid protocol so may be temporary. I had not booked ahead because I wasn't sure where I was going to stop that day and the staff accomodated because there was still availability of tickets; thank you, that was appreciated. The castle is beautiful, the history is rich, the climb to the top has great views. Washrooms on site and a small gift shop. There is a pay parking lot right across the street and shops and restaurants in the area. There was also a street market outside the castle. I'd recommend; it has the castle, history, views, and exhibits at a very reasonable cost and then explore the beautiful downtown.
Hotel is actually west 4 blocks of the location on Roadtrippers.
I booked this as The Queen's Hotel so not sure of the proper name. I was looking for a budget hotel in Snowdonia National Park to allow for sightseeing and hiking. This fit the bill. Things seem pretty pricey in the area and quite crowded in the surrounding area. Not sure if this is a side effect of covid and people not travelling abroad or if it is "normal." Spent two nights here while I explored the area. Had a car so was able to scoot around Snowdonia easily from this location. I appreciated there was a few parking stalls available to guests. Only a few so could fill up, but there was also a pay lot in the alley.
Due to staffing issues, the restaurant was closed except for pizzas and the pub remained open for drinks. As I had a room on the 1st floor right over the entrance, there was pub noise from the smokers outside but not too bad. Perhaps a higher room would alleviate the noise issue.
The room itself was beautifully clean, crisp, and a good size. Wifi worked very well in the room. Bathroom was renovated. Staff were attentive and friendly.
The town itself seemed a bit sleepy. Not a lot of restaurants or shops.
Really good budget find for a beautiful area to be explored.
Travelling as a 40-year old child, this is a Super fun amusement park. Easy to find with car nav and a large parking lot. Might not want to arrive during peak hours because it is not off a main highway; nav took me through neighbourhoods which I could see getting conjested easily. Monorail was a short walk away and takes you right to the front gate. Quick, easy entry to the park. I had purchased a ticket online in advance which does save money.
Park has a few of the extreme coasters (7) in addition to other, tamer, things to see and do. The roller coasters are wicked crazy!! There are signs for wait times. Park layout is pretty spread out so doesn't feel crowded at all. Some parts feel like you are in a nature park and easy to get turned around in. Gondolas also available to transport to the main sections of the park although the walk down and out of the gardens was a nice break to let the stomach settle LOL. Lots of options for food; typical amusement park fair.
There is an app to be used; however, I did not use it because, I'm not from the UK and didn't have data. Staff did give me a paper map thankfully. Perhaps download the map when on wifi for use in the park. Lots of things for kids of all ages. I really had a good time at the park and would recommend. Tons of fun!
Great little historic pub down a sketchy alley (LOL). The atmosphere is amazing. The patio is backed up against the old city wall built in the 16th century. The outdoor area is beautiful and the indoor areas are historic with the low beamed ceilings. All 'round pretty cool place.
It is bar service so get the number off the table and order with the bartender. Food was good and reasonable price. Total treat to have followed the signs to this hideaway.