Swansea
From Imakoopedia
Swansea (Welsh: Abertawe) is a city on Wales's south coast.
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Understand
Swansea is Wales' second largest city, with a population of over 250,000. During medieval times, Swansea was a prosperous market town, and later it gained a certain prominence as a spa resort. It was during the industrial revolution, however, that the city flourished and its population grew. The city was also home to the world's first passenger railway, the Mumbles Train, which bumped and bounced along five miles of Swansea foreshore, linking the city center with the suburb of Mumbles. Much of the city's architectural heritage was lost through war time bombing. However, the abundance of parks, stunning coastal scenery, varied cultural events and wide sandy beaches have preserved Swansea's place as a major tourist destination. Furthermore, according to a survey conducted by an international health magazine that considered, among other factors, a city's crime rate, life-style, environment etc, Swansea was found to be the most relaxed city in the UK.
Famous faces
Swansea's rich and diverse history has created a city of character and depth, and this has proved to be very fertile ground for producing well known personalities. In the literary world, Dylan Thomas is Swansea's most famous son, and inscriptions of his verse can been seen throughout the city. The actress Catherine Zeta-Jones was also born and raised here, and maintains close links with the city, and the singer Bonnie Tyler, who produced a number of hits, is also a Swansea girl and still lives in the city. Sir Harry Seacombe, who entertained the country for decades, hails from Swansea's East Side, and also in the entertainment world, the TV film producer Russel T. Davies has his roots in the city, as does actor-turned singer Steve Balsamo. In the upper echelons of religion and politics, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, former deputy-prime minister, Sir Michael Heseltine, and current leader of the Conservative Party, Michael Howard, were all born in Swansea, while the city's most famous contribution to the sporting world was the soccer legend, John Charles - the gentle giant.
The city's most loved character, however, is undoubtedly Jack - the black retriever[1] (http://www.explore-gower.co.uk/swansea/swanseajack.html) During his seven years of life he rescued no less than twenty-seven people from drowning in the murky waters of Swansea docks, and there is a small memorial in honour of this little hero on the foreshore near the St. Helen's Stadium.
Get in
Swansea is served by a regional airport, a car ferry linking the city with Cork in Ireland, the M4 and express train and bus services to London and the Midlands.
Get around
Buses: Buses connecting all suburbs of Swansea and the Gower Peninsula depart from the Quadrant bus station. There are connecting links from Swansea train station.
See
- The ruins of Swansea Castle [2] (http://www.castlewales.com/swansea.html)
- The Dylan Thomas Centre (http://www.dylanthomas.org/), dedicated to the author and poet regarded as the city's greatest son (+44 1792 463980).
- The Marina
- The Glyn Vivian Art Gallery (http://www.swanseaheritage.net/museums/glynn.asp/), Mansel street (+44 1792 655006).
- Swansea Museum (http://www.swanseaheritage.net/museums/swanmu.asp/), Marina (+44 1792 653763).
- Plantasia, Parc Tawe (+44 1792 474555) - hot house in the city, complete with three different climate zones and exotic butterflies.
- The former fishing village of Mumbles (http://www.mumbles.co.uk/), at the western end of Swansea Bay. The quaint streets, a 12th century castle [3] (http://www.castlewales.com/oyster.html), fashionable boutiques and excellent restaurants make this suburb of Swansea a must-see destination. The promenade at Mumbles gives a great view over Swansea Bay.
- Rhossili beach at sunset - it is absolutely breathtaking. There is also an excellent National Trust (http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/) gift shop located near the car park.
- Three Cliffs Bay, a great place to take a stroll through woods and watch the wild ponies galloping on the beach.
Do
- The calm waters of Swansea Bay are ideal for watersports.
- The rougher swell of Llangennith make this bay one of the premier surfing spots in the U.K.
- Swansea is a great place if you are into walking. Here are a few easily accessible routes: Swansea Marina to Mumbles Pier - about five miles of flat walking - great views over Swansea Bay. Limeslade Bay to Caswell Bay - about three miles of cliff path walking - stunning scenery. Bishopston Valley - about three miles of riverside walking, starting just below Bishopston church - a peaceful and lush valley that spills out onto a storm beach. The return journey can be made over the cliff path to the left of the beach when facing the sea.
Theater
- The Grand, Singleton Street - Swansea's main theater, with everything from pantomime to opera (+44 1792 475715).
- The Taliesin Arts Centre (http://www.taliesinartscentre.co.uk/), University Campus, Singleton Park - experimental (+44 1792 296883).
- The Dylan Thomas Theatre, Marina - home to the Swansea Little Theater group (+44 1792 473238).
- The Dylan Thomas Centre, Marina - specializing in plays produced by the bard himself (+44 1792 463980).
Festivals
- Swansea Festival of Music and the Arts ([4] (http://www.swanseafestival.co.uk)), an annual (October) three week bash of culture at various locations in Swansea.
- Escape into the Park, an annual pop and dance extravaganza held late summer (check Swansea tourist office - listing below - for actual dates ) at Singleton Park.
- The annual Swansea Mardi Gras carnival is a colorful celebration of the city's ethnic diversity. Usually the event is held in July, but dates vary (check Swansea tourist office - listing below - for up-to date information ).
Learn
Swansea is home to two universities: University of Wales, Swansea (http://www2.swan.ac.uk/), (which has over 10,000 students) and Swansea Institute, which incorporates the city's famous centre for study of stained glass design (http://www.sihe.ac.uk/prospect/inddesign/BAASG.htm/).
Buy
Welsh love spoons, carved in wood and traditionally given as gifts between lovers. Also woven cloth in traditional Welsh designs.
The Quadrant Centre and Oxford Street are the main shopping areas, but there is also the central market.
- The Sheep Shop, 38-39 Castle Street (+44 1792 645718). This shop sells stuffed toy sheep of all shapes and sizes, including rubbish bins with sheep faces and large fluffy sheep puppets. The mad looking sheep are a surprisingly irresistible souvenir. The shop also sells stuffed dragons and many other Welsh souvenirs.
Books
New - Waterstones, Oxford Street & University; Borders, Parc Fforestfach Shopping Mall. Second Hand - Dylan's, King Edward Road; Dylan Thomas Centre, Marina - good selections of local poetry and history.
Eat
Wind Street for theme bars and quality international cuisine. Quality Chinese food on High Street and Princess Way. St.Helen's Road for take away and sit down Indian (also quality restaurants on Walter Road and off the Mumbles Road at Blackpill), Italian, Turkish and Indonesian. Cheap and excellent vegetarian on Cradock Street, off Kingsway. The Environment Centre, Pier street, Marina offers cheap and excellent fair trade coffee and snacks.
Mumbles Road in Mumbles has a wide range of restaurants. Check out Verdi's on Mumbles sea front for great views over a cappuccino. A visit to Swansea, however, is never complete without a Joe's Italian, award-winning ice-cream - parlours on St. Helen's Road, near the Guildhall, and Mumbles Road, Mumbles.
Try Lava bread, a purée made from seaweed, rolled in oatmeal and lightly fried, served with breakfast. Available in cans and vacuum packed from Swansea market.
Drink
The city's main watering hole is on Wind Street (appropriately pronounced Wine), which is also the home to many of the city's best restaurants. The Kingsway is the centre of night life.
Sleep
There is a whole row of B&Bs on the sea-facing Oystermouth Road near the city center, and on Mumbles Road, Mumbles. The area's only youth hostel is located near the beach in Port Eyon, Gower (+44 1792 391623). There are far too many B&Bs to list all, but here is random selection: 1) Leonardo's Guest House, 380 Oystermouth Road (+44 1792 470163), 2) The Oyster Hotel, 262 Oystermouth Road (+44 1792 654345), 3) Devon View, 394-396 Oystermouth Road (+44 1792 462008), 4) The White House Hotel, 4 Nyanza Terrace, Uplands (+44 1792 473856), 5) Cefn-Bryn Guest House, 6 Uplands Crescent, Uplands (+44 1792 466687), 6) Carlton Hotel, 654-656 Mumbles Road, Mumbles (+44 1792 360450), 7) Shoreline Hotel, 648 Mumbles Road, Mumbles (+44 1792 366233), 8) The Coast House, 708 Mumbles Road, Mumbles (+44 1792 368702), 9) Glenview House, 140 Langland Road, Mumbles (+44 1792 367933), 10) Langland Cove Guest House, 4 Rotherslade Road, Langland, Mumbles (+44 1792 366003).
Budget
- Dolphin, Whitewalls, near Quadrant Shopping Mall (+44 1792 650011).
- Premier Lodge Hotel, Salubrious Place (off Wind Street).
- Beaumont Hotel, 72 Walter Road (+44 1792 643956).
- Windsor Lodge Hotel, Mount Pleasant (+44 1792 648996).
Mid-range
- Grand, High Street, opposite Swansea Station (+44 1792 605698).
- Holiday Inn, Kingsway Circle (+44 080 4009078).
- Marriot, Marina (+ 44 0870 4007282).
- Ramada Jarvis, Phoenix way, Enterprise Zone (+44 1792 310330).
Splurge
- Morgan's, Adelaide Street (+44 1792 484848).
- Fairyhill, Fairyhill, Gower (+44 1792 390139).
Get out
Other places of interest in the Swansea area
- The entire Gower Peninsula, the first area in Britain to be designated an "area of outstanding natural beauty". The scenery is stunning.
- The wide sandy bays of Langland, Caswell and Oxwich are perfect for swimming and are popular with families with young children. Most of the bays are connected by cliff paths, and hikers can enjoy spectacular walks throughout the year.
- Dan-yr-Ogof Caves, located in the Swansea Valley (on the main Swansea to Brecon Road), these show caves comprise the largest complex of caves in Western Europe. There is also a craft shop and restaurant
Contact
Internet Cafes
- City Center: 1 Kingsway (corner of Kingsway and Princess Way).
- Uplands: 50 Uplands Crescent.
External links
- Official Tourism Website for Swansea, Mumbles and Gower (http://www.visitswanseabay.com/)
- Swansea Tourist Information Centre (http://www.visitswanseabay.com/useful_information/article.asp?articleid=5377)
- Pictures of Swansea (http://www.welshwales.co.uk/)
