Swansea

Shopping in SwanseaAs you might expect in such a vibrant and busy city, there are plenty of shops to explore – over 230 in fact! Perhaps more excitingly though, Swanseais also home to the largest indoor market in Wales– and one which dates back to the middle ages – where you will discover over 100 stalls, offering a range of fresh locally made foods as well as traditional gifts, jewellery and much more. And it’s here, at Swansea Market, that you will discover the true beating heart of the city and its wonderful sense of community.

Culture in SwanseaSwanseais more than just the city that gave world culture Catherine Zeta-Jones (who continues to maintain a home in the Mumbles area of the city). Swansea is also the birthplace of the great Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, who affectionately described it as an “ugly lovely town”, and whose work is vividly brought to life at the newly refurbished Dyan Thomas Centre. The fascinating Swansea Museum meanwhile – the oldest museum in Wales – was also described by Thomas as “a museum that belongs in a museum”, whilst the National Waterfront Museum employs the latest interactive technology to tell the story of Welsh innovation and industry.

Nature in SwanseaWith over 50 green spaces – five of them Green Flag Award-winning parks –Swansea is much more than just another metropolitan city – it truly does integrate the countryside into its landscape. And, located as it is on the South West coast of Wales, Swansea boasts the dramatic, sandy 5-mile stretch of beach at Swansea Bay. Swansea also serves as the perfect base camp for exploring the Gower Peninsula, Britain’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Sport in SwanseaSwanseais also home to The LC – a waterpark and leisure complex that is the very best that Wales has to offer. Featuring the largest waterpark in Wales, as well as the country’s largest gym, the centre also offers a 30ft climbing wall, 4-storey play area, and an indoor surf simulator. Swansea is also home to the 20,000 capacity Liberty Stadium, which frequently plays host to both premiership and international football matches.

Enjoy SwanseaWith its lively nightlife and student scene, alongside its strong sense of community and tradition, Swanseaoffers a wonderful blend of both the modern and the traditional, which, coupled with its immediate access to some of Britain’s most beautiful landscapes and coastlines creates a unique and intoxicating blend of city excitement and nature’s soothing calm.