Wales' Greatest Pier
Llandudno Pier is one of those structures that simply makes a place. Stretching 2,295 feet (700 metres) from the promenade into the bay, it is the longest pier in Wales and the fifth longest in England and Wales, and it remains one of the finest Victorian pleasure piers still operating anywhere in Britain. Voted Pier of the Year by the National Piers Society in both 2005 and 2025, it is not merely a historic curio but a living part of the town, used and valued by both residents and visitors.
The pier in its current form opened on 1 August 1877, though an earlier, shorter pier had stood on the site since 1858. The 1877 structure was a more ambitious undertaking, extending well out into the bay to allow the large paddle steamers of the Victorian era to land passengers even at low tide. The ornate iron pavilion at the shore end dates from the Edwardian period and is one of the most photographed buildings in Llandudno. Walking out from the pavilion, the town recedes behind you and the bay opens up on all sides: to the east, the Little Orme; to the west, the massive limestone face of the Great Orme; ahead, the open water of the Irish Sea.
Ocean's Bar and Pier Head Facilities
At the far end of the pier, 700 metres out to sea, sits Ocean's Bar — one of the most distinctively located pubs in Wales. Serving Wild Horse Brewery real ales alongside the usual bar range, it offers views across the bay in every direction: on a clear day, the mountains of Snowdonia are visible to the south, Anglesey to the west, and the Wirral to the east. Sitting with a pint in Ocean's Bar while the sea passes beneath the pier boards is one of those simple pleasures that Llandudno does exceptionally well.
The Pier Head Cafe offers more casual refreshments: fish and chips, doughnuts, and the standard seaside fare that has been dispensed from pier-end kiosks since the Victorian era. The middle section of the pier has amusement machines and other traditional attractions. The whole pier has the feeling of a place that has been doing this for a long time and sees no reason to change: there is something reassuring about its continuity, the fact that people have been walking this same 700 metres for a pint and a view since 1877.
The Pier's History
The history of Llandudno Pier reflects the broader history of the Victorian seaside resort. The first pier, opened in 1858, was a relatively modest structure designed primarily to allow boat trips to land passengers on the shoreline. As Llandudno grew in ambition and popularity through the 1860s, it became clear that a more substantial pier was needed, both to accommodate the larger vessels that visitors expected and to provide the promenading space that was a central feature of the Victorian seaside experience.
The present structure, opened in 1877, was designed to be impressive. Its length pushed it well out into the bay, its ironwork was ornate by the standards of functional engineering, and the pavilion at the shore end provided a covered space for entertainment and refreshment that the earlier pier lacked. In subsequent decades the pier was extended, modified, and in one section destroyed by a ship collision in 1914 before being rebuilt. Its survival through the 20th century, when many British piers were demolished or fell into disrepair, reflects Llandudno's general success in maintaining and valuing its Victorian heritage.
Visiting the Pier
The pier is freely accessible at all times; there is no admission charge to walk along it, though the facilities at the pier head operate their own charges for food and drink. The address is N Parade, Llandudno LL30 2LP. It is at the eastern end of the North Shore promenade, close to Happy Valley and the cable car lower terminus. The pier can be busy on summer weekends and sunny days; early morning or evening walks along the pier offer a quieter experience with often very beautiful light on the bay.
The pier is fully accessible — the surface is flat and there are no steps between the entrance and the pier head — making it one of the most enjoyable accessible walks in the resort. In windy weather, the exposed nature of the pier means conditions can be brisk; the walk back from the pier head directly into a westerly wind is an invigorating experience. The promenade walk from the pier entrance to the base of the Great Orme completes a natural circuit of the North Shore seafront.
Day trips