Travel from Happy Valley to the summit of the Great Orme aboard one of Llandudno’s distinctive brightly coloured cable cars.
The gentle nine-minute journey combines a small sense of adventure with some of the finest views in the resort. As the cabins climb above Happy Valley, Llandudno gradually opens out below you, revealing the sweep of the bay, the Victorian promenade and the surrounding North Wales coastline.
At just over one mile each way, the Llandudno Cable Car is the longest aerial cabin lift of its type in the UK. It is not simply a way of reaching the summit. The journey itself remains one of Llandudno’s most memorable visitor experiences.
| Address | Happy Valley, Llandudno, Conwy, LL30 2LP |
|---|---|
| Lower station | Happy Valley, Llandudno |
| Destination | Great Orme summit |
| Journey time | Approximately nine minutes each way |
| Operating season | Usually from around Easter until late October |
| Guideline opening hours | Approximately 10am to 6pm daily during the operating season, weather permitting |
| Payment | Cash only |
| Dogs | Dogs are welcome for an additional charge |
| Wheelchair access | The station access is unsuitable for wheelchair users |
| Telephone | 01492 877205 |
The Llandudno Cable Cars usually operate daily from around Easter until late October, with guideline opening hours of approximately 10am to 6pm.
These hours are only a guide. The cable cars cannot operate in strong winds or unsuitable weather, and opening, closing and final return times may change at short notice.
Conditions at the Great Orme summit can also be much windier than they are in Llandudno town centre. A day that feels calm on the promenade may still be too windy for the cable cars to operate safely.
Please telephone 01492 877205 before leaving if you are making a special journey.
The following guide prices were last checked in July 2026 against the information published by Visit Conwy.
| Ticket | Single | Return |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | £14.50 | £15.00 |
| Child | £12.00 | £12.50 |
| Family of two adults and two children | £41.00 | £43.00 |
| Dog | £2.00 | |
Prices may change. Check the Visit Conwy cable car listing or telephone the operator before travelling when the price is important to your plans.
The Llandudno Cable Cars currently operate on a cash-only basis. Card and contactless payments are not available.
Local tip: Bring enough cash before walking up through Happy Valley. Discovering that card payments are unavailable after reaching the station can mean an inconvenient walk back down towards the town centre.
The open-sided cabins carry up to four passengers and travel continuously between the lower station at Happy Valley and the Great Orme summit.
Unlike a large enclosed gondola, the small cabins give passengers an open and uninterrupted view of the landscape below. There is a genuine feeling of being suspended above the town, although the pace is calm and leisurely rather than fast.
The cabins may move slightly as they pass the supporting pylons, which adds a little exhilaration to an otherwise tranquil journey.
Passengers who are particularly uncomfortable with heights may prefer the more enclosed experience of the Great Orme Tramway.
It can feel noticeably cooler during the journey and at the summit, even when the town below is warm. Taking an extra layer is sensible on breezy or changeable days.
As the cabins rise above Happy Valley, the rooftops and gardens of the town begin to fall away beneath you. The view gradually widens to include Llandudno Bay, the Little Orme, the Conwy Estuary and the mountains of Eryri.
On a particularly clear day, you may be able to see far out across the Irish Sea, with the Isle of Man sometimes visible on the horizon.
Immediately below the lower section of the route is Happy Valley, with its landscaped gardens, winding paths and open green spaces.
The bright primary colours of the cable cars add to the scene as they move steadily above the gardens and coastline.
Look down as you pass above Happy Valley and you may also see skiers, snowboarders or families enjoying the toboggan run at the Llandudno Ski and Snowboard Centre. It gives the lower part of the journey a lively contrast to the open limestone landscape near the summit.
The Llandudno Cable Cars opened in June 1969 and have since become one of the resort’s best-known visitor attractions.
The four-seat cabins are carried on an endless steel cable measuring more than two miles in total and weighing approximately 17 tons. At the highest point, passengers travel more than 80 feet above the valley floor.
The cable cars are driven by an electric motor, and the structure was extensively overhauled in 2006 to meet modern safety requirements.
The attraction continues to operate alongside the historic Great Orme Tramway, which first opened in 1902 and remains one of Llandudno’s most recognisable heritage attractions.
The lower cable car station is situated on the slopes above Happy Valley, close to the Llandudno Ski and Snowboard Centre.
From the promenade and pier area, walk towards Happy Valley and follow the uphill paths through the gardens. The station entrance can be approached using the paths running around either side of the building.
Be aware that reaching the lower station involves an uphill walk. Visitors with limited mobility should consider the gradient before setting out.
Local tip: The lower station is not directly beside the promenade and can be easy to miss. Follow signs for Happy Valley and the ski slope rather than looking for the cable cars along the seafront itself.
Yes. Dogs are welcome aboard the Llandudno Cable Cars for a charge of £2.
The cabins are open and elevated, so owners should consider how their dog is likely to respond to the height, movement and unfamiliar surroundings.
Keep dogs under close control when boarding, travelling and leaving the cabin. Some dogs will enjoy the ride, while others may find the experience unsettling.
Folding pushchairs have traditionally been accepted, provided they can be folded before boarding and fit safely inside the cabin.
Space is limited because each cabin carries a maximum of four passengers. Families travelling with a larger pushchair should telephone 01492 877205 before visiting.
Unfortunately, the access arrangements at the cable car stations make the attraction unsuitable for wheelchair users.
Visitors with restricted mobility should also be aware of the uphill approach to the lower station.
The Great Orme can alternatively be reached by road, bus or tramway, although accessibility arrangements for each option should be checked separately.
Reaching the summit feels like arriving somewhere quite separate from the busy resort below. The open limestone landscape, sea views and changing weather give the top of the Great Orme a character of its own.
The upper cable car station is close to the Great Orme Summit Complex and the Great Orme Country Park Visitor Centre.
Depending on seasonal opening arrangements, visitors can find refreshments, toilets, visitor information and several viewpoints in the summit area.
The summit is also an excellent starting point for walks across the Great Orme Country Park and Nature Reserve. The headland is known for its limestone landscape, wildlife, archaeological remains and extensive coastal views.
Allow enough time to explore before joining the queue for your return journey. The final descent may take place earlier than expected when weather conditions change.
Both attractions reach the Great Orme summit, but they offer very different experiences.
| Llandudno Cable Car | Great Orme Tramway |
|---|---|
| Small open-sided aerial cabins | Historic cable-hauled tramcars |
| Starts above Happy Valley | Starts at Victoria Station on Church Walks |
| Best for uninterrupted aerial views | Best for transport history and heritage |
| More dependent on wind conditions | Generally able to operate in a wider range of conditions |
| Approximately nine minutes each way | The journey takes place across two tramway sections |
Cable car and tramway tickets are separate and are not interchangeable.
You can choose to travel up using one attraction and return using the other, but you will need to purchase the appropriate separate tickets.
The journey between Happy Valley and the Great Orme summit takes approximately nine minutes each way.
The cabins travel on a continuous loop, so there is no conventional timetable between individual departures. Queues can still develop during busy periods.
Tickets are normally purchased at the cable car station. There is currently no established online advance-booking system.
No. The cable car and tramway are separate attractions and their tickets are not transferable.
Light rain may not necessarily prevent operation, but wind, thunderstorms and unsuitable weather conditions can cause delays or closure. Telephone the operator for the current position.
Yes. Single tickets are available, allowing visitors to take the cable car in one direction and return on foot, by road transport or using another attraction.
Plan your route and allow sufficient time before choosing this option.
Take cash for tickets, a light additional layer, suitable footwear if you intend to explore the summit and a charged phone. Weather on the Great Orme can change quickly.
Information last reviewed: July 2026.
Llandudno.com is an independent local visitor guide and is not the official website of the Llandudno Cable Cars. Operating times, prices and access arrangements can change. Telephone 01492 877205 before making a special journey.
Some images: © Crown copyright, Visit Wales.
