Swansea ferry port has excellent communication links with easy access to the M4. Swansea Bay lies in the very heart of the city's redeveloped and award winning Maritime Quarter, enclosed by many restaurants, shops and marine businesses. On one side of the marina lies Swansea’s sandy beach and within a few minutes’ walk there are cinemas, theatres, restaurants, museums. The town boasts a thriving market and covered shopping centre. The Swansea to Cork ferry service offers an excellent link to Ireland.
Swansea ferry port has excellent communication links with easy access to the M4. Swansea Bay lies in the very heart of the city's redeveloped and award winning Maritime Quarter, enclosed by many restaurants, shops and marine businesses. On one side of the marina lies Swansea’s sandy beach and within a few minutes’ walk there are cinemas, theatres, restaurants, museums. The town boasts a thriving market and covered shopping centre. The Swansea to Cork ferry service offers an excellent link to Ireland.
Scandinavian invaders built a fortress at Swansea in the 10th Century and named the area after their leader, Swein. By the 14th century the Welsh had established shipbuilding at Swansea, accompanied by a sea fishing tradition, which was to span the succeeding centuries until the present day.
Swansea Shopping and Dining. Whether you choose to savour the atmosphere by the seaside, in the city’s vibrant café quarter or in quiet countryside pub, you’ll find that Swansea Bay has something for all tastes. Swansea’s entertainment ranges from quiet pubs to the town’s nightclubs, which draw revellers from all over South Wales. In the evening you can chill at one of the dozens of nightclubs and more than a hundred bars and restaurants.
Swansea Attractions. Swansea Bay is really many destinations rolled into one: the maritime city of Swansea, the Victorian resort of Mumbles and the picturesque Gower Peninsula offer a breathtaking mix of spectacular contrasts! The best place to start a tour of Swansea is at the Maritime Quarter, the city centre's sea faring heart, home to yacht marinas, art galleries, a theatre, bars and restaurants, an observatory and the new National Waterfront Museum. At the magnificent bayside location dozens of public art treasures, ranging from stone sculptures to bronze statues, retrace the steps of Swansea's sea faring history.
Swansea offers one of the finest seascapes in Europe. Swansea city nestles between the shadow of seven hills and the lapping tides of its coastline. Visitors can enjoy diverse outdoor activities from surfing, microlighting, rock climbing or yachting, to pony trekking, water skiing, golf or hang-gliding. The nearby Gower Peninsula was the UK's first official "Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty". There are many local golf courses to choose from. Swansea Castle has borne witness to city affairs since medieval times.
The area has won numerous awards, including Blue Flag Beaches, Green Flag Parks and, this year, a prestigious Britain In Bloom Award for the village of Mumbles. Each year, the Parks Development team run a programme of events and summer activities - arts and crafts for younger children and Dragon Sports, skate jams and dance workshops for the older children.
With some of the best surfing beaches in the UK, scenic cycle trails and top of the range golf courses, Swansea Bay has become one of Wales’ premier activity playgrounds.
The National Waterfront Museum, which incorporates the former Maritime & Industrial Museum, is now open in the heart of Swansea's Maritime Quarter. A stone’s throw away, Swansea Museum is the oldest museum in Wales and its collection contains an Egyptian mummy as well as local photographs and paintings. The Glynn Vivian Art Gallery has a permanent collection and hosts many exhibitions and events throughout the year, including contemporary and historical art by national and international artists. The Dylan Thomas Centre, which celebrates Swansea’s world famous poet, is also home to the Ty Llen literature programme which stages many literary events throughout the year. The former Maritime & Industrial Museum, incorporated under the National Waterfront Museum, is under construction in the heart of Swansea's waterfront development, in the Maritime Quarter. Swansea's Parks Section is responsible for 1556 hectares of land in the County, including public parks, allotments, woodlands, playgrounds and beaches.
Swansea Access: From the east, exit the M4 J42 and follow the A483 to Swansea and signs for Ferries. From the west, exit the M4 J47 and follow the A483 to Swansea and signs for Ferries.