Llandrindod Wells

By train

• Llandrindod Wells is linked to Swansea and Shrewsbury by the famous Heart of Wales Line. Trains depart for the two-and-a-half hour journey to Swansea at 07:35, 12:00, 15:41 and 19:56, and for the one hour forty minute journey to Shrewsbury at 06:18, 08:45, 12:01, 16:59 and 21:19.

By bus

• During the week there are four buses a day from Cardiff (about three hours). The T4 TrawsCymru service continues as far as Newtown to the north.
• There are also buses from Aberystwyth and Hereford, as well as other local services.

By car

• The A483 which links Swansea and Chester runs north-south through the centre of the town.

The centre of the town can easily be explored on foot.

• The Rock Parkis a peaceful woodland area with short walks down to Lovers' Leap, a rocky outcrop above the River Ithon.

• The town's lakeis popular with anglers and walkers. There's a cafe and playground there.

• National Cycle Museum

  phone: +44 1597 825531
  address: Automobile Palace, Temple Street
  Over 250 bicycles of all ages on display, including a number of penny farthings. Also a lot of cycling memorabilia.

• Llandrindod Wells Golf Club

Events

• Victorian festivalTakes place every August. Includes free music concerts, a Victorian fun fair, parades, balls, a torchlit procession and fireworks on the last night.

• Albert HallWatch some of the plays performed in the local Victorian theatre during the Drama Festival.

Middleton Street is the main shopping street and has some interesting independent shops.
All in Middleton Street: Food from Van's Good Food Shop, a deli/health food shop. Household goods from old-fashioned hardware store Bradley's. Gifts from Caer Sidi and Porticus. Plants from Jack In The Green.

There are three chippies, two kebab shop takeaways and two Chinese takeaways. There's also an Indian restaurant, tea rooms, a greasy food cafe and two jacket potato/sandwich/healthier food option cafes.

• Fabian's Kitchen

  phone: +44 1597 824642
  address: Albion House, Temple St

• Jules Wine BarOpposite the Automobile Museum you'll find this recently renovated cosmopolitan watering hole. Tends to cater to middle-aged professionals though it's a safe, decent place so anyone should feel welcome. Also serves food.

• MetropoleThe town's premier hotel's bar is the most interesting of all the hotel's public bars. Offering views of the town garden and cars and people making their way around town, the bar has very posh staff (Foreign. and quite often rude) and although expensive, opportunities to meet a diverse range of tourists or people visiting a conference make this the most refreshing place to drink in Llandrindod.

• The Log CabinFairly reasonable prices at this pub. It's the most popular pub in town but can be rough and ready at peak times.

• Llanerch InnA quaint old world pub situated behind the police station. The interior is full of character and oozes traditional charm but expect expensive prices.

• V ClubThe town's only nightclub is adjacent to the Log Cabin pub down an alley. It looks like a rickety shack from the outside but is astonishingly modern, clean and funky internally. Friday nights are lively throughout the year but only venture there on Saturday nights in the summer or expect a boring evening. Rejoice at the cheap drink prices - the cheapest in town and much more affordable than the pubs and hotel bars.

Budget

• Cwm Edw

  phone: +44 1982 570324
  address: Cwm Edw
  3

* first floor holiday flat, sleeping 4.

Mid-range

• The Yat

  phone: +44 1982 570339
  address: The Yat, Glascwm

Splurge

The town's three biggest hotels face each other across Temple Gardens:

• The Metropole Hotel & Spa

  address: Temple Street, Llandrindod Wells, LD1 5DY
  family-owned 4

* 1896-built hotel

• Glen Usk Hotel

  address: South Crescent, Llandrindod Wells, LD1 5DH

• Hotel Commodore

  phone: +44 1597 822288
  address: Spa Road, Llandrindod Wells, LD1 5ER

The mediaeval church, castle hill and nature trail at Cefnllys, a couple of miles to the East of the town, are worth a look. Llandrindod is also only 20 km or so from the Elan Valley reservoirs.

• Builth Wells
• Brecon and the Brecon Beacons
• Hay-on-Wye
• Aberystwyth
• Hereford
• Newtown