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TravelTips24 : Europe : Western Europe : United Kingdom : Wales : South Wales : Carmarthenshire : Llanelli

Llanelli

Llanelli is a town in Carmarthenshire.

Culture and History

With a population of around 45,000, Llanelli is the largest town in the county of Carmarthenshire and is located on the Burry Estuary, 13 km west of the city of Swansea. Amongst other things, it is famous for its proud rugby and brewing traditions.

Llanelli is a fast growing town offering two large shopping complexes: Parc Trostre - an the out-of-town shopping centre and St.Elli - located in the town centre.

Although the town itself has a dearth of tourist attractions, its location in south Carmarthenshire makes it a logical base for visit surrounding scenic spots such as the Millennium Coastal Path and Pembrey Country Park.

Travel to Llanelli & Visa Requirements

Flights and airtickets to Llanelli

Pembrey Airport is 7km from the town - private flights only

By car

The town is linked to the M4 motorway via the A4138.

Buses to Llanelli

Llanelli is served by regular local bus services between Swansea and Carmarthen and National Express Coaches between many major UK destinations.

By train

Llanelli railway station is located at Great Western Crescent south of the Town Centre. The station is connected to Fishguard and Swansea along the West Wales Line. The station is also the terminus of the Heart of Wales Line, which connects the town to Mid Wales and Leominster and Shrewsbury via the Welsh Marches Line.

By bicycle

Llanelli is connected to the National Cycle Network from the north on NCR 43, and along the coast from the east and west on NCR 4.[10] These routes are directly connected to the town centre via a cycle path.

Tours & Getting around Llanelli

Walking is the best way to get around Llanelli as it is not a large city like Swansea.

Llanelli attractions and sightseeing

  • WWT National Wetlands Centre - a wetland nature reserve managed by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust. It is located about 1km from the town
  • Llanelly House - an early 18th century Georgian town house built in 1714 - currently under renovation
  • Park Howard Museum - located in the grounds of Park Howard. The museum houses a collection of Llanelli Pottery, various piecs of art and material related to the history of the town.

Stradey Park- Home to Llanelli Scarlets, a professional rugby union team in the Magners League, that have a very strong rugby history. (It is expected that Llanelli scarlets will move to their new ground, at Pemberton, in November 2008)

Llanelli souvenirs & shopping

The town centre offers a wide range of stores with many of the national chains represented, such as WH Smith, Boots, Woolworths, Marks and Spencer, Burtons etc.

There is also an out-of-town retail park called Parc Trostre, which has a BHS, HMV, JJB, Next, Boots, New look, Comet, Currys, Brantanos, Halfords, Carpet Right, Outfit, TK Maxx, Debenhams, Carphone Warehouse, First Choice Hypermarket, B&Q (one of the largest in Wales), Pets at home, Dreams and Tesco Extra, Starbucks, Pizza Hut, Subway, KFC, and McDonalds. The latest shop to open here is Marks and Spencer with the town centre store to close down in early January 2008. Shops to come are a Monsoon & Accessorize and WHSmith with the town centre store to also close in 2008. This retail park is currently being expanded.

Another out-of-town retail park is currently being built right next to Parc Trostre which is Parc Pemberton part of the new Llanelli Scarlets Stadium development. A Morrisons is already open there which started trading late 2007. Stores that are reportedly going there are a Homebase or Focus, Bensons Beds and an Argos Extra store.

Llanelli Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive

About 1 mile from Llanelli, in the village of Furnace, can be found The Farriers pub. This serves wonderful meals in the evening & lunchtimes, with the chef having been a recent participant in a Welsh language cookery programme.

Llanelli nightlife, bars, clubs & pubs

The famous Felinfoel brewery is in the village of Felinfoel 1 mile N of the town. Try the Double Dragon draught. There are numerous pubs in Llanelli. The main clubs/bars for the younger generations are Tom Peppers, and Le Caprice, and there are tens of other pubs that would be frequented by the local crowd, especially on a Friday and Saturday night.

Llanelli cheap and luxurious hotels, youth hostels & lodging

Budget

  • Hotel Miramar, 156/158 Station Road. Tel:+44 1554 754-726 Fax:+44 1554 772-454

Mid range

  • Stradey Park Hotel, Furnace, Tel:+44 1554 758-171, E-mail:reservations@stradeyparkhotel.com, [1].

Get out

  • The Millennium Coastal Path - a path that runs along the 21km of coastline from Loughor to Pembrey. It offers panoramic views of the Gower Peninsula and traffic-free cycling opportunities.
  • Pembrey Country Park - a 2 km² (500 acres) of parkland situated on the outskirts of the town; it includes the 13km long Cefn Sidan beach.
  • Kidwelly Castle, Kidwelly. (approx. 10 miles west of Llanelli)
  • Burry Port Marina (approx. 5 miles west of Llanelli)
  • National Botanic Garden of Wales (approx. 10 miles north of Llanelli)
  • Swansea and the Gower Peninsula - a thirty minute drive.

This page was last edited at 12:37, on 14 April 2008 by Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. Based on work by Dennis Moore and David, Wikitravel user(s) Frequenttrekker and Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel.

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