Tenby, Pembrokeshire is undoubtedly one of the most popular and loved places in all of Wales. Known for its iconic and colourful harbour, the crooked little alleyways filled with an eclectic mix of independent shops, its traditional pubs, world-class sports events and four wonderful sandy beaches, there’s nothing to dislike!
Walk around Tenby and you’ll see history everywhere. From its castle ruins on the hill (a great spot to enjoy the sunset!) to its town walls, which are Grade I listed, there is always something interesting to see. Tenby’s name in Welsh is Dinbych y Pysgod, which translates to ‘little fortress of the fish’.
If you’ve never visited Tenby, we highly recommend it. In the summer months, the town is bustling, and the weather is (usually) gorgeous. In the winter months, it’s a lot quieter, but the views are still spectacular.
We’ve put together this list of our favourite top picks from Tenby:
Places To Eat:
Harbwr is a traditional pub right in the heart of Tenby. Brewing their own beers on-site, they also serve a variety of wines, gins and spirits, so there’s bound to be something you love! Tuck into freshly caught seafood as well as lots of other delicious food. The beer garden is a great place to visit after you’ve enjoyed a day at the beach, and the pub is also dog friendly. Indie Burger is a perfect choice for the whole family. Every week they even bring out a new burger special, from Moroccan lamb, and Katsu Chicken Curry, to name just a few. They also do vegetarian and vegan burgers, as well as loaded fries – so there is plenty to choose from. Lollies Traditional Sweet Shop is a traditional sweet shop in Tenby filled with everything you can imagine. Selling the tastiest sundaes, luxury Belgian chocolates, handmade fudge and American candy. The shelves are lined with jars of sweets, so if you’ve got a sweet tooth, this is your place! Plantagenet House was voted in the top 25 places to eat in Wales, you are sure to have a unique dining experience here. Hidden away in Quay Hill, a wonderfully crooked alleyway leading to the harbour, you’ll find the oldest building in Tenby serving great food in its candlelit restaurant.
Things To Do:
A boat trip from Tenby takes you to Caldey Island. Enjoy a drink in the tea gardens and visit the gift shop – which sells shortbread baked in the Monastery and chocolate made on the island. A walk up to the lighthouse offers spectacular panoramic views and you may even spot the seals basking in the sun on the rocks below. You can’t go to Tenby and not visit at least one of its four marvellous beaches! We think all of them are worth a visit, and they’re all really close together, so that’s easy to do! North Beach was actually voted as ‘one of the most photogenic beaches in the world’. South Beach stretches all the way to Giltar and the beautiful village of Penally – a fantastic walk! Make sure to grab an ice cream from one of the vans on the beach. Manor Wildlife Park is a 52-acre zoo and is Wales’ only walking safari. Get close to the giant rabbits, lemurs and wallabies (who will love you if you feed them!). The gibbons, rhinos and tigers are fantastic to watch. Little ones will love the play areas and if it’s raining, the indoor play domes will go down a treat! If you’re feeling brave, head for the Dinosaur Park, only a few miles outside of Tenby. Packed full of amazing activities, from tubey rides to go carts, multiple play areas and of course, real-life dinosaurs, there’s lots of fun to be had! Children (and grown-ups) will love a visit to Tenby Lifeboat station. Get up close to the lifeboat and learn about past launches, the history of the two lifeboat stations and everything there is to know about the RNLI. There’s a gift shop and you may even be able to watch a launch while you’re there.
Events In Tenby:
Tenby is home to some great events throughout the year, including its famous Tenby Summer Spectacular. Held on the last Sunday in July and every Sunday in August, you can enjoy events for all the family, live bands, food and drink, finished off with a magnificent fireworks display. All money raised goes to local charities, so it’s a great event to support.
Ironman Wales has been running in Tenby since 2011, and is one of the most popular and loved events in West Wales. Thousands of spectators line the streets and there is a real buzz in Tenby for the entire weekend. Known as one of the toughest courses in the world, competitors swim 2.4 miles at North Beach, before cycling 112 miles across Pembrokeshire, finishing with running a marathon (26.2 miles) through the seaside town. An event not to be missed! Another magnificent sporting event is Long Course Weekend. Held on the first weekend in July, over 12,000 athletes compete in three incredible days. The swim takes place on Friday, cycle on Saturday, and the run on Sunday. The event is great for people who are inspired by Ironman Wales as you don’t have to do all 3 disciplines, and there are also different lengths – so you don’t need to run the whole marathon or cycle the whole 112 miles!
