The definitive A-Z guide to visiting Swansea
What is that makes Swansea such a special place to visit? The beaches? Dylan Thomas? The football team? Rather than thinking of just one or two reasons, here’s Mark Rees with 26
A is for air show
Swansea is the home of the annual Wales Air Show, which returns to the seafront on the weekend of Saturday, June 30 and Sunday, July 1.
The aerial event saw more than 250,000 people flock to the bay in 2017 to enjoy performances from the RAF Red Arrows, the Spitfire and the Hurricane from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, the Tigers parachute display team and more.
B is for Bay Studios
Swansea’s very own film studios opened in 2013, kicking things off with Starz’ TV series Da Vinci’s Demons.
The former car parts factory has since welcomed stars from the big and small screen to Fabian Way, including a Netflix project from director Gareth Evans.
C is for The Comix Shoppe
For more than 30 years, Wales’ oldest comic shop has been supplying Swansea with its regular fix of books from the top American publishers including DC Comics and Marvel Comics.
While The Comix Shoppe’s main product has always been the comics, the Aladdin’s cave of curiosities in Shopper’s Walk Arcade also has a huge selection of collectables, ranging from graphic novels to statues to action figures to T-shirts.
D is for Dylan Thomas
There’s no shortage of attractions connected to Swansea’s most famous son in the city.
Good starting points for a Dylan tour of Swansea are his birthplace at 5 Cwmdonkin Drive in the Uplands, and the Dylan Thomas Centre in Somerset Place, which has a permanent Love the Words exhibition.
Other highlights include Cwmdonkin Park, and the Dylan Thomas Theatre in Swansea Marina which has a statue of the man himself.
E is for Enterprise Park
The retail section of Swansea’s Enterprise Park is home to some of the city’s bigger out-of-town stores.
The SA7 businesses include Colin Charvis Flooring, Wyevale, and B&M Bargains. And if you want a break from the shopping, you could take a walk along Lake Fendrod.
F is for Frank Brangwyn
Swansea’s most well-known concert hall has quite a colourful history.
The Brangwyn Hall is named after Sir Frank Brangwyn, whose 18-panel Empire murals adorn the walls.
They were originally commissioned in 1924 for the House of Lords’ Royal Gallery in London in honour of those who had fallen in the First World War. But the men who commissioned them were replaced before Brangwyn completed his work, and their successors were far from happy with what they saw.
A new home had to be found, and Swansea just happened to be in the process of planning a new hall at the time which could accommodate the artwork. They even asked for a few extra panels for good measure. And the rest, as they say, is history.
G is for galleries
It’s been a fantastic time for the visual arts in Swansea in recent years.
Our flagship gallery the Glynn Vivian re-opened its doors in 2016, and other galleries to visit in the city centre include Galerie Simpson and Volcano on High Street, Elysium Gallery on College Street, Mission Gallery in Gloucester Place, and the Attic Gallery in the Maritime Quarter, who are currently looking for a new owner.
H is for High Street
The gateway to the city continues to evolve.
It is home to some tasty cafes and food places, along with live music venues The Last Resort and The Hyst, who have the capability to beam their concerts to the world online.
There’s contemporary art on display at Galerie Simpson and Volcano Theatre, as well as plenty of street art on the buildings themselves.
I is for ice rink
Christmas doesn’t start in Swansea until Waterfront Winterland returns, and the one attraction you can guarantee will always be busy is the ice rink. With a children’s rink for younger skaters to learn the ropes on, gliding on ice is one of the city’s favourite festive pastimes. We can’t wait for next Christmas!
J is for Joe’s Ice Cream
It’s a Swansea institution.
No visit to Swansea is complete without a Joe’s!
K is for Karl Jenkins
Born and raised in Penclawdd, Sir Karl Jenkins became the first Welsh composer to receive a knighthood in 2015.
The most performed living composer in the world, thanks in no small part to his seminal The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace, his musical career began as a member of jazzrock band Soft Machine, before moving on to compose music for advertisement campaigns.
His genre-crossing Adiemus series of albums was launched in 1995, with the most recent being 2017’s Symphonic Adiemus.
L is for Liberty Stadium
It’s not just about sport.
The Liberty Stadium might be the home of the Swans and the Ospreys, but it also plays host to some of the city’s biggest musical events, with visits from the likes of Take That, Elton John, The Who and Rod Stewart over the years.
Acts announced for 2018 so far include The Killers and Little Mix .
M is for market
Swansea Market is the largest indoor market in Wales.
Among its specialities are seafood, such as the Penclawdd cockles and traditional laverbread.
Other goodies include jams, Welshcakes, meat, vegetables
and fruit, a lot of which comes fresh from Gower and Pembrokeshire. And for vegans, pop in to Brontosaurus Vegan Lifestyle Store.
N is for the National Pool
The Wales National Pool is an impressive 50-metre swimming pool just a stone’s throw away from Swansea University and Singleton Hospital in Sketty. And no, you don’t have to be a top athlete to use it, either. From “Splash and Play” sessions for the little ones to those dreaming of the Olympics, the 50-metre long and 21-metre wide pool is open to everyone.
O is for Ospreys
The Ospreys are the regional rugby team for the Swansea Bay area.
Formerly the Neath-Swansea Ospreys, referencing the names of two of the clubs who combined to form the region in 2003, they compete in the Pro14 league and play their home games at the city’s Liberty Stadium.
P is for pancakes
When the American breakfast giants Denny’s decided to open their first diner in Europe, they could have chosen any city in the continent – Milan, Paris, Barcelona or Zurich.
But they chose Swansea, which means we can now head to Parc Tawe and tuck in to a stack of pancakes just like they do Stateside.
Q is for Quadrant
The Quadrant Shopping Centre is Swansea’s main retail outlet.
In the center of the Quadrant you’ll find Krispy Kreme doughnuts, which saw people queuing from 4am in the morning when they opened in 2017. Shops inside include Debenhams, HMV, Boots, Pandora and The Works. It is also the home of the city centre’s post office, upstairs in WH Smith.
R is for Rhossili
As the UK’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, there’s no shortage of idyllic spots in the Gower peninsula. But if you had to single out a favourite, Rhossili would be top of the list for a lot of people.
Named as “the best beach in Europe” by Suitcase magazine, it has three miles of golden sand, and the well-known landmark Worm’s Head.
S is for Swansea City AFC
Who are we? Swansea is home to Wales’ only Premier League team, who play their home games at the Liberty Stadium.
T is for theatre
For Swansea’s biggest shows head to Swansea Grand Theatre, home of the city’s annual panto, and some of the more popular touring shows, like last year’s Sister Act and Sunset Boulevard.
Swansea University’s Taliesin Arts Centre hosts some of the best touring Welsh productions, while local amateur favourites Swansea Little Theatre stage seasonal productions at the Dylan Thomas Theatre, including annual performances of Under Milk Wood.
U is for Uplands
If you’re looking for a bite to eat and a few drinks without the busyness of the city centre, then Uplands is a good alternative. It’s also a great place for live music, with most of the bars having regular gig nights - and we love the market.
V is for Verdi’s
What could be better than an Italian coffee and a glorious view after a long walk? Of all the cafes in Swansea, Verdi’s might be the one with the best location, having a clear view across the bay at the end of a Mumbles promenade.
W is for Wind Street
If you like a drink or two on the weekend, then Wind Street is the place to go.
Swansea’s famous – or should that be infamous? – street of bars, restaurants and takeaways is the city’s party place to be on a Friday night.
X is for Mr X
Mr X is a Swansea Bay Christmas miracle.
For 57 years, four-and-a-half thousand children from Neath Port Talbot, Swansea and Carmarthenshire have received gifts from the Mr X Toys for Christmas appeal.
Many of the children may not have received Christmas gifts otherwise as they were on the lists of child support agencies in the areas.
The Mr X Appeal ensures as many children as possible have something to put a smile on their face at Christmastime.
Y is for the Yacht and SubAqua Club
Sitting on the western bank of the Tawe river, the Yacht and Sub-Aqua Club has a clubhouse, marina, boat yard, and a building for the diving club. The club has around 570 members, with yachtsmen, motor boat users, rowers, anglers, divers and social members in their ranks.
Z is for Zeta Jones
...and who better to end our list with than Swansea’s very own Oscar winner, Catherine Zeta Jones ?
The actress from Mumbles made her stage debut at the age of 12 in musical Annie at Swansea Grand Theatre. Fast forward to 2002 and she was awarded the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in another musical, Chicago on the big screen.