Tenby

Tenby (Welsh: Dinbych-y-Pysgod, "little town of the fishes or little fortress of the fish") is a walled seaside town in Pembrokeshire, West Wales, lying on Carmarthen Bay, and is a popular seaside holiday resort. Attractions in Tenby include four kilometres of sandy beaches, the 13th-century town walls including the Five Arches barbican gate, the 15th-century St. Mary's Church, the Tudor Merchant's House (National Trust), a museum with art gallery, and the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, part of Britain's only coastal National Park. Boats sail from Tenby's harbour to the monastic Caldey Island while St Catherine's Island just offshore is linked to the town at low tide.

The town of Tenby dates back to the Norman conquest, and the town walls were constructed in 1093 in order to defend it from the Welsh. Due to its somewhat remote location, however, the town and its quaint cobble streets and sandy beaches remained off the tourist trail until the Victorian era. Then, with the influx of wealthy merchant families from Swansea, Cardiff and further afield, Tenby was suddenly in a vogue, and the town's appeal as a picturesque spa has remained ever since. Although Tenby is one of Wales' most popular holiday destinations, it has resisted over commercialization and remains a very elegant and pleasant family holiday venue..

Cars are banned from the historic center of the town during the summer months, which adds greatly to the appeal of the town as a place to relax and unwind.

Get in

Tenby is connected by local rail line to Swansea, Cardiff and Pembroke Dock. During the weekends in the summer there are a limited number of services to and from London Paddington.

See

Do

Buy

Eat

As a major tourist centre, Tenby is certainly not lacking in cafes and restaurants. Below are a few recommendations:

History

Probably originating as a Viking settlement, the town grew as a seaport around the now-ruined Tenby Castle. The town walls were built by William de Valence, 1st Earl of Pembroke, in the 13th Century. In late medieval times, Tenby's importance grew as a sheltered seaport and in 1566 Portuguese seamen landed the first oranges to be brought to Wales at Tenby harbour.

In the Georgian and Victorian eras Tenby was renowned as a health resort and centre for botanical and geological study with many features of the town being constructed to provide areas for healthy walks by the sea. Many of the beaches still retain good disabled access thanks to this period due to the walkways being built to accommodate Victorian nannies pushing prams.

Tourism

Tenby is an exceptionally busy resort in the Summer, with tourists coming from all over Britain and beyond. Its relatively unspoilt beaches and historic town walls make it a unique seaside resort. Most shops, pubs and restaurants in Tenby are specifically marketed to tourists with a number of places being standing room only in the Summer. There is a large holiday park nearby, Kiln Park and numerous hotels and guest houses.

Nightlife

Tenby is well known for its unique nightlife. Tenby has an unusually high proportion of pubs for its population, with over 20 licensed premises in the town centre alone, there are a range of pubs, from traditional to sports orientated to contemporary. However, most of them are very small and fill up quickly at weekends and in the Summer.