The Best Things to do in Swansea

Things to do in and around Swansea: Over Easter weekend we were lucky enough to visit Swansea and stay at Morgans Swansea which is an ideal base to explore the area from. The second largest city in Wales and is located in South Wales lying along the Bristol channel.

It is not part of Wales we had visited before but now we have we will be back. Since there is so much to do and the best things is that it’s all relatively close together. So you are not needed to travel far with the kids. With plenty of outdoor adventures, it is a great option for a break in the UK. Here are the things we got up to with a three-year-old and a six-year-old. We managed to fit all of these things into a weekend with plenty of time for the kids to play. 

Swansea Museum

This is the oldest museum in Swansea and a great place to explore. Located in the city centre it is home to an Egyptian Mummy and a rather famous painting which appeared on Britain’s Lost Masterpieces – The “important and beautiful” painting by artist Jacob Jordaens – a pupil of Peter Paul Rubens. It is not a very large museum but perfect for young ones for this reason. They have a bit of everything including local history which makes it a good starting place if you are looking to explore the area.

When we visited they were running a little mouse and egg hunt which Monkey enjoyed doing. We did struggle to find a couple of them. I liked that they had thought about the kids throughout with little activities for them in each room. There was also an arts and crafts area that included a large wooden railway which Kipper enjoyed playing with. Entrance to the museum is free.

LC – Softplay & indoor Waterpark

Close by the museum is the LC a leisure complex. This houses Wales’s biggest indoor waterpark. There is also a four-storey soft play area which is a good option if the weather is bad. The boys really enjoyed running off some energy. Sessions are timed and you can pre-book for hour slots. It was nice to find a soft play that catered for both boys. Kipper really enjoyed the slides and we lost them for the best part of the hour. Just hearing giggles and laughter as they had fun running around.

I was surprised by just how big the pool was. There was plenty for both the boys to do. Kipper really enjoyed the Volcano and slide as well as the wave machine. He has no fear and even had a go at the lazy river. Monkey loved the slides and can’t wait to visit again to have a go at surfing. With the sun streaming in through the windows sitting in the shallows as the waves swept around us, I almost forgot we were in the UK!

Oystermouth Castle

We love an old norman stone castle and Oystermouth did not disappoint. I would suggest getting there early as it is close to The Mumbles which is extremely popular so parking could be a challenge in busier times. The castle is perched upon a hill overlooking the bay, which makes for a beautiful outlook. Parts of the castle has been restored and it is possible to go into the Chapel through the gift shop. It was extremely peaceful.

There was plenty of roofless rooms to explore. The boys really enjoyed playing with their wooden swords reacting to battles that have gone by. Around half of the battlements have been restored to allow you to admire the fantastic view over the surrounding countryside and great oyster bay. If you wander into the town below you will have the chance to As well as a chance tp pick up a souvenir in the lovespoon gallery.

The Mumbles & Victorian Pier

I am not sure how I hadn’t heard of The Mumbles before. It is a beautiful stretch of sandy beach with various opportunities for rock pooling. There is a promenade that follows the beach with plenty of opportunities to sit and watch the world go by. We sat and had ice cream in Verdi’s which is a family-run Cafe and extremely popular. Not surprising since it is right on the seafront overlooking Swansea Bay and full of local delicacies. After refuelling, the boys enjoyed some time on the beach. We found several crabs a couple which were really quite large buying nets from the mumbles pier. Plus a rockfish which they found fascinating. Kipper enjoyed building sandcastles and knocking them down again. Make sure you take the time to spot mumbles head from the end of the pier.

Don’t worry if you forget your bucket and spade. A short walk down the coast is the Victorian Pier. First built in 1898 to become one of Swansea Bay’s most defining features from the Victorian era. When we visited the Pier itself was closed for refurbishment but the site includes an amusement arcade, a Beach Hut Café and a number of other attractions including a mini-bowling alley, an XD Theatre and a Pirate Boating Lake. We found a little shop that was selling buckets and spades for £1 and nets for £2 each. They also had some little paper flags which reminded me of my own childhood.

Langland Bay 

A short drive from The Mumbles is Langland Bay beach. The tide was already coming in when we arrived but with a large carpark and a little row of green beach huts, it was very picturesque. It was so perfect that you could have been forgiven for thinking that it was a man-made bay made with deep golden sand. Popular with locals and holidaymakers alike. Overlooking the bay is Langland Brassie well known for its fresh seafood and use of local produce, making it the perfect stop for dinner. It has an outside veranda which was full of people enjoying a drink and watching the sun go down. We really enjoyed our meal, the tasty food and friendly service make it an ideal stop on your itinerary.

Gower Heritage Centre

When we visited there was lots of Easter activities on. However its worth spending a couple of hours exploring. There is a old watermill which there which still grounds wheat. Plus a woodturner and blacksmith showing off their trade. The boys really enjoyed the play area and there are a few animals to keep the little ones entertained.

Rhossili Bay & National Trust 

The Gower Peninsula really needs to be on your list it is one of the best beaches we have visited. And an area of outstanding natural beauty. We had a fantastic afternoon on the Gower coast. When we visited there was an Easter Egg Hunt where the boys followed a series of clues. Around the National Trust, there are spectacular views across the bay. There is a huge carpark, walking trails, a shop and facilities.

Then there is the shoreline. You do need to walk down the side of the hill to get to the bay. But it is worth the trek. We spent all afternoon at the beach, the boys had a fantastic time running in and out of the waves. Watching the surf school taking place and marvelling at the water sports. If you would like to see more pictures I wrote about it here – A Picture Postcard from Rhossili Bay.

Plantasia

I would never have thought you would get a rainforest or botanical garden in the middle of Swansea. But Plantasia is just that. Inside there are meerkats, parrots, monkeys, spectacled caiman crocodiles, red-bellied piranhas and a variety of rare and exotic plants including huge prickly cacti, towering palms and lemon trees. The experience is designed to be immersive and you follow the paths through the forest. There are lots of interactive exhibits and play areas to keep the little ones entertained. Including a human-sized model of an insect-devouring Venus flytrap!

There is so much to do it is the perfect place for a family holiday. There is so much to do for the whole family. For moe ideas of things to do in the local area head to the Visit Swansea Bay website.

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We were hosted by Visit Swansea for the weekend, who invited us to explore these attractions, as ever all words and opinions are my own.