One of the great advantages of staying at the Kensington Hotel in Llandudno is just how much there is within easy reach. The town itself has plenty to keep you busy, but venture out for an hour or so and you find yourself in one of the most rewarding parts of the country for history, gardens and dramatic landscapes. For National Trust members in particular, the area around Llandudno is genuinely exceptional, with several outstanding properties within a short drive of the promenade.

Whether you are a keen gardener, a lover of history, or simply someone who enjoys a beautiful place to wander on a summer afternoon, here is our guide to the best National Trust spots to visit during your stay with us.

Bodnant Garden, Tal-y-Cafn

Approximately 20 minutes from the hotel

If you only have time for one National Trust visit during your stay, make it Bodnant. One of the finest gardens in the whole of Britain, Bodnant sits in the Conwy Valley on the edge of the Carneddau mountains, and its 80 acres offer something spectacular in every direction.

First planted in 1874, the garden has been lovingly developed over generations and features a remarkable collection of plants from around the world. There are formal terraces, a wild garden, a rose garden, a rock garden, and the Pin Mill, a Grade II listed building reflected in a tranquil pool that is one of the most photographed spots in Wales.

In early summer the Laburnum Arch is genuinely extraordinary. This 55-metre tunnel of laburnum, wisteria and clematis flowers in late May and June and draws visitors from across the country. If your visit falls in the right window, it is not something you will forget quickly.

Beyond the Arch, the terraced garden looks out across the valley to the hills of Snowdonia, and the views alone are worth the trip. There is a cafe on site, a plant centre, and plenty of space to spend a full morning or afternoon without rushing.

It is worth checking the National Trust website before you visit as timed entry tickets are sometimes required during peak summer weeks.

Aberconwy House, Conwy

Approximately 15 minutes from the hotel

A short drive down the coast to the walled town of Conwy brings you to Aberconwy House, the oldest surviving medieval merchant’s house in Wales. Dating from the fourteenth century, it sits on Castle Street in the heart of Conwy and gives a fascinating glimpse into life in a prosperous trading town during the Middle Ages.

The house has been used for many different purposes over the centuries, from a bakery to a temperance hotel, and each of its rooms reflects a different period of its long history. It is a compact visit rather than an all-day affair, but combined with a walk around Conwy’s famous town walls, a visit to the castle, and lunch at one of the town’s excellent independent restaurants, it makes for a genuinely satisfying day out.

The National Trust also cares for the Aberconwy Estate, which includes sections of Conwy’s remarkable medieval walls. Walking the walls gives you elevated views across the estuary and back towards the Carneddau, and it is one of those experiences that is hard to replicate anywhere else in Britain.

Conwy Suspension Bridge

Approximately 15 minutes from the hotel

Standing next to Conwy Castle, the Suspension Bridge is easy to overlook because the castle naturally draws the eye. But this elegant bridge, designed by Thomas Telford and completed in 1826, is a remarkable piece of engineering history in its own right and is now cared for by the National Trust.

Open to pedestrians, it offers a lovely perspective of both the castle and the estuary, and crossing it gives you a sense of what travel between England and Wales involved before the modern road bridges arrived. The toll house at the Welsh end is also National Trust managed and gives some context to the bridge’s history.

It is a short stop rather than a full day out, but it pairs perfectly with a visit to the castle itself and a walk along the town walls. Together they make Conwy one of the most rewarding half-day trips from Llandudno, especially in summer when the town is at its liveliest.

Penrhyn Castle, Bangor

Approximately 30 minutes from the hotel

Penrhyn Castle is one of the most extraordinary buildings in Wales. Built in the nineteenth century in a Norman Revival style, it is enormous in scale and extraordinary in detail, filled with an eclectic and often surprising collection of art, furniture and objects accumulated by the Pennant family, who made their fortune from Jamaican sugar plantations and the Penrhyn slate quarry.

The interior is almost overwhelming in its ambition. There are ornate stone staircases, a vast keep, elaborately carved fireplaces, and a collection of stuffed animals that children either love or find deeply unsettling. There is also an impressive collection of paintings, including works by Rembrandt and Canaletto.

The grounds are beautiful too, with a walled garden, a woodland area, and views across the Menai Strait towards Anglesey. On a clear summer day, the outlook from the upper parts of the estate takes in a wide sweep of Snowdonia, and it is quite breathtaking.

Plan to spend at least half a day here. There is a good cafe on site and the grounds alone are worth a leisurely wander after you have explored the house.

Plas Newydd House and Garden, Anglesey

Approximately 45 minutes from the hotel

If you are happy to cross the Menai Bridge into Anglesey, Plas Newydd is well worth the journey. This elegant eighteenth-century house sits on the western shore of the Menai Strait with views across the water to the mountains of Snowdonia that are, on a fine summer day, genuinely stunning.

The house is perhaps best known for its extraordinary Rex Whistler mural, a vast and playful trompe-l’oeil painting that covers the entire wall of the dining room and is the largest canvas work by Whistler in existence. It is remarkable, and art lovers will want to spend some time with it.

The grounds include a series of gardens designed for different seasons, and in summer the rhododendrons and the informal woodland garden are particularly fine. There is also a Military Museum connected to the Marquess of Anglesey’s family history, and the tearoom has a terrace that looks directly across the Strait on one of the great views in North Wales.

This one is best suited to a full day out, perhaps combined with a drive around the Anglesey coast, which has some of the most spectacular beaches and sea views in Wales.

Tips for Making the Most of Your National Trust Visits

Bring your membership card. If you are already a National Trust member, entry to all of the above is included. For non-members, the individual entry fees add up, and if you are planning to visit more than one or two properties it is genuinely worth considering joining.

Go early in summer. The most popular sites, particularly Bodnant Garden during the Laburnum season, can be busy on summer weekends. Arriving when the gates open gives you the best of the gardens before the crowds build.

Check opening times before you go. Most National Trust properties in this area are open daily through the summer, but hours can vary and it is always worth a quick check on the National Trust website before setting off.

Combine visits with the wider area. Each of these properties sits in a part of North Wales that is worth exploring more broadly. Conwy town, the Conwy Valley, the Menai coast, and the Bangor area all offer plenty beyond the National Trust sites themselves.

The Perfect Base for Exploring

The Kensington Hotel’s position right on the Llandudno promenade puts you within easy reach of all of the above. You can wake up to sea views, enjoy a full breakfast, and be pulling into the car park at Bodnant Garden in under half an hour.

If you would like to book a stay and make the most of everything the area has to offer this summer, we would love to welcome you. Give us a call on 01492 876784 or drop us a line at reception@kensingtonhotel.wales and we will be happy to help.