Swansea Things to Do Tips by aaaarrgh Top 5 Page for this destination

Brand New National Waterfront Museum

Swansea's new National Waterfront Museum is a combination of a massive industrial warehouse (built in 1901) and a £30 million extension, opened in October 2005.

The new extension has been designed by Wilkinson Eyre Architects and looks stunning. It uses slate for its walls in three different colours - yes, slate comes in different hues!

Swansea, like Cardiff, was once a thriving industrial port, a centre of world industry, exporting coal, copper, tin and other products by sea. The museum tells the story of Wales' role in industrial history. It replaces the 'Maritime and Industrial Museum' that was demolished in Cardiff to make way for the 'Cardiff Bay' development. So Wales now has a museum to be proud of again!

The new Swansea museum is totally FREE to enter. Lots to see for adults and kids. Lots of the latest technology 'touch-screens' and interactive displays. Outside there are several ships moored in the harbour, particularly 'Lightship 19' which is open to the public. Just along Swansea Marina is a Bus & Tram Shed with old buses and trams (no surprise there then) on display.

Open 7 days a week 10am to 5pm

Address: Swansea Maritime Quarter

Phone: 01792 638950

Glyn Vivian Art Gallery

Oriel Gelf Glyn Vivian, as it is called in Welsh, is always a must-do activity when I visit Swansea.

Like all public galleries it is free to enter!

The building is pleasant, airy, early C20th. It has a permanent collection of Welsh paintings, glass and ceramics.

However, it never ceases to amaze me how good the visiting exhibitions are. They are always consistently good. Even the Summer open exhibition of local art was 95% excellent.

Open 10-5, Tuesday to Sunday. 5 minutes walk from Swansea railway station.

Address: Alexandra Road, opposite the Main Library.

Directions: If you arrive by train, cross the main road and a dual carriageway, directly ahead from the station concourse.
Swansea Library is on the near corner of Alexandra Road. Glyn Vivian is across the road, a bit further down.

Phone: (01792) 655006 or 651738

St Mary's Church, stained-glass heaven

St Mary's Church is Swansea's main Anglican place of worship. It is a large, airy, pleasant place, a haven from the noisy shopping streets.

St Mary's has existed in one shape or another since medieval times. However, in 1895 it was demolished together with some of Swansea's worst slums, and rebuilt bigger and better. Then tragically in February 1941 the church was bombed in an air raid and burnt to the ground. It was rebuilt again, but not reopened till 1959. So the church is not as old as it looks at first sight.

However, what is quite breathtaking is the beautiful stained glass windows. Swansea is a centre for stained-glass design and there are a variety of different types of window in St mary's, modern and traditional. The most stunning, in my view, is the 'Millenium Window' above the main door, a sunburst of oranges and reds, super on a sunny day. The vicar says the whole church is bathed in orange light late in the afternoon! There is also a smaller window dedicated to local skydivers killed in an accident. The main window in the chancel is more delicate and traditional, by well-known artist John Piper.

Definitely worth a visit! Open 10-3 most days.

Address: A short distance from Castle Square

Website: http://www.swanseastmary.fsnet.co.uk

Dylan Thomas Centre

The well-known Welsh poet, Dylan Thomas, was born in Swansea in 1914. Easily one of Swansea's most famous people. And some people think one of the greatest 20th century writers (Bob Dylan chose his name in honour of Dylan Thomas). He died prematurely and mysteriously in a New York hospital, in 1953.

Swansea has a large National Literature Centre for Wales, next to the River Tawe and close to the Maritime Quarter. It has a large exhibition about Dylan Thomas, his colourful life and his works. I really enjoyed the experience - you can listen at several places to recordings of Thomas reading his poetry - powerful stuff! There is TV newsreel footage and personal possessions of Thomas and his friends.

FREE ENTRY - normal opening hours 10am - 4.30pm (cafe closes 4pm)

There is also a great bookshop and cafe - the cafe is more like a second-hand bookshop, surrounded by bookcases of old books for you to read while you chew on some bara brith.

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You can also visit Thomas's boathouse at Laugharne if you have the time, where he wrote poetry overlooking the River Towy, south of Carmarthen, quite a journey by car but very picturesque.

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Address: National Literature Centre,Somerset Place,Swansea

Directions: To the east of Swansea's Museum, close to the suspended bridge across the River Tawe.

Other Contact: dylanthomas.centre@swansea.gov.u

Phone: 01792 463980

Website: http://www.dylanthomas.org

Swansea "Maritime Quarter"

Some of Swansea's old docks have been converted quite nicely into a Marina, called the Maritime Quarter, with restaurants, cheap cafe's, pubs and expensive housing. This all happened at least 15 years ago, and the area is all the better for it.

There is an old 'light ship' moored in one of the docks. And some other old boats too. This is the location of South Wales' brand new Industrial and Maritime Museum (see my separate tip).

You are not far from the seafront here and Swansea Bay. A nice walk is to head slightly southeast, across one of the dock's bridges, and continue till you reach the River Tawe. There is a sea lock at the entrance. Boats pass through here at high tide from the yacht marina to the sea. A bit of nautical action to watch.

Plenty to do, including several Dylan Thomas venues - gallery, theatre and museum.

Watch out for the new "SA1" development of the rest of Swansea's docks area. It sounds very ambitious!

Address: Swansea Marina

Ruins of Swansea Castle

Half way between the train station and Swansea Marina is Swansea Castle. There is not much left of it now. When it was built it was on the bank of the River Tawe, which has now moved much further east!

The current castle was built in the late 13th century to control the crossing point of the river. Unfortunately at about the same time, the English king, Edward I, took control of large parts of Wales so the castle did not have much use. It was used for various other purposes until the 18th century.

Today a small corner of the original castle is left. It is now overshadowed by the massive British Telecom offices. I think the two buildings make an interesting contrast.

Address: Castle Square, Swansea city centre

Website: http://www.castlewales.com/swansea.html

Coastal path from Swansea to the Mumbles

‘MUMBLES, a rather nice village, despite its name,
right on the edge of the sea’
said Welsh poet, Dylan Thomas.

Apparently, the name 'Mumbles' come from the French word for 'Breasts'!!

There is a nice path for pedestrians and cyclists from Swansea to the Mumbles along the sea-front.

At one end is Swansea Marina, with Museums, boats and restaurants. The Mumbles is 3½ miles southwest. You pass Swansea University and eventually reach Mumbles, with its pubs, ice cream parlour and Langland Bay.

The beach in Swansea Bay is very shallow and when the tide is out you can hardly see the sea!

This route is a great bicyle ride, very flat. You can also drive your car, or catch a bus along the main road.

Address: Swansea Bay