Llandudno is described as Wales‘ largest resort by Visit Conwy, however, one of its main beaches has been named as the “most disappointing beach in the UK”. The study conducted by Preply analysed Tripadvisor reviews to uncover the top 10 beaches that “haven’t quite hit the mark for some visitors”.
Topping the list of “disappointing” beaches is North Shore in Llandudno, with some Tripadvisor reviewers dubbing it “dreadful to walk on” and “run down”.
A visitor from Weymouth who spent a day at the beach in September 2023 described it as “disappointing to say the least”. They added: “My husband and I are visiting the area because 50 years ago we honeymooned in Conwy and loved visiting Llandudno. The North Shore beach is now dreadful for walking on and I wouldn’t attempt to swim here.
“The tiny bit of sand at one end must have been packed in August with children wanting to build sandcastles, if their parents hadn’t given up on it. The beautiful sandy beach has been replaced with horrible large grey rocks.” [SIC]
They added: “How sad to see the place looking so run down but not surprising really when we saw the beach.” [SIC]
A second visitor described the beach as an eye-sore, stating: “Don’t waste your time with this eyesore. Should have done some research before travelling here for a day at the beach.” [SIC]
According to Preply, who conducted the research: “Taking the top spot with nearly 30 percent disappointing reviews is Llandudno’s North Shore Beach. While the majority had positive experiences, some feedback painted a slightly different picture.
“The beach’s use of rocky pebbles, chosen by the local council, has supposedly made walking along the shore a bit tricky for both visitors and their pets – which are also only allowed on the beach at certain times of the year.
“What’s more, visitors should also apparently be cautious of jellyfish that occasionally wash up on the coastline. All in all, if you’re considering visiting Llandudno’s North Shore Beach, you’d be wise to pack a sturdy pair of shoes.”
Despite the negative reviews, North Shore is described as the area’s principal beach and has some historic features, including a long Victorian pier and wide promenade for people to walk along. In the summer months, visitors can also expect traditional Punch and Judy shows which have been a feature of the coastal destination for over 160 years.
The beach also offers donkey rides on the sand and live music from the bandstand. And although the beach has topped the charts in Preply’s research, there are still visitors who love spending a day at North Shore.
In fact, on Tripadvisor 82 of the 223 reviews of the beach described it as “excellent”. Visitors who left positive reviews highlighted the lovely rock pools scattered along the beach and the views of the surrounding mountains. However, at the time of writing, the beach has not had an “excellent” review on Tripadvisor since 2022.
The most recent five-star review describes the beach as “a beautiful pebble beach”. They said: “At first we were a bit disheartened as it wasn’t as Sandy as we were expecting, however, after a week there we love it! It’s very pebbly but this makes for stunning photos and you can find some pretty cool things hiding amongst the rocks.” [SIC]
