There’s an air of uplift in Swansea as many previously unloved areas have been regenerated. This means there’s never been a better time to visit this charming waterfront city.
The tide and Thomas
Dotted with parks and gardens, Swansea has plenty of green space for fresh air and relaxation, but the proximity to the sea can’t be ignored. Swansea boasts award-winning beaches and the National Waterfront Museum, located in the Maritime Quarter. Born in 1914 in Swansea, Dylan Thomas is the city’s favourite son, and you can explore the poet’s fascinating life at the Dylan Thomas Centre.
Rambling in the Mumbles
Many visitors to Swansea make a beeline for Mumbles, and it’s easy to see why. A shopping and cultural area that also encompasses three beaches and some great restaurants, it’s a tourist area that has retained plenty of charm. A Victorian Pier, an 18th century lighthouse, Italian ice cream and plenty of cafes, it’s the perfect place to while away a sunny afternoon. Stop off at the bustling Kitchen Table for great cakes, coffee and brunch – there are plenty of vegan and vegetarian options here too.
Get out to Gower
Your hire car means you can make the short drive to the Gower Peninsula with ease. In 1956 it was named the UK’s very first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and it draws visitors from far and wide. Its waves are popular with surfers, while ramblers love the moors, cliffs and greenery that surround the beaches.
You can follow the Wales Coast Path here, which meanders through some of the famed Welsh coastline and countryside. Wander past limestone cliffs and archaeological digs shedding light on medieval and Iron Age buildings, before dipping into cool woodland shade. It’s a unique part of the world, and one you’ll fall in love with.
Wild Waterfalls
If you want to explore beyond Swansea, you’ll find wondrous Welsh landscape everywhere you drive. Afan and The Vale of Neath has forest parks and a plethora of waterfalls. Sgwd yr Eira in the Brecon Beacons National Park is breath-taking, and you’ll only get slightly wet if you walk underneath it.
It’s a place to soak in the natural beauty that has inspired generations of poets and painters, and car hire in Swansea puts it all at your fingertips.