The Ultimate 2 Day Trip Itinerary To Wales From London
Looking for the best 2 day itinerary in Wales from London? Read on!
Wales is a very underrated country in the UK which is massively overlooked by tourists, so a day trip to this beautiful land from London is a top choice to consider.
Wales is full of interesting places to visit – from historical castles to thriving cities. Whether you want to explore the Welsh countryside or discover some quaint coastal villages, there are so many options.
I’ve visited Wales several times on day trips and I’m always amazed by it’s sheer beauty and baffled why more tourists don’t visit this glorious country. So I’ve curated this 2 day itinerary to help you decide where to visit and what to do.
⌚ In a rush? My Top Wales Tour Recommendations:
Snowdonia & The 3 Castles Tour
Cardiff Like a Local: Customized Private Tour
Whitewater River Tubing Llangollen
🏨 My Hotel Recommendations For Wales:
ibis budget Cardiff Centre
Lauriston & Lawton Court Hotel (Llandudno)
The Quay Hotel and Spa (Conwy)
2 Day Itinerary To Wales From London
So without further ado, let’s take a look at my ultimate 2 day itinerary for Wales:
Day One: Explore the Welsh Capital: Cardiff
If you only have one or two days to visit Wales, then I definitely recommend starting your journey with a visit to the Welsh capital: Cardiff.
Cardiff is totally different from the likes of London and is a lot less crowded. It’s a beautiful, historical city and it has a lively nightlife with so many pubs, restaurants and clubs worth visiting too.
I’ve visited Cardiff multiple times and think it’s one of the best hidden gem cities in the UK. Many people prefer to visit the likes of Manchester and Liverpool, but Cardiff is smaller, less busy and more beautiful in my honest opinion.
Here are my top tips on things to do when visiting Cardiff:
- Cardiff Castle: This is one of Wales’ top tourist destination site and simply unmissable when visiting Cardiff. Make sure you climb to the top of the castle for the most stunning panoramic views of the city.
- Cardiff Bay: In my experience this is the nicest area in Cardiff, with beautiful views of the bay and top rated restaurants and bars and places to visit, such as the Wales Millennium Centre.
- Cardiff Market: This is an impressive indoor Victorian market full of independent shop sellers – a stroll through here is a really charming and unique alternative to the modern high street.
Day Two: Llandudno
After spending day one getting familiar with Cardiff, I recommend heading north to the beautiful seaside town of Llandudno on day two.
There are many lovely coastal towns in Wales worth visiting, such as Aberystwyth and Tenby, but in my opinion Llandudno has the most to offer.
I recently visited Llandudno and was genuinely surprised by how picturesque it is and how many things there are to do. Most of the seafront buildings date back to the Victorian era and you soon come to realise how historical the town is.
Llandudno has the longest pier in Wales, which is full of amusement rides and arcade games, making it ideal for young kids. The views from the pier of the coast are stunning on a sunny day and there are a lot of restaurants and bars here too.
Great Orme Cliffs
If there’s one activity you have to do when in Llandudno, then it’s taking a tram to the top of Great Orme. This summit offers the most glorious views of the north coast of Wales and the tram ride is a lot of fun too.
You can catch the tram to Great Orme at Victoria Station, which is just a short 5-10 minute walk from the town’s seaside. Tickets cost £10.50 for adults and the ride takes roughly 20 minutes.
The tram climbs up steep roads and it’s a very fun and unique ride unlike any other! It’s very enjoyable and quite an old fashioned mode of transportation, but I loved looking back at the views of Llandudno as we climbed higher and higher.
👉 Pro Tip: Be aware that as you reach the summit of Great Orme, the temperature is likely to drop – so make sure you take a jacket with you to stay warm.
There is a cafeteria at the summit selling a good selection of food and drinks, as well as a souvenir shop.
When I visited the cafeteria was absolutely packed full of tourists and I was lucky to secure an outdoor table to sit and have lunch, so be aware you may have to wait to get an indoor table depending on when you visit.
If you don’t fancy taking the tram to the summit then there is parking available for cars as well. You can easily spend an hour or more exploring the area and taking in the spectacular views – I highly recommend it!
Great Orme Mines
Once you’ve soaked up the impressive views at the cliffs, you can also discover the Great Orme Mines which are equally impressive.
These mines are believed to date back thousands of years ago and you can take a self-guided tour through them which lasts about 45 minutes – if you’re feeling brave enough!
The underground passageways go on for 5 miles in total and are a really fascinating and educational experience.
Conwy Castle
Just a short 15 minute drive away from Llandudno is one of the most impressive castles you’ll find in Wales or anywhere else for that matter – Conwy Castle.
This UNESCO World Heritage site dates back several hundred years and is surprisingly very well preserved. It’s a really interesting site to walk around and discover and is well worth the admission ticket of £15 for adults.
You can even climb one of the towers at the castle, which is what I did – the views from the top of the nearby port, River Conwy and Snowdonia in the distance are absolutely breath-taking.
I recommend giving yourself at least an hour to explore the castle grounds. The town of Conwy is delightful as well, with lovely architecture and lots of good quality restaurants and pubs.
👉 Pro Tip: While in Conwy, I recommend taking a boat ride around the River Conwy. This is a fun activity for the family that lasts around 30 minutes and is fairly cheap to do. Also at the port, you can also visit the Smallest House In Great Britain!
Tour Recommendations For Wales
There are a lot of fun and fascinating tours to take part in when visiting Wales which I very much recommend.
Whether you want to explore some of the country’s many castles, see some beautiful nature sites, take part in an adrenalin fuelled adventure or just learn more about it’s capital city, there’s something for everyone.
So, here are my top three tour recommendations for Wales:
1. Snowdonia & The 3 Castles Tour
⭐ Rating: 5/5 (156 reviews) | ⌚ Duration: 9 hours | ✅ Book it here!
Snowdonia is Wales’ largest national park and has the highest mountain in the England and Wales – so a trip here is a must if you’re a nature lover!
This full day tour takes you from Llandudno to the likes of Great Orme, Conwy Castle as well as the best Snowdonia viewpoint, which is one of the most spectacular views in the UK. The tour also visits the following must-see locations:
- National Slate Museum: this is one of the most interesting quarry mine sites in the world and a fascinating place where you’ll get to explore for a whole hour, learning from demonstrations and talks.
- Dolbadarn Castle: another impressive historical castle dating back to the 12th century with spectacular views.
- Caernarfon Castle: this is a world heritage site and is considered to be one of the greatest medieval fortresses from the Middle Ages that you’ll find anywhere in the world.
All in all, this is a fantastic day tour that encompasses some of the best historical and natural sites that Wales has to offer, and is amazing value for money.
⭐ Check out Barbara’s top review of this Day Tour:
“From castles to dragons to a slate mine, this tour has it all, including a trip down a VERY narrow country lane in Snowdonia. A perfectly planned trip, we highly recommend!”
➡️ Book a ticket for this Snowdonia & 3 Castles Tour here
2. Cardiff Like a Local: Customized Private Tour
⭐ Rating: 4.5/5 (22 reviews) | ⌚ Duration: 2-6 hours | ✅ Book it here!
If you fancy your own private tour of Cardiff then this is the perfect option for you. This is a customized tour especially catered to your needs; you’ll meet up with your local tour guide to discuss exactly what you want to see in Cardiff.
Whether you want to explore Cardiff Castle, chill out at Cardiff Bay or learn more about the history of the city – the choice is totally up to you!
⭐ Check out Trini’s top review of this Customized Tour of Cardiff:
“Gillian was an absolutely wonderful guide. Very knowledgeable and entertaining. We saw a lot of sights during the your and I learned a lot. Highly recommended!”
➡️ Book a ticket for this Walking Tour of Cardiff here
3. Whitewater River Tubing Llangollen
⭐ Rating: 5/5 (109 reviews) | ⌚ Duration: 3 hours | ✅ Book it here!
If you’re an adrenaline junkie and are looking for an exhilarating adventure during your trip to Wales, then you simply cannot miss this activity!
Taking place close to the River Dee, you’ll instructor will give you top tips when it comes to ‘river tubing‘ down some white water rapids!
This involves using a big rubber tube as you go down the rapids and is a fun, thrilling experience that is completely safe – life jackets, helmets and wetsuits are all supplied.
⭐ Check out Sarah’s top review for Whitewater River Tubing:
The white-water river tubing was as fun and exhilarating as we expected it to be. We were met with a warm welcome by the crew and our guide was skilled and knowledgeable about both the activity and the local area.
➡️ Book a ticket for Whitewater Tubing in Llangollen here
How To Get To Wales From London
You may be wondering what are your best options when it comes to travelling from London to Wales. So let’s take a look at the choices:
🚆 Wales to London by Train
I would definitely recommend taking a train from London to Wales if you’re reliant on public transportation.
There is a direct train that leaves from London Paddington and stops at culturally interesting cities such as beautiful Bath and Bristol before reaching Newport in Wales and reaching it’s destination in Cardiff.
A train to Cardiff from London usually takes around 2 hours in total, at a cost ranging from £30-£40, depending on how far in advance you buy your ticket.
🚌 Wales to London by Coach
If train is a too costly option for you, then I would recommend travelling to Wales from London via coach.
There are plenty of cheap coach services available from London, with National Express selling tickets to Cardiff for less than £10.
This may sound like a bargain, but keep in mind that a coach ride to Cardiff will take longer than the train, typically about 3 hours and 35 minutes.
🚘 Wales to London by Car
You may wish to hire a car while in the UK, and this is a great option for travelling around the country.
The distance via car from London to Cardiff is just over 150 miles and will take in the region of 2 hours and 30 minutes, depending on how bad traffic may be – especially when driving out of the UK capital which is notorious for traffic.
Best Hotel Recommendations For Wales
Finding good accommodation in Wales is not an easy task as there are so many options! Let’s take a look at t
hree different accommodation choices throughout the country at three different prices:
📍 Budget Recommendation: ibis budget Cardiff Centre
If you’re visiting Cardiff and you’re on a tight budget then this ibis hotel is the ideal option for you.
It’s located just a 10 minute walk from Cardiff Railway station and a continental breakfast buffet is served every morning – plus it has a 24 hour front desk.
⭐ Check out Cagla’s top rated review of ibis budget Cardiff Centre:
“The hotel was quite simplistic and modern. If one does not expect much in terms of fanciness, they would be satisfied with what it has to offer. The check-in and check-out procedures are really quick.”
➡️ Book a room at ibis budget Cardiff Centre here
📍 Mid-Range Recommendation: Lauriston & Lawton Court Hotel
This fabulous 4 star beachfront hotel is the perfect choice if staying in Llandudno. With the beach just 60 metres away you really can’t choose a hotel with a better location!
Offering sea views, private parking and a top quality breakfast, Lauriston & Lawton Court Hotel has everything you need for a memorable stay in this quaint seaside town.
⭐ Check out Pamela’s review of Lauriston & Lawton Court Hotel:
“The hotel was lovely and we really enjoyed our stay. The staff were friendly. The location was good and the breakfast was the best we’ve had out of all the places we’ve stayed.”
➡️ Book a room at Lauriston & Lawton Court Hotel here
📍 Luxury Recommendation: The Quay Hotel and Spa (Conwy)
If you fancy a luxury stay when visiting Conwy, then you can’t go wrong with the top rated The Quay Hotel and Spa.
This contemporary 4 star hotel is situated right on the Conwy Estuary, with modern, spacious rooms offering stunning sea views.
It features an indoor swimming pool, a spa and wellness centre and is totally unmatched for quality in the Conwy area.
⭐ Check out Charles’ top rated review of The Quay Hotel and Spa:
“The location was fantastic. The views over the estuary and looking to Conwy were stunning. The room was spacious, and the balcony was fabulous. The leisure facilities were high quality.”
➡️ Book a room at The Quay Hotel and Spa here
Map of Wales
Check out this interactive map of Wales, which includes all the locations mentioned in this blog post:
2 Day Trip To Wales From London FAQs
Still not sure about visiting Wales from London? Let’s answer some of the most commonly asked questions about this subject:
Is Wales cheaper than London?
Yes, Wales is considerably cheaper than London! Even the Welsh capital; Cardiff is cheaper when it comes to accommodation and restaurants.
The truth is that Wales is a lot cheaper than London because it’s much less visited than the UK capital. London in my opinion is the most expensive place in the UK, but there are still a lot of cheap things to do when visiting.
Is Wales safe for tourists?
Yes, Wales is very safe for tourists to travel to and safer than England in my opinion. Wales is full of natural landscapes and small villages and because it’s less visited than other parts of the UK, it has a lower crime rate.
The Welsh people are extremely friendly as well, and I have to admit friendlier than most people you’ll come across in England – though this is bit of a generalisation obviously.
Of course, crime still takes place here, especially in the major cities like Cardiff, Newport and Swansea so it’s best to be vigilant when visiting but this shouldn’t be a concern.
When is the best time to visit Wales?
The summer months are undoubtedly the best time of year to visit Wales when temperatures should be higher than usual and the weather nice and sunny (in theory!).
This does mean that accommodation will be higher during this peak season, so if cost is an issue then you may want to consider visiting in late spring or early autumn.
Conclusion: 2 Day Trip To Wales From London
So that concludes everything you need to know about visiting Wales from London over a two day period.
To be honest, spending just 2 days in Wales isn’t enough to see everything that this beautiful country has to offer, but you can at least see some of the top attractions.
Wales is uniquely different from the rest of the UK and in my opinion is a hidden tourist gem worth exploring. Whether you’re interested in it’s many historical sites or want to visit a quaint and lovely seaside town, there’s lots to do.
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading through my ultimate 2 day itinerary day trip from Wales to London and are inspired to discover what this under appreciated country is all about!
➡️ Planning your trip? Here are my favourite resources:
🏨 Accommodation: I recommend using Booking.com
🚙 Rental Car: Use Discover Cars for the best car rental prices
❤️ Travel Insurance: I recommend using Visitors Coverage
✈️ Flights: Use Kiwi.com for the best prices on flights
