Back in the day, y’know when I was actually quite good at blogging, I would get back from a trip and write up my blog posts straight away. It was all fresh in my mind and I would get it all scheduled before I subsequently went on my next trip. Ahh what a different life that feels like now! But with the world in chaos it’s taken me a while to write up my Wales blog posts. Never fear, another installment of my family adventure in South Wales is here! And this time I’m talking about the wonderful coastal town of Tenby.
I discovered Tenby via Instagram, obviously. And the second I saw the rows of colourful houses overlooking the harbour, I was immediately struck by how much it reminded me of Cinque Terre, aka my most favourite place on earth. So I knew I had to add it to my Wales itinerary.
But surely there’s more to it than just a pretty insta photo, right? Yes, of course there is, and I thoroughly enjoyed our day out at the beach. So I thought I’d round up some of the lovely things you can do in Tenby.
Top Things To Do in Tenby, Wales
1) Get the money shot from the top of the High Street.
Well let’s start with the obvious. You want to see that amazing view.
The view I’m talking about is of Tenby Harbour and you get a wonderful look from the top of the High Street, beside North Beach. There is a nice viewing platform where you can take the colourful houses in, and y’know, get a snap for the ‘gram.
2) Frolick in the sand on North Beach (extra fun with a toddler).
North Beach is actually a really gorgeous sand beach. Lots of room for running around with kids, or sunbathing should the weather be on your side. And it has that backdrop of the harbour so is a really beautiful spot. It gave me old-school family-days-out-to-the-beach-in-the-nineties vibes, but without the tacky arcades. Definitely worth a stop.
3) Go for coffee and cake!
There’s no other word for it, Tenby is quaint. It’s also charming. Two words that have been overdone in travel writing so I don’t particularly like using them, but y’know, call a spade a spade, it’s charming AF.
So naturally it’s full of lovely little cafes offering homemade cakes. I went to Caffi Llew where they served up a rather delicious lemon drizzle, but No. 25 Cafe also looked appealing.
And well, I didn’t take a picture of the cake fast enough, so here’s a family selfie we took from inside instead.
4) Shop small and explore the boutiques.
Tenby is full of wonderful independent shops, tucked away down winding lanes. I mean, I was visiting in 2020, the time of corona, so it wasn’t as lovely as it sounds. It involved copious amounts of anti-bac and queueing outside if you wanted to go in. But hey, that’s just what you do in a global pandemic. I still managed to find some good’uns.
For books head to the lovely Tenby Bookshop, for kidswear and toys, check out Scentinelle, and for cool souvenirs (think retro Tenby mugs) go to Two Red Dogs. And don’t forget to pick up some Welsh cakes…
5) Eat the banging loaded fries at Sand Bar.
We found Sand Bar completely by chance in Tenby. We were actually aiming for somewhere else for lunch, the #1 rated on TripAdvisor cafe – The Fushcia Caffe – but they were obviously full (the whole world checks TripAdvisor huh?). So instead of trekking around with a buggy, we just went next door to Sand Bar. And wow, what a good shout.
What you can see below is bubble & squeak, greek loaded fries and a very cute kids meal of fresh fish and chips. We got some sides too, like chunky halloumi fries, and literally everything we ate here was awesome. Did I mention they do craft beers here too? And homemade hot sauces?
Ngl The Fushcia Caffe looked shit in comparison – go to Sand Bar, mate.
6) Grab a beer by the seaside.
A trip to a seaside town is not complete without a beer outside in the sea air, is it? We went to the Lifeboat Tavern, which has an old-man-pub vibe but offers a nice beer garden in the summer.
There’s also Harbwr which is a Craft Brewery and Taproom with cosy, rustic vibes. We noticed it on our way out of town and regretted not checking it out, so defo give the place a look in.
7) Visit Caldey Island to soak up a bit of history.
Ok I didn’t have time to do this one, but a famous activity in Tenby is to visit Caldey Island, accessible by boat from the harbour (except Sundays). The island is one of the holy islands of Britain if religion is your thing, as well as offering a medieval priory, museum, lighthouse and nice beaches. It’s also famous for perfume and chocolate!
8) Get in the queue for lobster rolls from Simply Seafoods.
When a tiny hut by the harbour has a long queue all the way down to the beach, you know it must be good! Simply Seafoods, serves… well… seafood. But their reputation precedes them! They catch all of the crab, lobster and other shellfish that day, so it’s incredibly fresh, and everyone raves about it. The Lobster Buns are particularly revered.
9) Wander the lanes for A+ insta snaps.
It sounds basic, but my favourite thing to do in Tenby is just wander and explore on foot. There are so many hidden alleyways and little boutiques tucked away, you can easily lose a day finding new spots. And I mean, hello, look how photogenic it is! It’s safe to say Josh got bored of me stopping for photos…
I really loved visiting Tenby and really hope I make it back soon. A wonderful little town bursting with colour and charm, with lots more to do than I imagined. 10/10 day trip if you ask me.
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We love your blogging style 😎😍 and photos from around Tenby.