Llanelli

Llanelli is a large town in Carmarthenshire that sums up everything that South Wales was historically about: Rugby Union, religious nonconformity, proud preservation of the Welsh language, metal-bashing of steel for car production and tinplate for tin cans - and brownfield desolation when this industry declined. Aside from industry, Llanelli is also renowned for its pottery, which has a unique cockerel hand-painted on each item. A collection of this pottery can bee seen at the Llanelli Museum in Parc Howard. Llanelli is a base for visiting scenic areas such as the Millennium Coastal Path and Pembrey Country Park.

Understand

Llanelli remains industrial, and is a commuter town for Swansea 10 miles east; its population in 2019 was estimated to be 26,000. Llanelli people are sometimes nicknamed "Turks", for uncertain reasons. One theory is that many Turkish sailors once called at the port on their voyages.

Get in

By plane

Pembrey Airport is 7 km from the town - private flights only.

By car

Llanelli is linked with the M4 motorway via the A4138, and with Swansea via the Loughor Bridge on the A484.

By bus

Llanelli is served by regular local bus services between Swansea and Carmarthen and National Express Coaches between many major UK destinations.

By train

Llanelli railway station is on Great Western Crescent south of the town centre. The station is connected to Fishguard and Swansea along the West Wales Line. The station is also on the Heart of Wales Line, which links the town to Mid Wales and Shrewsbury.

Llanelli railway station. 2022-01-05

By bicycle

Llanelli is connected to the National Cycle Network from the north on NCR 43, and along the coast from the east and west on NCR 4. These routes are directly connected to the town centre via a cycle path.

Get around

Walking is the best way to get around Llanelli as it is not a large city like Swansea.

See

WWT National Wetlands Centre, Llwynhendy, 51.664898°, -4.124404°, +44 1554 741087. A wetland nature reserve managed by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust. It is about 1 km from the town.
Llanelly House, Bridge Street, 51.683352°, -4.161398°, +44 1554 772857. M-F 9AM-5PM, Su 10AM-4PM. An Georgian townhouse built in 1714, restored in 2013 now used for events and a bistro. 2019-04-12
Park Howard Museum, Felinfoel Rd (in the grounds of Park Howard), 51.689355°, -4.160044°. The museum houses a collection of Llanelli Pottery, various piecs of art and material related to the history of the town.
Stradey Park, 51.686944°, -4.175278°. Home to the Scarlets, a professional rugby union team in the United Rugby Championship, that have a very strong rugby history. The Scarlets play at Parc y Scarlets near Pemberton, yet Stradey Park is very much the home of the Scarlets, although they don't play there any more.

Do

Rugby Union: Scarlets are a professional team playing in the United Rugby Championship (formerly Pro-14), the predominantly Celtic super-league. Their home ground is Parc y Scarlets, capacity 14,800.
Machynys Peninsula Golf Club & Premier Spa, Nicklaus Avenue, Machynys, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, SA15 2DG (15 minutes from the M4 motorway, junction 48.), 51.660338°, -4.148909°, +44 1554 744888, info@machynys.com. A picturesque course with stunning views over Carmarthen Bay and the Gower Peninsula and including 25 acres of salt and fresh water lakes. 18 holes, 7051 yds, Par 72, Standard scratch score 75. Visitors welcome. Booking required. Handicap certificate. Dress code.

Buy

The town centre offers a wide range of stores with many national chains represented.

Parc Trostre, 51.67598°, -4.137506°. An out-of-town retail park. M&S, JJB, Next, Boots, New look, Currys, Brantanos, Halfords, Carpet Right, Outfit, TK Maxx, Carphone Warehouse, First Choice Hypermarket, B&Q (one of the largest in Wales), Pets at home, Dreams and Tesco Extra, Starbucks, Pizza Hut, Subway, KFC, McDonald's, and WHSmith. 2021-12-16
Parc Pemberton, 51.679874°, -4.131641°. An out-of-town retail park. Morrisons, Homebase, Argos Extra. 2015-03-13

Eat

Dhamis Original Fishbar, 41-43 Station Rd, 51.678336°, -4.162379°, +44 1554 753275.
The Halfmoon, 71 Wern Rd, 51.682317°, -4.155316°, +44 1554 772626.

Drink

There are numerous pubs in Llanelli. The main clubs and bars for the younger generations are Tom Peppers, and Le Caprice, and there are tens of other pubs that would be frequented by the local crowd, especially on a Friday and Saturday night.

Felinfoel brewery, Farmers Row, 51.697479°, -4.146697°, +44 1554 773357. The famous brewery is in the village of Felinfoel 1 mile N of the town. Try the Double Dragon draught.

Sleep

Trepartridge Cottage, Trimsaran Road, 51.705192°, -4.217704°, +44 1554 810424. Check-in: Sa 3PM, check-out: Sa 10AM. Self catering cottage sleeps 6 quiet location yet within short distance to llanelli, new Ffos Las racecourse, Pembrey country park. Short breaks, dogs welcome, ample parking. £150 -£650pw
Llwynifan Farm, Llangennech, 51.704095°, -4.093667°, +44 1554 820420. Caravan site. 2019-01-11
Dan-y-Cwarre Farmhouse (Bed & Breakfast), Five Roads, 51.734962°, -4.209849°, +44 1269 860187, jackierawlings@fsmail.net. This 3-star self-catering farmhouse sleeping 20 is in the village of Five Roads. Free Wi-Fi, ample off road parking, cycle/kit storage. 10 minutes from coast, overlooking Ffos Las Racecourse. Weekend bookings available. from £800 per week
Gateway Caravan Park, Bynea, 51.663612°, -4.104645°, +44 1554 771202. On the Millennium Coast overlooking the Burry Inlet in south Carmarthenshire between Swansea and Llanelli.
Southmead Guesthouse, 72 Queen Victoria Road, 51.677970°, -4.167450°, +44 1554 758588.
The Waun Wyllt Inn, Horeb Road, Five Roads, 51.729327°, -4.176977°, +44 1269 860209.
Hotel Miramar, 156/158 Station Road, 51.673968°, -4.159955°, +44 1554 754726.
Premier Inn Llanelli Central East, Llandafen Road, SA14 9BD, 51.683392°, -4.131744°, +44 8708 506392.
Stradey Park Hotel, Furnace, 51.691218°, -4.165592°, +44 1554 758171, reservations@stradeyparkhotel.com. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. An independently owned 4-star Visit Wales-assessed hotel. Samphires Restaurant on-site, an upmarket Welsh/British restaurant.
Best Western Diplomat Hotel, Felinfoel, 51.696052°, -4.151184°, +44 1554 756156.

Go next

The Millennium Coastal Path - a path that runs along the 21 km of coastline from Loughor to Pembrey. It offers panoramic views of the Gower Peninsula and traffic-free cycling opportunities.
Pembrey Country Park - a 2 km² (500 acres) of parkland situated on the outskirts of the town; it includes the 13-km-long Cefn Sidan Beach. Near Burry Port
Kidwelly Castle, Kidwelly. (approx. 16 km/10 miles west of Llanelli).
Burry Port Marina (approx. 8 km/5 miles west of Llanelli).
National Botanic Garden of Wales (approx. 16 km/10 miles north of Llanelli) near Carmarthen.
Swansea and the Gower Peninsula - a 30-minute drive.

Llanelli - town in Carmarthenshire, Wales