Visit Tenby to see a beautiful little seaside town with lots of history in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is a popular tourist destination, where visitors flock to its stunning beaches, medieval architecture, and pretty rows of pastel-shaded terraced houses on the hill.
What can a visitor do in Tenby?
Let’s explore some of the attractions to see and do on a visit to Tenby…
Visit the Beaches
Tenby has three beautiful beaches: North Beach, South Beach, and Castle Beach. All three are patrolled by the RNLI Lifeguards in the summer months.
North Beach is the largest and, with fine golden sand and clear water, it is the most popular beach in the area.
If you prefer a more sheltered, family-oriented seaside delight, head for South Beach. It is ideal for families with young children.
Located between North and South Beach is Castle Beach. It has views of the castle on the island just off the shore. At low tides, it links up with South Beach. It offers stunning views of the coastline.
Explore the town’s history
Tenby is rich in history and there is much of its past to see to this day. The town’s early settlements were taken by the Normans in the 12th century. For around 100 years, the town came under attack and was sacked twice by invaders. The Earl of Pembrokeshire ordered the building of the walls around the town to protect it. The medieval walls and buildings are still well-preserved.
Over time the town had its ups and its downs, the most noted was an outbreak of plague that wiped out half of the inhabitants.
Napoleon actually helped in rebuilding the town by blockading access to and from France and routes into Europe. So British people looked to Britain for their trade and holidays. By the late 1700s, John Wesely noted that only a third of the town was habitable, the remainder in tatters. Sir William Paxton bought a home and invested heavily which, once again, saw Tenby prospering from the early 1800s.
Paxton commissioned the building of the seawater baths and he bought the Globe Inn to be a hostelry for the upper classes, along with additional cottages he had built.
Tenby’s Town Hall was originally built as a theatre by Paxton but was closed just 9 years later due to a lack of customers.
During the Victorian era, tourists came from all over the Kingdom to visit Tenby. You can see a great deal of Victorian architecture in the many properties that were built to accommodate the masses.
Tewndy is also a seaside fishing harbour town which has played a huge part in its trading wealth over hundreds of years.
Visit the Tenby Museum and Art Gallery to learn more about the town’s history.
Enjoy the shops and restaurants
Tenby has many wonderful shops, pubs and restaurants, offering everything from souvenirs to fine dining. There are a number of traditional welcoming Welsh pubs dotted all over the town.
In the heart of the town, especially in the warmer months, many of the cafes, coffee shops and restaurants offer street seating and dining.
As a seaside town with a fishing heritage, you can expect to find many restaurants offering fish and shellfish speciality dishes. Wales is also known for its wonderful farm produce, so there will be plenty of offerings from the land too.
Take a boat trip
Tenby is a harbour town so, of course, they do boat trips! It could be a trip up and down the coastline with breathtaking views back into Tenby and beyond, or a chance to visit an off-shore island.
You can take a boat trip to Caldey Island. Home to a Benedictine Monastery, it is a small island off the coast of Tenby that is great to walk around and see the wildlife and birds.
Go for a walk
Visitors to Tenby are spoilt for choice for walks and hiking in the area.
There are a number of scenic walks around the town, including the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path, which runs along the coast of Pembrokeshire on either side of Tenby.
You can head inland to explore the beautiful Welsh countryside.
For those wanting a bit more remoteness and adventure, there are the Brecon Beacons. A car ride will get you to the southern territories in about an hour and fifteen minutes.
If you would like to get into walking, read my article: A Beginner’s Guide to Hiking and Long Walks.
Play golf
Golfers, be they keen or crazy, won’t be disappointed. Tenby has a number of golf courses, which include the Tenby Golf Club and the Heatherton Castle Golf Club. Heatherton also hosts an adventure crazy golf course.
Go fishing
The seaside and harbour town that Tenby is, provides a wealth of opportunities for those who fancy a spot of fishing.
From the harbour, there are plenty of boat fishing trips available, which could be anything from a couple of hours to all-day excursions.
You can also fish off the rocky shores or the beach (away from the swimming and watersports), but you will likely be prevented from fishing off of the harbour walls.
Sea Sports
Tenby is a popular spot for surfing, paddle boarding, windsurfing and powerboat skiing.
Visitors to Tenby can opt for organised lessons with qualified instructors, who will also provide all the gear, and you can also hire gear.
The waves tend not to be very big on Britain’s south coast, so this makes it great for learning in calmer waters.
Visit Tenby for a Holiday
Tenby is a great place to visit for a day trip if you are staying in the area, but there are also plenty of hotels, B&Bs, and holiday parks in and around Tenby. So there really is something for everyone in this beautiful seaside town.
Here is a list of hotels and holiday properties in and around Tenby.
There are also a number of books on Tenby and its history for you to soak up the atmosphere and find out more while sipping your favourite tipple on the beach or by a pool.
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this visitor to Tenby guide. Leave your comments below to let us know of your experiences of visiting the area.
