Britain

Branded “the graveyard of ambition” by Dylan Thomas, Swansea is Wales’ second city. The city is roughly divided into two halves – East (industrial port, working-class character, rough, and a bit grim) and the west (middle class, tame, contains university and parks). If you have seen the film Twin Town, you will realize that it isn’t drama, it’s a documentary about Swansea. Park your nice car in Morriston long enough, and you won’t find wheels on it when you get back.

Swansea also has good night life, occasionally made a bit hairy by drink-fuelled hard-cases, including visitors from the South Wales valleys looking for a drink, a curry, and a fight.

Swansea has a good theatre, a famous covered market (great place to get fresh fish, cockles from Pen Clawdd or laverbread), and if you get up on the hill overlooking the bay, amazing views across the sea to Devon (on a clear day!). But most of all, it is the place to stay if you are heading for Gower, the nearby peninsula – one of the most beautiful places in Britain. The Mumbles is a village, really an extension of West Swansea, that is a great place to go for a beer or eat out.

The marina offers water sports facilities and smart bars and restaurants. Swansea’s beach is hardly likely to be mistaken for Copacabana, but is pleasant enough to stroll on in summer.

A ferry goes from here to Cork, in Ireland, in summer.

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