Four Days in South Wales in July
 

I'm visiting south Wales in July, family with two kids (8,11). We're either going to stay in Cardiff or in Swansea so we have everything a city provides for the stay, and take day trips out from there. We love walking and seeing the sights, but I've heard there are good beaches too, so one of the days we'd like a relaxing beach day. We'll have a car with us, I guess we don't want to be driving more than an hour from the accommodation.
Hit me with your suggestions!! Thank you ❤️

Welcome to Fodors -- just very quick (its almost 3 AM where I am and why the heck am I still up ?? :) )

Since you'll have a car I personally would not stay in either Cardiff or Swansea. Cars are a PITA in most any UK city -- IMO it would be much better to stay in a smaller town or village.

More later -- now I really do need to get some sleep . . .

Interesting you wouldn’t stay in Cardiff or Swansea, I was thinking more about having plenty of restaurants and activities on our doorstep for the evenings, in particular for keeping the kids entertained. Where would you suggest for staying?

How long will you be in the area and are you traveling from somewhere else? i.e. is this a stop between other places in the UK?

I travel to the UK frequently (at least twice most years) and have driven all over the country (literally ALL over) and I try really really hard to never have a car in any major or major-ish city. Just not worth the hassle between the traffic/congestion, extremely enforced speed laws, parking etc. Now -- in some cities its OK to have a car in the suburbs and use public transport in / out of town. And I assume that might work in Cardiff and Swansea (I've been to both cities but not ever stayed IN either one)

Most towns or decent sized villages will have multiple pubs/restaurants etc for evenings. Plus it being daylight until about 10PM you'll be out and about maybe longer than normal for your family.

We’re coming from the north of England, and we’ve got four days in south Wales before we head over to see relatives near Reading, and home.

I just don’t want to be stuck with the kids being bored 🤣

OK -- for Northern England > South Wales > Reading you'll probably want to have a car. (though if you don't need the car when staying with the relatives - a train from Cardiff to Reading would take half the time)

What were you imagining the kids doing in the evenings in Cardiff/Swansea (8 and 11 are pretty young) ?

With 4 days and a car I'd be looking at staying someplace like - Chepstow or Abergavenny, or Carmarthen or Tenby/Pembroke.

If you were going to pick between Cardiff and Swansea for a base then I'd probably choose Swansea, or in that direction anyway. West Wales is absolutely gorgeous, so if you don't want to be driving more than an hour each day it opens up day trips to beaches around the Gower and Tenby. Swansea also has a great leisure centre (slides/waves etc) in case it's rubbish weather!
Then if you're going to Reading afterwards you could leave early and do a day visit around Cardiff on the way.

However, as janisj suggested, maybe somewhere out of a city would be nice to stay - personally I'd go as far west as you can (quieter, picturesque, family friendly). Tenby is an amazing town, four beaches, kids would love it!

Thanks for your ideas, very helpful. Tenby does look like a lovely town, definitely one for us to visit, so I think we're going to stay in Swansea then we're in reach of the beaches, and a great idea to visit Cardiff on the way to Reading and make a day of it.
We generally prefer to stay in a city so we have kid-friendly restaurants like Nandos and Pizza Express - I know it's not local or authentic, but it keeps the kids happy, and if they weather is crap we have the cinema, on in Swansea it does look like the leisure centre is great too, thanks!

So one day Gower Peninsula, one day Tenby, one day Swansea, and the Cardiff on the day we leave, which leaves one day spare... anything we shouldn't miss?
Thanks so much for your advice.

Do remember that Wales has a 20mph speed limit in built-up areas - so in all cities, towns and villages. That may affect your choice and travel times.

Haha, yes the 20mph is crazy slow in most places, but doesn't usually affect longer journeys on main roads.

We've been looking at spending our extra day in the Brecon Beacons National Park - anywhere you think we should visit in particular? Seems a huge area just for one day!

Thanks

As you are planning to take daytrips of about an hour from your accommodation my vote also goes for Swansea.

With the Gower Peninsula with places like Rhossili Bay Beach, Oxwich Bay Beach and Three Cliffs Bay you have a very scenic area for walks just west of Swansea. It is actually my favourite place in this part of Wales.

Another lovely little place for a daytrip is definitely Tenby in Pembrokeshire (as mentioned by previous posters), but I fear it can be very crowded in July as it is probably one of the most popular beach towns in Wales.

I hope this helps.

Have a search for "waterfall country" - there are loads of amazing waterfalls in the Brecon Beacons, beautiful walk starting from Ystradfellte and the kids will love it as you get to walk behind the big waterfall - this is the "four waterfalls walk".

Thanks for this, it looks amazing, this has made our minds up so it looks like our itinerary is complete!

1. Swansea when we arrive
2. Gower Peninsula
3. Tenby
4. Waterfalls in the Brecon Beacons
5. Cardiff on the day we leave

Very excited for our trip!

Sounds like a great trip you've got planned! You should check out South Wales Guide for ideas, and for your day in the Brecon Beacons they have a page on waterfall walks.