Llandudno hotels

St George’s Hotel was the town's first luxury hotel when it opened in 1854 and it’s still one of the best, with a prime position on the seafront. Over the years it's played host to illustrious guests including Napoleon III and seven British prime ministers, and has kept its grand Victorian character while being extended and modernised.

The hotel's 82 guestrooms are full of class, with dark wood and shades of brown, cream and sea blue. But I recommend splashing out on one of the five contemporary-style rooftop suites, whose glass-fronted balconies with wide-reaching views over the bay are the perfect spot for a morning coffee or evening Prosecco.

St George's terrace restaurant makes the most of Wales's fresh produce and puts a delicious local spin on afternoon tea with a menu featuring Bara Brith fruit loaf and Welsh rarebit gougère choux pastry buns.

When it comes to boutique hotels in Llandudno, Escape Boutique B&B is a true original. It brings a playful sense of style to an 1850s Victorian villa, with owners who have a real eye for design, combining vintage finds with artworks by local artists. The communal areas make the most of historic features like hardwood floors, stained-glass windows and wood panelling, all impeccably restored.

Each of the nine guestrooms is individually decorated with a different theme. My pick is the Boudoir, which amps up the romance with crystal-encrusted wallpaper, chandeliers and 22-carat gold shower tiles.

As well as offering a full Welsh breakfast each morning, there's an honesty bar in the lounge for a nightcap. But you're also under 10 minutes' walk from Llandudno's restaurants, bars seafront and other attractions.

Lansdowne House is nestled in the slopes of the Great Orme, a limestone headland towering above Llandudno. It’s a great spot to climb – whether on foot, using the cable car or historic tramway – for panoramic views over Anglesey and Snowdonia National Park.

For me, what makes Lansdowne House one of the best hotels in Llandudno is the warm welcome. Rooms are cosy and comfortable, with singles, twins, doubles and family options available, some with views of the Great Orme or the mountains.

A tasty home-cooked breakfast is served every morning, which includes unusual options like Welsh rarebit and buttered crumpets alongside fry ups. The hotel is an easy walk to some of my top Llandudno foodie spots, like The Cottage Loaf and Home Cookin’. Guests also benefit from guaranteed free parking, a real bonus during the busy summer months.

Just two miles south of Llandudno, with fabulous coast and mountain views, Bodysgallen Hall and Spa is a National Trust country house hotel steeped in history. It’s one of the best hotels in Llandudno for getting away from it all, and where I go to escape modern pressures and retreat to a more refined bygone era.

The house is surrounded by 200 acres of parkland, with a rose garden, rockery and rare 17th-century parterre. A kitchen garden supplies herbs and vegetables served in the elegant AA 3-Rosette restaurant, and there's a spa with an indoor pool and hot tub to unwind in.

Creaking staircases, mullioned windows, fireplaces and oak panelling provide bags of character. As well as 15 guestrooms in the house, each decorated in traditional country style with floral prints, antiques and collectables, there are also 16 cottages in the grounds.

Over the last few years, the 4-star Llandudno Bay Hotel has been transformed from tired and dated into one of the best hotels in Llandudno thanks to a complete refurbishment. It's also won multiple awards along the way.

A sweeping staircase welcomes you into its connected Grade II-listed Victorian townhouses, which have had a colourful, contemporary makeover. There are 61 guestrooms, many looking out over the bay. Unusually, solo travellers aren't relegated to the back here, with sea-view singles available.

The hotel is located at the quieter end of the promenade, with Venue Cymru – one of North Wales's top music and theatre venues – on its doorstep. I like to start the evening with a cocktail in the bar or on the suntrap terrace. Then the hotel's restaurant Fenton's is a lovely spot for a casual dinner, serving upscale pub dishes like lamb sausage and mash or bacon chops.

Hotel No 5 is a sophisticated take on a seaside B&B, with smartly refurbished rooms decorated in bold jewel shades that are a world away from old-fashioned chintz. The attention to detail and care throughout have made it one of the best hotels in Llandudno.

The hotel is located right on Llandudno's promenade, a scenic mile-long stroll from the town centre. This Grade II-listed Victorian property has eight guestrooms, four with sea views. Room 4 is my favourite, with its king-sized bay window so you can lie in bed and listen to the waves crashing on the shore.

Each room has luxurious little extras like Nespresso coffee machines and Rituals toiletries, and there's free guest parking. Wines, spirits, hot drinks and snacks are available to order, which you can enjoy in the lounge or the patio with its views of the Great Orme.

Built in the late 18th century, Llandudno Pier is the longest pier in Wales and one of the town's most iconic landmarks. The Wildings Hotel is one of the best hotels in Llandudno when it comes to location, just a stone's throw from the pier's amusement arcades and funfair rides.

The Wildings has 31 guestrooms, styled in cool greys with splashes of colour. There are also dog-friendly rooms if you're travelling with your pooch. Two spacious sea-view suites are named in honour of Alice Liddell, who inspired Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland and stayed here in 1861. To find out more about her links with Llandudno, I recommend following the Alice Town Trail.

The Wildings' Tudno's Restaurant – named after Llandudno's patron saint – is a buzzing spot on a sunny day, when you can feast on beer-battered fish and chips with a view on the terrace.

Llandudno's 4-star Imperial Hotel aims for “traditional hospitality, Victorian charm and first-class service”, and it more than succeeds. There's a sense of local pride here, with a fine dining spin on Welsh lamb, beef, seafood and cheeses at Chantrey’s Restaurant, and artisan beers and spirits in the bar.

It's one of the few luxury hotels in Llandudno with a pool, along with a spa bath, sauna and steam room – perfect if the Welsh weather is doing its worst. But if the sun is shining, the promenade and beach are right outside and you're a few minutes' walk from the train station, Mostyn art gallery and chocolate museum.

The Imperial's 98 guestrooms are decorated in a fairly simple, period style. It's well worth upgrading to a sea-view room, especially the ones on the higher floors with balconies.

The Tynedale Hotel has built up a loyal band of repeat visitors over the years, and with its friendly welcome, comfortable rooms and seafront location you can see why it's rated one of the best hotels in Llandudno. Just don't leave it too late to book a stay.

There are rooms to suit everyone, from accessible ground-floor guestrooms to top-floor penthouse suites. Its location couldn't be more convenient, and one thing I love is that the train station is nearby so you can easily visit without a car, with the pier and beaches within a 10-minute walk.

But the hotel's popular Peppercorns restaurant means you don't have to go far if you don't want to. There's cabaret entertainment every night too, with themed festive and gourmet breaks in winter to add a bit of sparkle during the chillier months.

With a name like the Gwesty Links, I originally expected to find a golf course, but it's a landmark Llandudno pub. This relaxed inn is run by JW Lees Brewery, a family-run brewers based just north of Manchester who produce a range of real ales, lagers and bitters.

The Gwesty Links is located on the outskirts of town, around 10 minutes' walk from the bay. Free parking means you don't have to tackle the traffic or worry about finding a space.

It's a classic seaside pub, with hearty pub grub on the menu like burgers, grills and their speciality three cheese and onion pie. It's also one of the best hotels in Llandudno for travellers on a budget, and having just 15 rustic chic-style guestrooms (including some spacious family rooms which sleep four) means you get the personal touch that can be lacking in big chain hotels.