links

Aberystwyth.org - things to do, places to stay, restaurants, cafes, pubs...   

Visit Aberystwyth

Ceredigion tourist information

Aberystwyth Arts centre

About Aberystwyth

Aberystwyth Mon Amour!

A popular seaside resort in Ceredigion, Aberystwyth is the cultural link between North and South Wales. Small but perfectly formed, it is West Wales’ liveliest town. This is partly because the population of 17,730 is swollen by some 8,000 additional students during university term times. With every weekend of term being fancy-dress, Jägerbomb party-time across the town, many more mature residents are grateful for a breather in the holidays, taking the opportunity to maybe sup a pint of ale and savour the silence, until welcoming back the students for another term. The university was established in 1872 and the ‘Old College’ building is one of the town’s great sights – a seaside Hogwarts. Other highlights are the funicular railway, giving easy access to the panoramic land- and seascape views from atop Constitution Hill, the Vale of Rheidol steam railway which runs between the town and the spectacular gorge at Devil’s Bridge, the monumental but welcoming National Library of Wales, and the ruins of a castle. Aberystwyth Arts Centre is one of the busiest in Wales, featuring a large concert hall, theatre, cinema, galleries, cafes and bars. Perhaps Aberystwyth’s most remarkable feature, though, is the glorious vista of Cardigan Bay. Constantly shifting character with the light and the weather, the sight of hundreds of thousands of starlings circling before settling to roost on the pier against a golden sunset sky and placid, steel-blue sea is truly a sight to behold.

As the hub of West Wales and home of the university, Aberystwyth has always been home to a healthy political culture. For the last few years, protest has centred on cuts in public services, the hike in student fees, tax dodging high street companies and the despicable conduct of some banks. Historically, the Welsh Language Society (Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg) held their first protest on Trefechan Bridge on 2nd  February 1963, and celebrated the 50th anniversary with a weekend of music and events in 2013. Aberystwyth also has a strong history of peace activism, fuelled by an active Quaker community, a vibrant non-conformist tradition, progressive Plaid Cymru and Green groups. Both the town council and Aberystwyth Peace and Justice Network lay white poppy wreathes every year to commemorate the non-combatants who die in wars and express the determination that such carnage must never happen again. Aberystwyth was host to the All Wales Peace Festival in 2004 and 2005. In 2006 a network of activists staged Social Forum Cymru, a three day gathering of peace, justice and environmental movements with the rallying call ‘Another Wales is possible!’ It still is.