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Welcome to Swansea Bay

Here comes the sun…

The days are longer, the weather is warmer, thoughts are turning to getting outdoors and making the most of it – yes, summer’s here! And what a fantastic calendar of events we have for you here in Swansea Bay. Whether it’s outdoor concerts, parks, beaches, outdoor attractions, history trails or an array of cultural venues we’ve got it all.

Our iconic outdoor attractions can be found in one stunning 5-mile stretch of Swansea Bay so you could try one or visit as many as you like and make a trail of it.

You could hop on a pedalo at Singleton Park for a leisurely ride
around the boating lake – swan or dragon, the choice is yours!

Why not try some crazy golf while at the park and if you fancy a rematch in a different venue there’s Southend Gardens in Mumbles.

If you fancy a splashing time then there’s Blackpill Lido with paddling pool and water features – best of all it’s free to enjoy!

No trip to this part of Swansea would be complete without a trip on the Swansea Bay Rider Land Train which offers an especially scenic way to take in the sights.

Outdoor Attractions

 

 

Discover the story of industry and innovation in Wales at the National Waterfront Museum, Swansea.

Through interactive technology the museum provides many snapshots of the lives of the nation’s workers, often told in their own words. In this way visitors can uncover the origins of some of our most popular and influential organisations and communities, from powerful Trade Unions and the National Health Service to Friendly Societies and the ubiquitous non-conformist chapels.

This museum also explains how Wales has seen many changes in the last fifty years, evolving from a nation where heavy industry and backbreaking work was the norm, to a country of high tech industry and commerce, cutting edge scientific research and multi-faceted tourism. As the world has changed, so has Wales.

Come and explore our interesting exhibitions and join in the fun at our many events. From dance days, vintage and makers markets to the Big GRAFT Summer Party. There’s something for everyone! Open 7 days a week, with FREE entry, come along and see how three centuries of heavy industry transformed the lives of people and communities in Wales and the world.

National Waterfront Museum

Summer Holiday Passport Trail – 22 July to 3 September, 10.00am – 4.00pm

Free/Families – Search the galleries to take a trip around Wales, finding symbols to add to your trail passport as you go.

National Play Day – Wednesday August 2, 11.00am – 2.00pm

Free/Families – Featuring: circus skills and games by Circus Eruption including a giant Earth Ball and a giant and parachute games, arts & crafts, den building, walkabout characters, face painting, Welsh rhyme time, information stalls, live Music…and a confetti finale!

National Play Day – Quiet Hour, Wednesday, August 2, 10.00am – 11.00am
A chance to celebrate National Play Day aimed at children who enjoy a calmer, quieter time with less stimuli.

Big Build Challenge  – Each Thursday during August, 12.30 – 3.30pm
Free/Suitability Age 6+

Use your design and building skills to complete the XLWales challenges. Each of the challenges will use the construction kit K’NEX.

Make and Take – Summer Windmills – 11 – 12 and 18 – 19 Aug, 12.30 – 3.30pm
Free/Families
Make your own repeat pattern design using relief printing, then turn your special design into a windmill to take home!

Pirate Party – 13 August, 12.00 – 4.00pm
Free/Families
Includes: Cutthroat Crafts, Arggghcordian music, Dastardly face painting, Swashbuckling Characters, Knotty hands-on Fun

Make and Take – Shadow Puppets – 25 – 26 August and 1 – 2 Sept, 12.30 – 3.30pm

Create your own story from history inspired by objects and characters from the museum’s collections.  Then bring it to life by making simple paper puppets to take home.

Swansea Bay is also home to a number of fantastic parks and many beautiful beaches – three of them with blue flag status. Take along a picnic and spend the day!

If history is your thing then a visit to Oystermouth Castle which dates back to the 12th century is a must – there’s a packed calendar of events to enjoy throughout the year and also regular guided tours offered by the Friends of Oystermouth Castle.

So whether it’s crazy golf, history talks, walks, or trips by boat or train, we’ve got a trail for you.

Try our Trails this summer, what are you waiting for?

 

Jump into summer with Sport and Health. We offer fun sport and physical activities in the local community, encouraging people of all ages and abilities to be active, make new friends and learn new skills.

Whether it’s activity sessions from Pilates or Tai Chi, holiday camps for children and young people, self or instructor led walks we have something for you and your family in the summer holidays.

Sport & Health

 

 

There’s a huge summer of events on offer too, with Outdoor Theatre, the Admiral Swansea Bay 10k, major concerts, sporting events, top musicians and comedians, as well as great events and workshops at our amazing cultural venues across the city.

Discover our summer events here

 

 

 

Whatever the weather Swansea has plenty to enjoy indoors with an array of child-friendly cultural venues along with our 17 lovely libraries. Many of our cultural venues are within walking distance of each other so can be enjoyed as part of an exciting trail around the city.

Why not start off at the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery and visit the brand new ‘Animals’ exhibition which showcases works from the galleries’ permanent collection and offers the chance to see how artists have responded to our relationship with animals over centuries?

From there you could head to Swansea Museum and check out their new exhibition called 20th Century Swansea which explores collections of post-war Swansea. It includes costume, photographs, models and even a concrete bin from Dyfatty!

Just around the corner is the National Waterfront Museum which has a range of events planned in the coming months for all ages including a Come to Sing event, a book swap and Refugee Day celebrations.

Discover our Cultural Venues

 

Glynn Vivian 

On Saturday, July 22 the gallery kicks off the summer holidays with the opening of its new exhibition, ‘Patch Work: A celebration of work from our community learning groups’, alongside workshops and activities, 10.00am – 3.00pm.

There will be self-led activities at the gallery over the summer holidays along with the chance to take part in the gallery’s brand new drawing completion, ‘Draw your animal portrait’ and win a Glynn Vivian Art Pack. Prizes each week. You can also pick up your animal ears to take part in the new animal trail – to accompany the gallery’s summer exhibition, On Animals. There will also be the His Dark Materials trail to help save Lyra!

Screen Alliance Wales will be back in July and August for a series of hand-on creative workshops, with helpful and handy tips for young people, looking to get into the TV and Film industries. Part of a programme of activities to accompany the current exhibition, His Dark Materials: World Building in Wales, in partnership with Bad Wolf Ltd, IJPR Media and Screen Alliance Wales.

Swansea Museum

Summer is on at Swansea Museum!

Garden games are back: have a go at ring toss, create a chalk masterpiece, or just knock around a badminton birdie with your friends.

Feeling crafty? Starting July 27 the musuem will be running a free workshop every Thursday from 10.00am to 1.00pm.

The museum’s chill out room will be open as well. There are games to play, colouring to do, and books to read. You can also have a picnic if the weather isn’t the best outside. Or just sit back, rest your feet, and make use of our free Wi-Fi.

Finally, don’t forget to join the musuem in the Tramshed on Wednesday, August 2 for some seaside storytelling to celebrate National Play Day.

Dylan Thomas Centre

‘Holiday Memory’ self-led activities 22/07/2023 – 03/09/2023 10.00 am – 4.00 pm

Free Creative Writing Workshops with the Dylan Thomas Centre 24/07/2023 2.00 pm – 4.00 pm

Free Creative Writing Workshops with the Dylan Thomas Centre 27/07/2023 2.00 pm – 4.00 pm

Drop-in Family Workshop: Under Milk Wood Mini Clay Houses 28/07/2023 1.00 pm – 4.00 pm

National Play Day 02/08/2023 10.00 am – 4.00 pm

Swansea Central Library

Every Tuesday: Rhyme Time, 2.00pm – 2.30pm (under 5s)

Every day from Tuesday 25 July:  Lego Club, 10.00am – 6.00pm (age 3+ supervised by a grown-up please)

Weekdays: Homework Club, 4.00pm – 7.00pm (age 16 and under) – 10 free prints

Thursday 27 July: Author Emily Vanderploeg Event, 2.00pm – 4.00pm (age 8-12)

Saturday 29 July: Story and Craft, 2.00pm – 3.00pm (age 3+)

Tuesday 1 August: Underwater Creature Puppets Event, 10.00am – 2.00pm (all ages)

Saturday 5 August: Polish Story and Craft, 2.00pm – 3.00pm (age 3+)

Sunday 6 August: Chatterbooks Reading Group, 2.00pm – 3.00pm (age 7-12)

Saturday 12 August: Story and Craft, 2.00pm – 3.00pm (age 3+)

Wednesday 16 August: Welsh Story, Song and Rhyme, 10.30am – 11.30am (friends and older siblings welcome)

Friday 18 August: Dogs Trust Workshop, 10.00am – 11.30am (age 7-12)

Saturday 19 August: Welsh Story and Craft, 2.00pm – 3.00pm (age 3+)

Saturday 26 August: Story and Craft, 2.00pm – 3.00pm (age 3+)

Friday 1 September: Techno Lego Session, 2.00pm – 3.00pm (age 8+)

To find out what’s on in a Swansea library near you visit: www.swansea.gov.uk/libraryevents

Pack a picnic and settle into the idyllic setting of the grounds of Oystermouth Castle for two wonderful performances in the outdoor theatre. Which one will you go to? Or will you have double the fun at both performances!

Official sponsors – holidaycottages.co.uk

Find out more

 

 

If live performance is your thing we’ve got everything from Valley Rock Voices and Old Time Sailors-Sea Shanty at the Brangywn Hall to Jurassic Earth and In the Night Garden…Live at Swansea Grand Theatre.

We hope you’ll agree, Swansea’s just the ticket this summer!

Discover what’s on