Any one in Wales?

[tightwad]

We are off to Abergele in July, we are very excited!
Can any one recommend any days out or places to visit with an 8 year old.
Thanks x

We are not in Wales but visit often. If you have a car the Welsh mounain zoo is lovely and LLandudno and Rhyl are not far away for swimming pools.

If you take bikes there is good cycling along the prom at Rhos on sea and there are play areas for younger children there too (not sure whether they would hold the attention of an 8yr for long though).

We like fishing (from the beach) or you could take an organised boat trip.

There are also lots of outdoor activity centres if you head inland into Snowdonia (for canoeing/climbing etc).

Not sure what your route into Wales is but the best NT property for families in my experience is Erddig nr Wrexham - it still has the family and servants rooms and copious memories of who lived their and what they did - like the child that trashed his nursery! Mine were fascinated when under ten
Powus Castle good two - peacocks to chase ( I mean watch) but sheer drops in the garden a bit alarming (HSE mysteriously absent as with Harlech castle that my teenager still remembers as traumatic because you had to walk along the top of walls with no railings and huge drops.)

Hi, there's a farm park in llandudno, which is about 11 miles from abergele, web link here bodafonfarmpark.com/ and also an indoor softplay type centre, which might come in handy if it's raining... bonkerzfuncentre.co.uk/ - it's aimed at all ages, certainly adventurous enough for an 8 yo (my 3 and 5yo love it there, but it's a bit daring for their age group really!) also, there's a tram that goes up the great orme in llandudno (every 20 mins or so, every day) - little cafe at the top and fab views for photos, well worth a visit if weather good. few other things of interest in llandudno too.

Bodnant Gardens www.bodnantgarden.co.uk/ is national trust, about 15 miles or so away.

Conwy is a nice little town to wander around, and the castle worth a visit if you go there. (again poss 15 miles or so from abergele)

And Betws-y-coed is really popular with visitors, bit further away, (20miles maybe), but plenty of little cafes and shops and lots of outdoorsy type things to do in the area, lots of walks (flat and within the forest areas) and swallow falls a couple of miles out of the village worth a look.

If you're happy to drive a bit further, then there's lots to do on Anglesey, www.foelfarm.co.uk/ and www.angleseyseazoo.co.uk/ are right next to each other, the beaches are better on Anglesey too.

www.portmeirion-village.com/ (further away)
www.welshmountainzoo.org/ (poss 6 miles or so from abergele)

These links will give you more ideas :
angleseyattractions.co.uk/
www.tentop.co.uk/

And of course if hiking is your thing, then Snowdonia and the mountain range are definitely worth a visit (and there's always the train up if you prefer the more leisurely option...)