Uplands and Sketty are easily reached by bus, taking 8 or 15 minutes
respectively to get to each. To get to the centre, take the 20, 20A, 21, 22, 37,
118, or 119. Uplands can also be reached on the 5, 15, 19, 29, and 39.
Singleton Park: large park in
Sketty, backs onto Swansea University’s Singleton campus, has a wonderful
botanical garden at the top [£0]
To get to the bottom, take the X1, 2A, 3A, 4, 4A, 14, 43, or 116 and alight
at the University.
To get to the top, take any of the buses listed above for Sketty.
Cwmdonkin Park: park in Uplands, many
references to Dylan Thomas (if you’re into that sort of thing), cute coffee
shop in the centre [£0]
To get to the bottom, take any of the buses listed for Uplands.
To get to the top, take any bus running up Glanmor Road (5, 15, 191, 29,
or 39). None of these buses run on Sundays.
Mumbles and Gower
Mumbles can be reached from the city centre in 22 minutes by bus. Though the
3A and 37 travel to Oystermouth, avoid these as they take a circuitous route.
Instead, take either the 1, 2, or 2A (the 2A makes a slight detour through
Singleton Campus).
Mumbles Promenade: a beautiful walk along the sea front, with views of the
city and other settlements along Swansea bay [£0]
Oystermouth Castle: a Norman
castle with the same views as better (but at an elevation) [£]
Mumbles Lifeboat Station:
RNLI lifeboat station, if you’re lucky you might get to have a tour of the
lifeboat (and if not, you’re on the pier and the view’s nice) [£donations]
You can get the 3A from Oystermouth Square if you’d prefer to travel to the
lifeboat station by bus (get off at the Pier Hotel stop, and continue under
your own power from there).
Rhossili: village at the end of the Gower, a walk to Worm’s Head is much
recommended (and there are wild horses!) [£0]
To get here by bus, take the 118 or 119 bus (Stand T at Swansea Bus
Station), you’ll be on the bus for about an hour, so bring a book, or look
out the windows.
Restaurants
Luigi’s: my favourite Italian restaurant, as
well as my dad’s. Extensive menu, generous portions, delicious food, and very
reasonable pricing! [£]
My recommendation: risotto ai frutti di mare
Good Morning Vietnam:
Vietnamese restaurant in Uplands, nicely decorated with good food!
Tim’s Sushi: the first time I ate
“proper” (non-supermarket) sushi was at Tim’s, still remains my favourite
sushi place in Swansea [££]
My recommendation: unagi prawn dragon roll and torched salmon roll uramaki,
followed by deep-fried banana
Thai Taste:
Thai restaurant in the indoor market [£]
My recommendation: pad Thai
Cafés
Flynn’s Delicatessen: fresh bagels, delightful
tiramisu, a good selection of deli foods, and a busy calendar of events. [££]
My recommendation: a Reuben bagel, an individual cafetière, and a slice of
tiramisu, or if visiting on a Sunday, the porchetta roll
Kardomah: a continuation of the now defunct
Kardomah cafe chain, with lovingly maintained 1950s styling and furniture.
Kardomah have their own blends of coffee to buy, as well as brewing equipment.
[££]
My recommendation: cooked breakfast with a filter coffee with cream
Storm in a Teacup:
coffee shop in a stall in Swansea Market, it’s a small space, but there is
seating. Like Kardomah, they have brewing equipment for sale. [£]
My recommendation: latte and a sweet treat
Bars and pubs
Beer Riff: taproom for a microbrewery in the
Marina, much of their own stock and those from other brewers [£]
Can be reached (though inconveniently) by the 7 bus.