Why take a tram when you can experience the unique combination of exhilaration and tranquillity on the Llandudno Cable Car?
Glide from the quaint coastal town of Llandudno up to the Great Orme Summit — passing over a ski slope, copper mines and a tramway — taking in the scenery and views of Llandudno and the surrounding areas.
How long is the Cable Car ride in Llandudno?
Opened in 1969 as the longest passenger cable car system in Britain — the Llandudno Cable Car runs a mile from the Happy Valley Gardens above the pier and up to the summit of the Great Orme in just 18 minutes.
The four-seater cars are carried on two-mile-long steel cable, weighing a whopping 17 tons. The ride’s highest point from the valley floor is over 80 ft – the perfect opportunity to capture a panoramic snapshot.
What times does it run?
The Llandudno Cable Car opening and closing times vary, and whether it opens at all depends on the weather. If conditions are unfavourable — such as gusty winds — then it won’t be able to operate or it may be forced to close early, so it’s worth phoning ahead to be safe.
An important point to note: you can buy a return, but if the weather takes a turn, for health and safety reasons they will not bring you back. You won’t be stranded, but you will have to cough up the cash to get the tram back down the summit of Great Orme.
Visit in the summer on a calm day for the greatest chance of it being open (and also for the best views).
Can you book tickets for the Llandudno Cable Car?
You can’t book ahead for the Llandudno Cable Car. You can buy a single or a return for the Llandudno Cable Car from the Happy Valley station or from the Summit terminus.
A word of warning, the Cable Car operator does not accept card payments, it’s cash only, so hit the ATM before hitting the terminus. I was caught out only after queuing for 30 minutes by the dreaded ‘card only’ sign. Don’t make the same mistake.
How much does the Llandudno Cable Car cost?
The price for an adult return ticket is currently around £12.50, or for a single, it costs £12.00.
The price for a family return ticket is £33.00 or £31.00 for a single, based on an average family size of two adults and two children. Yes, it can be pricey, especially for a larger family — there is no denying that. But it’s also an amazing way to get yourself to the top of Great Orme on a clear day.
These prices are accurate as of September 2022.
Is there parking near the cable car station?
You’ll find the Happy Valley Car Park at the base of the Great Orme. It costs £3.70 for 4 hours or £5.20 for over 4 hours, prices which are to be expected that close to an attraction.
The car park is also conveniently close to Llandudno Pier and Marine Drive, a scenic toll round around the edge of the Great Orme — perfect for making a day of the trip.