Oystermouth Castle is a sweet little thing set on a hill overlooking Swansea Bay and looked after…read morethese days by volunteers. It originated in the 12th century and remained one of the most important castles in South Wales for another 300 years or so. Back in the day it must've been quite the dwelling, with visits from Edward I and a chapel built in. By the 16th Century the castle was in a bit of a state, and by state I mean ruins. These days though, quite a lot of it remains and you can explore it quite intricately, climb up stairs and wander around the bits left over imagining you are the king and your friends are the dirty rascals. It only costs about £1 to get in and it's a lovely place to have a summer picnic.

This a historic castle with good views over the town and Mumbles. You can go inside the castle and…read moreup onto the walls and turret for a great view out. Cheap entrance fee £1 so definitely worth it.

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to this beautiful journey into Wales' ancient past. Each of the…read moreroundhouses are built to original dimensions using post-holes that were uncovered in an archaeolgical dig. The collection of artifacts in each of the houses is accurate to the time period and the tours give a great insight into life back in the Iron Age. I was also very pleased with the visitor's centre, whose staff were knowledgeable and friendly. There are guided tours available led by staff in period costume, children's activities and even fixed cameras in the nearby stream showing wildlife in situ. Castell Henllys has also been used as a film location, and has a great appeal for schools and other day-trippers.

We'd been to Stonehenge and read several books on British prehistory, including a couple by Barry…read moreCunliffe. The thought of coming to a recreation of an Iron-age settlement was not strongly appealing, particularly because the brochure was designed to appeal to parents looking for something that their kids might enjoy. I admit that my first impressions were incorrect. In part this is because we came in the mid-afternoon on a weekday, so it was relatively quiet. It was also because our Iron-age host, someone quite familiar with the archeology of this site (which was where an Iron-age settlement existed so long ago) and with Iron-age archeology in general. We walked from house to house and learned more about the concrete realities of life in the Iron-age. Somehow the experience of walking into (recreated) Iron-age settlement, accompanied by a guide, made it possible to have a glimpse into what life was like back in the day. Visiting Castell Henllys is a wonderful complement to visiting Stonehenge. Seeing Stonehenge is an awesome experience but it is quite abstract. Castell Henllys makes is all come alive.

Swansea's National Waterfront Museum is a great place in which to gain an understanding of…read moreSwansea's rich history. I didn't expect that the museum would answer the many questions I had about the town but it did. For starters: * What is the city doing with sea water and why?; and * Why is all of the waterfront development so much newer than the rest of the city? These questions make sense when you're in Swansea but not when you're far away and reading a yelp review so I'll not try to explain. Just know that the National Waterfront Museum does a very good job at providing a lot of interesting information about Swansea, Wales in general, the waterfront, the people, and the history of migration to the area. That all of this is free of charge is icing on the cake. After spending several hours here my sole gripe is that a lot of energy has been put into making displays interactive thus requiring viewers to pull out heavy drawers, or wave their hands around to activate things. As an able-bodied person I struggled with some of these things and witnessed other, less-able folks completely mystified with how to interact with some of the exhibits. Still, don't let that keep you away. The National Waterfront Museum isn't something that'll appeal to kids but if you have the energy and attention span to read a lot there's a lot here to learn about. I found it interesting and well worth my time.

I was there 3 years ago and I was pleasantly surprised by what I saw, either in terms of…read morearchitecture, technology or education. The building is situated just off the Swansea Marina, it even has a bar that goes straight to it, so in that order even the location is perfect for a nice clear sky walk. When you enter you can almost see how the museum is set up, it mainly is a record of how the Maritime life of Wales developed, with a special focus on the Swansea area. It may seem a bit boring if you aren't one of the nautical type (like I am) but the way everything is displayed is genius, they have used the latest technology of movement reaction based sensors for you to control animations and displays so it is a complete immerse experience. I really did enjoyed it and to think that by the fact that I was a student I got in for free! Which makes the experience even better! If you are around Swansea don't forget to come by and visit this pearl of Wales. It is truly a great Museum, you can compare it to several big ones all over the world!

On a business trip to Swansea I was reading through one of those tourist magazines that listed…read morelocal goings on. I stumbled upon an article about the Glynn Vivian. I decided to check the local flavor out before heading to London. They were also showing a special exhibit that I was curious about from NS Harsha. It did not disappoint!! I was pleasantly surprised at how beautiful the building is inside. They have added in modern comforts such as temperature controls and lifts but still maintain an old elegance and the lighting of the skylights created a peaceful ambience. The entire space lends itself to contemplation and I could see myself bringing a book and curling up on one of the couches and reading for a bit. The gallery is free but donations are encouraged and welcome. I really enjoyed my time there. Unlike most of my museum experiences as a tourist, the GV was pretty empty. It was peppered with some locals and visitors like myself. But it allowed me to quietly contemplate what I was seeing in front of me. Something I usually don't get to do as I get herded from room to room. What I really loved about this place though is the copious amounts of seating available. It actually encouraged me to sit and look at the art. I even sat and watched a video on a Welsh artist Kyffin Williams who is amazing. There is a small cafe with drinks and snacks if you need a nibble. This is a local treasure and I hope they are continued to be supported by the people of Swansea and visitors that stumble upon it.

I really like going to visit the Glynn Vivian. I love the antique glass and porcelain. Full of…read morethings I could look at every day. Also interesting exhibitions. It's not huge, so you do not need to feel overwhelmed and you can get to know works of art really well. Unusually quiet every time I go, so you can contemplate the works of art here. No cafe but disabled access.

The Bragwyn is a beautiful establishment with some astounding architecture to be seen. I often go…read morethere for meetings and events, such as the recent CAMRA Real Ale and Cider festival. The staff are exceedingly friendly, and following its 6m refurbishment it's looking as good as ever!

This is where I graduated. it's a beautiful space with real presence, very rude murals on the wall…read more it's located very near the seafront and often gets battered by the winds. There is a clock tower which is visible for a long way. On a recent episode of the BBC's hit drama produced by bbc Wales Doctor Who starring David Tennant there are scenes inside the Brangwyn. It's a great place to go to a concert, they have lunchtime ones.

My dear friend,Aeronwy's ashes are buried here, in the…read moregarden of the home she writes about so poignantly in "My Father's Places" - Constable 2009 This estuary is one of the most peaceful places on the Planet. To make the perfect visit,stay at Castle House (reviewed elsewhere) which is superb & walk through the woods of the poems of Dylan : "Now as I was young & easy under the apple boughs" or drink in the local pubs; spend the day on the flats & imagine the boat with Caitlin & the children sailing back to the Boat House. Visit Swansea & the Dylan Thomas Centre

The poet's old home in a glorious location with a panoramic view across the estuary and the Heron…read morepriested shore. The house is now a museum dedicated to his life and work. It's fascinating to wander around and there is an audio-visual display in one of the upstairs rooms. You can also visit Thomas's 'writing shed' where he did much of his work. Although it is kept locked, you can look through the window at a reconstruction of what it would have been like (either that or it hasn't been touched since he left!) complete with empty beer bottles.

Beautiful old ruined castle on the Welsh Gwyr peninsular…read more Well worth the excursionj

What does the Fox Say? And more importantly, what does the Swan See?…read more The Swan Sees fantastic football in a fantastic stadium, year after year. Cardiff is the Welsh team with the larger fan base, but Swansea has been providing sexy football to its fans for several years now, from Martinez and Sousa, to Brendan Rodgers and Michael Laudrup, and now the surprisingly good... I forgot his name! But if you're a fan you know it. Oh yes. Monk! First-Hand Experience: I saw Swansea play live in both 2011 and 2014 and both times was thoroughly impressed by their expansive style and also their fantastic support. They were formed in 1912, but never really achieved anything of merit until the Liberty was built and then everything took an upturn, ending in the Premier League. Their main rival is Cardiff and it's a very bitter rivalry. They were promoted to the Prem in 1981 and then again through the play offs under Brendan Rodgers in 2011. They had their finest moment in 2013 when they won the League Cup for the first time, and hopefully this team will now be on the map for a long time.