If you search for things to do in Aberystwyth then it’s almost inevitable you’ll come across a review of the Cliff Railway and Constitution Hill. It’s one of the top touristy things to do and, I’ll be honest, that’s kind of why we decided to do it. It looks really cool and you can see if from pretty much everywhere in the town.
The cost
Normally I wouldn’t write about the cost of something like Aberystwyth Cliff Railway this early in the review, but I think it’s actually quite important given that the journey takes exactly 5 minutes (yes I timed it). We paid £23 for a return ticket, but a family of 4 would pay £20. You don’t actually need to get the train to get to the top of Constitution Hill – you can walk it if you want and it will take about 10 minutes. So the train really is for the experience more than anything else and that’s what you’re paying for.
Where to sit
On the way up the hill we were standing in the area highest up the hill (you’ll see what I mean when you get there) so we pointing in the direction of travel. This does mean that you get relatively limited views of the countryside – mainly just to the side. However these seats have the best view of the other carriage coming towards you which is fun.
If you want to look at the views then you want to aim for the standing area at the bottom of the train and this has unrestricted views. In my opinion the seats in the middle didn’t really get to view much of anything except for out the sides so are probably best avoided if you can.
Constitution Hill
Have you been to Lands End since it was brought by Virgin and turned into tourist destination rather than just a cafe with a signpost? We went about 10 years ago and absolutely hated it for being over priced and tacky. Having many childhood memories there I was gutted. Anyway, as soon as we got to the top of Constitution Hill Hubby declared this very much had Lands End vibes. It’s really just there to take your cash.
That said, the views are absolutely stunning. Apparently on a clear day you can see 1,000,000 Welsh mountains from up here, well 26 of them. It wasn’t a clear day and you could barely see across Aberystwyth bay!
We paid a couple of quid for the kids to do crazy golf, which to be fair was actually half decent crazy golf. We did have to wait a while to play though “because they don’t have that many balls”, I’m guessing around 10 so even though there was plenty of space on the course they didn’t have enough balls for us to play.
We tried to play a game of frisbee golf but it’s soooo windy up there it’s almost impossible so we quickly gave up. There’s also ten-pin bowling and a games room. We decided to do a walk but in the end we turned back from that as well. The cafe is nice enough and that’s really the highlight of Constitution Hill
Aberystwyth camera obscura
Seldom have I been more underwhelmed that we all were with the Aberystwyth camerea obscura. It’s £1 per adult and kids go free. I’ve seen one before at the Royal Observatory and that one was kind of cool. This one is zoomed in so far that you can’t really actually see anything. We were in there for about 1 minute!
There’s an exhibition upstairs about the site and it includes information about local wildlife. There’s a whole section on red kites, including the statement that in the UK red kites can only be found in Mid Wales. Now, I live in the Chilterns and I’m writing this review of Aberystwyth Cliff Railway in my back garden on a beautifully sunny day. Right now I can see three red kites flying around! It’s right here that Tiggywinkles wildlife hospital was instrumental in bringing them back from extinction in England. I think their sign needs updating!!
This review of Aberystwyth Cliff Railway is based on our experiences at the time of our visit. Things can change over time, including the facilities available. If you have any specific requirements such as access it’s always best to check with the site directly before visiting. If anything I’ve said in this review is no longer accurate then please do let me know. Thank you.
Our Aberystwyth Cliff Railway review
Our trip to Aberystwyth Cliff Railway was part of a day out in the town which involved loads of other free things and I’ll be honest, of everything we did I think the family as a whole enjoyed this part of the day the least. So if you’re in the area and at a loose end you could give it a try, but there’s much better things to do.
Admission cost
£20 return for a family of four. Pre-booking isn’t required. You can check the latest prices on their website.
Parking / How to get there
Parking – Very small car park at the railway, mainly disabled. You’re better off using town centre car parks.
Address – Cliff Railway House, Cliff Terrace, Aberystwyth, SY23 2DN
Toilets
On-site
Food
Cafe at the top of Constitution Hill, picnics allowed.
What else is there to do nearby?
This review of Aberystwyth Cliff Railway was actually part of a day out in Aberystwyth. We did multiple things during the course of the day, but this was actually the only paid-for activity. If you click on this link, you can see all of my reviews that were in Aberystwyth and if you click here you can see all of my reviews in Wales
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Hi, I’m Vicky. My husband and I live in Aylesbury with our three children; a 14 year old son, an 12 year old son and a 6 year old daughter. I (mostly) love spending time together as a family. We visit all kinds of places and we’re quite happy to drive a fair distance for a decent day out. A few years ago I decided to set up Free Time with the Kids as a way to share our experiences of these family days out.
You’ll find the essential information you need to know before your visit that can be surprisingly hard to find out. Where do I park? How much will it cost me to get in? Are there any discounts available? Are there loos? Can I take a picnic or get food? My aim is to be your go-to guide for all your free and cheap family days out across Bucks, Beds, Oxon, Herts & slightly beyond. I really hope you find the reviews helpful. If there’s anywhere that you’d recommend please get in touch contact@freetimewiththekids.com or get in touch via Facebook