The 4th of July marks National Alice in Wonderland Day; a celebration of Lewis Carroll’s world-renowned story, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, one of the best-selling children’s books of all time.
It is long believed that Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, better known as Lewis Carroll, was inspired by friend, Henry Liddell’s 8-year-old daughter, Alice Liddell. In 1861 she visited Llandudno for the first of many North Wales holidays with her family. It is speculated that Carroll visited the Liddell family at their holiday home, ‘Penmorfa,’ on Llandudno’s West Shore, where he enjoyed telling Alice fictional stories, one of which was about a little girl who fell into a rabbit hole and discovered a whole new world and many interesting characters… And so, Alice in Wonderland was created.
Carroll finally wrote the story down and published it in 1865, which as many of you know includes well-known characters such as, The Mad Hatter, the Queen of Hearts and the grinning Cheshire Cat. Carroll later wrote the sequels, Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There.
Our seaside town of Llandudno has wholeheartedly embraced the connection to Alice in Wonderland, creating a family-friendly way to explore the area and walk in Alice’s footsteps.
The Alice in Wonderland trail is a highlight, inviting you to discover our Victorian coastal town. The whole family will enjoy wandering and exploring to find and follow the statues of the delightfully peculiar characters from Alice’s adventures dotted around town. Follow the 55 bronze rabbit footprints, and admire the Alice in Wonderland character sculptures along the way, including the Mad Hatter and the White Rabbit. You can even pick up a paper map at the Llyfrgell Llandudno Library.
During your short North Wales break, take to the trail and explore Llandudno – it takes you past the Town Hall, onto Madoc Street with its many independent boutiques, antique shops and art galleries, and then onto the grand Promenade, where you will also find our Llandudno hotel. The Promenade will lead you to the beautiful pier, the longest pier in Wales, where you can grab an ice cream and gaze back at the Promenade in all its glory, taking in the views of the impressive shoreline framed by Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park’s mountain peaks above, and the Little Orme and the Great Orme at either side. Then it’s onto Happy Valley, a peaceful park on a hill, perfect for a picnic and time to enjoy the far-reaching coastal views from the shore this time.
Our Victorian Llandudno hotel sits on the seafront, inviting you to enjoy unforgettable summertime breaks and family fun beside the sea. Expect nothing less than the charm and hospitality of a traditional Victorian hotel stay perfectly paired with all the modern comforts you look forward to on a getaway today. Fine dining, excellent service and a most relaxing room or suite awaits; inviting you to sleep late into the morning, sit and sip coffee from The Terrace and admire our sea views and take back with you, memories serenaded with the traditional seaside sound of gulls and the breaking of the waves on the shoreline.
We will be your base while you explore and fall in love with the beauty of North Wales, from its mountain peaks to coastal paths. Follow in the footsteps of Alice (both real and fictional) and get to know Llandudno while you follow the Alice in Wonderland Trail; perhaps it will be the story your family will tell when our shorelines become the setting for your most cherished holiday memories.
If you visit Llandudno on Alice in Wonderland Day, don’t forget to use the hashtag #AliceInWonderlandDay