Tenby, nestled on the stunning Pembrokeshire coastline, is a postcard-perfect seaside town brimming with charm. Its vibrant harbour, colourful houses, and award-winning beaches make it an ideal destination for a day trip from Top of the Woods, our nearby glamping and camp site.
So check out our guide to Tenby below filled with history, culture, nature, food and drink, islands and beaches (we mean lots of beaches) making it perfect for a UK staycation. There’s something for everyone from kids to history lovers, surfers and rook-poolers, nature lovers to foodies. What are you waiting for?
What to do in Tenby?
Exploring cultural and historical gems
Medieval Wall
Begin your day by taking in the Medieval Walls and walking along the 13th-century town walls. These beautifully preserved fortifications offer panoramic views of the town and coastline. You can walk substantial sections of the walls, one of Tenby’s top attractions with stunning views.
Tenby Castle
Built by the Normans in the 12th century, you can spot the remains of Tenby Castle, perched on the top of Castle Hill, almost surrounded by the sea. Enjoy great views from Castle Hill.
National Trust, Tudor Merchant House
The Merchant House allows you to step back in time to discover how a prosperous merchant in the 15th century would have lived in the Tudor Merchant's House.
Tenby Museum and Art Gallery
Delve deeper into Tenby's history, from its fishing roots to a Victorian resort town. Explore artifacts, paintings, and learn about local legends.
St. Catherine's Island: Accessible at low tide, it houses the remains of a Victorian fort. Offers adventurous exploring and fantastic views back to Tenby.
St. Mary's Church: This large, central church has sections dating from the 15th century. Take note of its impressive spire, a landmark in the town.
Tenby’s many beaches!
Tenby is perfect for day-trippers as they are spoilt for choice when it comes to beaches, each with their own characteristics.
Castle Beach, Tenby
Winner of the Sunday Times Beach of Year a few years ago, this picturesque and sheltered beach lies below the town's iconic walls. With gorgeous views, it’s ideal for families looking for safe swimming, paddling, and building sandcastles.
North Beach, Tenby
North Beach invites day-trippers with its seemingly endless stretch of golden sand backed by dramatic cliffs. Perfect for long beach walks, water sports and rock pooling. At low tide you can also see Goskar Rock.
South Beach, Tenby
Looking for an expansive beach with space for lingering beach walks and good waves for surfing? Then South Beach, the biggest of Tenby’s beaches, is for you. We love its wide and expansive golden sands backed by dunes.
Harbour Beach, Tenby
From the largest beach, we now visit a miniature beach nestled within Tenby's picturesque harbour. Charming and sheltered, it's more about watching the boats and harbour activity than swimming or sunbathing.
Tenby Beach Checklist
Is Tenby Beach dog-friendly? Dogs are restricted on North and Castle beaches from May to September, but South Beach is more dog-friendly year-round.
Cleanliness: Tenby's beaches consistently earn Blue Flag awards for excellent water quality, safety, environmental management, and cleanliness.
Facilities: North and South beaches have lifeguards (seasonal), toilets, and often cafes or food vendors nearby.
Always check the tide tables before going, as the beaches transform dramatically between high and low tide!
One of the highlights for our glamping and camping guests is that the Pembrokeshire National Park is on our doorstep. It’s the only coastal National Park in the UK, so well worth a visit. From Tenby, you can walk a section of this breathtaking national trail for cliff top views and a chance to spot marine wildlife.
Nature-spotting and island-hopping
Boat Trip to Caldey Island from Tenby
Hop on a boat from the harbor to Caldey Island. This serene island is home to a monastery where monks produce delicious perfumes and chocolate. Day-trippers can also visit the old priory, relax at the cafe, or take a walk to the lighthouse overlooking beautiful beaches.
You’ll also enjoy birdwatching and wildlife spotting - Puffins (best spotted in spring and early summer), oystercatchers, seals, dolphins, soay sheep with distinctive curved horns, even porpoises! Caldey Island's most famous residents are a colony of red squirrels. Take your binoculars!
There are several companies offering boat trips. They usually run from May to September 2024 and the island is closed on Sundays. Check the times and book in busier times. It is important to note that the best time to observe wildlife varies depending on the species and time of year, so do check with local tour operators or wildlife experts for the most up to date information.
St. Catherine's Island is accessible at low tide, with a Victorian fort to explore and from the top of the fort, you get panoramic views over Tenby harbor, Castle Beach, and the coastline stretching out towards Saundersfoot and beyond. It's a fantastic spot for photos!
Tenby for Kids
As well as the family beaches (and ice-creams), kids will love The Dinosaur Park, a fun-filled attraction with life-sized dinosaur models, rides, and activities. You can even go on a fossil-hunt.
You can also take the little ones to Manor Wildlife Park, where you can get up close and personal with exotic animals like zebras and rhinos. It’s just a short drive away.
Indulge in Culinary Delights of Tenby
As a sustainable, independent tourist business ourselves, we’re always keen to highlight other local spots and locally sourced delicacies. In general terms, Tenby stands out for some culinary delights:
Fresh seafood where you can indulge in fish ‘n chips, crab sarnies or locally sourced oysters.
Welsh cakes are also a real treat - that’s small griddled cakes filled with currants. Delicious!
Tenby rock: enjoy this classic seaside treat.
Pembrokeshire Sea Salt: Locally crafted sea salt adds a touch of Tenby's coastline to your cooking.
Tenby Gin or Ale: Several local breweries and distillers produce unique Pembrokeshire spirits and beers.
Where to eat and drink in Tenby?
Here's a selection of Tenby's top independent spots to eat and drink. Check the websites, for their location in St Davids and opening times.
Best for Creative Pub Grub: The Cove
This is a cosy, charming gastropub serving up seafood dishes, inventive burgers and a rotating selection of craft beers and gins. Cocktail masterclasses too!
Best for Views and Seafood: Salty's Beach Bar & Restaurant
Situated directly on South Beach, Salty's offers a relaxed setting with delicious seafood dishes and tasty cocktails.
Best for Modern British Fare: The Baytree
This highly-rated restaurant features locally sourced ingredients in beautifully presented dishes. Expect refined classics with a modern twist.
Best for Something Different: Sandbar & Cŵlbox
A relaxed spot with exposed brickwork and a focus on craft beers and street food. The menu changes frequently but always has tasty options for meat-lovers, vegetarians, and vegans alike.
Local Brewery: The Harbwr Brewery Tap Kitchen
Sample the local beer at this pub near the colourful Tenby Harbour with a menu specialising in fresh local seafood. You can also visit the family-run brewery.
Tenby also has a fantastic selection of independent cafes as well! Consider stopping for coffee and a classic Welsh cake.
Caffi Vista - veggie friendly menu with lovely views of North Beach.
Bramleys Tea Rooms - a cozy tearoom with traditional charm located in a log cabin.
Where to stay in Tenby?
Now we’ve given you a taste of Tenby attractions and the variety of things to do in this interesting, historic and pretty town, why not plan a visit?
When it comes to where to stay in Tenby, we would of course recommend you head to our glamping and camping site, with a wide variety of eco luxury accommodation and space to pitch up.
Top of the Woods Provides the Best Eco Luxury Glamping & Camping Holidays in Pembrokeshire and Cardigan Bay in Wales, UK. Sustainable Staycations. Beaches. Nature. Woodlands. Dog Friendly.