centuries

This town in North Wales has been a popular holiday destination for centuries, with its stunning beaches, historic pier and beautiful landscapes drawing in visitors

This North Wales town boasts a lengthy history of attracting holidaymakers from all corners of Britain, having earned the prestigious nickname “Queen of the Welsh Watering Places”.

The Victorian coastal treasure of Llandudno, with its colourful past, is believed to trace its roots back to the Bronze Age. These distinctive features attract tourists eager to experience the breathtaking scenery of the Conwy Valley and discover the region’s fascinating heritage.

Indeed, Llandudno has previously been hailed as amongst the safest locations to live in Britain, with approximately 19,700 fortunate inhabitants. What’s more, it’s considerably more affordable to explore and stay in compared to most rival seaside destinations.

Two principal beaches extend along the coastline – North Shore Beach and West Shore Beach. The northern stretch features a lengthy promenade typical of any British coastal resort.

However, what distinguishes it from others is its palm tree-lined walkway – reminiscent of a Mediterranean haven. Nestled peacefully beyond North Shore Beach lies the Great Orme clifftop, providing an excursion on the Great Orme Tramway, transporting visitors to elevated vantage points via cable cars.

One delighted tourist commented: “The cable car ride was amazing; for the length of the journey, £14 per return (this was the price in 2024) is pretty reasonable. The views are stunning, and you can see for miles on a really clear day, which we had.”

On the West Shore, nestled on the other side of the town, one can enjoy panoramic views of the Snowdonian mountainside. A TripAdvisor review gushes: “One of my favourite beaches anywhere: unspoilt, dog-friendly, free of kiosks and vendors – just sea, rock and sand. Stunning views of the Great Orme. Lots of parking.”

The charming town of Llandudno boasts a rich history that stretches from the Stone Age through to the Iron Age, with numerous settlements over the years on the slopes of the limestone headland, better known as the Great Orme. The headland is a popular attraction for visitors from near and far, offering a four-hour trek filled with breathtaking views.

The Victorian promenade, affectionately known as The Parade, and the iconic pier are two of the town’s most beloved landmarks, both dating back to 1877. After extensive restorations, the pier has earned the title of one of the best in the whole of the UK.

One visitor shared their experience of the pier, saying: “Excellent pier experience. A Punch and Judy, plenty of arcades, hair braiding/colouring, a good walk, fun stalls and a cafe with a wonderful lady singer belting out Amy Winehouse numbers. There’s even a little display of historical photos to show when the pier was used for the ferries. Well worth a visit.”

India was all out for 364, opening the door for England to stage a dramatic test cricket win at Headingley on final day.

Another India lower-order collapse gave England a fighting chance of a thrilling cricket victory in the first Test at Headingley, with the hosts 21-0 in their second innings at the close of play on day four, chasing 371 to win.

Josh Tongue, just as he did in the first innings, came to the fore when seeing off the Indian tail, with three wickets in four balls helping ensure the tourists lost their final six second-innings wickets for 31 runs on Monday.

The collapse, which saw India all out for 364, gave the dangerous Jasprit Bumrah the chance to attack England before close of play. But neither opener, Zak Crawley nor Ben Duckett, looked troubled as they repelled the Indian attack until stumps.

Reaching 371 would be England’s second-highest successful Test run chase against India, and the second-highest at Headingley, more than the Ben Stokes-inspired heroics on the same ground against Australia in 2019.

“To get them all out and not lose a wicket in the last half hour, Ducky [Ben Duckett] and Zak [Crawley] batted really well,” Tongue told Sky Sports.

“The first session we batted really well, I thought we were unlucky. The message was to hit the pitch as hard as we can. It flattened out in the second session. We just had to stay patient.”

Resuming day four on 90-2 in their second innings, with a lead of 96 runs, India captain Shubman Gill, who made his highest Test score in the first innings, chopped onto his stumps to fall for eight to Brydon Carse.

England sensed an opportunity, having dragged themselves back into the Test on Sunday. But Rishabh Pant’s 195-run middle-order partnership with KL Rahul swung the momentum back in India’s favour.

Rahul, Pant rally

The normally box-office Pant started his innings quite conservatively, happy to watch on as Rahul moved smoothly to his century, his ninth in Tests, eight of which have come overseas.

After smashing two sixes in three balls after lunch, however, Pant hit the accelerator and brought out his typically flamboyant shots to all corners of the ground, with his hundred meaning, for the first time, that there have been five India centuries scored in one Test match.

Pant eventually tried one shot too many, caught chasing another six on the boundary by Crawley for 118 before Rahul fell shortly after tea for 137, again chopping onto the stumps off the bowling of Carse.

Then came the Tongue-inspired collapse, as the fast bowler took three wickets and the catch that brought about the end of India’s innings as the touring side, having lost their final six first-innings wickets for 24 runs, fell apart again.

Bumrah, the number one-ranked Test bowler in the world, who took five wickets in the first innings, immediately grabbed the ball but got very little joy as Crawley remained unbeaten on 12, while Duckett will return for a tantalising Tuesday on nine.

The odds are stacked against England on the final day, but there is hope at least. In 59 Tests when defending totals of over 350, India have only lost once. That, however, was against England in 2022.

“Someone’s got to win tomorrow; it will be an interesting day,” Rahul told Sky Sports.

“The wicket is not as easy as the first innings. They won’t find it as easy to hit the ball on the rise. Even if they get a big partnership, if we get a couple of wickets, we’ll be right in the game.”

Centuries from Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope and Ben Duckett highlight a dominant batting display as England wrap up day one on 498-3 in the first innings of their single Test match against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge.

MATCH REPORT: Pope, Crawley and Duckett tons flatten Zimbabwe

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