This is part of our guide to the Welsh town of St Davids. We already told you about the history of St Davids’ most popular tourist attraction, St Davids Cathedral, and we also gave you suggestions as to which beautiful places in nature you can visit in the area.
This article aims to do something different by recommending you fun activities to do with your whole family, while you’re vacationing in St Davids. Enjoy and remember to have fun! Explore:
- Oriel y Parc Landscape Gallery and Visitor Centre
- Goat Street Gallery
- Dr Beynon’s Bug Farm
- Coetan Arthur
- St Davids City Golf Club
- St Davids Escape Room
Oriel y Parc Landscape Gallery and Visitor Centre
Oriel y Parc Landscape Gallery and Visitor Centre is a must-see for all visitors of the small Welsh town. Oriel y Parc explores the local history and culture, and it’s housed in a wonderful building reminiscent of a Disney castle.
Oriel y Parc is in a unique collaboration with the National Museum of Wales and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, which delivers a fascinating collection of landscape art to visitors. There are other exhibitions as well, some permanent like Graham Sunderland’s masterpieces and some temporary like the one exploring Climate Change.
Oriel y Parc is a great place for people of all ages with events throughout the year. Oriel y Parc is open every day between 9:30 am and 5 pm; the gallery is open between 10 am and 4 pm. Oriel y Parc has a very central location, so you won’t need a car to access it.
Goat Street Gallery
Goat Street Gallery is a lovely independent gallery in St Davids, housed in an abandoned chapel from the 19th century. It exhibits paintings and other pieces of art made by local, as well as international artists. The exhibits change based on the theme the gallery chooses. You can purchase some of them if you want to add a piece of St Davids in your home.
The gallery is owned by Daniel Wright, ceramicist, and Amanda Wright, textile maker. Goat Street Gallery is overlooking St Davids Cathedral, and it’s open from Tuesday to Saturday between 10 am and 5 pm.
Dr Beynon’s Bug Farm
If you have small children, then you certainly know why we put this one on the list! Dr Beynon’s Bug Farm is a fantastic place, which caters to people of all ages. We were impressed by the number of exhibitions and activities available there, so we highly recommend it to our readers.
To begin with, there’s a bug zoo, which has a massive collection of insects from all around the world. Dr Beynon’s Bug Farm has a separate place for British bugs called ‘British Bug House’, whose purpose is to educate visitors about the bugs they encounter and how to take care of them. There is also a museum part that features very curious facts about bugs and why they are important to our ecosystems.
The art gallery is another great addition to this tourist attraction as it shows how bugs continue to inspire art and fashion with its ever-changing exhibitions. After looking at these interesting exhibitions, you can let your kids roam free at the bug-themed Play Barn.
There are fun things to do outdoors too. For one, you can follow one of the many trails and enjoy a peaceful afternoon there. You can also go up the Bug Farm Trail to see how people farm bugs. Or maybe look at bees and butterflies in the Walled Garden, where they have special flower beds and even a bug hotel!
Dr Benyon’s Bug Farm is located approximately 1.6 miles away from St Davids’ city centre, and you can either go there by car or by bike. The attraction is open Thursday-Friday in the months between April and October, and during the weekends between November and April. The opening hours are 10:30 am-4:30 pm. You can buy tickets on the site, but it’s advisable to do it online instead.
Coetan Arthur
Coetan Arthur dolmen is a Neolithic burial chamber whose design resembles Stonehenge, as well as similar Neolithic burial sites. It dates to 3000 BCE, and it’s thought to be a passage grave with a round barrow. It’s located approximately 2.2 miles away from central St Davids. We recommend it to all history lovers!
St Davids City Golf Club
The endless green fields of Wales make one think of golf, and there’s a nice golf course in St Davids – St Davids City Golf Club. If you read our article on the beautiful nature of St Davids, then you know you’d be in for a treat at this golf course. It’s a 9 hole course with 18 tees, and it’s playable all year round.
You don’t have to be a member to play at the course, and there are also shared tickets for families. Keep in mind that it’s best to book a spot online at least a day before you intend to go. The course is open every day between 8 am and 6 pm.
St Davids Escape Room
To the lovers of escape rooms, don’t you worry, because St Davids has wonderful facilities. St Davids Escape Room offer visitors both an indoor and an outdoor escape room, which is quite interesting. The indoor escape room is St Davids themed, and it’s similar to other escape rooms, while the outdoor escape room is a brand new concept where you have to navigate a rope course!
The attraction is located 3.3 miles from St Davids’ city centre, and it’s open every day between 8:30 am and 9:30 pm with 1.5 h intervals for each group. Give them a call to book your spot.