It’s 2025, and holidaying at home is all the rage. Statistics from the Skyes Staycation Index 2025 show that more and more Brits are holidaying a little closer to home than ever before, with a whopping 63% of Brits predicted to holiday at home this year, with 34% of staycationers considering it their main holiday of 2025. And for a staycation break, there are a few regular contenders for the top UK holiday destination – time and time again, the ever-popular domestic holiday destinations of Devon and Cornwall, as well as Cumbria and North Yorkshire, top the rankings of where Brits are choosing to spend their summer holidays.
However, nestled on the Pembrokeshire coast is an often underappreciated Welsh gem of a harbour town boasting beautiful beaches, intimate pubs and a variety of tourist attractions for all ages and tastes, ranging from a wildlife park housing tigers, lemurs and meerkats, to landmarks of historical splendour such as a Cistercian monastery and a fifteenth-century merchant house steeped in rich Tudor history. Pembrokeshire itself attracts over 6.3 million visitors annually, and tourism to seaside towns such as Tenby contributes £604million to the economy a year and supports 23% of jobs in the area.
“Tenby is beautiful, and a perfect seaside destination. Within five minutes of each other you have four beaches – Castle, North, South and Harbour Beaches. It’s a beach-lover’s paradise,” one local says.
The seaside town of Tenby, located on the coastline of South West Wales, is an ideal staycation destination for all holidaymakers, filled with a cornucopia of things to do for families, couples, and even solo travellers. The town is beloved by young and old alike, with its intimate eateries and breweries, picturesque coves and quaint cobbled streets wrapped in a hug of thirteenth-century stone that reflects the fondness that both residents and visitors feel towards this destination. Tenby is lively enough to feel vibrant, but small enough to feel cosy, with a permanent population of approximately 5,000 people, according to Discover Britain.
Whether you’re travelling as a family, with your partner, or holidaying alone, Tenby has something for you. If you are travelling with children, a visit to the Manor Wildlife Park is a must. From tigers and meerkats to llamas and zebras, you and your children will be delighted by the sights and sounds of exotic animals without even stepping foot outside of Wales. Tickets to Manor Wildlife Park are priced at £24.95 for adults (17+), £21.95 for children, £21.95 for a concession adult and £19.95 for a concession child. If you fancy something even more special on your trip to the park, and getting even more up close and personal with the zoo animals, a range of ‘Animal Experiences’ such as meeting tigers and red pandas are available at an additional cost.
If you fancy a trip around Tenby on foot, the harbour town’s beloved ghost walks offer the chance to explore the haunting cobbled streets of this Welsh gem while being entertained with spooky stories of ghouls, fairies and spirits. However, if you prefer serenity and relaxation to spooky thrills, you might enjoy exploring the Cistercian heritage of Caldey Island, or basking in the Welsh sun on a lounger on adjacent Castle Beach for a small charge. Visitors can see the monks during services at Caldey Abbey and even purchase gifts such as chocolate and perfume that are produced on the island by the monks themselves.
Undoubtedly, one of the local star attractions is Barafundle Bay, a spectacular, scenic cove reminiscent of a Caribbean beach with its pristine “golden” sands and “clear” blue waters, as praised by locals and tourists alike. Tens of thousands of beachgoers flock to Barafundle Bay every year to soak up the sun on its golden swathes – it’s no surprise that the bay was voted the fifth best British beach in the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards 2019, as well as being awarded Blue Flag status for its high standards of cleanliness and environmental sustainability. Back in 2004, Barafundle Bay was even ranked among the top twelve beaches in the world, and in 2006 and 2021 won the award of the UK’s best spot for a picnic.
In and around Tenby, there are many options for holiday accommodation to suit every budget. Premier Inn is a budget-friendly option offering seafront views of Tenby harbour, while the beachfront Royal Lion Hotel and the castle-like splendour of the Imperial Hotel also offer spectacular views of Pembrokeshire coastline. For those who prefer cosier, self-contained accommodation, holiday cottages are dotted all over Tenby and throughout the local area, offering intimate getaways for couples and solo travellers. When considering its rich medieval history and its wide variety of attractions for all ages, Tenby is also an affordable place to live in comparison to the average price of a house in Wales – according to Zoopla, the average sold house price for a property in Tenby is £283,807, compared to the Welsh average of £236,344.
“Tenby has so much culture. It’s a foodie’s paradise,” residents boast. “There’s pubs, breweries, restaurants galore. We even have our own Food Quarter!”
“Tenby has such a unique history that sets it apart from other seaside places like Devon and Cornwall,” another comments. “A really unique blend of Cistercian, Tudor, and Plantagenet history, and they all come together to contribute to what Tenby looks and feels like today. It really is something special.”
“I love taking the stroll from Tenby to Saundersfoot and up to Wiseman’s Bridge,” a third tells me. “And you can’t go wrong with Barafundle Bay, it looks just like a Caribbean beach!”
All in all, Tenby offers something for everyone. With zoos, historical architecture, thrilling ghost walks, a vibrant foodie scene where timeless British classics such as fish and chips rub shoulders with beloved international dishes, and coastline that regularly wins accolades for its cleanliness and beauty, you are sure to find something that you love during a visit to Tenby.