It was once synonymous with a drinking culture which became famous across the UK for its mile-long stretch of pubs.
But those days are long gone and this village is now everything you could want in a place to live. Not only does it have easy access to a city on one side, but i has easy access to an area of outstanding natural beauty on the other.
And it’s right on the seafront, at one end of a seemingly endless beach. So it’s no perhaps no surprise then that Mumbles, on the western tip of Swansea Bay in south Wales, has been named one of the best places to live by the sea in the UK.
As well as its location and natural and environmental plusses, Mumbles has also re-shaped itself as a culinary and shopping destination, with far more dining and shopping options than you would expect for a population of its size.
There’s a vibrant blend of retailers from independent to mainstream, and a local produce market featuring the finest offerings from producers every second Saturday of the month, WalesOnline reports. Not only does it have plenty of restaurants to choose from, but there’s also a trendy craft beer scene with of pubs like The Pilot, The Dark Horse Mumbles and Ty Cwrw (that’s Welsh for ‘Beer House’). And of course there’s the famous Verdi’s and Joe’s ice cream, rated by many as the best you can buy.
But that’s not all. How many villages boast a pier, let alone a castle? To the east you have the city of Swansea with all its urban offerings. To the west you have Langland Bay, Caswell and the majesty of the Gower. So it’s not hard to see why it’s been given the accolade of one of the best places to live by the sea in the UK by The Sunday Times.
Describing Mumbles, they wrote: “For somewhere that’s essentially a suburb of Swansea, Mumbles has a frankly indecent amount to offer the most demanding thalassophile. Within a few miles of the centre of Wales’ second city, you can watch wading birds forage on the shoreline of Swansea Bay, explore the rockpools of Bracelet Bay, join the hardy year-round swimmers at Langland Bay or hop on your surfboard at Caswell Bay.
“An ice cream from Joe’s, Forte’s or Verdi’s is the perfect reward for a day on the beach. For those seeking even wilder landscapes, Rhossili Bay, on the tip of the Gower peninsula, is 40 minutes in the opposite direction. The best addresses round here – some would say in all of Wales – are Caswell Bay and Langland, sometimes optimistically described as the country’s answer to the Hamptons. Average house price: £412,524.”
There are plenty of restaurants and places to eat to choose from in Mumbles, including Môr (which means ‘sea’ in Welsh) where the menu is packed full of seafood like oysters, turbot and line-caught bass. There’s also The Lighthouse, a bar and kitchen offering casual dining throughout the day, from breakfast to dinner.
Other options include Fika, Papi’s Pizzeria, Gower Safood Hut, Nishimura, Croeso Lounge and Boo’s Kitchen, as well as recognisable chains like Bistrot Pierre and Prezzo. And of course there’s Verdi’s and Joe’s ice cream!
For a drink, there’s the historic Pilot pub, as well as The Dark Horse and Tŷ Cwrw.