Llandudno Museum

About the museum

Llandudno Museum traces its origins to Francis Edouard Chardon, a well-travelled collector and painter born in Calcutta in 1865. When he died in 1925 he left his home, Rapallo House, together with his collection of decorative and fine art and curiosities from around the world, to the people of Llandudno. The museum counts 1925 as its founding year, and a trust named after him began running Rapallo House and its gallery in 1926.

In 1995 the collection moved to Gloddaeth Street, where it became Llandudno Museum and Gallery. The museum later took over the neighbouring Arfon Villa. This extension added a family learning and community space, a lift, a larger permanent display area and a separate gallery for temporary exhibitions.

Today the collection holds about 9,000 objects covering natural history and geology, local decorative and fine art, social history and military history. It is regarded as one of the finest archaeological collections held by an independent museum in Wales, with Roman finds from the nearby fort at Caerhun, a Neolithic skeleton and prehistoric tools and bones from the Great Orme copper mines. The galleries follow the story of the seaside resort from prehistory to the present day.

Highlights

• Roman finds from the Canovium fort at Caerhun
• Blodwen, a 5,500-year-old Neolithic skeleton found on the Little Orme
• Ice Age finds from Kendrick’s Cave on the Great Orme, including a decorated horse jaw
• Francis Chardon’s pastels and Victorian and Edwardian oil paintings
• Galleries on Victorian and Edwardian life, the two world wars and textiles

Permanent exhibitions

• Victorian and Edwardian collection – Objects collected by Francis Chardon, from Japanese netsuke and Egyptian figures to jewellery and trinket boxes, shown alongside the story of Victorian and Edwardian Llandudno.
• Prehistory and the Romans – Finds from Kendrick’s Cave and the Little Orme, plus domestic and military objects from the Roman fort at Caerhun.
• Chardon’s art gallery – Oil paintings from about 1870 to the mid-1920s and the founder’s own pastels, with local photographs donated by residents.

Founded

1925

Admission & discounts

A ticket costs £5 and allows unlimited visits throughout 2026. Carers and visitors under 18 enter free.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

A lift was added when the museum expanded into the neighbouring building. No further access details are published on the museum website.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

The museum runs interactive, student-led learning sessions with object handling and crafts for children, and has a dedicated family learning space.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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