Colwyn Bay Welsh - Bae Colwyn
Colwyn Bay at sunset
Population	30,265 (2001 census)
OS grid reference	SH865785
Principal area	Conwy
Ceremonial county	Clwyd
Constituent country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	COLWYN BAY
Postcode district	LL29, LL28
Dialling code	01492
Police	North Wales
Fire	North Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
UK Parliament	Clwyd West
Welsh Assembly	Clwyd West
European Parliament	Wales
List of places: UK • Wales • Conwy

Coordinates: 53°′N 3°′W / 53.29, -3.7

Colwyn Bay (Welsh: Bae Colwyn) is a town and seaside resort on the North Wales coast. The A55 road passes through it parallel to the North Wales Coast Line.

Prior to local government reorganisation in April 1974 Colwyn Bay was a Municipal Borough with a population of c.25,000, but in 1974 this designation disappeared leaving five separate parishes, known as communities in Wales. In the 2001 census the community of Colwyn Bay contained just 9,742 people, with the others as follows: Mochdre (1,862), Rhos-on-Sea (7,110), Old Colwyn (7,626) and Llysfaen (2,652). This gives a total figure for the five communities of 28,992, generally referred to as the population of Colwyn Bay.

Attractions

Attractions in Colwyn Bay include its Victoria Pier and Welsh Mountain Zoo. The town is beautifully situated between the sea and the Pwllycrochan Woods on the towering hillside. A business and commercial centre with rail links and close access to the activities that are available in the surrounding countryside. Colwyn Bay hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1910, 1947 and 1995.

The western side of Colwyn Bay, Rhos-on-Sea, includes a number of historic sites associated with St Trillo and Ednyfed Fychan, the 13th century general and councillor to Llywelyn the Great.

Famous people

Famous people from the town include Monty Python star Terry Jones (from Old Colwyn), two-time James Bond actor Timothy Dalton and Big Breakfast presenter Paula Yates, who famously had relationships with Bob Geldof, and Michael Hutchence of INXS. Soap star William Roache, who plays Ken Barlow in Coronation Street, attended Rydal Penrhos, a private school in the town, and MP Alun Michael attended a grammar school. Mickey Thomas who played for Manchester United, Wrexham and Chelsea lives in Mochdre. Helen Willetts is a BBC weather reporter.

Schools

Colwyn Bay is home to three secondary schools, one private and two state. Eirias High School is located in Eirias Park and Ysgol Bryn Elian is in Old Colwyn. Ysgol Bryn Elian mainly serves Old Colwyn and Eirias High School mainly serves Colwyn Bay, Rhos on Sea and Penrhyn Bay. Rydal Penrhos is a private school, which is located on multiple sites in the town.

External links

• Colwyn Bay Football Club
• ColwynBayPictures.co.uk - Pictures, photographs and history of Colwyn Bay
• Colwyn Bay's Victoria Pier
• Colwyn Bay Rugby Club
• North Wales Pioneer newspaper

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