Actors aim for Oscars, scientists strive for Nobel prizes, but does the humble pier have an annual award to recognise excellence, you might well ask. Well, it turns out, yes, it does: and the 2025 edition has been won by none other than Llandudno Pier.
Llandudno has been crowned Pier of the Year 2025, fighting off competition from boardwalks from all around the UK coastline. The annual award is decided by members of the National Piers Society, an organisation representing the interests of Britain’s seaside piers.
Stretching 700 metres into the Irish Sea from the North Wales mainland, Llandudno Pier is the longest pier in Wales and one of the longest in the UK. Built in 1878, the structure was such a major draw during the Victorian and Edwardian eras that it needed to be widened in the early 20th century. Today it boasts a number of old-worldly-type attractions along its length, from an inviting bar at its tip to its very own big wheel, which is certain to be a hit with younger visitors.
The pier, which also scooped the Pier of the Year award back in 2005, was badly damaged during storms in December 2024, but has already been successfully repaired and reopened, thanks to a quick response from the pier owners and local authorities. Along with the charming Great Orme Tramway and picturesque Happy Valley Botanical Gardens, the structure is one of the key attractions in the seaside town of Llandudno.
Speaking about Llandudno Pier winning Pier of the Year 2025, National Piers Society Chairman, Tim Wardley, said, ‘When I learned of this year’s winner I was thrilled. Llandudno Pier has suffered a torrid time with the storm damage inflicted over the winter and our members were highly impressed with the way the pier owners, staff and public all pulled together to ensure repairs were carried out in record time to get the pier reopened.
‘It really shows what a valuable and much loved asset the pier is to the community and visitors with messages of support and donations from all over the world. Well done Llandudno – a most worthy winner!’
Wooden pleasure piers, lined with stalls and snack bars, are a uniquely British attraction, mostly constructed during the Victorian era, when the seaside holiday was all the rage. Wales is home to a number of picturesque piers, including Mumbles Pier, near Swansea, and Penarth Pier, on the outskirts of Cardiff.
However, this year it is all about the beautiful Llandudno Pier, which, in 2025 at least, is a pier without peer.
Learn more about Llandudno Pier and other things to do in the seaside resort of Llandudno.