North Western Hotel, Llandudno 1950s

Once a proud landmark for travellers arriving in Llandudno by rail, the North Western Hotel stood just a stone’s throw from the town’s railway station. Built in the late 19th century, the hotel was part of a wider network of railway-owned or railway-associated accommodation, catering to the booming number of seaside tourists in the Victorian and Edwardian eras.

As its name suggests, the hotel was linked to the London & North Western Railway (LNWR), one of the major rail operators of the time. These hotels were designed to provide comfortable, respectable lodgings for passengers disembarking from long journeys, and the North Western played that role with distinction. Situated on Vaughan Street, it served as a convenient base for visitors keen to explore Llandudno’s sweeping promenade, Victorian pier, and the dramatic heights of the Great Orme.

Through the first half of the 20th century, the hotel continued to welcome guests, but like many traditional railway hotels, it began to decline in the post-war years. The rise of car travel and changing holiday habits eroded the dominance of rail, and the North Western, once a gateway to adventure, found itself out of step with modern times.

By the late 20th century, the building had been repurposed as a public house and changed hands several times, becoming part of various pub chains. Though still bearing the name The North Western, the building had lost much of its former grandeur.

In 2007, the structure was finally demolished, bringing over a century of history to an end. In its place now stands a modern Travelodge, continuing the tradition of offering overnight stays to visitors — but without the period charm or historical significance of its predecessor.