Welcome to Aberystwyth

Aberystwyth, the county town of Ceredigion, is located on the west coast of Wales overlooking Cardigan Bay at the confluence of the rivers Ystwyth and Rheidol, approximately 211 miles west-north-west of London and 110 miles north-west of Cardiff.

The town has a population of around 13,500 with the University adding 7,000 students during term times. Administratively it is within the local government district of Ceredigion (one of 22 principal areas of Wales) which covers an area of approximately 1,795 sq kms.

An attractive town centred around its seafront and harbour, and sheltered by the surrounding hills, it is the principal seaside resort on Wales' west coast which became fashionable during the 19th-century. It is also home to the University of Wales and the National Library of Wales, which accommodates over 3 million books. There are some notable historic buildings, including the remains of its 12th-century castle, and visitors are afforded superb views from the 110m summit of Constitution Hill.

Aberystwyth has a fascinating history. It grew up behind the castle built by Edward I between 1277 and 1289 and sited on a promontory beside the Rheidol estuary. The castle was held by Owain Glyndwr in the early 15th century, during his revolt against the English, before falling to the forces of Prince Henry, the future King Henry V. A mint, using locally mined silver, was established at the castle during the reign of Charles I and this funded a regiment of miners to fight for the King during the Civil War. Following the royalist defeat, however, the castle was blown up in 1649.

Historically Aberystwyth was a mining town, for silver and lead, and a busy port for fishing and the transporting of ore. It also enjoyed a thriving tourism industry until the 1950s. Today the town's economy relies on tourism, education, retail, regional government and the service sector for the rural neighbourhood. 

The name Aberystwyth describes the town's location at the mouth ('aber') of the River Ystwyth.

The town's motto is 'The Best Way of Life is Service'.