In a grand Victorian villa on Church Walks, where Llandudno’s quieter streets meet views across to Snowdonia and the sea, the owners transformed five self-contained flats into the resort’s first boutique B&B back in 2004. Twenty years on, Escape remains the town’s hottest stay, featured in The Times and Guardian, praised by MICHELIN Guide, and still run by the same family. The 1850s building retains its original Victorian hardwood floors, oak panelling, stained glass windows, and handcrafted fireplaces, whilst contemporary design elements deliver the sort of confident styling that has been known to attract celebrity guests throughout the years.

Nine individually designed rooms occupy three categories, Standard, Superior, and Luxury, each telling its own story through carefully sourced vintage pieces and bespoke furniture. Room names like Modern Romance, Contemporary Eclectic, The Boudoir, and The Loft hint at diverse personalities: LED wallpaper meets 22-carat gold bathroom tiles in one, floating beds appear in another, 70s lounge furniture and retro light fittings (hunted down from Berlin antique markets) feature throughout. The recently refurbished Loft extends its mezzanine space, whilst Contemporary Chic adopts Nordic minimalism. Calm & Light showcases that floating bed to full effect.

All rooms deliver luxury ensuites, flat-screen TVs, speakers and free WiFi, Elemis toiletries, and comfortable beds dressed with quality linens. The communal lounge, with its 42-inch TV showing Sky channels, invites sociable evenings, whilst the honesty bar handles drinks without fuss. Outside, manicured gardens provide peaceful retreat, with Conran Love Chairs positioned for sunset watching.

Breakfast, served in the handsome dining room beneath high ceilings and impressive bay windows, uses ingredients from award-winning local butchers. Continental and vegetarian options available, full Welsh breakfast cooked to order. The location, half a mile from the seafront yet close enough to walk everywhere, puts North Shore Beach eleven minutes away on foot, whilst the quieter West Shore sits twenty minutes west. Great Orme Tramway, Conwy Castle (ten minutes’ drive), Snowdonia National Park (twenty minutes), and countless walks start within easy reach. The rail station sits two minutes away, five parking spaces handle guests’ cars, with free on-street parking supplementing when needed.

There is a reason that this has been a mainstay for decades, it is an outstanding example of what great hospitality looks like, and one you seriously need to add to your travel list.