Swansea
| |
| Geography | |
| Area - Total - % Water |
Ranked 14th 378 km² ? % |
|---|---|
| Admin HQ | Swansea Guildhall |
| ISO 3166-2 | GB-SWA |
| ONS code | 00NX |
| Traditional county | Glamorganshire |
| Ceremonial county | West Glamorgan |
| OS grid reference | SS6593 |
| Demographics | |
| Population: - (2022) - Density |
Ranked Ranked / km² |
| Ethnicity | 96.8% White 1.3% S. Asian 1.2% Afro-Caribbean 0.3% Chinese |
| Welsh language - Any skills |
Ranked 11th 22.5% |
| Politics | |
City & County of Swansea Council http://www.swansea.gov.uk/ | |
| Control | Labour |
| MPs | |
Swansea (Welsh: Abertawe, "mouth of the Tawe") is a city in Wales and a Welsh County. The city of Swansea is situated on the South Wales coast immediately to the east of the Gower Peninsula and is the second largest city in Wales. It grew to its present importance during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, becoming a centre of heavy industry. However, it did not enjoy the same degree of immigration as Cardiff and the eastern Welsh valleys.
The name Swansea is believed to come from "Sweyn's Ey" ("ey" being a Germanic word for "island") and to have originated in the period when the Vikings plundered the south Wales coast. Consequently it is pronounced Swan's-y [ˡswɒnzi]) not Swan-sea.
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Geography
The local government area is some 378 km² in size, including a large amount of open countryside and a central urban and suburban belt. The population in mid-2004 is about 225,000, 13.4% of which were Welsh speakers at the 2001 census, as compared with 11% for the capital city, Cardiff.[1] However, the wider urban area including most of Swansea Bay has a total population of 270,506 (making it the 22nd largest urban area in England and Wales)[2]
As part of a coastal region, Swansea experiences a milder climate than the mountains and valleys inland. This same location, though, leaves Swansea exposed to rain-bearing winds from the Atlantic: figures from the Met Office make Swansea the wettest city in Britain[3].
The county area can be roughly divided into four physical areas. To the North are the Lliw uplands which are mainly open moorland reaching the foothills of the Black Mountain. To the west is the Gower Peninsula with its rural landscape dotted with small villages. To the east is the coastal strip around Swansea Bay. Cutting though the middle from the south east to the north west is the urban and suburban zone stretching from the city of Swansea to the towns of Gorseinon and Pontarddulais.
The most heavily populated areas of the county area are Morriston and Sketty and the city centre. The chief urbanised area radiates from the city of Swansea towards the north, south and west: along the coast of Swansea Bay to Mumbles; up the Swansea Valley past Landore and Morriston to Clydach; over Townhill to Cwmbwrla, Penlan, Treboeth and Fforestfach; through Uplands, Sketty, Killay to Dunvant; and east of the river from St. Thomas to Bonymaen, Llansamet and Birchgrove. A second urbanised area is focused on a triangle defined by Gowerton, Gorseinon and Loughor along with the satellite communities of Penllergaer and Pontarddulais.
About three quarters of the county is bordered by the sea. The two main rivers in the region are the Tawe which passes the city centre and the Loughor which flows on the northern border with Carmarthenshire. The lower River Tawe has been heavily engineered whilst the River Loughor remains relatively untouched by man.
In the small county area, the geology is complex, providing diverse scenery. The Gower Peninsula, to which the city is considered the gateway, was the first area in the United Kingdom to be designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Excluding the small urbanised area in the south eastern corner of the county, the whole of the Gower Peninsula is part of an AONB. Swansea has numerous urban and country park lands. The region has featured regularly in the Wales in Bloom awards.
The geology of the Gower Peninsula ranges from carboniferous limestone scenery at Worm's Head to the salt-marshes and dune systems of the Loughor estuary to the north. The eastern, southern and western sides of the peninsular are lined with numerous sandy beaches both wide and small, separated by steep cliffs. The South Wales Coalfield reaches the coast in the Swansea area. This had a great bearing on the development of the city of Swansea and other towns in the county like Morriston. The inland area is covered by large swathes of grassland common overlooked by sandstone heath ridges including the prominent Cefn Bryn. The traditional agricultural landscape consists a patchwork of fields characterised by walls, stone-faced banks and hedgerows. Secluded valleys cut through the peninsula and contain rich deciduous woodland.[4] Much of the county is very hilly with the highest point of the county being Mynydd y Betws on the border with Carmarthenshire.
History
Archaeology on the Gower Peninsula includes many remains from prehistoric times, passing through Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age. Prehistoric finds in the Swansea city area proper are rare. The Romans visited the area, as did the Vikings, whose name for the settlement on the river is used in English today.
Following the Norman Conquest, a marcher lordship was created: named Gower, it included land around Swansea Bay as far as the Tawe, and the manor of Kilvey beyond the Tawe as well as the peninsula itself. Swansea was designated its chief town, and subsequently received one of the earlier borough charters in Wales.
Swansea became an important port: some coal and vast amounts of limestone (for fertiliser) were being shipped out from the town by 1550. As the Industrial Revolution reached Wales, the combination of port, local coal, and trading links with the West Country, Cornwall and Devon, meant that Swansea was the logical place to site copper smelting works. Smelters were operating by 1720 and proliferated.
Following this, more coal mines (everywhere from north-east Gower to Clyne to Llangyfelach) were opened and smelters (mostly along the Tawe valley) were opened and flourished. Over the next century and a half, works were established to process arsenic, zinc and tin and to create tinplate and pottery. The city expanded rapidly in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and was termed "Copperopolis". By the mid-nineteenth century Swansea docks was the largest exporter of coal in the world.
Through the twentieth century, these industries eventually declined, leaving the Lower Swansea Valley filled with derelict works and mounds of waste products from them. The Lower Swansea Valley Scheme (which still continues) reclaimed much of the land: the present Enterprise Zone exists almost entirely a result of this scheme, and of the many original docks, only those outside the city continue to work as docks: North Dock is now Parc Tawe and South Dock became the Marina.
Little city centre evidence beyond road layout remains from medieval Swansea; its industrial importance made it the target of heavy bombing in World War II, and the centre was flattened completely.
On 27th of June 1906, one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded in the UK during the twentieth century struck Swansea with a strength of 5.2 on the Richter Scale. Earthquakes in the UK very rarely cause any structural damage as most occur away from heavily populated areas but with the earthquake centered on Swansea many taller buildings were damaged [5].
The city
In addition to being a holiday resort, Swansea is also a commercial centre, and the recently regenerated dock areas are home to some cutting-edge hi-tech industries. One of the best-known employers in Swansea is the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. Whilst the city itself has a long history, many of the city centre buildings are post-war as much of the centre was destroyed by World War II bombing in the so-called Three Nights' Blitz. Within the city centre, are the ruins of the castle, the Marina, the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea Museum, the Dylan Thomas Centre, the Environmental Centre, and the Central Market, which is the largest covered market in Wales. It backs onto the Quadrant shopping centre which opened in 1978.
Wind Street is of the city's two main areas of night-life and is also the location of many chain restaurants. The street is lined with numerous pubs and wine bars attracting people from all over South Wales. Many of these buildings were originally banks, with one being the old central Post Office and sorting office and thus they are substantially larger than some of the other city centre pubs. Discos and clubs line the Kingsway and this street is other main area of central Swansea night-life. St Helen's Road connects the city centre with the Brynmill area, and has many Indian and Bangladeshi restaurants and shops on it. These mainly cater for people after a night out when walking back from the Kingsway to Brynmill in the evening.
Swansea was granted city status in 1969[6], to mark Prince Charles's investiture as the Prince of Wales. The announcement was made by the Prince on July 3, 1969, during a tour of Wales.[7] It obtained the further right to a have Lord Mayor in 1982[8].
Many areas of the city have seen changes within the early part of the 21st century. The Wales National Pool, of Olympic size, was completed. A new multi-million pound National Waterfront Museum officially opened in October 2005. Out-of-town retail parks increased in the first years of the new century. In addition to the Enterprise Park, there arose new developments at Fforestfach and next to the Liberty Stadium in Landore.
Culture
Swansea's diverse and interesting past has helped weave a city of character and charm, which has produced many famous personalities. On the literary stage, the poet Dylan Thomas is perhaps the best-known. He was born in the town and grew up at 5 Cwmdonkin Drive, Uplands. There is a memorial to him in the nearby Cwmdonkin Park. The actress Catherine Zeta-Jones is probably the most famous of the city's recent cultural exports, and she maintains close links with the city. Welsh rock band Man, Pete Ham of the rock/power pop band Badfinger, author Mary Balogh, singer/songwriter Mal Pope, MP Michael Heseltine, scriptwriter and producer Russell T. Davies, singer Bonnie Tyler and entertainer Sir Harry Secombe were also born and raised in the city, as was the current Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams.
Perhaps the city's most celebrated personality is Jack - a black Newfoundland dog. During his seven years of life, he managed to save twenty-seven people from drowning in the murky waters of Swansea docks. There is a monument to commemorate Jack's gallant efforts on the foreshore near the St. Helen's stadium. People from Swansea are known locally as Swansea Jacks, or just Jacks. The source of this nickname is not clear. Some attribute it to Swansea Jack, the life-saving dog. Others point to Swansea's long history as a port and the use of the word jack to indicate a sailor.
Performing arts
There are a number of theatres in the city and the surrounding areas. The Grand Theatre in the centre of the city is a Victorian theatre which celebrated its centenary in 1997 and which has a capacity of a little over a thousand people. It was opened by the celebrated opera singer Adelina Patti. The annual programme ranges from pantomime and drama to opera and ballet. A new wing of the Grand, the Arts Wing, has a studio suitable for smaller shows, with a capacity of about 200. The Taliesin building on the university campus has a theatre. Other theatres include the Dylan Thomas Theatre (formerly the Little Theatre) near the marina, and one in Penyrheol Leisure Centre near Gorseinon. In the summer, outdoor Shakespeare performances are a regular feature at Oystermouth Castle, and Singleton Park is the venue for a number of parties and concerts, from dance music to outdoor Proms. Although Pontardawe is outside the city boundaries, the trip from Swansea to Pontardawe for the annual folk festival is a short one. Another folk festival is held on Gower. Standing near Victoria Park on the coast road is the Patti Pavillion: this was the Winter Garden from Adelina Patti's Craig-y-Nos estate in the upper Swansea valley, which she donated to the town in 1918. It is used as a venue for music shows and fairs. The Brangwyn Hall is a multi-use venue with events ranging from graduation ceremonies to the annual Chinese New Year celebrations for the local Chinese community. Every autumn, Swansea hosts a Festival of Music and the Arts, when international orchestras and soloists visit the Brangwyn Hall.
Swansea hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1863, 1891, 1907, 1926, 1964, 1982 and 2006. The 2006 event occupied the site of the former Velindre tinplate works to the north of the city and featured a strikingly pink main tent.
Welsh language
There are many Welsh-language chapels and churches in the area. Welsh-medium education is a popular and growing choice for both English- and Welsh-speaking parents, leading to claims in the local press in autumn 2004 that to accommodate demand, the council planned to close an English-medium school in favour of opening a new Welsh-medium school. (Source: Swansea Evening Post, September 8 2004, and subsequent issues.)
45% of the rural council ward Mawr speak Welsh, as do 38% of the ward of Pontarddulais. Clydach, Kingsbridge and Upper Loughor all have levels of more than 20%. By contrast, the urban St. Thomas has one of the lowest figures in Wales, at 6.4%, a figure only barely lower than Penderry and Townhill wards.
Sport
for more about Swansea's major sports clubs
There are a number of sporting venues in Swansea. St Helen's is a cricket and rugby ground which is one of the homes of Glamorgan County Cricket Club. It was in this ground that Sir Garfield Sobers hit six sixes in one over: the first time this was achieved in a game of first-class cricket. One ball is reputed to have landed in the Cricketers' pub just outside the ground. The stadium is metres from the coast of Swansea Bay. Strong local rivalries exist between Swansea and Cardiff in football and between Swansea and Llanelli in rugby. Swansea also boasts one of the largest Saturday local football leagues in the country, second only to the one in Birmingham at its peak.
Swansea City A.F.C., the Swans, moved from the Vetch Field to the new Liberty Stadium at the start of the 2005-2006 season, winning promotion to League One in their final year at their old home. The first game at the new stadium was on July 23: a football friendly between the Swans and Fulham which ended 1-1. Swansea City are currently pushing for promotion from League One to the Championship after losing to Barnsley in the League 1 play-off final at the Millennium Stadium. Swansea City have recently retained the FAW cup and on April 2nd 2006 30,000 Swans fans made the journey to Cardiff to see their side defeat Carlisle 2-1 in the Football League Trophy Final. The Swans' football following are known as the Jack Army due to the regional nickname for people from Swansea.
In 2003, Swansea RFC merged with Neath RFC to form the Neath-Swansea Ospreys rugby club. Swansea RFC remains at St Helen's in semi-professional form, but the Ospreys moved to the then-named New Stadium in Landore for the start of the 2005-2006 season. The final Ospreys match at St Helen's was played on the same day as the final Swans league game at the Vetch: April 30 2005. Swansea/Neath rugby games used to be hotly-contested matches, such that there was some debate about whether a team incorporating both areas was possible. In fact the Neath-Swansea Ospreys seem to be the most successful club since Welsh rugby's reorganisation and came fifth in the Celtic League in their first year of existence, and won that league in their second year.
Swansea's rugby league side play a few miles out of the city in the small town of Ystalyfera. They are known as the Swansea Valley Miners but were formed as the Swansea Bulls in 2002.
Religion
Swansea, like Wales in general, has seen many non-conformist religious revivals. In 1904, Evan Roberts, a miner from Loughor (Llwchwr), just outside Swansea, was the leader of what has been called one of the world's greatest Protestant religious revivals. Within a few months about 100,000 people were converted. This revival in particular had a profound effect on Welsh society. The "Welsh Revival" of 1904 is acknowledged as having been an instigator of, and a major influence on the twentieth century's Pentecostal movement. One of its first overseas influences was seen in the African American church: the Azusa Street Revival, beginning April 9, 1906 at Los Angeles, USA. It has been said that 25% of the world's Christians (usually Protestant Pentecostals or Charismatics) are Christians as a direct result of the 1904 revival in Swansea.
Government
Traditionally, Swansea refers to the City of Swansea which is the settlement around the Tawe estuary. Today it also refers to one of the Subdivisions of Wales under the name of the 'City and County of Swansea' (Welsh: Dinas a Sir Abertawe.) [9].
Swansea was once a staunch Labour stronghold. The Liberal Democrats are the largest group in the administration that took control of Swansea Council in the 2004 local elections.
International links
The City & County of Swansea is twinned with:
Connections with:
Friendship link with:
Nantong (China)
New York City (USA)
Economy
Swansea originally developed as centre for metals and mining, especially the copper industry, from the beginning of the 18th century. The industry reached its apogee in the 1880s, when 60% of the copper ores imported to Britain were smelted in the Lower Swansea valley. However, by the end of the Second World War these heavy industries were in decline, and over the post-war decades Swansea shared in the general trend towards a post-industrial, service sector economy.
Today, the most important economic sectors in Swansea are: public administration, education and health (37.4% of local jobs); distribution, hotels and restaurants (25.5%); and banking, finance and insurance (16.3%). The high proportion of public sector employment is common to Wales as a whole (32.8%) and much higher than the UK average (26.4%). This primarily reflects the relative weakness of the private sector in Swansea (and Wales) rather than an "overly" large public sector. Much large scale private sector economic activity in the city consists of call centres, other back office functions or outsourcing.
Major employers in Swansea include manufacturing facilities operated by 3M UK plc, Alcoa, Alberto Culver, Bemis, International Rectifier, Morganite Electrical Carbon, and Pure Wafer; companies in the service sector including Admiral Insurance, Electronic Data Systems (EDS), HSBC, NTL, BT Group, 118 118 UK, Tesco and South West Wales Publications; public sector organisations such as the City and County of Swansea, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, HM Land Registry, Welsh Assembly Government, Department of Work and Pensions, Swansea University, Swansea Institute of Higher Education, and Swansea NHS Trust.
The largest single major category of jobs in Swansea is associate professional & technical occupations (comprising 13.7% of employment), although compared to the Welsh and UK averages the city also has relatively large shares of administrative & secretarial occupations (13.4%), elementary occupations (13.1%) and sales & customer service occupations (10.7%). There are proportionally more managers & senior officials in Swansea than Wales as a whole (13.3% compared to 12.5%), but this lags behind the overall UK figure (14.8%), reflecting the lack of any large regional corporate headquarters presence with the high value-added employment that brings.
In May 2006, 71.9% of Swansea's working age residents were in employment, 23.3% were economically inactive and 6.1% unemployed. The economic activity rate is higher than the Welsh average but notably lower than the overall UK figure. This differential may be partly due to the relatively large number of students in Swansea (the city has a university and an institute of higher education), but is also caused by a large element of 'hidden unemployment' especially in the more deprived areas such as Townhill and much of Swansea East. Only 8.1% of Swansea residents are self-employed, compared to an average of more than 12% in Wales and the UK as a whole.
Swansea has a higher proportion of working age population qualified to degree (NVQ level 4 or equivalent) level than the Welsh average, but a lower proportion than the UK average. Similarly, fewer Swansea residents have no qualifications (16%) relative to Wales as a whole, but the local figure is slightly higher than the UK average.
The city is a centre of net in-commuting, with around 16,000 people making a daily journey outside the authority for work (principally to neighbouring Neath Port Talbot and Carmarthenshire) and 25,100 commuting in (again, mainly from Neath Port Talbot and Carmarthenshire).[10]
Surveys show that annual full-time gross median earnings for Swansea residents are lower than the Welsh and UK averages (£21,003 against £21,023 and £22,901). The annual gross median earnings for those who work in Swansea are even lower, only £19,391. Similarly, Gross Value Added (GVA) per head is relatively low in Swansea at £13,507 compared to a UK figure of £16,485, although here Swansea performs better than Wales as a whole (£12,716).[11] However, since the cost of living is lower in Swansea (indeed most of Wales) compared to many other parts of the UK, lower earnings and GVA per head do not necessarily signify a major gap in living standards.[12]
Although some surveys place Swansea as the 18th largest retail centre in the UK - a high placement considering the size of its population - in rankings of shopping attractiveness and competitiveness Swansea is usually placed outside the top 50, largely because of the low quality of the city centre retail offer. A peculiarity of Swansea is the lack of employment in the city centre, relative to other towns and cities of similar size. Many major employers have moved to the Enterprise Park or other city fringe locations; only 4,510 office jobs are now are located in the city centre, compared to 13,910 in Cardiff. This reduces spend in the city centre economy and helps to underpin the weakness of the local retail sector. Low demand prevents speculative development of new commercial premises, which has created a vicious circle of city centre decline. [13]
Given the weakness of the local market, most new retail and office developments are supported by public sector 'gap funding'. The former Welsh Development Agency promoted the regeneration of several sites in the city, in recent years most notably the SA1 Waterfront development, which continues to be supported by the Welsh Assembly Government.[14] The WDA's Technium concept of incubator space for high technology firms (often 'spin outs' from the local university) was launched at the SA1 site, and additional facilities have now been constructed there and on the university campus. The Assembly and IBM are supporting a new Institute of Life Sciences at the university, which it is hoped will generate high skill, high value-added jobs in future.[15]
| Year | Regional Gross Value AddedTemplate:Fn | AgricultureTemplate:Fn | IndustryTemplate:Fn | ServicesTemplate:Fn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 5,309 | 8 | 513 | 1,482 |
| 2000 | 7,490 | 8 | 628 | 2,510 |
| 2003 | 8,451 | 8 | 595 | 2,975 |
Education
Swansea University has a campus in Singleton Park overlooking Swansea Bay. Its engineering department is recognised as a centre of excellence with pioneering work on computational techniques for solving engineering design problems. The university was awarded the Times Higher Education Supplement Award for the UK's "best student experience" in 2005. Other establishments for further and higher education in the city include Swansea Institute of Higher Education and Swansea College, with Gorseinon College just outside the city proper. Swansea Institute was particularly well-known for its Architectural Glass department; stained glass was a long time speciality.
There are fifteen comprehensive schools under the remit of the local education authority, of which two are Welsh-medium. The oldest school in Swansea is Bishop Gore School. The largest comprehensive school in Swansea is the Olchfa School. Swansea is also home to The Bible College of Wales. Swansea's most famous independent school is Ffynone House.
Local media
The local newspaper is the Evening Post. There is also a local free newspaper called the Swansea Herald. Local radio stations include Swansea Sound and 96.4 FM The Wave. Swansea is one of the few regions in Wales with reasonable digital radio coverage: this was improved in January 2005 with the launch of the Swansea DAB multiplex which is located on the top of Kilvey Hill. The local papur bro (Welsh-language news) is Wilia. Swansea is served by three local radio stations, the recently launched "Swansea Bay Radio" on 102.1 FM, the Wave (96.4 FM), and Swansea Sound (1170 AM). Both the Wave and Swansea Sound are also available on the local DAB multiplex.
Swansea plays host to the BeyondTV International Film Festival. BeyondTV is annual event organised by independent filmmakers Undercurrents to showcase the best of activism filmmakers. Independent filmmakers Undercurrents are based in Swansea.
Public order
Swansea is policed by the South Wales Police. Their regional headquarters for the Swansea area is Cockett Police station.
As well as its more creditable achievements, Swansea has acquired a less enviable reputation for car crime: the BBC has described it as a "black spot for car crime" [16], for example. Car crime is a central theme in the film Twin Town, which is set in and around Swansea.
Drunk and disorderly behaviour is an acute problem in the pub and nightclub areas of Kingsway and Wind Street during the busiest clubbing periods. On a typical Saturday night, you will find a heavy police presence at these areas. The city centre area is heavily watched by police cameras.
Fortunately, Swansea experiences relatively little football violence. It has occurred only occasionally and mainly between Swansea City supporters and Cardiff City supporters. Many matches between these sides have ended in violent clashes between supporters both in Swansea and in Cardiff. These two clubs have a long history of intense rivalry, being described in the media as tribal.
Swansea is also experiencing a growing drug problem, with teenage heroin use on the rise.[2]
Transport
County level transport
Swansea's main mode of local public transport is via buses. There are few local train services within the county area. The only suburban train services are provided by the main lines in and out of the city, where train services are provided on a two hourly basis during peak times. A major weakness in Swansea's public transport offering is the separation of the railway station with the bus station. It takes about 15 minutes to walk between the two but there are regular bus services between the two, which operate at 5 to 10 minute intervals during peak hours. However is expected to introduce a new concept of public transport called the Swansea Metro which is a 110-seater bus-tram hybrid, and will aim to speed up journeys as customers will pre-pay for their tickets at metro stops.
The Quadrant bus station in the city centre serves as the bus transport hub. First Cymru is the predominant bus operating company in the county. Some rural routes in the local authority area are funded by the council; this includes the majority of the services on Gower, for example, which are operated by Pullman Coaches under the brand name of 'Gower Explorer' with its distinctive Ray Stenning-designed livery.
Park and Ride services are operated from secure car parks at Landore and the Fabian Way. During busy periods of the year, additional Park and Ride services are operated from the Brynmill recreation ground. A third Park and Ride site at Fforestfach on Carmarthen Road - A483 (on the site of the old Mettoys factory) opened on Monday 13th November 2006.
The main taxi rank is located next to St Mary's Church. For transport connections, taxi ranks are located at the bus railway stations. In addition, small taxi ranks are located at Castle Square and the Kingsway providing transport.
There are four dedicated cycle routes in the county area. Adjacent to Swansea Bay is a combined cycle route and walkway known simply as "the promenade" by the local people. The Maritime Quarter and the Knab Rock near the Mumbles Pier form the ends of this route. At the heart of the Clyne Valley Country Park is the Clyne Valley Cycle Track, part of National Cycle Route 4. This track connects Blackpill with Gowerton, cutting through much tranquil woodland. On the east bank of the River Tawe is a cycle track (National Cycle Route 43) and foot path providing views of the River Tawe and the industrial ruins at Hafod. This route terminates at the Quay Parade road bridge and Pentre-Chwyth traffic junction. Departing the city centre eastwards from Quay parade bridge there is a cycle track running adjacent to the Fabian Way which runs east as part of National Cycle Route 4, which extends to Chepstow (as the Celtic Trail) and eventually London. A new bridge over Fabian Way carrying a new express bus only lane will also incorporate a shared use pedestrian and cycle way.
National and international links
Swansea railway station is the terminus of the South Wales Main Line (a branch of the Great Western Main Line.) From here, there are connecting Arriva services on their way to west Wales: Carmarthen, Milford Haven and Haverfordwest. The Heart of Wales train service with its distinctive bright orange and yellow carriage, terminates at the station. It travels via Gowerton to Llanelli where it joins the Heart of Wales line. Arriva operate the regular direct service from Swansea to Manchester Piccadilly via Cardiff and the Welsh Marches Line.
Swansea is close to the M4 motorway (junctions 42 to 48 inclusive), the main artery for road traffic through south Wales. It is a National Express stop. The Swansea-Cardiff shuttle bus (Service 100) is heavily used. Swansea is also on the TrawsCambria bus network which connects the north and south of the country together via Aberystwyth (X40).
Swansea Airport is situated on Fairwood Common on Gower providing chartered flights only. It is primarily a domestic airport, first built during WWII when there was no need for an inquiry. The nearest international airport to Swansea offering scheduled flights is Cardiff International Airport in the Vale of Glamorgan, which is less than one hour away by road.
Swansea Cork Ferries normally run a passenger ferry service between Swansea and Cork in Ireland. Lacking a new vessel, the service ceased in early 2007. [17] During the summer months an occasional ferry service also operates between Swansea and the North Devon coastal town of Ilfracombe.
Leisure and tourism
With its seaside location and varied inland geography, Swansea makes a suitable destination for a range of outdoor activies like swimming, sailing, water skiing, surfing, sea angling, canoeing, and rowing, or hiking.
Prior to closure in 2003, Swansea's Leisure Centre was one of the top ten visitor attractions in the UK. It is currently being redeveloped as a water sports theme park. The only 50m swimming pool, the Wales National Pool is based in Swansea.
The wide sandy beaches at Langland, Caswell and Limeslade are the most popular with swimmers and tourists with children, whereas the wide and calm waters of Swansea Bay tend to attract the water-sport enthusiast. Coastal paths connect most of the Gower bays and Swansea Bay itself, and hikers can enjoy countryside views throughout the year. Although little known on the tourist map, the North of Swansea has some of the most outstanding countryside in the country, with panoramas of the Welsh mountains. One of the most popular tourist destinations in the county, the former fishing village of Mumbles (located on the western edge of Swansea Bay) has a variety restaurants and coffee shops. The promenade at Mumbles offers a panoramic view of the Swansea Bay vista.
References
- ^ Source: 2004 Mid Year Estimates, Population Estimates Unit, ONS. Crown Copyright. See Swansea City and County: Population
- ^ source: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/urbwales0704.pdf
- ^ see icWales: Soggiest city in Britain pays high price for rain
- ^ http://www.visitswanseabay.com/downloads/student_info_geography.pdf
- ^ See British Geological Survey: The Swansea Earthquake of 27 June 1906
- ^ London Gazette, issue no. 44986, 12 December 1969
- ^ Prince announces city status for Swansea. The Times. July 4, 1969.
- ^ London Gazette, issue no. 48932, 25 March 1982
- ^ see Swansea City and County and National Council on Archives: Rules for the Construction of place names
- ^ source: http://www.swansea.gov.uk/media/pdf/i/r/Swa_LMEc_Profile_May06.pdf
- ^ source: http://www.swansea.gov.uk/media/pdf/i/r/Swa_LMEc_Profile_May06.pdf
- ^ source: http://www.wales.gov.uk/subitradeindustry/content/wave/wave-report-e.pdf
- ^ source: http://www.swanseacitycentre.com/media/pdf/n/f/city_centre_strategic_framework_060623.pdf
- ^ source: Swansea SA1 Waterfront
- ^ source: http://www.swan.ac.uk/research/centresandinstitutes/ILS/
- ^ source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/in_depth/uk/2002/cracking_crime/2262344.stm
- ^ Source: BBC news: Swansea-Cork ferry is suspended http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/wales/south_west/6245633.stm
External links
City & County of Swansea
History
Sport
Swansea castles
Entertainment
Travel
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