Porthcawl sits on the south coast of Wales in Bridgend county borough and is best known for its long sandy bays and Victorian seafront. Once a small harbour that grew in the 19th century with coastal trade and holiday development, it now relies heavily on tourism - with family attractions like Coney Beach and nearby holiday parks at Trecco Bay - while Rest Bay draws surfers to its consistent breaks.
Locally it has a lively cultural calendar and a strong community feel: the renowned links at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club bring international attention, there are summer festivals (notably the longstanding Elvis-themed events) and the Grand Pavilion stages local shows. The town also sits close to the dunes and wildlife of Kenfig and the Glamorgan Heritage Coast, giving an interesting mix of seaside resort life, natural habitat and heritage.
Postcode districts covering Porthcawl
Most populated places nearby
- Cardiff 22 miles35.5 km
- Swansea 14.6 miles23.4 km
- Tonypandy 13.3 miles21.3 km
- Barry 19.6 miles31.6 km
- Bridgend 5.5 miles8.9 km
- Llanelli 23.3 miles37.5 km
- Neath 13.2 miles21.3 km
- Merthyr Tydfil 22.3 miles35.8 km
- Coity Higher 6.2 miles10 km
- Briton Ferry 11 miles17.6 km
- Aberdare 18.3 miles29.5 km
- Aberdare East 19 miles30.6 km
Neighbouring places
- Porthcawl Built-up area 0.3 miles0.4 km
- Porthcawl East Central Ward 0.6 miles1 km
- Nottage Ward 0.7 miles1.1 km
- Newton Ward 0.9 miles1.4 km
- Porthcawl West Central Ward 0.9 miles1.5 km
- Rest Bay Ward 1.1 miles1.9 km
- South Cornelly Built-up area 1.4 miles2.2 km
- Cornelly Parish 1.8 miles2.8 km
- North Cornelly and Kenfig Hill Built-up area 2.6 miles4.1 km
- Merthyr Mawr Parish 2.8 miles4.5 km
- Pyle Parish 2.8 miles4.6 km
- Bryntirion, Laleston and Merthyr Mawr Ward 2.9 miles4.7 km
Example postcodes in Porthcawl
CF36 5ER, CF36 3QW, CF36 3TE, CF36 5PL, CF36 3LY, CF36 3EL, CF36 5HR, CF36 5DH, CF36 3NW … See all
Transport links
- Cardiff Airport 16.3 miles26.3 km
- Bristol Airport 42.5 miles68.5 km
- Pyle Railway Station 2.5 miles4 km
- Bridgend Railway Station 5.1 miles8.3 km
Hotels near Porthcawl Ad
- Seabank Hotel 3 1.2 miles2 km
- Cae Court Hotel 4.9 miles7.9 km
- The Coed-Y-Mwstwr Hotel 4 7.4 miles12 km
- The Great House Hotel & Restaurant 3 3.2 miles5.1 km
- The Masons Arms Hotel 3 6.6 miles10.6 km
- Best Western Premier Heronston Hotel & Spa 4 4.9 miles7.9 km
- Blanco's Hotel Port Talbot 3 8.3 miles13.4 km
- Days Inn Bridgend Cardiff 3 5.7 miles9.1 km
- The Grand Hotel 8.2 miles13.1 km
- Twelve Knights 3 6.4 miles10.2 km
Schools in Porthcawl
- Newton Primary Primary
- Nottage County Primary Primary
- Porthcawl Comprehensive School Secondary
- Porthcawl Primary School Primary
- West Park Primary Primary
Local points of interest
- Porthcawl Harbour Harbour 0.6 miles1 km
- Victoria Road Stadium 8.4 miles13.5 km
- Afan Lido Stadium 8.4 miles13.5 km
- Ogmore Forest Forest 10.3 miles16.6 km
- The Gnoll Stadium 12.8 miles20.6 km
- Llantrisant Forest Forest 12.9 miles20.8 km
- Swansea Princess Way Museum 13.8 miles22.2 km
- Hensol Castle Estate 14 miles22.5 km
- Liberty Stadium Stadium 14.7 miles23.7 km
- The Egypt Center Museum 14.9 miles23.9 km
- Sardis Road Stadium 16.6 miles26.8 km
- St Fagans: National History Museum Museum 17.9 miles28.9 km