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 miles
- Swansea 14.6 miles
- Tonypandy 13.3 miles
- Barry 19.6 miles
- Bridgend 5.5 miles
- Llanelli 23.3 miles
- Neath 13.2 miles
- Merthyr Tydfil 22.3 miles
- Coity Higher 6.2 miles
- Briton Ferry 11 miles
- Aberdare 18.3 miles
- Aberdare East 19 miles
Neighbouring places
- Porthcawl Built-up area 0.3 miles
- Porthcawl East Central Ward 0.6 miles
- Nottage Ward 0.7 miles
- Newton Ward 0.9 miles
- Porthcawl West Central Ward 0.9 miles
- Rest Bay Ward 1.1 miles
- South Cornelly Built-up area 1.4 miles
- Cornelly Parish 1.8 miles
- North Cornelly and Kenfig Hill Built-up area 2.6 miles
- Merthyr Mawr Parish 2.8 miles
- Pyle Parish 2.8 miles
- Bryntirion, Laleston and Merthyr Mawr Ward 2.9 miles
Example postcodes in Porthcawl
CF36 5TR, CF36 5DE, CF36 5BJ, CF32 0NF, CF36 3HD, CF36 3DY, CF36 3QE, CF36 5AE, CF36 5BW … See all
Transport links
- Cardiff Airport 16.3 miles
- Bristol Airport 42.5 miles
- Pyle Railway Station 2.5 miles
- Bridgend Railway Station 5.1 miles
Hotels near Porthcawl Ad
- Rose And Crown 3 0.4 miles
- The Great House Hotel 3 3.2 miles
- Days Inn by Wyndham Bridgend Cardiff M4 2.5 5.7 miles
- Cae Court Hotel 4.9 miles
- Court Colman Manor 3 4.2 miles
- The Twelve Knights 3 6.4 miles
- Best Western Premier Heronston Hotel & Spa 4 4.9 miles
- Premier Inn Bridgend Central 3 5.9 miles
- The Coed-Y-Mwstwr Hotel 4 7.4 miles
- The Old House 1147 6.8 miles
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 miles
- Victoria Road Stadium 8.4 miles
- Afan Lido Stadium 8.4 miles
- Ogmore Forest Forest 10.3 miles
- The Gnoll Stadium 12.8 miles
- Llantrisant Forest Forest 12.9 miles
- Swansea Princess Way Museum 13.8 miles
- Hensol Castle Estate 14 miles
- Liberty Stadium Stadium 14.7 miles
- The Egypt Center Museum 14.9 miles
- Sardis Road Stadium 16.6 miles
- St Fagans: National History Museum Museum 17.9 miles