The second largest city in Wales, Swansea City in the Borough of the same name, possibly taken from the 8th Century Viking chief "Sweyn" and the Germanic word for small inlet "ey" giving "Sweyn's Ey"
Swansea County is 75% surrounded by the sea to the east of the Gower Peninsula, Britain's first area to be designated an area of outstanding natural beauty. There is evidence of prehistoric settlements in the area although little in Swansea City.
The main source of commerce and industry for Swansea City has been the river Tawe which runs through the centre. Swansea was an important port in the 16th Century shipping vast quantities of coal and limestone. The industrial importance of the Tawe valley increased in the 18th and 19th Century with metal refineries and copper smelting works being prolific and boasted being one of the worlds biggest exporters of coal.
This rapid industrialisation frustrated plans by some prominent locals who wanted to develop the tourist industry around the beautiful Swansea Bay. In the 20th Century, the importance of the port made Swansea a strategic target for German bombs and the city centre was devastated.
In recent times schemes have been formed to reclaim the dockside and land ruined by industrial waste. The Swansea Marina or Maritime Quarter has been developed from the disused South Dock and the area now has a fresh urban character with upmarket low rise apartment blocks and thriving small businesses. The river Tawe has flourished so well that large salmon and trout now swim up the river to spawn.
Attractions in Swansea, granted city status in 1969, now include a multi-million pound National Waterfront Museum; the Olympic size Wales National Pool and the Liberty Stadium sports, concert arena and conferencing venue.
The international port status is reflected in the wide choice of eateries in and around Swansea with an intriguing harmonisation of traditional with contemporary fare from all corners of the world.
Naturally there is a profusion of excellent fish and seafood restaurants including Japanese sushi but also Spanish, Portuguese, Thai, an American style Chowder House and French haute cuisine. Swansea Restaurants also offer the ever popular Chinese, Indian and Italian food.
Swansea dining for traditional Welsh cuisine includes such delights as 'salt marsh lamb', 'Crempogs' (Welsh pancakes), 'Bara Brith' (Welsh fruit loaf) and 'Bara Gorsaf Tywydd' (weather station loaf).
There are hundreds of restaurants to choose from in Swansea City and the surrounding borough. We profile six of the best restaurants here to help you with your choice.
