Things to do & places to visit in Powys, United Kingdom

Wales' spectacular scenic rural heartland, and the site of Brecon Beacons National Park, Powys is a lush land of verdant mountain valleys, craggy caves and quirky towns. The staunchly nationalistic area offers appealing outdoors opportunities. Canter on horseback through the rugged Brecon Beacons mountain range. Walk or cycle the charming valleys. Other draws are commanding Powis Castle near Welshpool and the Centre for Alternative Technology, a sustainable development center, near Machynlleth.

Powys #69 destination in United Kingdom 2023. The average rating score is 4.49 based on 11.9k traveler reviews, of 30 attractions. Timezone: Europe/London, current date and time: Monday, May 06, 2024, 8:31.

Top things to do (18)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Elan Valley (1.336 reviews)
- Lake District of Wales?
Dams

A local person told us that this was the Lake District of Wales so we went to see and were not disappointed. The amazing scenery, both the dams and the valleys, were amazing and the extent of the Victorian engineering is to be marvelled at. Great visit and looking forward to returning. See more..
5.0 Falconry Experience Wales (310 reviews)
- Brilliant
Nature & Wildlife Areas

By Appointment Only See more..
5.0 Dyfi Osprey Project (307 reviews)
- Beautiful Ospreys, friendly staff and good prices
Monday: Spent 2-3 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas

My first visit but not my partners. Beautiful scenery and surroundings. Alot of hard work has gone in to this place. Bravo to everyone involved. All staff extremely friendly and willing to answer any questions. Lots of opportunities to view the Ospreys and chick's. You can also view them on TV screens and get an excellent close up view. Food in the cafe is very reasonably prices and great portions of Cake which is delicious See more..
5.0 The Judge's Lodging Museum (221 reviews)
- Atmospheric and interesting
Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums

Very much enjoyed my visit to the Judges House. The upper floors were v interesting but really enjoyed the servants hall and kitchen area . Extremely atmospheric and we were very privileged to go on a day that wasn’t v busy. I sat for a while at the old kitchen table in the gloom and could really appreciate the history and the story telling . The cells were v interesting as was the court house. A little known gem well worth a visit . See more..
5.0 Valley View Falconry (66 reviews)
- Brilliant Experience
Monday: 10:30 AM - 6:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas

We offer a variety of experiences for all age groups and abilities. you will get to meet our variety of birds of prey from around the world & fly a selection depending on weather and birds attitude on the day. £75 for 4 people and £5 per additional person or maybe choose a meet n greet where you get to meet and hold the birds £65 up to 4 people and £5 per additional With plenty of off road parking within our farmyard, hold a childrens owl party with us starting from £90. You could also see our various farm animals such as Alpaca's, Rheas, sheep, and donkeys etc. See more..
5.0 The Thomas Shop Museum (65 reviews)
- Super interesting, friendly and quirky place to visit or to stay
Monday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums

We stayed in the Meeting House (can be booked via Airbnb) and really enjoyed our time there. The museum is crammed full of fascinating old objects and is laid out like an old shop (which it used to be) which you could spend ages looking around. There are other rooms with local homemade crafts, jams, woollen items as well as books for sale. It's a family-run business with very friendly owners and you can tell the whole place is a labour of love for them. There seems to be something interesting to look at in every corner of the place. We had tasty cakes and coffee in the cafe too. Would definitely recommend a visit if you're in the area. The opening times are currently 10am - 5pm Thursday - Sunday (they are also open on Bank Holiday Mondays). See more..
5.0 Newtown Textile Museum (45 reviews)
- Brillian Little Museum
Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums • History Museums

The Museum gives a great insight into the woollen industry, its boom and bust cycles and the effect on the development and growth of Newtown during the 1800s. It covers the story of wool from fleece to flannel, and tells the story of the families who lived and worked in this rare building from that period. It is closed during the winter. See more..
5.0 Falconry Experience Wales (310 reviews)
- Brilliant
Nature & Wildlife Areas

By Appointment Only See more..
5.0 Dyfi Osprey Project (307 reviews)
- Beautiful Ospreys, friendly staff and good prices
Monday: Spent 2-3 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas

My first visit but not my partners. Beautiful scenery and surroundings. Alot of hard work has gone in to this place. Bravo to everyone involved. All staff extremely friendly and willing to answer any questions. Lots of opportunities to view the Ospreys and chick's. You can also view them on TV screens and get an excellent close up view. Food in the cafe is very reasonably prices and great portions of Cake which is delicious See more..
5.0 The Judge's Lodging Museum (221 reviews)
- Atmospheric and interesting
Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums

Very much enjoyed my visit to the Judges House. The upper floors were v interesting but really enjoyed the servants hall and kitchen area . Extremely atmospheric and we were very privileged to go on a day that wasn’t v busy. I sat for a while at the old kitchen table in the gloom and could really appreciate the history and the story telling . The cells were v interesting as was the court house. A little known gem well worth a visit . See more..
4.5 Powis Castle and Garden (2.078 reviews)
- Quick visit to Polish castle
Monday: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Points of Interest & Landmarks • Castles • Gardens

This medieval castle, originally built as a fortress, houses one of the most beautiful and extensive collections of treasures from India. See more..
4.5 The National Showcaves Centre for Wales (1.490 reviews)
- Not enough time
Spent More than 3 hours Historic Sites • Caverns & Caves

Voted Britain’s Finest Natural Wonder, and the winner of all major environmental and tourism awards.There are three exceptional caves to experience - Dan-yr-Ogof, Cathedral Cave and Bone Cave. Each cave offers a unique underground adventure. In Dan-yr-Ogof you walk through beautifully decorated passageways for just under 1 kilometre; in Cathedral Cave you walk through enormous caverns, carved out millions of years ago. At the end of this cave you will walk behind 40 feet high waterfalls that cascade around you in the ‘Dome of St Paul’s’, an exceptional end to a truly breathtaking cave. In Bone Cave learn why 42 human skeletons are buried there, and why our ancestors used caves all those years ago.On site we also have one of the world’s largest collections of life-sized dinosaur models. Ranging from the ever popular Tyrannosaurus Rex and Brachiosaurs, to the lesser-known Tsintaosaurus. There are over 220 models to see – you are bound to find your favourite dinosaur! The Shire Horse Centre offers the excitement of two indoor children’s play areas. We also have the farm experience. Why not make friends with the gentle giants – our Shire horses are waiting to say hello. Include the Iron Age village, museum, stone circles, and you have plenty to see and do for all ages. As we are situated in a National Park, you might like to consider staying on our Caravan/Tenting site for your visit to the caves?For those who may want a break, there is our Coffee shop, and finally the Rock and Dinosaur shop to enjoy. See more..
4.5 Red Kite Feeding Station & Rehabilitation Centre (894 reviews)
- Red kites everywhere
Monday: 12:30 PM - 4:00 PM Farms

We had read up on this experience on line & seen the pictures on their social media sites but nothing prepares you for what happens right in front of you!! We were informed that we'd see around TWO HUNDRED red kites feed a few yards in front of us.....I would think that this was a conserved estimate. For about an hour kite after kite after kite swooped down no more than about 10 yards in front of the hides to pick up some food. This is a truly memorable experience worth every penny & more of the inexpensive entrance fee. See more..
4.5 Lake Vyrnwy (591 reviews)
- Cycle the lake
Monday: 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM Bodies of Water

Considered Wales’ most beautiful lake and located just a short drive from the Shropshire border, Lake Vyrnwy is ideal for twitchers, cyclists and fishing fans. Swimming, overnight camping and open fires are strictly prohibited. See more..
4.5 Montgomery Castle (279 reviews)
- Worth the effort.
Monday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Castles

We parked up in the car park in the square and set off up the 'steep' path to the castle/monument. Only took 20 mins but quite the climb. There is limited parking at the top if you need. The Castle is a classic ruin that lends itself to imagination to embrace what it once was. We went in winter and was cold, windy and snowy but that sort of emphasised the realism of it's predicament. Great views towards England over the Severn. If you're in the area and have an hour or so to spare then check it out. See more..
4.5 Henrhyd Waterfall (278 reviews)
- Worth a visit rain or shine. Don’t pay for parking
Waterfalls

Lovely little walk to the falls. Worth a visit. The car park is free but I noticed someone selling overspill car parking for £5 for the day. It’s only a short yet steep walk down to the falls from the free car park. Not suitable for pushchairs, wheelchairs or anyone uneasy on their feet. Get there early and avoid crowds. You can walk from Abercraf also for more of a day out but it only really took about 45 minutes so combine with other things to do in the area See more..
4.5 Glansevern Hall & Gardens (273 reviews)
- Will be back!
Monday: Historic Sites • Gardens

Glansevern has now reopened its doors with the newly refurbished Naissance Cafe. Our Naissance team are looking forward to welcoming back both old and new customers. Drop in for a coffee, tea, a delicious selection of cakes, a light lunch or a cool drink. A sparkling Prosecco, Pimms a quintessential British summer treat or a Beer and enjoy the sunshine in the tranquil surroundings of the beautiful walled courtyard. Our team are looking forward to meeting you all as we begin our Naissance journey. Exciting times ahead……. See more..
4.5 Talgarth Mill (257 reviews)
- Lovely way to spend a couple of hours
Monday: Spent 1-2 hours Historic Sites • Architectural Buildings

We are not “guided tour” people but please agree to a tour, which is free. It was really worth it. We had a lovely couple of hours here. We had such a great guide, I wish I knew his name. He was a tall, white haired gentleman and a great, warm, funny host. Everyone there is a volunteer and the community have come together to keep the mill running. We were able to go back round alone after so I could take some better photos. Kids can make their own bit of flour to take away too, which the two kids on our tour loved. Service in the cafe is a little slow but the food we had was fabulous and worth the wait. I think the bread is from the flour milled there. It was delish! We bought some bread making kits to give it a go at home. See more..
4.5 Ynys Hir Wildlife Reserve (206 reviews)
- A magical escape from the troubles of the world
Monday: Nature & Wildlife Areas

Visiting on a sunny day in August, I found Ynys Hir to be a wonderful place. If you're wanting to tick off sightings of bird species, then there are plenty to see - I saw egrets, a kingfisher and an osprey fairly soon after arriving. But more than that this is a place where nature is in charge. There are clear trails to follow, but either side there is a wide range of habitats, from the marshlands nearest the estuary to woodlands containing oak, birch, ash, hazel and many others. Insects buzz as you walk around, and I saw many butterflies, damsel and dragon flies. If you're looking for a place to re-charge your batteries, I'd recommend this. I found the admission price reasonable, the staff friendly and finished my visit off with a hot chocololate and lemon drizzle cake. See more..
4.5 Kerry Vale Vineyard (197 reviews)
- A lucky find
Monday: Spent 1-2 hours Wineries & Vineyards

Kerry Vale Vineyard is a small, family run, English vineyard situated on the Welsh / English border of rural Shropshire - one of Britain’s most beautiful counties. It is the perfect location from which to explore the surrounding area with a fascinating history and numerous walks and attractions nearby.Planted in 2010 and covering six acres of farmland, the vineyard resides at the eastern tip of See more..
4.5 Craig-y-nos Country Park (174 reviews)
- Beautiful flat walking spot in the Beacons with rugged mountains towering around
Parks

The car park opens at 10am and is a pay and display (£2.50) when I went and closed at 5pm. Lovely spot for flat easy walks with plenty of ponds, streams, rivers woodlands and fields all at the foot of Craig Y Nos castle. Plenty of picnic spots. Lots of mud at the moment as it’s been raining loads, glad I wore boots. There is a cafe but I didn’t visit that and you can buy duck food but entry to the park is free. See more..
4.5 Erwood Station Gallery (165 reviews)
- Thank you Annie ❤️
This location was reported permanently closed Spent 1-2 hours Art Galleries

Very sadly Erwood Station Gallery will be permanently closing its doors from Friday 23rd September. After that date none of the facilities will be available to the public. Our opening times will remain the same up until we close. See more..
4.5 The Spaceguard Centre & Observatory (134 reviews)
- A totally absorbing ninety minutes.
Observatories & Planetariums

So much information and so much to see in a unique tour, but very well pitched so that anyone from an enthusiast to someone who doesn’t know what a Near Earth Object actually is would benefit. The Director, Jay, manages to explain things, and answer questions, clearly and succinctly. He has managed to achieve something truly remarkable in The Spaceguard Centre and we’d definitely recommend a visit. See more..
4.5 Gilfach Nature Reserve (123 reviews)
- Beautiful walk
Monday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Nature & Wildlife Areas

At the welcome centre at the car park it was easy to download the guide and maps detailing the walks. We chose to walk theTro Trwy Amser Walk Through Time walk. Well signposted from start to finish it was extremely easy to follow. The walk was fairly easy and the views were stunning. Signs along the way described the area and past activities. The river and it’s waterfalls was delightful. All too soon we were descending back into the car park having thoroughly enjoyed our walk. See more..
4.5 The Warren (100 reviews)
- Fantastic peaceful and beautiful.
Monday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Bodies of Water • Nature & Wildlife Areas

Beautiful place to walk ,sit or swim and paddle. You can take the car 1/3 of the way to a very small parking area but it’s a 10 minute walk from main road . When we went there were dog walkers, a family swimming , a chap skimming stones .people reading and a couple sunbathing in the April sun ! There are seats dotted around and easy grass meadow walk to river and a beach of stones . See more..
4.5 Clywedog Reservoir (100 reviews)
- Lots of water and Ospreys
Dams

Magnificent man made reservoir that has loads of parking spaces around it so you can stop for a picnic.The cafe and toilets are closed permanently at the dam end.At this time of year the Ospreys are there breeding.The nest is guarded but with telescope or binoculars you can see the man made nest.They are also on a website of Clwedog Ospreys with CCTV.It is a mecca for fly fishermen with the birds catching more than the anglers.Note....there are no waste bins around the lake,so take your litter and used barbecues home with you. See more..
4.5 Llandrindod Wells Lake Park (89 reviews)
- An excellent family day out
Parks

This is a lovely place to visit with children. The huge sandpit just in front of the excellent café is amazing and full of vehicles, buckets and spades. It kept 3 lively grandsons entertained for hours. The 30 minute pedalo on the lake was good value; the playground was varied and suitable for small and older children, and we enjoyed the walk around the lake to see the ducks and swans. Service in the cafe was good, though this was February so it wasn't too busy, and there was a good menu for children and adults, all reasonably priced. See more..
4.5 The National Cycle Museum (73 reviews)
- A gem of a museum
Spent < 1 hour Speciality Museums

The foremost cycle collection in the UK. Cycles of all ages and types.Lots of memorabilia and special exhibitions. Guaranteed to bring back memories. Situated in the famous Automobile Palace- an Art Deco Styled building See more..
4.5 Pwll-y-wrach Nature Reserve (65 reviews)
- Charming Waterfall
Monday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Nature & Wildlife Areas

We drove up to see the waterfalls as the weather was very variable. There is very limited parking for 2/3 cars at a time. The nature reserve is lovely in better weather. The paths to the waterfall are rather treacherous, muddy and slippy even though they have made steps in the steeper areas. The waterfalls are lovely and especially when there has been a good amount of rain feeding them further up. There are no picnic places as far as I can see and no bins, so take litter home and no toilets apart from in Talgarth. We had a lovely time and will be back again. As an aside, across the road from the second passing place, there is a superb view of the old Talgarth Mental Hospital in complete dereliction. See more..
4.5 The National Showcaves Centre for Wales (1.490 reviews)
- Not enough time
Spent More than 3 hours Historic Sites • Caverns & Caves

Voted Britain’s Finest Natural Wonder, and the winner of all major environmental and tourism awards.There are three exceptional caves to experience - Dan-yr-Ogof, Cathedral Cave and Bone Cave. Each cave offers a unique underground adventure. In Dan-yr-Ogof you walk through beautifully decorated passageways for just under 1 kilometre; in Cathedral Cave you walk through enormous caverns, carved out millions of years ago. At the end of this cave you will walk behind 40 feet high waterfalls that cascade around you in the ‘Dome of St Paul’s’, an exceptional end to a truly breathtaking cave. In Bone Cave learn why 42 human skeletons are buried there, and why our ancestors used caves all those years ago.On site we also have one of the world’s largest collections of life-sized dinosaur models. Ranging from the ever popular Tyrannosaurus Rex and Brachiosaurs, to the lesser-known Tsintaosaurus. There are over 220 models to see – you are bound to find your favourite dinosaur! The Shire Horse Centre offers the excitement of two indoor children’s play areas. We also have the farm experience. Why not make friends with the gentle giants – our Shire horses are waiting to say hello. Include the Iron Age village, museum, stone circles, and you have plenty to see and do for all ages. As we are situated in a National Park, you might like to consider staying on our Caravan/Tenting site for your visit to the caves?For those who may want a break, there is our Coffee shop, and finally the Rock and Dinosaur shop to enjoy. See more..