Top 10 Things to do in Bridgend County, Wales

Porthcawl RNLI Lifeboat Station is an operational inshore lifeboat station where the volunteer crew provide an on-call 24/7 search and rescue lifeboat service. The station houses both a D Class and an Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat. The station has a gift shop which is open daily and it's possible to view the lifeboats and tractors from the shop (when they're housed within the boathouse). On weekends the main boathouse is often open to the public with volunteer visit guides on hand to answer any questions. The lifeboats are launched on training exercise most Sunday mornings between 10am-12pm. Porthcawl RNLI was Wales' busiest RNLI station in 2018, launching 112 times - assisting 144 people, saving 8 lives. The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea.

Porthcawl Museum's objectives are, for the benefit of the public, to gain knowledge and encourage research into contemporary life and the history of Porthcawl and its surrounding areas of Newton and Nottage. Exhibitions and Events that are held throughout the year are geared for the family and lovers of history.

The 247 acre Parc Slip Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve with its brand NEW VISITOR CENTRE has something for everyone: A variety of different habitat types supporting many different species for wildlife enthusiasts. A safe area for families to discover and enjoy nature. For cyclists, well-maintained traffic-free cycle tracks, including a 4km stretch of Sustrans National Cycle Route 4. Over 10km of tracks for dog walking, with water and free dog waste bags available at the Visitor Centre. Accessible paths on the Nature Reserve for wheelchairs, walking sticks and for those with sight problems. The Centre and Coffee Shop are fully accessible. ACCESS into and throughout the Reserve is exceptional; with dipping platforms near the Visitor Centre, access-for-all pathways, cycle ways, natural pathways, bird hides and picnic benches. And some Events put on here take you deep into some normally hidden parts of the Reserve. The Visitor Centre with its large free car park is set in open countryside but right by the road, and just a few miles from Bridgend. Northern Wetlands HideNorthern Wetlands Hide. NEW FOR 2013 is the freshly reopened Parc Slip Wildlife Trust Visitor Centre with Coffee Shop and upstairs Discovery Room, which is available for hire. A new events programme, with activities including wildlife surveys and guided walks, is running from the Visitor Centre. And there are many exciting developments planned for the Nature Reserve, such as the new arable crop field to provide a seed crop for breeding birds.

The Grand Pavilion Theatre is Bridgend county borough's premier entertainment venue. This iconic theatre on Porthcawl's seafront opened in 1932 and features many architectural features of the time but notably its domed room illuminated by 300 lights. The Grand Pavilion is a multipurpose venue hosting a variety of concerts, conferences and weddings throughout the year as well as regular comedy, jazz club and art exhibitions. The seafront cafe is open daily and has unrivalled views across the Bristol channel towards Exmoor.