With a mere 1,600 residents, St Davids in Pembrokeshire, , holds the title of the UK's city by population. The tiny cathedral city, which feels more like a , was granted its city status by HM the Queen by Royal Charter on June 1, 1995. Despite its size, St Davids is a charming place with an impressive cathedral, pastel cottages, local pubs, and a stunning coastline. The St Davids Cathedral was built on the site of a 6th-century monastery, and was founded by the patron saint of Wales, St David.
Built from beautiful purple sandstone, the cathedral sits in a valley overlooking the River Alun and has been a destination for pilgrims for centuries. Right beside it, you'll find the majestic ruins of the medieval Bishop's Palace which provide a dramatic contrast to the cathedral with its gothic style and reportedly welcomes over 300,000 visitors a year.
The city centre also has an undeniable charm, with cobbled streets, quaint corners and cosy cafes.
Oriel y Parc Gallery, located in the National Park Information Centre, offers a stunning display of works from the National Museum Wales, showcasing everything from natural history to contemporary art and just a short stroll away, you'll find the Pebbles Yard Gallery with its small coffee shop.
St Davids' surrounding coastline is a must-see with its turquoise coloured waters and boat trips that will take you to the offshore islands of Ramsey, Grassholm, Skomer, and Skokholm, where people can find puffins, gannets, and dolphins.
Whether embarking on a hike along the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, visiting the nearby Neolithic burial sites of Coetan Arthur, or simply relaxing in this quiet corner of Wales, St Davids is not only small, but it is also incredibly beautiful.
One person wrote on TripAdvisor:"St Davids is a beautiful, tiny city well worth a visit."
A visitor of the cathedral said: "This cathedral is set in a stunning valley location beside a river and ford. There are two gift shops and a cafe. For a small cathedral it is full of interest, a must see if visiting the UK's smallest city."
Someone else called it an "ethereal special place". A Reddit user also said, "why go abroad when there's stunning scenery like this", followed by a picture of turquoise blue waters.
Another commented: "Nice part of the world, all sorts of wildlife down there incl hundreds of seals which is different. The Gower Peninsula is stunning too. The UK has some absolute gems which many of us take for granted."
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