Spotlight on Llandudno

WHERE: At the mouth of the River Conwy on the flat lands between the Great Orme and the Little Orme.

WHY: Began as a small village with the inhabitants making their living first from harvesting the rushes from the marshland and then by mining copper, before the Victorians developed it as a seaside resort. Lord Mostyn owned all the land in the area and although he died recently the freehold is still retained by the Mostyn Estate which has to approve any planning application and keeps a tight control on any development. The result is that Llandudno has retained its Victorian style with its sweeping seafront of hotels and parades of shops. But there have been some changes, with a new theatre and conference centre and some apartment developments. And both its beaches now boast Blue Flags.

WHO: Many evacuees from Liverpool were sent here during the war and never went back home and a lot of Irish people have settled here. Traditionally a town where many retired to, it is increasingly becoming second home territory.

TRANSPORT: The A55 makes it within easy reach of Manchester, Liverpool and Chester and the resort has its tram and cable car up the Great Orme.

AGENT'S VIEW: "Llandudno has retained all its wonderful Victorian buildings and has a lovely atmosphere and it is quite cosmopolitan," says Jenny Wypler from agents Smith and Wypler. "The main income now comes from tourism and many people who come here on holiday decide they want to live here permanently. People who perhaps had homes here in the Eighties and had to sell because of the crash are now coming back.

"The developments of luxury apartments on the west shore are attracting more second-homers. I have just sold a beach front apartment to a doctor from Chester who wanted a holiday home he could get to quickly. Like most places we have seen prices rise here by around 25 per cent over the last two years and the market is still strong."