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here to see how the property market in Aberystwyth is doing
HOW IT RATES: The town was founded by Edward I, and occupies a
beautiful setting on Cardigan Bay. It became a fashionable resort in the
19th century with the arrival of the railway, and was chosen as the site of
the first college of the University of Wales. The town’s sizeable student
crowd helps to give it a relaxed, cosmopolitan air. Civil servants will soon
join the mix as the Welsh Assembly moves government jobs here.
ARCHITECTURAL GEMS: The Victorian symmetry of the promenade, the Old
College (the hotel building in which the university was founded in 1872),
and the ruins of the 13th-century castle. Train buffs can savour the Vale of
Rheidol Light Railway, which was built in 1902 and uses original engines and
rolling stock, and Aberystwyth Cliff Railway, the longest electric cliff
line in Britain at 778ft. The Ceredigion Museum is housed in an Edwardian
theatre and has a beautiful interior; the National Library of Wales has
tomes to satisfy the most avid bookworm.
WHAT’S NEW: The Welsh Assembly is building new offices on the
edge of Aberystwyth, creating hundreds of new jobs by 2009. Merlin Homes is
building seven executive houses and two flats on Infirmary Road. Prices
start at £210,000 for flats and £325,000 for fourbed houses. Merlin is also
converting a Methodist chapel in Mill Street into 14 two-bed flats. Prices
from £135,000. Contact: 01970 615800.
QUALITY OF LIFE: Pretty good, considering the isolated position. This
is mainly as a result of the large student population ushering in a plethora
of pubs, cafés and restaurants. The coastline is best admired from
Constitution Hill, which can be reached by the cliff railway.
POPULATION: About 17,000, including roughly 8,000 students, according
to the Census of 2001.
TRAVEL: Aberystwyth is 234 miles from London, and is about a five-hour
drive. It is 4½ hours to Euston by rail. The nearest major airports are in
Cardiff, Birmingham, Bristol and Liverpool.
SMARTEST STREETS: Waun Fawr has large detached houses from £250,000 to
£500,000. Just south of the town is Rhydyfelin: Lloyd Herbert Jones, a local
agent, has homes there for £495,000.
BEST RESTAURANTS: Harry’s bistro in North Parade is a local favourite,
as is Little Italy. Le Vignoble offers MBC (Modern British Cuisine). Gwesty
Cymru is a new boutique hotel and restaurant.
TOP NIGHTLIFE: Aberystwyth Arts Centre is the busiest and largest arts
complex in Wales, with films, comedy, dance, drama, concerts and
exhibitions. Also good for live music are Rummers wine bar and The Scholars
pub.
EDUCATION: Aberysthwyth University has expanded in recent years with a
new school of management and business, a department of sports and exercise
Science and a £3.6 million centre for theatre, film and television studies.
A new building for the international politics department opened last year.
WORKING LIFE: The biggest employers are the university and Bronglais
General Hospital. Other institutional employers include the National Library
of Wales, the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monuments of
Wales, UCAC, Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg – and soon the Welsh Assembly.
UPSIDE: The town may seem rather isolated to some, but others find it
tranquil. The number of students settling here after graduating is rising,
which has created a younger and more diverse feel.
DOWNSIDE: The mix of tourists and students might make locals feel a
little outnumbered. Plus, the broadcaster Wynford Vaughan-Thomas called
Aberystwyth “the perfect town for the unambitious man”.
£172,800 The average property price in Aberystwyth
Source: Hometrack
89% The increase in property prices in Aberystwyth over the past five
years
Source: Halifax
186% The increase in property prices in Aberystwyth over the past ten
years
Source: Halifax
550 The number of employees in the new Welsh Assembly office in
Aberystwyth
Source: Welsh Assembly
