What to See & Do in Pembroke
Sights Pembroke Castle: Beautifully set on the banks of the estuary, and largely intact, Pembroke Castle is one of the most popular castles in the UK. It was the power base of the Tudors - King Henry VII, founder of the dynasty - was born here in 1457. The castle itself dates to 1093, and you can walk to the top of the keep for splendid views. The Famous English landscape painter Turner painted the castle in 1829/30 (currently at the Holburne Museum of Art in Bath. There is lot’s to see here, including the dungeons, keep, the great Northern Hall and a labyrinth of passages. Pembroke Castle special events are held mostly in Summer and include everything from mediaeval tournaments, jousting to performances of Shakespeare in the grounds. Exhibition rooms guide you through the history of this historic castle, and kids will love the Brass Rubbing Centre. A gift shop and snack bar are on-site and you can walk around the medieval walls and millpond. The Gun Tower Museum: this is a good place to start exploring the fascinating history of Pembroke Dock. Shipbuilders in Pembroke constructed no less than 263 vessels for the Royal Navy, including battleships and the Royal Yachts Victoria and Albert I, II and III. Closure of the yards after 1926 and the General Strike saw mass unemployment in the area, and many had to leave. Since 1979 Pembroke Dock has been the terminal for ferries to Rosslare in Ireland. Pembroke Dock Trail: takes in historical buildings such as the Mechanics Institute on Dimond Street, built in 1862. Main Street: in stark contrast to the utilitarian Pembroke Docks, Main Street is crammed with Georgian and Victorian buildings. Food & Drink Pembroke has a number of down-to-earth places to eat and drink. With several Chinese restaurant’s and a turkish kebab house on Main Street, as well as fish and chip shops. Most of the town’s bars and pubs are also on Main Street. Paddles Nightclub ("the best night out south of the Cleddau River") is situated here too. Paddles offer theme nights on Thursdays, dance music on Fridays and chart tunes on Saturdays. There are four bars and a kitchen that serves food all night. Back to Pembroke
