Swansea

Swansea is Wales' second city but has aspirations to be its first. The city has two names; Abertawe is its Welsh name and means town on the (river) Tawe, while the name Swansea is derived from Sweyn the viking, who chose this spot on the wide stretch of Swansea Bay as the entry point for his plundering sprees.

It is an ancient city but most of the evidence of its long heritage has been destroyed by industrialisation and the Second World War. The docks were established in the 1300s but were developed in the 18th century to export coal, copper and iron ore and the city met its industrial destiny.

Dylan Thomas was born in Swansea and spent the first twenty years of his life there. He famously described his birthplace as an "ugly, lovely town". A memorial to the poet stands in Cwmdonkin Park.