Swansea has a population of 230,000 and received its city status in 1969 from Queen Elizabeth II. The second city of Wales, Swansea is a premier waterfront city and the bay upon which it stands provides the city with a beautiful setting.

At the other end of the sweeping Swansea Bay, just 5 miles along the coast from the city centre, lies Mumbles, a place that has a well-established reputation for its special, seaside village atmosphere. Mumbles is a place that has been much appreciated by generations of Swansea students.

In recent years, the attractions of the city have been enhanced by the Maritime Quarter which combines a 600-berth Marina, a waterfront village, restaurants, art gallery, theatre, sailing and sea angling schools. Swansea is transforming as a city, and is witnessing unprecedented levels of investment with many visionary schemes currently underway.

At the forefront of these developments is the £200million SA1 waterfront development, on a prime waterfront site, with a mixed use of business, leisure and residential development. The city's newest attraction, launched in early 2008, is the cutting edge and contemporary £32million leisure centre located in the heart of the city centre.

The city is also home to the £30million National Waterfront Museum which attracts over 250,000 people a year and which was opened in October 2005.

The eagerly awaited £1.7million transformation of Swansea's historic Patti Pavilion has now been completed and is due to be opened soon. This grade two listed building will provide a cafe, bar and restaurant overlooking the stunning vista of Swansea Bay.

Swansea is also home to the £9million Wales National Pool - the only 50 metre pool in Wales, and the new £27million state-of-the-art ‘Liberty Stadium' (opened in July 2005) home to the Ospreys regional rugby team and Swansea City F.C.

Located in the city centre around historic Wind Street is the city's famous café quarter, providing a host of popular pubs and clubs, restaurants and entertainment venues including a 12 screen state-of-the-art multiplex cinema and £multi-million casino.

Swansea is also popular for its shopping experience and construction work has recently completed a new £30million retail complex in the heart of the city centre. The three storey glass and steel built centre houses a host of top fashion and retail stores. Another well established shopping destination is the Quadrant Centre, which offers the complete shopping experience from fine jewellery and speciality outlets to the very best in fashion and retail names.

In a city that numbers Dylan Thomas among its notable sons, Swansea's cultural life is very active. Each autumn, the city hosts the ‘Festival of Music and the Arts', when international orchestras and soloists visit the city's Brangwyn Hall. The Grand Theatre offers top entertainment all the year round, from pantomime and drama to opera and ballet. Opportunities for sport abound, watching or playing, with soccer, rugby union and cricket.

Swansea is surrounded by resorts, parks, wildlife centres, caves and castles. The Gower Peninsula was the first part of Britain to be awarded the title of ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty' by the Government in 1956. It is one of the loveliest peninsulas in the UK, with wide, clean sands and steeply cliffed coves protected by thick woods. The whole area is ideal for swimming, sailing, water ski-ing, surfing, sea angling, canoeing, and rowing, or just for exploring on foot.