Located in the picturesque Welsh countryside, St Davids has lots to offer as a small city.
It’s the perfect place to escape from the chaos and business many major cities experience on a daily basis.
With a 12th-century cathedral made from purple sandstone, St Davids is packed with history and character.
Meanwhile, the gothic ruins of the Bishop’s Palace are worth checking out and visitors in the summer can enjoy an open air theatre on-site.
There is a beautiful coastline to explore too and those hoping to venture even further can go on boat trips to wild offshore islands including Ramsey, Skomer and Grassholm, according to Visit Wales.
With a population of around 2,000 residents, St Davids is the tiniest city in the UK, followed by another spot in Wales – St Asaph – and Ripon in North Yorkshire, which is the third smallest.
It is a tranquil place to visit and has several pubs and independent eateries to choose from.
Holidaymakers hoping to stay a night or two can find accommodation from £238 on Booking.com, based on two adults staying from August 7 to 9, 2026.
Located in the picturesque Welsh countryside, St Davids has lots to offer as a small city in Pembrokeshire
With a 12th century cathedral made from purple sandstone, St Davids is packed with history and character
St David’s is just under five hours by car from London, or around four hours and 30 minutes by train.
Passengers can hop on a train from Great Western Railway from London to Bridgend, and change to catch a Transport for Wales train to Fishguard and Goodwick station.
Fishguard and Goodwick is less than an hour away by car from St Davids.
Oriel y Parc National Park gallery and visitor is also located in the country’s smallest city.
It is the perfect spot to plan your visit, and check out the exhibitions or enjoy the picnic area.
Another charming Welsh spot is Stackpole village, in Pembrokeshire, which is home to just 200 residents and is a medieval settlement dating back to 1735.
The area has an interesting history – it was moved and rebuilt to make room for Stackpole Estate, which was once home to a grand Georgian mansion that was later destroyed and is now a National Trust site.
Now, after seeing Barafundle Bay named as the UK’s most-loved beach, the nearby Stackpole village wants to remain out of the limelight and avoid attracting hordes of social media tourists.
There is a beautiful coastline to explore too and those hoping to venture even further can go on boat trips to wild offshore islands including Ramsey, Skomer and Grassholm
Residents are trying to avoid converting homes to holiday lets and a consensus of the local community being put first maintained throughout the village.
A beloved 16th-century watering hole, the Stackpole Inn, has kept its history and original features instead of expanding the business to suit the needs of added visitors.
Cultural heritage preservation is a big effort for the local area, and traditional celebrations including the Lantern Festival are kept as a local community affair.
The ritual dates back to the 11th century and though not consistently prominent, this year was celebrated by a lantern parade organised by National Trust Cymru.
At the time, Rhian Sula, a general manager for Pembrokeshire, told Journee: ‘It’s great to be able to host an event that gets people to come together at Stackpole after the depths of winter and really connect with the landscape and our cultural heritage.’
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Inside the smallest city in the UK with a historic cathedral, pretty houses and fewer than 2,000 residents
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