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Wales Online
Wales Online
Entertainment
Stephanie Colderick

Where celebrities stay when they come to Wales

With gorgeous coastline, stunning mountain ranges and rolling countryside, it is easy to understand why people love visiting Wales - and this includes celebrities. Wales has had many famous visitors - from sports stars to actors and TV personalities.

While many head for the coast and the mountains some prefer to enjoy the city, visiting Cardiff and the surrounding areas. Whether it's for a holiday or for work, they have definitely enjoyed their time here, taking to social media to post about their trips.

READ MORE: Gemma Collins has been singing Yma o Hyd and she's surprisingly good

But where do they all stay? Are there any celebrity hot spots where they just keep coming back for more? We've taken a look at where the stars flock when they come to Wales...

Hen Cymyran

Carol Vorderman loved this Anglesey home (Hen Cymyran Coastal Retreat)

This stunning house, which can sleep up to 15 people, was adored by Welsh TV personality Carol Vorderman . Carol described the Anglesey house as her "dream home", she said: "So I've found my dream home....honestly the most beautiful house I've ever stayed in, and I've stayed in some stunners. Right on the water with a two-mile clear swimming beach... crabs, shellfish, bigger fish, mini sharks (well they looked like that to me), everything going on..."

Holm House

David Hasselhoff at Holm House in Penarth (David Hasselhoff/Instagram)

American actor David Hasselhoff , known as The Hoff, enjoys staying at Holm House in Penarth while visiting family in Wales. His wife, Hayley Roberts, is from Glynneath and they have previously been seen around Wales supporting local businesses.

Adventure Parc Snowdonia

Coronation Street actor Tina O'Brien enjoyed spending time at Adventure Parc Snowdonia, which not only has a hotel but also a generated wave machine and surf area. Here you can learn to surf in the natural Welsh freshwater that collects from the mountainous surroundings.

Pale Hall Hotel

Pale Hall Hotel in Bala, north Wales, hosted comedian and chat show host Alan Carr in the summer of 2021. Alan also visited Barmouth, Snowdonia National Park and Portmeirion while visiting north Wales.

Huacaya's Cush

Pete Wicks enjoyed his luxury stay (Pete Wicks/Instagram)

The Only Way Is Essex star Pete Wicks enjoyed a luxury stay at Huacaya's Cush in Powys at an adults-only glamping pod campsite. During his time he petted goats and alpacas and gushed about his holiday on Instagram, writing: “A little while ago I spent a few days in Wales at a beautiful remote location surrounded by my sheep and alpacas and I loved it! Amazing views, amazing lodge and amazing animals.”

Dylan Coastal Resort

Dylan Coastal Resorts are luxury self-catering properties that come with hot tubs, world-class spas and dining facilities. The resort can be found in Carmarthenshire and celebrities who have visited include Welsh TV presenter Alex Jones .

The Parkgate Hotel

Paige Thorne had a great time partying at The Parkgate (Parkgate Hotel)

It is no surprise that the luxury Cardiff hotel The Parkgate Hotel has been home to some celebrities. Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden , who is from Caerphilly, enjoyed her hen-do at The Parkgate Hotel and also visited Dirty Martini in Cardiff.

Amy later visited Pembrokeshire in 2022 as she joined I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! winner Giovanna Fletcher on a charity hike. Love Island star Paige Thorne also enjoyed a night partying with Welsh rugby players at The Parkgate Hotel.

Holiday Wales/Hedgehogs View Underground House

Former Love Island star Liberty Poole stayed in a stunning underground house in Rhayader (Liberty Poole/Instagram)

Love Island star Liberty Poole enjoyed a stay in Rhayader at the Hedgehogs View Underground House which are gorgeous underground houses with stunning views. Liberty showed her fans the stunning underground houses, which come with a bath and hot tub with amazing countryside views. The star also visited Tenby in 2022.

Three Cliffs Holiday Park

Three Cliffs Holiday Park, the Gower holiday park looking out over the stunning Three Cliffs Bay, was booked for many nights in 2021 to host the cast and crew of the hit Netflix show The Witcher. Among the cast was Hollywood star Henry Cavill , who was spotted filming on Gower beaches and chatting with fans. The holiday park was booked out for over 70 nights by cast and crew, as they filmed the series in the area.

Gwrych Castle

Gwrych Castle has been home to many celebrities (Getty Images)

Home to the reality TV show I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! for two years many celebrities including Arlene Phillips, Richard Madley and Frankie Bridge endured their time at the castle. If disgusting Bucktucker Trials are not for you don't worry as you can book to stay in apartments at Gwrych Castle, which doesn't involve sharing your bed with creepy crawlies.

Kerry Katona also stayed at Gwrych Castle when she joined paranormal investigators at the castle, as part of a ghost hunt.

Mountain View

Vernon Kay loved his stay at Mountain View (UGC)

Before entering Gwrych Castle I'm A Celebrity contestant Vernon Kay had to isolate in a stunning Anglesey farmhouse called Mountain View. The farmhouse is in Carmel and has six bedrooms, six bathrooms and sleeps 14 people. It's been beautifully restored and has an elegant and modern design throughout, while still retaining its original stained glass feature hall window, original wooden doors and the Victorian tiled floor in the entrance porch.

Vernon said on Instagram: "Thank You Anglesey North Wales. Isolation was perfect pre- #IAC The countryside was spectacular and the few people I met were so nice. The farmhouse I was in had a hot tub but only used it a couple of times as it was so windy! And it’s not the same without having the kids splashing about and Tess by my side...but did have fun trying to get a drone shot of me in the tub!!"

The Angel Hotel

This Cardiff hotel was the scene of Oscar-nominated Anthony Perkins ' arrest when he was arrested for drug charges in 1989. The police were called and the "deeply embarrassed" Psycho actor ended up at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court where he was fined £200.

The Big Sleep Hotel

Hollywood star John Malkovich stayed at the Big Sleep Hotel in Cardiff in 1999. Malkovich, who co-owned the venue, spent most of the day being interviewed in a bed brought down from one of the upper rooms.

Brecon Beacons

The footballer has been hiking in the Brecon Beacons (Danny Drinkwater/Instagram)

With amazing views, great walking opportunities and stunning waterfalls the Brecon Beacons National Park, an area of outstanding natural beauty, attracts many visitors each year. This includes former Premier League and Chelsea FC footballer Danny Drinkwater who enjoyed hiking in the Brecon Beacons earlier in 2022.

Danny also visited Wales in 2021 when he enjoyed a holiday with his son in Abersoch. Love Island stars Liam Reardon and Millie Court have also enjoyed trips to the Brecon Beacons, climbing Pen y Fan at sunrise. The couple has since split up.

Tenby

Lots of celebrities have visited Tenby (Twitter/@ForestWhitaker)

This pretty coastal town should be on everyone's to-visit list in Wales. With colourful houses, quaint streets and amazing beaches there is everything you need here for a great holiday.

Children's TV presenter and Strictly Come Dancing star Rhys Stephenson celebrated the 2021 New Year in Tenby. The Oscar-winning American actor and producer Forest Whitaker also visited Tenby in 2021, posing outside St Catherine's Island.

Love Island star Liberty Pool also holidayed in Tenby. Telling fans she "needed an escape", the former Dancing On Ice contestant enjoyed the sunshine in Tenby. Sex Education's Asa Butterfield enjoyed a break from filming the hit series when he visited Tenby. In an Instagram post captioned "A big, steaming, summer dump" Asa can be seen enjoying a ball game with two others on North Tenby Beach with the picturesque Tenby seafront in the background.

Pembrokeshire

Dr Alex George announced that he will convert four Pembrokeshire cottages in holiday homes (Dr Alex George (Instagram))

Home to Tenby the wider county of Pembrokeshire has been visited by celebrities. Welsh Love Island star Dr Alex George came under fire when he visited Pembrokeshire and brought four cottages to rent out as holiday homes in the area. He later visited Skrinkle Bay and described the gorgeous bay as "a slice of heaven on earth".

Giovanna Fletcher and Amy Dowden completed a charity hike in the county and rapper Dizzee Rascal enjoyed a break in Milford Haven where he ordered from local restaurant Foam.

Cardiff Bay

Cardiff itself is well visited by celebrities and in particular Cardiff Bay. Fitness guru Joe Wicks visited Cardiff in May 2022 as he ran 5km around Cardiff Bay . He encouraged members of the public to join him and it was not the first time Joe had visited Wales to encourage people to run.

Sabrina The Teenage Witch actress Melissa Joan Hart said being back in Wales "fills my heart with joy" as she posted pictures from Cardiff Bay. The eccentric US actor Nicolas Cage stunned fans by quietly sipping coffee in a cafe on the waterfront of weather-battered Cardiff Bay in 2009. Cage refused to disclose why he was in the Welsh capital – but dismissed speculation that he was to appear in Dr Who.

Swansea

Another Welsh city that has been visited by celebrities is Swansea. Love Island star Jake Cornish spent the night partying at Bella's Bar in Pontlliw while top chef Marco Pierre White has visited Swansea numerous times to check up on his restaurants and enjoy the views and food of the city.

F1 stars David Coulthard, Martin Brundle , and Australian ex-driver Mark Webber all enjoyed a dinner out at Langland Brasserie in Mumbles, Swansea in 2021. They seemed more than happy to chat with fans who were in the restaurant at the same time as them. New Love Island host Maya Jama has also been spotted filming and working in Swansea previously.

Barry Island

Larry and Alison returned to Barry Island (Louis Ross/Barrybados)

Home to the BBC sitcom Gavin & Stacey, celebrities including the former cast just cannot stay away. Alison Steadman and Larry Lamb were back at Barry Island filming in 2022 and Hollywood actor Tom Hardy was spotted twice visiting Barry Island in 2021.

The award-winning actor was seen enjoying himself at the popular amusement park and clearly loved it so much that he returned again the next day with his family where he was snapped trying out the rides. The New Zealand rugby team also enjoyed a trip to Stacey's house at Barry Island , posing for photos in front of the house during the 2022 Autumn Internationals.

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