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Colwyn Bay Bae Colwyn
Coordinates: 53.29° N 3.7° W
Population	30,265 (2001 census)
OS grid reference	SH865785
Principal area	Conwy
Ceremonial county	Clwyd
Constituent country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	COLWYN BAY
Postcode district	LL29, LL28
Dial code	01492
Police	North Wales
Fire	North Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
UK Parliament	Clwyd West
European Parliament	Wales
List of places: UK • Wales • Conwy

Colwyn Bay at sunset

Colwyn Bay (Welsh: Bae Colwyn) is a town and seaside resort on the coast of the Irish Sea in North Wales. The A55 road cuts through it along side Colwyn Bay railway station on the North Wales Coast Line.

Prior to local government reorganisation in April 1974 Colwyn Bay was a Municipal Borough with a population of c.25,000, but in 1974 this designation disappeared leaving five separate parishes (known as communities in Wales), of which the one bearing the name Colwyn Bay contained just 9,742 people at the 2001 census. The others were Mochdre (1,862), Rhos-on-Sea (7,110), Old Colwyn (7,626) and Llysfaen (2,652). This gives a total figure for the five parishes of 28,992, generally regarded as the "true" population of Colwyn Bay. The 2001 census recorded the Colwyn Bay urban area as containing 30,265 people.

Attractions in Colwyn Bay include its Victorian Pier and Welsh Mountain Zoo. The town is beautifully situated between the sea and the Pwllycrochan Woods on the towering hillside. A business and commercial centre with rail links and close access to the activities that are available in the surrounding countryside. Colwyn Bay hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1910, 1947 and 1995.

Famous people from the town include Monty Python star Terry Jones (from Old Colwyn), two-time James Bond actor Timothy Dalton and Big Breakfast presenter Paula Yates, who famously had relationships with Bob Geldof, and Michael Hutchence of INXS. Soap star William Roache, who plays Ken Barlow in Coronation Street, attended Rydal Penrhos, a private school in the town, and MP Alun Michael attended a grammar school. Mickey Thomas who played for Manchester United lives in Mochdre. Helen Willitts is the BBC weather reporter. There is a myth whether a certain Tom Jones comes from the town.

Colwyn Bay is home to three secondary schools, one private and two state. Eirias High School is located in Eirias Park and Ysgol Bryn Elian is located between Old Colwyn and Colwyn Bay. Ysgol Bryn Elian mainly serves Old Colwyn and Eirias High School mainly serves Colwyn Bay, Rhos on Sea and Penrhyn Bay. Rydal Penrhos is a private school, which is located on multiple sites in the town.

• Colwyn Bay Football Club
• ColwynBayPictures.co.uk - Pictures, photographs and history of Colwyn Bay
• Colwyn Bay's Victoria Pier
• [http://www,colwynbayrugby.co.uk / Colwyn Bay Rugby Club