A hidden underground reservoir in Wales is set to open as a tourist attraction

An abandoned underground reservoir in Wales is set to open as a new tourist attraction aimed at celebrating Welsh culture and folklore.

Llandudno Vaults will be housed in the historic Y Fach, a disused underground reservoir hidden beneath the seaside resort of Llandudno in North Wales.

The Victorian relic is home to a vast, vaulted interior containing 248 redbrick arches spanning a third of an acre, with a roof height of 19 feet.

Designed to hold nearly a gallon of water during Llandudno’s Victorian heyday, the reservoir was mostly drained in the middle of the last century.

It now remains hidden beneath Happy Valley, one of Conwy’s oldest parks.

Now, plans are underway to transform the space into “a landmark immersive arts venue, where Welsh myths and creatures are brought vividly to life through storytelling, music and interactive technology”.

The team behind the project aims to reimagine this unique piece of local heritage into “a stage for culture and imagination” with “responsive, interactive exhibits” that behave according to audience participation.

“Imagine chanting in unison to calm an Afanc [a lake monster from Welsh mythology], testing your nerve as hell hounds pass through vaulted walls, or watching water erupt as a mythic beast thrashes in response to the crowd,” reads the website.

“Visitors will descend into an atmospheric world where water, echoing acoustics, and Victorian engineering merge with projection, sound, and performance.

“Here, audiences won’t simply be told stories – they will become part of them.”

Plans are now underway to accelerate the project, with the team involved securing £20,000 in funding through the Immersive Arts programme.

An opening date is yet to be confirmed pending planning approval, but it has the support of local councillors, including Nigel Smith, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Economy, who said the project “has the potential of becoming one of Llandudno’s biggest attractions”.