Sitting along Conwy’s quayside in the tiny gap between a row of terraced houses and a tower on the town walls, you’ll find the Smallest House in Great Britain. It may be small, but it’s painted bright red so that you can’t miss it!
I recently visited the attraction and, in this guide, I’ll give you some more information about the iconic attraction and all the information you need to visit yourself.
About the Smallest House in Great Britain
The Smallest House in Great Britain is found along Conwy’s quayside and measures 1.8m (72”) wide by 3m (122”) tall. It has just 1.5m2 of floor space and holds the Guinness World Record as the smallest house in Great Britain.
Nobody lives in the house today as the council declared it unfit for habitation in the early 20th century. However, it remains open as a tourist attraction and is thought to attract over 50,000 visitors each year.
Visitor Information
The Smallest House in Great Britain is open to visitors, you'll find it at the opposite end of Conwy's quayside to the castle. The full address is 10 Lower Gate St, Conwy, LL32 8BE, or you can use this Google Maps pin.
When you arrive, you can go inside where you'll immediately enter the living area. You can also climb up part of the ladder to see the bedroom although you cannot fully go upstairs.
In total, your visit will take less than 5 minutes (it’s very small!).
You can also have a photo outside by yourself or with the staff member who is usually dressed in the traditional Welsh Lady costume. She also sells postcards and small souvenirs.
Opening Hours
| Peak Season | 10am-4pm, 7 days per week |
| Off-Peak Season | Closed |
The peak season usually runs from the end of March to the beginning of November each year, check their website for exact dates.
Prices
| Adults | £1.50 |
| Children | £1 |
Both cash and card are accepted.
Inside the Smallest House in Great Britain
The smallest house in Great Britain has two rooms, the living area downstairs and the bedroom upstairs. When I vistied, I was lucky to have the entire house to myself.
In the downstairs living area, there’s an open fire which would provide warmth as well as cooking facilities. As you can see from the photo above, I could touch both walls at the same time.
There’s a kettle pot for boiling water on the fire and a small cupboard with plates, bowls, and dishes. There is a table and seating area for about two people is built into the furnishing.
To get upstairs, there is no staircase but a ladder with just five steps. Upstairs is the bedroom where there is a single bed along with a bedside table. Cupboard space for clothes is built into the wall and there’s a second, smaller fireplace here.
Tour of the House
In this short video clip, I’ll take you on a virtual tour inside the Smallest House in Great Britain.
History of the Smallest House in Great Britain
The Smallest House in Great Britain was built in the 16th century and was lived in for almost 400 years.
The last tenant was a local fisherman named Robert Jones. At 6ft3 (1.9m) tall, he couldn’t stand up in the house and the bed wasn’t big enough for him to lie fully stretched out. When he had visitors, they had to socialize outside as there wasn’t enough room for them to sit inside together.
Robert Jones lived here in the early 20th century, however, the council declared it unfit for human habitation so he was forced to move out.
Rather than knocking it down, the landlord, another man named Robert Jones (find out why there are so many Joneses in Wales here), decided to turn it into a tourist attraction.
To promote the property, the owner and editor of the North Wales Weekly News, Roger Dawson, went on a tour of Britain so that he could legitimately declare it the Smallest House in Great Britain.
In the 1920s, the house was officially recognized in the Guinness World Book of Records as the smallest house in Great Britain.
There is no permanent sofa in the house. However, in 2021, Snug, a company that sells sofas online, wanted to prove that their new sofa, The Small Biggie, could fit into any space so as a PR stunt, they managed to fit the sofa into the house. You can watch the video here.
More Things To Do in Conwy
Getting a photo outside the Smallest House in Great Britain is one of the most iconic things to do in Conwy, but there are plenty of other activities too. Here are some of my favourites:
- Conwy Castle - Built by King Edward I in the 13th century, the fortress is a testament to the town’s history. It's managed by CADW and open to visit where you can explore the ruins and climb the tower. Find pricing and opening times in my guide to Conwy Castle.
ㅤ - Conwy Town Walls – Conwy is one of the few Welsh towns where the walls are still mostly intact so you can walk all the way along the top of them and get incredible views of the town and surrounding area. The walk takes around 20 minutes right around.
ㅤ - Conwy Nature Reserve – On the opposite side of the Conwy Estuary is RSPB Conwy, a small nature reserve with a variety of habitats, including wetlands, reedbeds, and grasslands. Walk along the boardwalks and enjoy the birds and other wildlife that have made it their home.
ㅤ - Plas Mawr – This is a restored Elizabethan townhouse which will give you a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the wealthy merchants who once lived here.
Published: 18 September 2023