The original building of Aberystwyth University, and one of the most striking pieces of Gothic Revival architecture on the Welsh coast. The Old College was built in the 1860s as a hotel, then converted into the first college of the University of Wales in 1872 — an event that became a defining moment in the history of Welsh education and national identity.
The seafront facade, with its towers and ornate stonework, has been a landmark of Aberystwyth for over 150 years. After years of closure, the building has been extensively restored and opened to the public; tours run during the summer months. The Great Hall and ornate interior spaces are particularly worth seeing. The location — right on the seafront, with Cardigan Bay in front and Constitution Hill behind — is as good as the building deserves.