Camera Obscura at Aberystwyth Cliff Railway

The first camera obscura was built in Aberystwyth in 1880 in the castle grounds at the opposite end of the promenade, and was later re-located to Constitution Hill to create a better viewpoint. Sadly, by the 1920's it had gone - a casualty of the public's changing demand for entertainment.

This popular re-creation of a Victorian amusement has been one of the prime attractions in the area since its completion in 1985. The massive 14 inch lens makes it one of the world’s largest camera obscuras and visitors can view the moving colour pictures that fascinated our forefathers.

In our viewing gallery it is possible to observe 1000 square miles of land and seascape with remarkable clarity.

Today, our visitors benefit from a level of precision and clarity that the Victorians could barely dream of, and the delightful present day camera obscura was almost entirely designed and manufactured here in Wales.

It provides a fascinating learning experience for the entire family, whether you wish to understand more about optical technology or simply spy on friends on the beach!

No trip to the west coast of Wales would be complete without experiencing the great Aberystwyth Camera Obscura.