Dylan Thomas Centre

The Dylan Thomas Centre stands in Swansea’s Maritime Quarter, a Grade II* listed building that once served as the town’s guildhall. Designed in the neo-classical style by John Collingwood and completed in 1829, its façade features nine bays on each side with round-arched windows and Corinthian columns. The building was remodelled in 1852 to resemble the Temple of Jupiter Stator in Rome, giving it a grand, classical appearance. After decades as a juvenile employment centre and later a college annexe, it closed in 1982 before its transformation into an arts venue. In 1995, former US President Jimmy Carter and local leader Trevor Burtonshaw reopened it as the Dylan Thomas Centre. The centre is worth the journey for its permanent exhibition ‘Love the Words’, which explores Dylan Thomas’s life and work through letters, books and photographs. Supported by nearly £1 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the exhibition offers a vivid look at his creative process. Beyond the displays, the centre hosts literary events year-round, from book launches to poetry evenings and science talks. Each autumn, it holds the annual Dylan Thomas Festival between 27 October and 9 November, marking the dates of his birth and death. A partnership with the University of Wales also supports creative industries in the city. Visitors find a programme of changing exhibitions alongside the permanent displays, all set within the building’s elegant neo-classical rooms. The ‘Love the Words’ exhibition uses multimedia to bring Thomas’s words to life, while the surrounding Maritime Quarter offers views of Swansea Bay. The centre’s programme includes plays and talks, making it a lively place for literature and culture. Its location near the waterfront adds to the appeal, blending history with modern creativity. The building itself, with its grand columns and arched windows, stands as a fitting tribute to one of Wales’s most celebrated writers.