Home › Road trips › Cardiff to Swansea, Carmarthen, Aberystwyth, Machynlleth and Bangor
Cardiff to Swansea, Carmarthen, Aberystwyth, Machynlleth and Bangor
A long run up through west and mid Wales, ending on the north coast. Llanelli's The Second 45 is a possible add-on.
Route: Cardiff → Swansea → Carmarthen → Machynlleth → Bangor · 13 record stores across 5 stops
Stop by stop
Stop 1: Cardiff Records: Bay to Roath
Diggers Club Records
Second-floor shop with sit-down listening stations and a strong line in Japanese pressings, jazz, city pop, post punk and boxes of soul and funk 7-inches.
Tip: Listening is encouraged, so take your time on the decks; it is a short walk from Cardiff Bay and closed on Sundays.
113-116 W Bute St, Cardiff CF10 5AB, UK
Hours
Monday 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM Tuesday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Wednesday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Thursday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Friday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Saturday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Sunday Closed Spillers Records
Cardiff institution running since long before the digital era, with a devoted following spanning generations.
Tip: Ask staff to order anything they don't have — regulars say they'll always track it down.
27, Morgan Arcade, Cardiff CF10 1AF, UK
Hours
Monday Closed Tuesday 10:30 AM - 5:30 PM Wednesday 10:30 AM - 5:30 PM Thursday 10:30 AM - 5:30 PM Friday 10:30 AM - 5:30 PM Saturday 10:30 AM - 5:30 PM Sunday Closed Kellys Records
Tucked upstairs in Cardiff Market, with a huge, well-organized selection and vintage music magazines.
Tip: Combine with a market food stop — plenty of options right downstairs.
212-226, Central Market, Cardiff CF10 1AU, UK
Hours
Monday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Tuesday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Wednesday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Thursday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Saturday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Sunday Closed The Record Shop
Small second-hand shop tucked off Albany Road, known for bargain bins, cheap singles and plenty of 80s pop alongside rock and everything else.
Tip: Budget digging: leave time to work through the crowded racks. Closed Mondays and Sundays.
1 Inverness Pl, Cardiff CF24 4RU, UK
Hours
Monday Closed Tuesday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Wednesday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Thursday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Friday 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Saturday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Sunday Closed Cardiff Record Exchange
Large selection with a standout rare and collectable section, run by knowledgeable owner Ed.
Tip: Stock changes often — regulars make repeat visits worth it.
71 Whitchurch Rd, Cardiff CF14 3JP, UK
Hours
Monday Closed Tuesday 10:30 AM - 5:30 PM Wednesday 10:30 AM - 5:30 PM Thursday 10:30 AM - 5:30 PM Friday 10:30 AM - 5:30 PM Saturday 10:30 AM - 5:30 PM Sunday Closed
Stop 2: Swansea City Centre Crawl
Swansea Bay Records
Independent second-hand shop on a side street near the market, stocking vinyl, CDs and a good number of cassettes at keen prices.
Tip: Look for the shop on Plymouth Street just off the market; it is closed Wednesdays and Sundays.
52B Plymouth St, Swansea SA1 3QQ, UK
Hours
Monday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Tuesday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Wednesday Closed Thursday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Friday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Saturday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Sunday Closed Derrick's Music
Long-standing city-centre music shop on Oxford Street selling new vinyl and CDs in an old-school record shop setup, alongside gig tickets.
Tip: Check stock before relying on the website for a particular title; closed Sundays.
221 Oxford St, Swansea SA1 3BQ, UK
Hours
Monday 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM Tuesday 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM Wednesday 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM Thursday 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Saturday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Sunday Closed Tangled Parrot
Record shop and coffee house on The Kingsway selling new and second-hand records, with a focus on Welsh artists and flyers for local gigs and record fairs.
Tip: Handy for the train station; grab a coffee while you browse. Sundays closed.
61 The Kingsway, Swansea SA1 5HN, UK
Hours
Monday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Tuesday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Wednesday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Thursday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Friday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Saturday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Sunday Closed
Stop 3: Carmarthen Record Run
Slipped Discs
Market stall-shop in Carmarthen's New Market Hall with second-hand CDs and vinyl across many genres at bargain prices.
Tip: Inside the covered market, so go during market hours; closed Mondays and Sundays.
Slipped Discs, New Market Hall, Carmarthen SA31 1QY, UK
Hours
Monday Closed Tuesday 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM Wednesday 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM Thursday 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM Friday 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM Saturday 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM Sunday Closed On The Flipside
Newer Carmarthen record shop with curated second-hand stock, run by an owner who plays dub and disco in store.
Tip: Open Wednesday to Saturday only.
3 Gardd Llydaw, Jacksons Lane, Carmarthen SA31 1QD, UK
Hours
Monday Closed Tuesday Closed Wednesday 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Thursday 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Friday 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Saturday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Sunday Closed Dale's Music Store Carmarthen
Carmarthen branch of the Tenby music shop, selling second-hand vinyl with a listening booth, plus T-shirts, posters and guitars.
Tip: Use the listening booth to check a record before buying.
31 Blue St, Carmarthen SA31 3LE, UK
Hours
Monday 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM Tuesday 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM Wednesday 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM Thursday 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM Friday 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM Saturday 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM Sunday 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Stop 4: Machynlleth
Waggys Records
Machynlleth high-street record shop with a wide, well-organised range, and an owner who will let you hear originals against reissues.
Tip: Open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 3pm.
50 Heol Maengwyn, Machynlleth SY20 8DT, UK
Hours
Monday 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM Tuesday 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM Wednesday 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM Thursday 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM Friday 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM Saturday 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM Sunday Closed
Stop 5: Bangor
Mudshark Records
Bangor independent selling new and second-hand vinyl and CDs, with a 3-for-10 pounds deal bin and band T-shirts.
Tip: Open Thursday to Saturday only.
128 High St, Bangor LL57 1NT, UK
Hours
Monday Closed Tuesday Closed Wednesday Closed Thursday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Friday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Saturday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Sunday Closed
Hours and details come from public listings and may have changed. Small shops often keep short or irregular hours, so check or call before a long trip. See something wrong? Use Still open? in the app and we will look into it.