13/06/2026
If you’re coming to see Alice in Wonderland this August, why not take a short trip over to Llandudno’s West Shore and visit the White Rabbit statue, a lovely tribute to Lewis Carroll’s connection with the town.
Charles Dodgson, better known by his pen name Lewis Carroll, became close friends with the family of Henry Liddell who had a holiday home on the West Shore in Llandudno. During a boat trip in July 1862, young Alice Liddell asked Dodgson to entertain her and her sisters with a story. Carroll began spinning a tale about a girl named Alice who tumbled down a rabbit hole into a world of extraordinary adventures. She loved it so much that she asked him to write it down, and in November 1864 he presented her with the manuscript of Alice’s Adventures Under Ground.
It’s widely accepted that Alice Liddell was the inspiration for the Alice we all know. There are several references in the books that echo places around Llandudno, especially near the Liddell family’s holiday home, Penmorfa, on the West Shore. One of the most striking is a small cave where Alice used to play, thought by some to be the spark behind the famous rabbit hole. Others dispute whether Carroll ever visited Llandudno, but the local connections remain part of the town’s charm.
The White Rabbit statue itself was unveiled in 1933 by former Prime Minister David Lloyd George. Although modern historians question the accuracy of the story that Dodgson wrote Alice while strolling along Llandudno’s beaches, the statue has become an iconic part of the town’s literary identity. It was originally carved by stonemason Frederick Forrester, who can be seen in this wonderful photograph adding the finishing touches.
A perfect little detour before or after your visit to the Harlequin Puppet Theatre.
