The buildings are representative of all areas of Wales: cottages, farmhouses, a chapel, bakeries, a school, a mill, a tannery, a village grocer and unusual buildings such as an octroi and cockfighting arena. An exceptional collection of coracles (Welsh fishing boats), a working farm and a mining cottage add to this diverse exhibition.

The oldest playhouse in the country still in use, which opened in 1766 and was granted a royal licence by George III in 1778. It is supposedly haunted by the ghost of a black lady and a man called Richard who move various objects around the theatre.

One of the main roads, Magdalene Street, is lined with pretty 17-19C houses; the other, High Street, is dominated by the George and Pilgrims Hotel (15C) and the abbey tribunal (14C), that was once part of the abbey. At the junction of the two stands the neogothic Victorian town cross. The tribunal contains a museum with objects taken from digs on the site of an Iron Age lakeside walled city.

The 13C St Dubricius' church is dedicated to a legendary figure who died at the age of 120 and was said to be a friend of King Arthur. Inside is a remarkable canopied tomb with alabaster effigies.