Like most Valleys villages and towns, Brynmawr once had a thriving indoor market at its centre.

The Market Hall building was built in 1894 and also featured a theatre for concerts and shows. During the early part of the 20th century the theatre was later turned into a cinema, making it the oldest cinema in Wales. It has recently undergone a major refurbishment.

House prices have risen in the past five years, but are still relatively cheaper compared to living elsewhere in the Valleys.

Brynmawr's central location, with Newport, Blackwood, Ebbw Vale, Abergavenny and Merthyr Tydfil all within a 22-mile radius, it’s perfect for commuters who work in these towns.

Brynmawr town has fantastic links to the Heads of the Valleys road, which is being upgraded with work set to be finished by 2019. This will make the town an even better affordable living destination for commuters.

Schools

There are four schools within the Brynmawr catchment area - St Marys Church Primary, St Mary RC Primary, Blaenycwm Primary School and Brynmawr School Comprehensive - all of which have great reviews and test results across the board.

Events and leisure

The jewel in Brynmawr’s crown is its cinema - inside Wales' Oldest Cinema you’ll find 200 luxury seats with huge leg room in a historic 'red velvet curtain' venue packed with original features. It was voted as UK Cinema of The Year in 2014.

At £4.90 for an adult ticket and £3.50 for a child, its more than half the price of a regular ticket from the bigger chain cinemas.

Places to eat

Brynmawr has a wide variety of traditional pubs, with most of them serving 'pub-grub' food. Popular dining destinations include The Willow Tree, The Hobby Horse, The Talisman, and The Bridgend. There’s also a selection of takeaways and fish and chip shops scattered throughout the town, especially the main High Street, with Brynmawr residents each having their own firm favourite.

What does it cost?

Currently on the current market (Rightmove.com), prices range from £45,000 for a three-bedroom house on Bailey Street, up to £249,950 for a four-bedroom detached house at Valley View, with the average house price at around £112,591 for a semi-detached house. Council tax ranges from £1,174.94 for Band A to £4,112.26 for Band I.