Llanbedr originally grew around the slate quarrying industry. Attractions in Llanbedr include Neolithic standing stones and Bronze Age hut circles. The Morfa Dyffryn sand dunes and Mochras (Shell Island) lie nearby and the village is home to a youth hostel. It also boasts two public houses; Ty Mawr Hotel and The Victoria Inn.
Llanbedr has an airport which, until 2004, was operated by the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA), and QinetiQ as a launch site for remotely-piloted drone 'aircraft' for use as aerial targets by the RAF and other UK forces.
To the north of the village is the smaller village of Pensarn, situated on the sea estuary where the river Artro enters the Irish Sea. This is the location of Llanbedr & Pensarn Yacht Club and the Christian Mountain Centre, a residential adventure activity centre.
