Van Travel Guide

Cardiff

Castell y Van This building lies on the eastern edge of Caerphilly and a description of the building located by the entrance gates reads as follow;- Records referring to Van Castle date from 1415, but the dressed stone quoins and faced stones of the lodge, keep and main mansion building carry 12th century mason marks and are from the original Norman castle. In the grounds of Van Castle stood one of the largest medieval columnbrians (dove cotes) in Britain. The round pennant stone building contained over 100 nesting boxes and was described as a truly remarkable building. In 1529 Van Castle became the home of Sir Edward Lewis, descended from the Welsh Prince of Gwarthfoed. The Lewis family controlled vast estates in Wales and England and during the 16th century the Van was described as one of the finest houses in the county. In 1640 in his diary, the writer Symons of the Royalist (Kings) Army states Sir Edward Lewis Esq de Van has an annual income of £5,000pa from the vast Van Estates. The Van Castle and the Vast Lewis family estates in England and Wales passed with the marriage in 1730 of Elizabeth Lewis to the Third Earl of Plymouth. Her infant son other Lewis became the 4th Earl of Plymouth on the death of his father in 1732 and Van Castle remained part of the Plymouth Estate until 1991. The Castle Lodge, Castle Keep and Van Castle Mansion are now three private residences, and are not open to the public.
Castell y Van This building lies on the eastern edge of Caerphilly and a description of the building located by the entrance gates reads as follow;- Records referring to Van Castle date from 1415, but the dressed stone quoins and faced stones of the lodge, keep and main mansion building carry 12th century mason marks and are from the original Norman castle. In the grounds of Van Castle stood one of the largest medieval columnbrians (dove cotes) in Britain. The round pennant stone building contained over 100 nesting boxes and was described as a truly remarkable building. In 1529 Van Castle became the home of Sir Edward Lewis, descended from the Welsh Prince of Gwarthfoed. The Lewis family controlled vast estates in Wales and England and during the 16th century the Van was described as one of the finest houses in the county. In 1640 in his diary, the writer Symons of the Royalist (Kings) Army states Sir Edward Lewis Esq de Van has an annual income of £5,000pa from the vast Van Estates. The Van Castle and the Vast Lewis family estates in England and Wales passed with the marriage in 1730 of Elizabeth Lewis to the Third Earl of Plymouth. Her infant son other Lewis became the 4th Earl of Plymouth on the death of his father in 1732 and Van Castle remained part of the Plymouth Estate until 1991. The Castle Lodge, Castle Keep and Van Castle Mansion are now three private residences, and are not open to the public.
Clos Guto, Van On the Lansbury Park estate, to the north of Caerphilly.
Photo by Roger Cornfoot (Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0)
River Rhymney, Bedwas Looking east.
Photo by Roger Cornfoot (Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0)
Road Bridge over River Rhymney
Photo by norman hyett (Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0)

Popular places to visit

Millennium Stadium featuring a river or creek and modern architecture

Principality Stadium

4.5/5(198 reviews)

The spiritual home of Welsh rugby, the Principality Stadiumin Cardiff is one of the most famous sporting arenas on the planet, envied the world over for its cauldron-like atmosphere and state-of-the-art facilities.

Principality Stadium
Pierhead Building, a Grade One listed building of the National Assembly for Wales in Cardiff Bay, Wales. A Cardiff's landmark taken from Cardiff Bay.

Cardiff Bay

4.5/5(190 reviews)

Explore the waterfront in Cardiff with a trip to Cardiff Bay. Discover the lively bars and acclaimed theatre scene in this family-friendly area.

Cardiff Bay
Cardiff Castle showing heritage architecture, château or palace and heritage elements

Cardiff Castle

4.5/5(251 reviews)

Located in the heart of the city centre, Cardiff Castle is one of Wales’ most important cultural attractions. A rich history spanning 2,000 years is contained within its walls and fairytale-style towers.

Cardiff Castle
Aerial panorama of Barry Island, Wales, UK

Barry Island Beach

4/5(76 reviews)

If you’re looking for a quintessential Welsh seaside experience, look no further than Barry Beach in the picturesque Vale of Glamorgan.

Barry Island Beach
D6WYKM Aerial photograph of the Cardiff Motorpoint Arena

Utilita Arena Cardiff

4.5/5(59 reviews)

Cardiff Motorpoint Arena is located on Mary Ann Street in the heart of Cardiff. It was opened in 1993 and is the largest purpose-built facility for staging exhibitions and concerts in South Wales.

Utilita Arena Cardiff
Main building of Cardiff University - Wales; Shutterstock ID 289260233; purchase_order: Comps; job: ; client: ; other:

Cardiff University

4/5(44 reviews)

Founded by Royal Charter in 1883 and located in the heart of the thriving Welsh capital, Cardiff University has built an international reputation for the quality of its work.

Cardiff University

Things to do

Cardiff Bay Boat Tour

Cardiff Bay Boat Tour

£13
per adult
76% of travellers recommend
Cardiff Bay Boat Tour
A tour arrives at Caerleon.

The Wandering Bard's Valley Tour or the Swansea Bay Tour.

£90
per adult
The Wandering Bard's Valley Tour or the Swansea Bay Tour.
The Royal Mint Experience: Ticket, Guided Tour & Exhibition

The Royal Mint Experience: Ticket, Guided Tour & Exhibition

£18
per adult
100% of travellers recommend
The Royal Mint Experience: Ticket, Guided Tour & Exhibition
Cardiff: Gower Peninsula's Cliffs Scenic Day Tour

Cardiff: Gower Peninsula's Cliffs Scenic Day Tour

£88
per adult
Cardiff: Gower Peninsula's Cliffs Scenic Day Tour
Cardiff: South Wales Cliffs, Bays & Castles Day Tour

Cardiff: South Wales Cliffs, Beaches & Castles Day Tour

£88
per adult
Cardiff: South Wales Cliffs, Beaches & Castles Day Tour
Cardiff: Alcotraz Immersive Prison Cocktail Experience

Cardiff: Alcotraz Immersive Prison Cocktail Experience

£59
per adult
Cardiff: Alcotraz Immersive Prison Cocktail Experience
See all activities in Cardiff

Top hotels in Van

The Angel Hotel

The Angel Hotel

3 out of 5
Castle Street Cardiff Wales
The price is £51 per night from 8 Mar to 9 Mar
£51
8 Mar - 9 Mar
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Cardiff. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and 24-hour room service. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (2,982 reviews)
Nice relaxed hotel, friendly staff and clean rooms. I will return again

Reviewed on 10 Feb 2026

The Angel Hotel
Celtic Manor Resort

Celtic Manor Resort

5 out of 5
Chepstow Road Newport Wales
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is £122 per night from 5 Mar to 6 Mar
£122
5 Mar - 6 Mar
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this luxury hotel in Newport. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, 2 indoor pools and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in their ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (1,346 reviews)
Always a pleasure to stay at Celtic Manor 👍

Reviewed on 10 Feb 2026

Celtic Manor Resort
Village Hotel Cardiff

Village Hotel Cardiff

4 out of 5
29 Pendwyallt Road, Coryton Cardiff Wales
The price is £80 per night from 22 Feb to 23 Feb
£80
22 Feb - 23 Feb
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Cardiff. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
8/10 Very Good! (1,002 reviews)
lovely room just a long walk to get to the room. breakfast was brilliant as always

Reviewed on 11 Feb 2026

Village Hotel Cardiff
Cardiff Marriott Hotel

Cardiff Marriott Hotel

4 out of 5
Mill Lane Cardiff Wales
The price is £72 per night from 22 Feb to 23 Feb
£72
22 Feb - 23 Feb
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in Cardiff. Enjoy breakfast (surcharge), 24-hour room service and a 24-hour fitness centre. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,204 reviews)
Lovely hotel, very convienient for town. Great carpark.

Reviewed on 11 Feb 2026

Cardiff Marriott Hotel
Future Inns Cardiff Bay

Future Inns Cardiff Bay

4 out of 5
Hemingway Road Cardiff Bay Cardiff Wales
The price is £65 per night from 26 Feb to 27 Feb
£65
26 Feb - 27 Feb
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Cardiff. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,579 reviews)
Everything we needed. Easy parking, simple check in process, friendly staff, clean room. All great.

Reviewed on 10 Feb 2026

Future Inns Cardiff Bay
Novotel Cardiff Centre

Novotel Cardiff Centre

4 out of 5
Schooner Way, Atlantic Wharf Cardiff Wales
The price is £69 per night from 1 Mar to 2 Mar
£69
1 Mar - 2 Mar
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this spa hotel in Cardiff. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a full-service spa and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the pool in their reviews. ...
8/10 Very Good! (1,009 reviews)
Room was neglected, dirty, dusty and smelt bad. Whole walk to room felt very tired and unkempt. Strong smell of a ‘herby substance’ throughout corridors on our floor and a friends floor too…

Reviewed on 8 Feb 2026

Novotel Cardiff Centre
See all 1,811 properties in Van
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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Other neighbourhoods around Van

University Hospital of Wales gardens

Heath

4.5/5(4 area reviews)

If you're looking for some top things to see and do in Heath and surrounding area, you can visit Cardiff Golf Club and The Gate Arts and Community Centre.

Heath
Hollybush Estate Road - Coryton

Whitchurch

4/5(29 area reviews)

Whitchurch is popular for its ample dining options, and you might make a stop by Forest Farm Country Park, a top place to visit in the area.

Whitchurch
Cardiff, UK

Gabalfa

Gabalfa is well liked for its parks. If you'd like to do some sightseeing in the greater Cardiff area, you might plan a trip to Insole Court or Cardiff City Hall.

Gabalfa
Llandaff Cathedral featuring religious elements, heritage elements and interior views

Llandaff

5/5(1 area review)

Visitors to Llandaff like its monuments and historical sites, and Insole Court is a sight worth a stop.

Llandaff
DSC_3799

Penylan

Travellers like the restaurants in Penylan, and Teamsport Karting is a top attraction you might want to visit.

Penylan
Main building of Cardiff University - Wales; Shutterstock ID 289260233; purchase_order: Comps; job: ; client: ; other:

Cathays

4.5/5(5 area reviews)

Cathays is well liked for its museums. If you'd like to do some sightseeing in the greater Cardiff area, you might plan a trip to National Museum Cardiff or Cardiff City Hall.

Cathays

Van Travel Guide

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