Cardiff Holidays

Cardiff City Guide

Cardiff is a young capital, the capital of Wales since only 1955, and it is a city with all the energy, vibrancy and vigour of the young. Since the new millennium regeneration projects have seen Cardiff emerge as one of the most exciting cities in Britain. There is no end of swish eating out choices, plenty of places to enjoy a night out, impressive sporting stadiums hosting world class events, shopping options from sleek contemporary malls to beautifully decorated Victorian arcades and, of course, there’s the ultramodern waterfront development and the ancient castle as well.

Cardiff is a happening city so the only thing you can do is dive in and pack as much as you can into your stay. Here are some suggestions for starters.

Sport in Cardiff

Even if you are not a big sporting fan you can’t fail to be impressed by the grandeur and iconoclasm of the Millennium Stadium, and you’ll want to know if the Six Nations (February to March), or any other sporting event, is being held as hotels in the city will get booked up pretty quickly when this is the case.

The Millennium Stadium sits on the banks of the River Taff and the crowd’s songs cause the whole of Cardiff to reverberate to their rhythms. Get in early to book your tickets, or take a tour to see behind the scenes.

Shopping in Cardiff

Cardiff boasts one of Britain’s largest shopping centres in St David’s, but it also provides shopping experiences of a smaller and more unique kind. These include its historical arcades (such as the nineteenth century Royal which leads to the ritzy modern consumer delights of the Morgan Quarter), Jacob’s Market (a four storey bric a brac lover’s delight) and the Fashion Quarter (which is all graffiti walls, vintage clothes and independent traders).

History and Museums in Cardiff

As the home of BBC Wales, which produces Dr Who, Cardiff is no stranger to time travel. Next door to BBC Wales is the Doctor Who Exhibition where daleks, cybermen and the Doctor spring to life daily.

You can time travel in a rather more considered way by visiting Cardiff Castle, quite rightly Cardiff’s favourite visitor attraction. Here you will find a medieval keep at its heart, but it’s the extravagant adornments and additions of the Victorians in all their gothic splendour that really fire up the imagination.

Nearby Bute Park offers a great place to escape from it all and idle a while by the River Taff.

Explore Cardiff Bay

Cardiff Bay is, perhaps, the greatest symbol of Cardiff’s regeneration, housing the arts complex of the Wales Millennium Centre, an architectural masterpiece, important national institutions, a whole smorgasbord of interesting buildings, large open spaces, public art. There is art, theatre, shopping, restaurants, cafes, bars, sculptures and it’s a great place to just lose yourself in for an afternoon.

But don’t linger too long: the rest of Cardiff beckons!

Guide to Exploring Cardiff

Bridgend

Conveniently located halfway between Cardiff andSwansea, and a stone’s throw from the BreconBeacons and the Gower Peninsula, Bridgend is a thriving market town. Settled sincepre-Roman times, it is steeped in history. From its Norman castles, beautifulbeaches and areas of outstanding natural beauty, to its bustling shoppingdistrict, fine restaurants and excellent sporting facilities, there is trulysomething for everyone in Bridgend.

Chepstow

Nestled in an almost signature ‘S’ bend of theRiver Wye is the attractive market town of Chepstowin the Welsh county of Monmouthshire. With Gloucestershire just over theborder, Bristol a short drive away and Newport just down the road Chepstowis ideally located for exploring the southwest of England and the surroundingWelsh countryside but there are plenty of other reasons to plan a break in Chepstow.

Cwmbran

Established in 1949,Cwmbran is a relatively new town compared to manyof the towns and locations in the surrounding hills and valleys whose historyin many instances dates back to Roman times. Which isn’t to say that thislively little town isn’t making up for lost time – far from it –Cwmbran is in fact home to one ofWales’ biggest shopping centres, with 170 topbrand shops, restaurants and cafes.

Porthcawl

Porthcawl is a bustling seaside resort on the South Coast of Wales, with all the best traditions that we know and love — a promenade, safe sandy beaches fringed by rocks, craggy cliffs, waves for surfing and the Coney Beach Amusement Park for all the fun of the fair. There is a nature reserve, a museum and a ruined castle too.

Castleton

Thehamlet of Castleton in Wales is like a gentle sighbetween the urban commotion of Cardiff and Newport, and it is perfect for thosewho like their country getaways local. Just a short drive from both cities, Castletonmakes a quiet retreat with fresh country air and some unbeatable landscapes.

Penarth

Sometimes known as “The Garden by the Sea”, Penarth is a seaside resort in the Vale of Glamorgan just five miles from the Welsh capital of Cardiff.

Pontypridd

Located about 12 miles north of Cardiff, the town of Pontypridd is in a great central location if you want to explore all that South Wales has to offer.

Barry

Barryis the largest town in Wales.It is packed full of maritime and industrial history, but most visitors know itbest for the seaside resort of BarryIsland that sits at its southern tip. Barry is far from beingall beach, beach, beach, but, if its sand, fun and amusements you seek, it canprovide it by the bucketful!

Pontypool

Pontypool is a town on the Afon Lwyd River, in the county borough of Torfaen, but historically part of Monmouthshire.

Caerphilly

The town of Caerphillyhas made a name for itself thanks to the eponymous soft, crumbly white cheeseand the fantastical castle that guards the entrance to the Rhymney Valley,looking as if it has just emerged from a fairy tale rather than been built onthe lush green ground that surrounds it.

Blackwood

Situatedin the Southof Wales on the banks of the rushing Sirhowy River, Blackwoodis rare for a Welsh town in that it was never a major centre of mining. Althoughit may not have bloomed at the peak of Wales’ coal-miningindustry, it makes up for this today as a bustling commercial and retail hub,home to hi-tech businesses and great shops.

Cardiff University

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 Castle

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.

Victoria Park

Victoria Park is one of Cardiff’s most popular open spaces and has plenty to entertain visitors of all ages. Full of charm, it is perhaps most famous for one of its former residents – a seal called Billy.

Caerphilly Castle

Caerphilly Castle is a huge medieval castle in the South Wales, located in Caerphilly, seven and a half miles north of Cardiff. The castle stands out from other Welsh castles thanks to two distinct factors. The first of these is its sheer size; it is the second largest castle in the UK after Windsor Castle, occupying 30 acres.

Millennium Stadium

The spiritual home of Welsh rugby, the Millennium Stadium in 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.

Cardiff City Stadium

British football, or soccer as it is also known, is a sport enjoyed by millions of people all around the world. Cardiff City Stadium, located on Leckwith Road, Cardiff, is home to Cardiff City football club, having replaced Ninian Park in 2009. Boasting a capacity of 28,018, it is the second-largest sports stadium in Wales and, as well as sporting events, it has been used as a venue for concerts by the Stereophonics and Bon Jovi.

Wales Millennium Centre

An architectural masterpiece, the Wales Millennium Centre is at the heart of Cardiff Bay, a wonderfully regenerated area full of striking buildings, wide open spaces and intriguing pieces of public art.

St Fagans

Wales, as well as being a beautiful country and tourist attraction packed with seaside resorts, mountains, lakes and forests, is a proud nation in its own right. Nowhere is this more apparent than at St. Fagans National History Museum, a stunning open-air museum, based in and around the grounds of St. Fagans Castle.

Techniquest

Want to find a way of keeping the kids entertained for hours, at the same time as perhaps learning something yourself? Want to find it in the heart of Cardiff Bay, just five minutes’ walk from the train station? If the answer is yes, head for Techniquest interactive science discovery centre on Stuart Street in Cardiff.

Llandaff Cathedral

Set in a peaceful, scenic conservation zone on the bank of the River Taff, Llandaff Cathedral is one of two cathedrals in Cardiff, the seat of the Bishop of Llandaff, covering the South Wales diocese. While the present-day structure dates from early in the 12th Century, the cathedral actually stands on one of the oldest sites in British Christian history, settled by St. Dyfrig in the 6th Century.

Cardiff Motorpoint Arena

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.

Cardiff International Arena

Cardiff International Arena, also known as the Motorpoint Arena, first opened in 1993 with legendary singer Shirley Bassey cutting the ribbon in front of over 5000 fans. Since then it’s grown to become one of the best loved venues in Wales, with a full capacity of 7,500 standing and 5,000 seated. Located right in the city centre, it’s within easy reach of all the major hotels and amenities, and is the perfect choice for catching your favourite band when they come to town.

Swalec Stadium

Home to Glamorgan County Cricket Club (Glamorgan CCC), one of Wales’ oldest and most successful clubs, the impressive SWALEC Stadium opened to great fanfare in 2008, with state-of-the-art facilities and seating capacity for up to 16,000 spectators. As well as county cricket, international test matches have been hosted at this fantastic venue since the 1990s, and major music and corporate events are also held here. Situated in the scenic Sophia Gardens Public Park in central Cardiff on the west bank of the River Taff, the stadium is just down the road from the Millennium Stadium and is easily accessed by bus, train or road.

Mermaid Quay

Looking for the very latest in high-street fashions? Want to pamper yourself with a luxury spa session? Or do you feel like treating someone special with a memorable evening out? You’ll find everything at Mermaid Quay, which is one of the premier leisure spots in Cardiff, just a short walk from the city centre and easily accessible whether you’re arriving by road, rail or water.

Bute Park

One of the great city parks of the world, Bute Park is a favoured haunt of both locals and visitors alike. First landscaped in the 18th Century by legendary garden designer Capability Brown, this 130 acre park is known as the ‘Green Heart’ of Cardiff and offers a leafy habitat for exercise, picnics and recreation, not to mention a wealth of seasonal attractions.

Cardiff City Hall

A wonderful place to learn about the history and architecture of the Welsh capital, Cardiff City Hall has been the centre of local government since 1906. Its distinctive 59 metre clock tower surmounted by a Welsh dragon towers over Cathay’s Park, evoking the prosperity and confidence of the Edwardian era like few other structures. Now considered one of the finest civic centres in Europe, City Hall is set amongst a number of other notable buildings, including the Temple of Peace and the National Museum and Gallery of Wales.

Roath Park

This narrow corridor of green space running from Roath to Cyncoed is one of the most popular public parks in Cardiff, holding a Green Flag that emphasises the quality of its natural environment and facilities. With an undeniably attractive Victorian atmosphere of elegance and tranquillity, Roath Park is the perfect spot to relax, enjoy sublime views of the hills surrounding the Welsh capital and engage in a variety of pastimes.

St. David's Hall

Set in the heart of Cardiff city centre, St. David’s Hall is the national concert hall and conference centre of Wales, playing host to some of the world’s most popular entertainers.

Capitol Shopping Centre

Cardiff’s Capitol Shopping Centre stands in Queen’s Street in the Welsh capital and provides an enticing range of shops, restaurants and leisure outlets, together with a multiplex cinema and parking.

Whitchurch Hospital

Although the range of services it offers has been scaled back in recent years, Whitchurch Hospital remains one of Cardiff’s most striking landmarks.

St Mellons Golf Club

With its long history, and even longer views of the distant Bristol Channel, St. Mellons Golf Club is one of the most esteemed places in Wales to play a round. The course was designed by Henry Shapland Colt, widely considered one of the seminal golf architects of all time. He created at St. Mellon an exciting mixture of tricky greens and undulating fairways.