St Fagans

Conveniently located halfway between Cardiff and Swansea, and a stone’s throw from the Brecon Beacons and the Gower Peninsula, Bridgend is a thriving market town. Settled since pre-Roman times, it is steeped in history. From its Norman castles, beautiful beaches and areas of outstanding natural beauty, to its bustling shopping district, fine restaurants and excellent sporting facilities, there is truly something for everyone in Bridgend.

Barry is the largest town in Wales. It is packed full of maritime and industrial history, but most visitors know it best for the seaside resort of Barry Island that sits at its southern tip. Barry is far from being all beach, beach, beach, but, if its sand, fun and amusements you seek, it can provide it by the bucketful!

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

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 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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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, 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.