Cardiff, Wales
As we have family that live near Cardiff, we tend to travel in that direction quite often. Cardiff, the capital of Wales, is a wonderful city for travellers to explore. It is easy to reach by car, train or plane. From London it takes approximately 3 hours by car or bus along the M4 motorway. First Great Western offers train services direct from Paddington Station in London, and Cardiff also has an international airport. If you are travelling by car, however, a toll needs to be paid before crossing the Severn Bridge (currently £4.90).
Cardiff is a city that tends to have something for everyone, including historical places of interest, parks and lakes, theatre productions, good restaurants, shopping and a lively nightlife. It has been reported
to be one of the fastest growing capital cities in Europe. The centre of Cardiff is quite compact, and it is possible to wander around on foot, however there are various other tourist attractions which are situated further out and therefore one would need to take a bus, train or taxi to reach them. Cardiff has a good bus network that is relatively easy to use.
The centre itself is a hub for shopping, restaurants and pubs. The main shopping thoroughfare is Queen Street, which is pedestrianised, and has all the usual high-street labels. There are various Victorian-styled arcades in the city, winding passages with a variety of shops on either side. An established market, also designed in Victorian style, is located in the heart of the city centre. St Mary's Street is where the train and bus stations are located. Most of the nightlife tends to happen in this street, also leading off into Mill Lane, where there are further clubs and upmarket bars. A lot of hen and stag parties seem to take place in Cardiff, so it can get quite rowdy and loud - but these parties tend to end up at the bigger and most popular nightclubs, so if that scene isn't what you're after, it is easy enough to escape somewhere else!
The city has its very own castle, Cardiff Castle, built on the site of a Roman fort. The exterior of the modern castle, built in the 19th Century, has all the elements of a fairytale castle, with towers and turrets. The interior is a lavish display, intricately designed rooms of different themes, and is worth seeing. If the admission price of £6.95 seems a little steep, then it is possible to pay half that to view the gardens the castle is situated in, along with the remains of the Norman keep and a military museum. Next to Cardiff Castle is Bute Park , a vast park which extends along the River Taff, and is an ideal place in which to retreat from the bustle of the city. For those who have football and rugby at heart, then a visit to the Millennium Stadium is a must see.
Another architectural attraction, and one of historic interest, is Llandaff Cathedral, which dates from 1107. Two museums worth visiting in Cardiff are the National Museum and Gallery and also St Fagans: National History Museum. The latter is an open-air museum standing in the grounds of
St Fagan's Castle (which looks more like a large house), and has over 40 different buildings that have been re-erected. It's an interesting day out when the weather is good! If natural beauty is more what you're after, there are an numerous parks in and around Cardiff. One of my favourites is Roath Park and Lake, which is situated in suburbian Cardiff. It has an expanse of parkland (including a botanical garden) next to a large lake. It is possible to row boats on the lake during the summer. Worth a mention, although not strictly in Cardiff as it lies closer to Penarth, is Cosmeston Lakes Country Park. It is a huge area of lakes, woodland and gardens, and a great place to stroll about and relax. It also houses a medieval village on the site where archaelogical discoveries were made about the past community.
Cardiff Bay is the city's newest and ever-evolving waterfront development. Mermaid Quay is the main attraction, with mostly restaurants, bars and a few shops. There are also boat
trips from Mermaid Quay, mostly to Penarth. Other tourist attractions at the Bay include the new Welsh Assembly Building and the Wales Millennium Centre. The latter is a recently built arts centre, the modern structure hosting such performances as musicals, ballets and operas. Another somewhat smaller arts venue on the Bay is the Norwegian Church. Formerly a church, it is now a cultural centre with a coffee shop, and hosts different art exhibitions and musical events.
Wales itself is a beautiful part of the UK to visit, and Cardiff is only an hour or two away from some further scenic spots. If the sea is what you're after, a vast sandy beach to visit is Ogmore-by-Sea, near Bridgend. The Mumbles and the Gower Peninsula (close to Swansea) are also not far off. If the hills and mountains are your preference, then northwards lie the Brecon Beacons, which shall have a separate blog entry in the future.
Cardiff is a city that tends to have something for everyone, including historical places of interest, parks and lakes, theatre productions, good restaurants, shopping and a lively nightlife. It has been reported
to be one of the fastest growing capital cities in Europe. The centre of Cardiff is quite compact, and it is possible to wander around on foot, however there are various other tourist attractions which are situated further out and therefore one would need to take a bus, train or taxi to reach them. Cardiff has a good bus network that is relatively easy to use.The centre itself is a hub for shopping, restaurants and pubs. The main shopping thoroughfare is Queen Street, which is pedestrianised, and has all the usual high-street labels. There are various Victorian-styled arcades in the city, winding passages with a variety of shops on either side. An established market, also designed in Victorian style, is located in the heart of the city centre. St Mary's Street is where the train and bus stations are located. Most of the nightlife tends to happen in this street, also leading off into Mill Lane, where there are further clubs and upmarket bars. A lot of hen and stag parties seem to take place in Cardiff, so it can get quite rowdy and loud - but these parties tend to end up at the bigger and most popular nightclubs, so if that scene isn't what you're after, it is easy enough to escape somewhere else!
The city has its very own castle, Cardiff Castle, built on the site of a Roman fort. The exterior of the modern castle, built in the 19th Century, has all the elements of a fairytale castle, with towers and turrets. The interior is a lavish display, intricately designed rooms of different themes, and is worth seeing. If the admission price of £6.95 seems a little steep, then it is possible to pay half that to view the gardens the castle is situated in, along with the remains of the Norman keep and a military museum. Next to Cardiff Castle is Bute Park , a vast park which extends along the River Taff, and is an ideal place in which to retreat from the bustle of the city. For those who have football and rugby at heart, then a visit to the Millennium Stadium is a must see.
Another architectural attraction, and one of historic interest, is Llandaff Cathedral, which dates from 1107. Two museums worth visiting in Cardiff are the National Museum and Gallery and also St Fagans: National History Museum. The latter is an open-air museum standing in the grounds of
St Fagan's Castle (which looks more like a large house), and has over 40 different buildings that have been re-erected. It's an interesting day out when the weather is good! If natural beauty is more what you're after, there are an numerous parks in and around Cardiff. One of my favourites is Roath Park and Lake, which is situated in suburbian Cardiff. It has an expanse of parkland (including a botanical garden) next to a large lake. It is possible to row boats on the lake during the summer. Worth a mention, although not strictly in Cardiff as it lies closer to Penarth, is Cosmeston Lakes Country Park. It is a huge area of lakes, woodland and gardens, and a great place to stroll about and relax. It also houses a medieval village on the site where archaelogical discoveries were made about the past community.Cardiff Bay is the city's newest and ever-evolving waterfront development. Mermaid Quay is the main attraction, with mostly restaurants, bars and a few shops. There are also boat
trips from Mermaid Quay, mostly to Penarth. Other tourist attractions at the Bay include the new Welsh Assembly Building and the Wales Millennium Centre. The latter is a recently built arts centre, the modern structure hosting such performances as musicals, ballets and operas. Another somewhat smaller arts venue on the Bay is the Norwegian Church. Formerly a church, it is now a cultural centre with a coffee shop, and hosts different art exhibitions and musical events.Wales itself is a beautiful part of the UK to visit, and Cardiff is only an hour or two away from some further scenic spots. If the sea is what you're after, a vast sandy beach to visit is Ogmore-by-Sea, near Bridgend. The Mumbles and the Gower Peninsula (close to Swansea) are also not far off. If the hills and mountains are your preference, then northwards lie the Brecon Beacons, which shall have a separate blog entry in the future.
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