A Historic city full of Charm 

Cardiff is the capital city of Wales and is the eleventh-largest city in the United Kingdom. Wales is situated Southwest of Great Britain and is about 240km west of London and filled with some of the friendliest people.

Cardiff is a beautiful coastal city filled with Celtic culture, medieval castles, entertainment, and parklands. It is a blend of the past and the present and has something for everyone; family, couple or singles, be enlightened with the history, enjoy some entertainment, spoil yourself with some shopping and an abundance of food or relax and walk along their stunning Greenland’s.

The best thing about Cardiff is you can explore the city on foot, saving you from transport.

Language Over 90% of the population speaks English and Welsh (Cymry).

The currency is the British pound.

The best time to visit Cardiff is generally in summer, although it is the busiest season and the prices are higher, so if you are thinking of staying in Cardiff, you may want to book ahead. The best time to visit is between April and May; you will encounter the beautiful flowers in bloom and fewer crowds and prices.

Getting to Cardiff: The quickest and direct way is by the National rail train from London (Paddington station) it takes about one hour and forty minutes.

You can travel by bus with national express couches although it takes around 3.5 hours. You can book with Rome 2 Rio here. There is a cheaper bus option around £15 return; with Mega Bus which is about a 4-hour journey as it makes a few stops along the way.

A great way to meet new people and save on travel costs is to share a ride with a local heading in the same direction; check out blablacar.

Where to stay: I only spent a day exploring Cardiff, but accommodation is abundant throughout Cardiff. If you are looking to stay a night or two, you can book here with Booking.com

Explore Cardiff Castle

Situated in the heart of the city; it originated from the Roman times, it has had a major transformation in the 19th century the rooms were decorated with a rich gothic style filled with over 2000 years of history; you can explore the castle at your own pace with an audio tour, allow at least two hours to view the castle, you can climb the Norman keep, visit the Wartime shelters and Firing line, discover the Roman remains and wonder the Castle lavish decorated apartments.

Entry costs to Cardiff Castle: £14.50 Adult, £10.00 Child (5-16), Family (2A,2C) £42.00 – prices as of 2021.

Cardiff Bay

Was extremely significant in the 1900s; it was the main way of transporting coal to the rest of the world, it has since been restored into a lavish waterfront bustling with entertainment and iconic buildings like Pierhead that is used as a unique visitor and events venue and The Senedd that is the Welsh Parliament building; along with the beautiful Norwegian church that now operates as an art center that holds small celebrations, art exhibitions, and cultural events.

The writer Ronald Dahl and his family attended this church, he was also baptized here before its state of despair; there is now a room in memory of Dahl called ‘The Dahl Gallery.’ You will also find the Mermaid Quay here on the waterfront; if you are a bit peckish and need a drink there are bars, cafés, restaurants, and shops here.

Millennium Stadium 

located in the heart of Cardiff Bay; it opened in 2004; if you are lucky during your visit you might be able to catch a musical, opera, ballet, dance, theatre show, or even a comedy show. The stadium is big and sits around 76,000 people; If you do not get to catch a show during your visit, it’s worth a stop to see the impressive architecture; there are restaurants and bars here to stop and have a bite to eat or refresh. 

Bute Park

Explore the beautiful Bute Park, wander around the picturesque gardens found just behind Cardiff Castle, it’s worth a visit it is filled with nature, (birds, river animals, flowers, trees) and has the River Taff running through the park, there are a few cafes and trails if you like you can jump on a river taxi and make your way to Cardiff Bay or you can hire a bike and explore the many trails.

Shopping 

There is an abundance of shopping in Cardiff all within walking distance, there are two main shopping centers (Queens Arcade and St Davids center), not to mention the Victorian and Edwardian, Royal and Morgan arcades you can stroll through, with architectural beauty the arcades are filled with charming independent boutiques and cafes. 

Try some tasty cheese and delightful coffee; you will find the world’s oldest record shop ‘Spillers Records’ here it’s a landmark in its own right; it opened in 1894 filled with vinyl and CDs, if you are a music enthusiast you might like to consider this on your list, it’s unique. You can buy concert tickets here too.

The Queens Arcade is in the vibrant city center it has a great selection of unique local retailers and big-name brands, one of the many places to pick up a perfect gift for those more on a budget.

A further five-minute walk you can visit the St David’s shopping center filled with over 180 stores, well-known eateries, and a little fun for the whole family with an indoor mini-golf course.

Visit the thriving indoor Cardiff market 

Found in the center of the city, within five minutes’ walk of the Cardiff Castle it is 2 levels and is filled with local produce and products, traditional Welsh and international cuisine, this is a place for food lovers, you can find souvenirs, clothing, and a record shop and for the men, a barbershop. If you are not watching your calories, here is a place to indulge.

National Museum

You will find it in the heart of the civic center, the best thing is it is free to visit. It has Wales national art, natural exhibits, and dinosaurs and mammoths on display, something for the whole family.

You can easily walk around Cardiff at your leisure, or you can jump on the double-decker hop-on, hop-off city sightseeing bus tour that has 11 stops throughout Cardiff. Buy a ticket it is valid for 24-hours from when you first use it, the entire route takes approximately 50-minutes, I did not do this tour personally, but I did see the bus throughout my time in Cardiff. You can book your City-sightseeing tour here.

Cardiff is surrounded by many beautiful places to visit within the United Kingdom, within a 2-3 hour drive you can visit places like Manchester, and Liverpool if you are a football fan and a Beetles fan and visit the stunning historic town of Oxford, and of course not to forget the famous London.