Cardiff

Cardiff has undergone redevelopment in recent years, the dockland area been one of the areas and is well worth visiting, there are modern, trendy bars and public attractions.

The Millennium Stadium which has become an iconic symbol of Wales as well as Cardiff has staged the Rugby World Cup and the FA Cup Final. The stadium has a retractable roof and can seat over seventy thousand people, you can take a tour and see the Rugby Museum, dressing and VIP rooms and walk the players tunnel.

Cardiff Castle is situated in the centre of the city; the interior and the baroque door were designed by William Burgess. There are military museums within the castle walls. A climb to the tower of the Norman Keep is worthwhile to see the magnificent views over the city.

You can take a water bus and see the Norwegian church where Roald Dahl was christened, also the controversial Cardiff Bay Barrage. The barrage is across the Ely and Taff estuaries a large mud flat was transformed into a freshwater lake but wading birds have had to find new feeding grounds now.

The National Museum and Gallery is situated in the Civic Centre, here you will see a large selection of Impressionist paintings, and there is also a Contemporary and a Natural History Section.

Cardiff hosts a summer festival in late July early August with street theatre, comedy and live music on offer.

St. David’s Hall and the Cardiff International Arena are top class concert venues and have attracted internationally acclaimed orchestras. Live music is also found in some pubs and clubs.

Cardiff has good shopping with plenty of shops including the big name chain stores, in the Victorian and Edwardian Arcade you will find a selection of independent shops including designer wear outlets and trendy cafes. There are numerous places to eat with plenty of choice, the café quarter is recommended.

About seven miles north of Cardiff is the town of Caerphilly it is known for its white cheese which is made in the dairies around Caerphilly. There is also a much restored castle to visit with an impressive upper hall and a large gatehouse; there is also an exhibition on the castles history.

Approximately four miles west of Cardiff is The Museum of Welsh Life, here you will find a fifty-acre site with a collection of buildings taken from all over Wales and re-built here. You can see furnished ironworkers cottages the Pen-Rhiw Chapel which was originally built in 1777 in Dyfed. The museum was built in the grounds of St. Fagan’s Castle an Elizabethan country house. Cardiff and the surrounding area are well worth visiting all age groups should find something to interest them here.