Anna and Lauren's guidebook
Places to see in the area
Here are some of our favourite places to visit in Cardiff - a mixture of food & drink places, arts and culture, and other entertainment venues!
A community interest company facilitating space for local artists. Beautiful prints, mugs, gifts, homeware - and an excellent coffee and wine shop next door.
cardiff MADE
41 Lochaber StA community interest company facilitating space for local artists. Beautiful prints, mugs, gifts, homeware - and an excellent coffee and wine shop next door.
Shop dedicated to showcasing LGBTQ+ vendors from around the city. Great selection of clothes, books and gifts.
The Queer Emporium
2 Royal ArcadeShop dedicated to showcasing LGBTQ+ vendors from around the city. Great selection of clothes, books and gifts.
Community hub for showcasing independent traders. Ethical wine, Sicilian deli, art gallery, handcrafted gifts, Shelflife non-profit socially conscious bookstore, Heads Above the Waves non-profit mental health clothes shop...Well worth a look for this description if nothing else:
"The venue boasts a rustic and contemporary industrial feel that is warmed with vibrant suspended greenery and neon lighting".
The Corp Market (previously The Corporation Pub)
188 Cowbridge Road EastCommunity hub for showcasing independent traders. Ethical wine, Sicilian deli, art gallery, handcrafted gifts, Shelflife non-profit socially conscious bookstore, Heads Above the Waves non-profit mental health clothes shop...Well worth a look for this description if nothing else:
"The venue boasts a rustic and contemporary industrial feel that is warmed with vibrant suspended greenery and neon lighting".
So much to see and do here. Great café bar, independent cinema, gallery / art space with regular exhibitions, cool events. Well worth a visit (even if only for the sweet potato fries). Great for kids - very well-equipped toilets. Also an accessible space.
112 recommandé par les habitants
Centre d'art Chapter
Market RoadSo much to see and do here. Great café bar, independent cinema, gallery / art space with regular exhibitions, cool events. Well worth a visit (even if only for the sweet potato fries). Great for kids - very well-equipped toilets. Also an accessible space.
Beautiful new plant shop right next door to Glory Stores. Pop in after a glass of wine at Glory's to pick up a bunch of daffodils!
The Elephants Ear
1 Upper Kincraig StreetBeautiful new plant shop right next door to Glory Stores. Pop in after a glass of wine at Glory's to pick up a bunch of daffodils!
Music venue with a wide range of events on, set in an old church.
17 recommandé par les habitants
The Gate
Keppoch StreetMusic venue with a wide range of events on, set in an old church.
A large grassy area very near the house with a children's playground and a little stream running alongside.
Parc de loisirs de Roath
41 Ninian RdA large grassy area very near the house with a children's playground and a little stream running alongside.
A lovely stroll ten minutes from the house. Well-kept gardens and beautiful flower borders around a little winding river with weeping willows. Stop off for an afternoon tea at Waterloo Tea nearby for a relaxing afternoon.
Waterloo Gardens
Waterloo GardensA lovely stroll ten minutes from the house. Well-kept gardens and beautiful flower borders around a little winding river with weeping willows. Stop off for an afternoon tea at Waterloo Tea nearby for a relaxing afternoon.
Beautiful large park with pleasure lake and boats for hire. Playground area for the kids, birdlife to watch, good coffee and cake at the cafe and a botanic garden that is a riot of colour in summer.
146 recommandé par les habitants
Parc Roath
Lake Road WestBeautiful large park with pleasure lake and boats for hire. Playground area for the kids, birdlife to watch, good coffee and cake at the cafe and a botanic garden that is a riot of colour in summer.
Historic landmark with original 11th century motte & bailey castle. Free entry.
376 recommandé par les habitants
Château de Cardiff
Castle StHistoric landmark with original 11th century motte & bailey castle. Free entry.
Beautiful forest with miles of trails for walking. Superb for wild garlic and bluebells at the right time of year, but a solid option for a walk in any season. Perfect option for letting the kids run wild or giving the dog a good bit of exercise. Is very steep in places - good walking shoes required and unfortunately not suitable for those with mobility issues.
Wenallt forest
158 Wenallt RoadBeautiful forest with miles of trails for walking. Superb for wild garlic and bluebells at the right time of year, but a solid option for a walk in any season. Perfect option for letting the kids run wild or giving the dog a good bit of exercise. Is very steep in places - good walking shoes required and unfortunately not suitable for those with mobility issues.
Regular live music as well as cabaret and other events. Large outdoor area and plenty of indoor dancing space. More and more live events coming back now restrictions are lifting but please do check latest COVID guidelines.
18 recommandé par les habitants
Porter's
9 Bute TerraceRegular live music as well as cabaret and other events. Large outdoor area and plenty of indoor dancing space. More and more live events coming back now restrictions are lifting but please do check latest COVID guidelines.
We've been to some great events here (not just comedy but music and cultural stuff too) so always worth checking what's on when you're in town in case there's anything that takes your fancy!
19 recommandé par les habitants
The Glee Club Cardiff
We've been to some great events here (not just comedy but music and cultural stuff too) so always worth checking what's on when you're in town in case there's anything that takes your fancy!
Cinema with sofa-like seats and food and drinks brought to you. Extensive menu with cocktails and nibbles as well as burgers and hot dogs etc. Lovely plush interior. Suitable for children at the right showing.
6 recommandé par les habitants
Everyman Cardiff
Cinema with sofa-like seats and food and drinks brought to you. Extensive menu with cocktails and nibbles as well as burgers and hot dogs etc. Lovely plush interior. Suitable for children at the right showing.
Oriel Makers Gallery
37 Pen-Y-Lan RoadLovely little shop and gallery full of work by local artists.
Striking venue down the Bay with all sorts of theatre, musicals, comedy, film and other events on all through the year. Definitely check what they're showing when you're in town!
47 recommandé par les habitants
Millennium Centre station
Striking venue down the Bay with all sorts of theatre, musicals, comedy, film and other events on all through the year. Definitely check what they're showing when you're in town!
Really cool interactive science museum in Cardiff Bay - a little bit like @Bristol but smaller. Great for kids as they can just roam around.
91 recommandé par les habitants
Techniquest
Stuart StreetReally cool interactive science museum in Cardiff Bay - a little bit like @Bristol but smaller. Great for kids as they can just roam around.
Hobos Vintage
26 High Street ArcadeCool vintage clothes shops in a cute little arcade in town.
Free outdoor museum. Loads to see and well worth a visit - will need a car to get to as it's just outside of Cardiff. Plenty of roaming space for kids, a playground, live animals, lots to see in the indoor museum bit and there's an old-fashioned sweet shop selling real sweets too.
328 recommandé par les habitants
St Fagans National History Museum
Free outdoor museum. Loads to see and well worth a visit - will need a car to get to as it's just outside of Cardiff. Plenty of roaming space for kids, a playground, live animals, lots to see in the indoor museum bit and there's an old-fashioned sweet shop selling real sweets too.
Gorgeous second-hand bookstore in a small arcade in town. Extensive range of books over two floors. A haven for booklovers.
Troutmark Books
Castle ArcadeGorgeous second-hand bookstore in a small arcade in town. Extensive range of books over two floors. A haven for booklovers.
Massive antique / flea market if you fancy a spot of shopping. A little bit out of town but accessible by bus.
Pumping Station
Pumping StationMassive antique / flea market if you fancy a spot of shopping. A little bit out of town but accessible by bus.
Venue and club on happening Womanby Street. All genres - check their social media for upcoming gigs and DJ nights. Always a great night, lovely friendly diverse crowd.
10 recommandé par les habitants
The Moon
3 Womanby StVenue and club on happening Womanby Street. All genres - check their social media for upcoming gigs and DJ nights. Always a great night, lovely friendly diverse crowd.
Popular venue. Check to see which bands are playing in town when you're here!
25 recommandé par les habitants
Clwb Ifor Bach
11 Womanby StPopular venue. Check to see which bands are playing in town when you're here!
Cute independent cafe in town. They sometimes have events on so check their website if so inclined.
6 recommandé par les habitants
The Little Man Coffee Company
Bridge StreetCute independent cafe in town. They sometimes have events on so check their website if so inclined.
Beautiful large museum with regular exhibitions. Always free.
221 recommandé par les habitants
Musée national de Cardiff
Beautiful large museum with regular exhibitions. Always free.
Neighbourhoods
A lot to see here, from the Bone Yard artists' residence with food trucks and regular weekend events, to Chapter Arts Centre with its independent cinema. Also the lovely Victoria Park with award-winning eatery La Creperie de Claudie.
Canton
A lot to see here, from the Bone Yard artists' residence with food trucks and regular weekend events, to Chapter Arts Centre with its independent cinema. Also the lovely Victoria Park with award-winning eatery La Creperie de Claudie.
Upmarket, hip district containing the popular micro-brewery Pipes, Alex Gooch Artisan Bakery and The Lazy Leek vegan eatery (all in Kings Road Yard creative mews).
I like to wander around and admire the front gardens on Plasturton Avenue, where you can also spot a filming location from His Dark Materials if you look closely!
Brava breakfast spot is also here in Pontcanna, and you're just across the road from Sophia Gardens and Bute Park, where you can walk for miles along the Taff Trail.
21 recommandé par les habitants
Pontcanna
Upmarket, hip district containing the popular micro-brewery Pipes, Alex Gooch Artisan Bakery and The Lazy Leek vegan eatery (all in Kings Road Yard creative mews).
I like to wander around and admire the front gardens on Plasturton Avenue, where you can also spot a filming location from His Dark Materials if you look closely!
Brava breakfast spot is also here in Pontcanna, and you're just across the road from Sophia Gardens and Bute Park, where you can walk for miles along the Taff Trail.
Quiet, leafy residential suburb with a village feel. Home to Porro restaurant, Llandaff Cathedral and Insole Court house and gardens. Nice bars and quaint pubs too. A good option for a visit.
Llandaff
Quiet, leafy residential suburb with a village feel. Home to Porro restaurant, Llandaff Cathedral and Insole Court house and gardens. Nice bars and quaint pubs too. A good option for a visit.
Lots to see here - the Senedd Welsh parliament building, the Norwegian Church, the Millennium Centre, plenty of restaurants and bars, the Everyman Cinema is down here and in the summer there are outdoor events and festivals on most of the time. You can also hire boats to go out onto the water for a different perspective on the city. Lovely long walks too along the barrage out towards Penarth.
Cardiff Bay Trail
Cardiff Bay TrailLots to see here - the Senedd Welsh parliament building, the Norwegian Church, the Millennium Centre, plenty of restaurants and bars, the Everyman Cinema is down here and in the summer there are outdoor events and festivals on most of the time. You can also hire boats to go out onto the water for a different perspective on the city. Lovely long walks too along the barrage out towards Penarth.
Conseils aux voyageurs
Se déplacer dans les environs
Walking or cycling is the best way to get around Cardiff.
There are plenty of buses which are cheap and easy to use, but walking and cycling are by far the easiest. There are the OVO bikes for hire all over the place, and walking from one side of the city to the other only takes an hour. You can walk from Cardiff Castle to the Millennium Centre in about half an hour and Roath to Pontcanna in around 45 minutes.
Réservez avant de partir
Most restaurants and some pubs especially on the weekend.
Even after being out of lockdown for a while now, it is common to book a table at most restaurants and even pubs if you're going out on a weekend or if there is an event on. You will certainly be able to find a table somewhere without booking, but if you are banking on being able to sit down or if you definitely want to order food, booking ahead is a good idea.
Que faut-il apporter ?
Rainproof clothing and bags.
Let's face it - this is Wales, and it's going to rain. Enjoy the lush green landscape resulting from this rainfall from the comfort of your waterproof coat and shoes!
Phrases utiles
A bit of Welsh will make you feel cultured and clever.
Croeso (croy-saw) = Welcome
Bore da (boar-eh-dah) = Good morning
Diolch (dee-olch) = Thank you
Hwyl (Hoyl) = Hey / See you
Nos da (Nors dah) = Good night
Os gwelwch yn dda (ors gwel-ooch un thar) = Please
Esgusodwch fi (essguzod-oowch vee) = Excuse me
Un coffi (een coffee) / Un te (een ter) = One coffee / One tea
Toiledau (toy-led-eye) = Toilets
Ble mae'r tafarn (bleh my-eer tav-arn) = Where is the pub
Coutumes et culture
People in Wales say hello to each other on the street.
Do not be afraid. They don't want anything from you. This is especially likely to happen if you are visiting a smaller town or village near Cardiff, or if you have a dog or small child with you. Smile and say hello back, and if you say it in Welsh they will be very pleased.
Se déplacer dans les environs
Train announcements are in Welsh first then English.
This can make some announcements very long. Be patient - they will always say it in English, but they do the full Welsh one first. Emergency announcements are generally given only in English.
Se déplacer dans les environs
There is no metro or subway in Cardiff.
We have buses and bikes! You can also drive around the city fairly easily if you hire a car on your visit. But the best way to see Cardiff if by foot - it's a small city and you can walk between areas very easily.
Manières d'économiser
First Table for 50% off food
Check this web site if you are planning to eat out in Cardiff as there are many restaurants taking part. You pay £5 to book the first table of the sitting (lunch or dinner), so it will be an early booking (12.30pm for lunch or 5.30/6pm for dinner) but you get 50% off your food bill. Bargain!