Historic places in Cardiff

Historic places in Cardiff

1. See

   Bute Park

   More a collection of different parks that stretch continuously to the city's edge from the rear of the castle. Bute Park proper is an arboretum and former private grounds of the Bute family who owned the castle.

2. See

   Cardiff Castle

   Welsh: Castell Caerdydd

   Castle St. Cardiff Castle is a large castle whose foundations are based upon a Roman fort. In the 19th century, it was one of the homes of the Marquis of Bute. The Norman fort in the centre, the Welsh regimental museum and excavated Roman ruins are open, and tours of the Bute household are available. The Bute part of the castle is quite amazing. The interior was all done in the early 1900s in a very idiosyncratic and interesting style. There is barely an inch that is not adorned with some sort of artistic work. Yet, it is not overwhelming. The craftsmanship is well worth a look.

   Mar–Oct: Mon-Fri 10AM-6PM, Sat Sun 9AM-6PM; Nov–Feb: Mon-Fri 10AM-5PM, Sat Sun 9AM-5PM. Last entry one hour before closing time·Adult £14.50, child (age 5–16, with an adult) £10, senior/student/disabled (single carer free with each disabled ticket) £12, family ticket (2 adults and 2 children) £39, under 5s free

3. See

   Castell Coch

   meaning the 'Red Castle' in Welsh

   A fairytale castle nestled on a hill overlooking the main gateway into the valleys from Cardiff in the outskirts of the city. Imaginatively reconstruted from ruins for the 3rd Marquis of Bute, its interiors follow the same elaborate designs as Cardiff castle except on a more intimate scale and would not look out of place in Germany.

   Adults £7.30

4. Eat

   Castell Restaurant

   Amazing views of the castle grounds, and serves traditional Welsh cuisine. Also caters for private parties.

5. See

   Llandaff Cathedral

   Welsh: Eglwys Gadeiriol Llandaf

   In the ancient 'city of Llandaff', now incorporated into the north west of the city, and is one of the oldest religious sites in Europe. The cathedral dates from 1107 and features some spectacular architecture. After bomb damage in World War II it was very boldly restored; the huge statue of Christ in Majesty by Jacob Epstein tends to divide opinion, but is well worth a look. The cathedral school was where the famed children's author Roald Dahl was educated in the early part of his primary school life. The surrounding village is an interesting place to explore with a local coal magnate's house (Insole Court) donated to the people of Cardiff and open for visitors. The Ghost Tour has really become the thing to do in the area, making it into the Guardian's top 10 list of things to do in the UK.

6. See

   National Museum Cardiff

   An excellent collection of artworks and natural history exhibits. The art collection is particularly noted for the collection of 19th-century French works assembled by Gwendoline and Margaret Davies, heiresses to a fortune made in exporting coal. This is of international importance and includes works by Rodin, Monet, Renoir and Van Gogh. Children love the dinosaurs and mammoths in the Evolution of Wales section. £6.50 charge for the museum car park.

   Free admission

7. See

   St Fagans National History Museum

   Known universally as St Fagans (pronounced "FAG-uns") after the village it's in, this is easily Wales's most popular visitor attraction. An open-air museum of vernacular buildings from all parts of Wales rebuilt, stone by stone, in the grounds of St Fagans Castle, an Elizabethan manor house. The castle gardens, dating from the 19th century, are especially beautiful. You may not be able to see everything in a single visit due to the size of the grounds. Also contains permanent indoor exhibitions on Welsh social and cultural history. Great for kids.

   Free; pay and display parking

8. See

   The Cardiff Story

   This is the museum of Cardiff's history, located in the Old Library building, which it shares with the tourist information centre.

   Free admission

9. See Not mapped

   Caerau Castle Ringwork

   A Norman ringwork castle within an older Iron Age hillfort (as at Caer Penrhos). Much of the site has been overgrown with vegetation.

10. Eat Not mapped

    Nata & Co

    Popular local Portuguese bakery offering a wide selection of traditional Portuguese cakes and pastries and coffee for eating in or takeaway. Has a shop opposite the castle, another at the other end of Queen Street, another on Bute Street in Cardiff Bay and another on Clifton Street in Adamsdown. Try the Pastel de Nata for an authentic Portuguese treat and also order a cappuccino for the correct, smaller original version, not the giant mug of milk you get in most coffee chains!.

11. Buy Not mapped

    The Hayes

    This area in the southern city centre underwent a massive transformation in the 2010s, which included the construction of the £675-million St Davids shopping centre extension, and the largest John Lewis department store outside of London. A new public library was built at the opposite end of the street to the original library, which is now a museum about Cardiff known as the 'Old Library'. Here modern architecture contrasts beautifully with the historic shops and arcades on the opposite side of the street, which has quickly become the cities higher end of the market shopping street.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Cardiff (CC BY-SA 4.0).