Cardiff City Tour

A truly spectacular Castle, sitting proudly right in Cardiff City Centre imperiously looking over the city. Whilst not being the tallest or largest structure in the City, it is is still one of the largest buildings and dominates the surrounding area.

The Principality is a 74,500 all seater multi use arena in the heart of Cardiff City Centre. It is the 2nd largest stadium in the world with a retractable roof. Only the 80,000 capacity AT&T Stadium in Texas, home of the Dallas Cowboys, is bigger. There are however, a couple of stadiums in America whose capacity is expandable above the Principality’s Capacity. Nothing anywhere else in the world comes close. Krestovsky Stadium (66,881) in St Petersburg Russia, is the closest outside North America in terms of capacity.

The Wales Millennium Centre is located in Cardiff Bay and is home to The Welsh National Opera. The National Dance Company & BBC Welsh National Orchestra of Wales are also based there. As are numerous other arts organisations. Building work began in 2002 and was fully opened in 2009. The Centre comprises 3 theatres, the main one being the 1897 capacity Donald Gordon Theatre. In addition there are two smaller theatres. One with 350 seats, and a third one with 250 seats. There are also a number of function rooms, rehearsal spaces, dance studios and orchestra space. A number of bars, restaurants and cafes’ are located in the Foyer area. These are open to the public during the day and evening.

Roald Dahl Plass is a large open space in Cardiff Bay in front of the Wales Millennium Centre. It is named after the famous children author Roald Dahl who was born in Cardiff. This public space has been the site of many events and exhibitions. Most summers, the Plass is converted into a huge Beach, complete with fairground rides. In 2018, it was it was the focus of the National Eisteddfod held in the city. In 2017, a large stage was constructed as part of the Champions League Festival, in the build up to the UEFA Champions League Final. DJ Steve Aoki headlined a free concert there the night before the final.

Cardiff Bay Barrage took 7 years to build. In the 1990’s, it was one of the largest civil engineering projects in Europe. At a cost of £120m the Barrage opened in 2001. Sitting on the mouth of the Severn Estuary, Cardiff experienced the same tidal ranges as the rest of the Severn Estuary, which are the 2nd highest in the world. This meant that when the tide went out, large mudflats were exposed. Cardiff was susceptible to flooding from tidal surges. The construction of the Barrage helped solve both these issues. First it stopped water going out with the tide, making the area more attractive, usable and likely to attract investment, whilst also protecting Cardiff from flooding by keeping tidal surges out. The Barrage created a 2 square kilometre freshwater lake. Its construction started the regeneration of Cardiff Bay and Cardiff as a whole. Today the Barrage also provides a walk and cycle path linking Penarth and Cardiff.

Roath Park is a popular destination for families and joggers alike, located in the north of Cardiff. Covering a total of 130 acres. The park is split in two. Roath Park Lake, and Roath Park Recreation Ground, or Roath Park Rec. The Northern part of the Park is known as Roath Park Lake, due to the lake that covers half of this part of the park and is 1.3 Miles around. Home to many water birds, such as Swans and Geese, the lake is also popular with anglers, and has rowing and pedal boats that can be hired. A small lighthouse was added in 1915, to commemorate Captain Scott. His ill fated exhibition to the Antarctic, which left set off from Cardiff in 1910 on the ship. Terra Nova. As well as the lake, the northern half of the Park also has an extensive garden. This is home to 12 Champion Trees, and a Conservatory. The conservatory, has a tropical feel to it, and houses a pond with many fish, and is surrounded by unusual plants such as banana trees and palms.

Constructed in the 12th Century, Llandaff Cathedral was built over an existing church. Believed to be an ancient Celtic church, of unknown age. It is one of two Cathedrals in the Cardiff, and is located in Llandaff, a City within a City.

Cathays Park is Cardiff’s Civic Centre, and contains many impressive and Listed Buildings. Formerly part of Cardiff Castle grounds, the land was purchased by Cardiff Council from the 3rd Marquess of Bute in 1898. The Marquess stipulated as a condition of the sale, that the land could only be used for civic, cultural and educational purposes, and the avenues were to be preserved. Alexandra Gardens is one of 3 Gardens located within Cathays Park. It is the largest of the 3 and contains formal lawns, with island flowerbeds and trees. The Welsh National War Memorial, is in the centre of the park, and was unveiled in 1928. Since then a number of other smaller memorials have been added to the park including one for the Falklands and Spanish Civil Wars.

This distinctive red brick building in Cardiff Bay is Grade I listed and was built in 1897 by architect William Frame. Frame’s mentor had been William Burges and the building is built in a French-Gothic Renaissance theme, likely inspired by Burges’. Originally owned by the Bute Docks Company, it was the HQ for the company. After the 2nd World War became the administrative offices for the Port of Cardiff. As the docks declined, The Pierhead building was all but abandoned. Following redevelopment of Cardiff Bay, the Pierhead Building was reopened as an exhibition and visitor centre by the Welsh Assembly. Today the Pierhead Building is home to an exhibition that charts the rise and fall of Cardiff as a port, and the subsequent rebirth of Cardiff Bay.

We will drive past the home of the Welsh Government in Cardiff Bay. Here you will see the balance of old and new, as the Modern Senedd building sits next to some of the oldest buildings in Cardiff Bay

Home of thousands of works artefacts and pieces of art. The National Art Gallery, which is part of the museum, is considered by many to be the home of the most impressive body of impressionist art in the world, outside the Louvre

Home of Cardiff City FC, and the Welsh National Football Team. Opened in 2009. it is the second largest stadium in Wales