Cardiff Attractions and Entertainment

Cardiff has an abundance of attractions to keep everybody interested during your stay in the city, whether you enjoy soaking up history and culture at the local museums and galleries or simply relaxing in one of the many excellent pubs and bars – you’ll find something to suit everyone.

1. Cardiff Museums
2. Entertainment and the Arts
3. Outdoor Attractions and Activities for the Kids
4. Historic Buildings, Monuments and Gardens
5. Shopping in Cardiff

Cardiff Museums

The City of Cardiff has a plethora of fascinating museums giving you a chance to learn a little about Cardiff and its part in the history books, the Cardiff museums include:

• National Museum and Gallery of Wales:
  Located at Cathays Park in Cardiff, this museum and gallery includes sculpture and ceramics, but its tour de force is its collection of Welsh and European art and in particular its French Impressionist collection.
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• Nantgarw China Works:
  Scheduled as an Ancient Monument and located ten miles north of Cardiff at Nantgarw, this china works has been fully restored and is the site where William Billingsley made some of the world’s finest porcelain during the nineteenth century.
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• Museum of Welsh Life:
  This museum, found at St Fagans, Cardiff, and set in 100 acres of open air parkland, tells the tale of local life, displaying a variety of authentic folk buildings focuses on traditional crafts and costumes. The centre also puts on festival and displays in may, mid-summer, harvest and Christmas.
• Welsh Regiment Museum:
  Found at the Black and Barbican Towers, The Towers in Cardiff this museum commemorates the services in south Wales.
• Pontypridd Museum:
  Located in Pontypridd this museum tells the tale of the town, its history and its people through the years.
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• Grifithstown Railway Museum:
  Located in Griffithstown, Pontypool, the museum has hundreds of railway items on display as well as a working miniature steam engine and traction engine. A real must-see for all train enthusiasts.
• Tehniquest:
  Found on Stuart Street in Cardiff this centre is a great hands-on discovery centre with 160 interactive exhibits, Science Theatre and Planetarium.
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Entertainment and the Arts

For those of an artistic nature Cardiff has something for you too – there are many galleries in which to spend an hour or two. Additionally there are theatres, where you can catch a show; and the local cinemas all show the latest releases. The arts and entertainment offering include:

• National Museum and Gallery of Wales:
  Located at Cathays Park in Cardiff, this museum and gallery includes sculpture and ceramics, but its tour de force is its collection of Welsh and European art and in particular its French Impressionist collection.
• The Gallery on Broadway:
  This Cardiff gallery promotes the ownership of original artwork. Run on a not-for-profit basis and includes works by new and emerging artists.
• Martin Tinney Gallery:
  Established in Cardiff in 1989 the gallery specializes in 20th century Welsh artists and is generally considered Wales’ premier commercial gallery.
• Butetown History and Arts Centre:
  Found on Bute Street in Cardiff Bay, the centre stages exhibitions on multi-cultural Britain and also publishes books and runs and educational program.
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• Turner House Gallery:
  Located in Penarth, five miles south of Cardiff city centre, the gallery stages exhibitions from its own impressive collection as well as traveling exhibitions.

Outdoor Attractions and Activities for the Kids

Cardiff has plenty on offer to keep the children occupied too especially in the summer months where you can enjoy all the outside activities in the glorious Welsh sunshine. Many of the attractions are free to visitors, but whatever you choose to do, be sure at some stage to travel a short distance for a picnic in some of the beautiful South Glamorgan countryside or coastal areas. Other outdoor attractions include:

• Museum of Welsh Life:
  his museum, found at St Fagans, Cardiff, and set in 100 acres of open air parkland, tells the tale of local life, displaying a variety of authentic folk buildings focuses on traditional crafts and costumes. The centre also puts on festival and displays in may, mid-summer, harvest and Christmas.
• Barry Island Pleasure Park:
  Situated in the Vale of Glamorgan ten miles south of Cardiff, Barry Island is the must-attend outdoor activity for kids in the area, with many breathtaking rides and other theme park activities.
• Cosmeston Lakes Country Park and Medieval Village:
  Set in Penarth, this village depicts medieval life and is built around a 12th century fortified manor. Actors in costumes tell the tale of daily life in the year 1350.
• Green Meadow Community Farm:
  Located in Cwmbran this is one of Wales’ leading farm attractions with milking demonstrations, dragon adventure play area and tractor and trailer rides. Also shearing and lambing weekends on offer.
• Welsh Hawking Centre and Children’s Animal Park:
  Located at Barry in South Glamorgan this centre has over 200 birds of prey including aerial displays. In addition there are also lambs, calves, rabbits and chicks.
• Cefn Malby Farm Park:
  Located at St Mellons, Cardiff the park has a wide selection of farm animals, pony rides and indoor and outdoor picnic areas.
• Warren Mill Farm Park:
  Found at Pendoylan, Cowbridge this animal park displays farm animals as well as a great picnic and play area.

Historic Buildings, Monuments and Gardens

Cardiff has played a big part in the history books and as a result the heritage and history is evident all around the city, and there is an abundance of impressive architecture, historic buildings and monuments and gardens. They include:

• Cardiff Castle:
  Located in the centre of Cardiff, this historic castle built by the third Marques of Bute is definitely a must-see attraction if visiting the city.
• Castell Coch:
  This outstanding piece of architecture by the Marques of Bute and William Burges is located at Tongwynlais and is a Victorian fantasy – and well worth a visit.
• Fonmon Castle:
  Located at Fonmon in Barry this lovely castle is situated amongst beautiful walled gardens. This attraction open from April until September.
• Roath Pleasure Garden:
  Situated two miles to the north of Cardiff city centre theses gardens also have a memorial to Scott of the Antarctic.

Cardiff Shopping

Cardiff caters for shoppers as well as those interested in the City’s history and culture, the local shopping centres include:

• Queens Arcade Shopping Centre, Queen Street
• St David’s Centre, Cathedral Walk
• Capitol Shopping Centre, Queens Street