Cardiff Local Information: 10 top things to know... more

  • 1. History of Cardiff

    The Romans settled on the site of Cardiff Castle in about AD60 and some of the original walls from their fort can still be seen. A castle was built on the site in the 11th century but was built in wood. A castle of stone was constructed in the 12th century. In the 15th century the town was destroyed and the castle lay in ruins until being reconstructed in 1423. It was then that...Read more the octagonal tower, now known as Beauchamp's tower, was built. Much of the rest of the castle and walls dates back to the 19th century. In the late 19th century the Glamorganshire canal was built to link Merthyr Tydfil with Cardiff and the Cardiff docks. This led to Cardiff becoming the biggest coal exporter in the world. Dockworkers and sailors from around the world settled in communities near the docks, known as Tiger Bay, and up to 45 different nationalities helped create the unique multi-cultural character of the area. Read less

  • 2. Now in Cardiff

    The dock areas went into decline in the 1970s and 1980s, but have now been regenerated and Cardiff Bay is now a modern waterside development of attractions. The Millennium Stadium, in the city centre, hosts many national and international sporting events as well as live music. The capital of Wales is popular for tourists and for students, and has plenty of attractions, venues a...Read morend shopping facilities as well as modern and historic sightseeing opportunities, all within walking distance. Read less

  • 3. Events in Cardiff

    There are plenty of sporting events taking place regularly at the Millennium Stadium, including international rugby matches, motorcycling events and football. The venue also hosts major live concerts. Events on the annual calendar include the Cardiff Festival, which celebrates art, music, culture and sport. The Cardiff Wales LGBT Mardi Gras is a one-day celebration that takes p...Read morelace every September. Other events include the Cardiff Vintage Fashion Fair, the Cardiff Design Festival and the Great Welsh Beer and Cider Festival. Read less

  • 4. Attractions in Cardiff

    Cardiff Castle sits in the heart of the city and has 2,000 years of history to tell. Visitors with children can also enjoy a stay and play area containing arts and crafts activities. The National Museum Cardiff has an impressionist gallery containing work by Monet, Picasso and Rodin. Roald Dahl fans can visit the Norwegian Church Arts Centre, where the author was christened. Th...Read moreis building also has a great history to tell. The St Fagans open air museum, on the outskirts of the city centre, stands in the grounds of St Fagans Castle and includes 40 buildings showing different periods in history. The buildings include houses, a farm, a school and a chapel. Read less

  • 5. Things To Do in Cardiff

    Visitors to Cardiff can take a day tour to Flat Holm Island, a Site of Special Scientific Interest just five miles from the city in the Bristol Channel. The island has a large gull population and other wildlife including slow worms and shelducks. Cardiff International White Water, in the International Sports Village, is the first on-demand white water facility in the UK. Visito...Read morers can enjoy water rafting, kayaking, hydro speeding and hot-dogging in a controlled environment. Cycling tours are a popular way to see the city’s sights. Tours on many other themes are also on offer in Cardiff. Read less

  • 6. Business in Cardiff

    In March 2004 Cardiff was named as the world’s first FairTrade Capital City. The title was awarded after Cardiff Council ensured FairTrade products were available in a number of cafes, stores and supermarkets in the city, as well as serving FairTrade teas and coffees in its own canteens and meetings. Cardiff has a wide variety of shopping facilities to cater for all tastes. E...Read moredwardian and Victorian arcades sit alongside modern shopping centres. There are also plenty of cafes, restaurants and bars to stop and relax in. Read less

  • 7. Transport in Cardiff

    Cardiff Airport offers flights to destinations worldwide. Cardiff’s Central Train Station is the main rail station with links all over the UK. It is a Grade II listed building in the city centre. Most buses and coaches into Cardiff arrive at Cardiff bus station, adjacent to Cardiff Central Station. The M4 from London runs right through the north of the city.

  • 8. Entertainment in Cardiff

    The Wales Millennium Centre stages theatre, West End musicals, opera, ballet, contemporary dance, hip-hop, stand-up comedy, art exhibitions, workshops, training days, free daily foyer performances and more. Other theatre venues include the New Theatre, St David’s Hall, the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Chapter Arts Centre and many more. The list of live music venues...Read more includes the Millennium Stadium, Motorpoint Arena Cardiff, St David’s Hall, The Norwegian Church and Cardiff Central Library. Read less

  • 9. Famous Landmarks in Cardiff

    Landmarks include Cardiff Castle and The Norwegian Church, an arts centre that was once a church for Norwegian sailors. Castell Coch is the remains of a medieval castle mixed with the work of a reconstruction in 1875. It has fairytale towers and turrets.

  • 10. Interesting Facts about Cardiff

    Famous names to come out of Cardiff include Roald Dahl, Ryan Giggs, Colin Jackson, Shirley Bassey and Charlotte Church.

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Cardiff Events

  • Great Welsh Beer and Cider Festival

    June 2012 Beer and cider
    drinkers enjoy a giant pub
    for three days in the city
    for the annual Great Welsh
    Beer and Cider
    Festival. Motorpoint Arena
    is transformed into a huge
    tasting arena and sees
    enthusiasts enjoying more
    than 160 real ales. ...more

  • Cardiff Festival

    June - Sept Cardiff Festival
    takes over the city for the
    summer, running from the end
    of June to the beginning of
    September. The festival is a
    celebration of art, music and
    culture and features a packed
    programme of events across
    the city. It has bee ...more

  • Joust!

    June 2012 Cardiff Castle is
    the appropriate backdrop for
    a weekend of medieval-themed
    events known as Joust! One
    of the highlights of the
    annual event is the realistic
    jousting tournament, in which
    The Knights of Royal England
    ride into the arena on...more

  • 16 June 2013 - 23 June 2013

    BBC Cardiff Singer of the World

    This competition takes place
    in Cardiff every two years
    and has become one of the
    world’s biggest singing
    events. The event takes place
    over two weeks in June and
    was established in 1983. The
    competition attracts agents,
    managers, opera house
    d ...more

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  • Architect whose Cardiff Bay plans were scrapped transforms Chinese city

    An architect who applied to build a world-class opera house in Cardiff Bay only to have the plan rejected, has finally found a home for her work in Guangzhou, China. 16 years after applying for the development of the cultural building in Cardiff Bay, Zaha Hadid can now see her dream realised. The architect applied in 1995 as part of the Millennium project and many were shocked that her idea was rejected. The Guangzhou Opera House has transformed the Chinese …

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  • Cardiff named UK’s most sociable city, in statistics released today

    Cardiff has been named the best place to enjoy a night out in Britain. The city beat competition from London and other popular British cities and emerged as Britain’s most sociable city. CitySocialising, a social network that conducted the study, looked at the social habits of 160,000 UK members and Cardiff emerged as the clear winner, beating the likes of Leeds and Newcastle. The site’s chief executive and founder, Sanchita Saha, said: “Having an active social life is all about …

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  • Cardiff singer-songwriter completes challenge to write a song a day throughout 2011

    A Cardiff musician has managed to complete a mammoth task; he has written a new song every day throughout 2011. Singer-songwriter Ardie Collins started the project on New Year’s Day 2011 and finished it on New Year’s Day 2012. The Lisvane local, 23, said: “I suppose it was the idea that you’re playing the odds really. There are going to be 365 songs, but they’re not all going to be brilliant – but there’s a chance some might end up …

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  • Boy who saved mother’s life treated to a special day out at Cardiff City home game

    Daniel Brown, a schoolboy who saved his mother’s life after she suffered from a life threatening diabetic episode, has been treated to a day out at Cardiff City to reward his quick thinking and bravery. Daniel’s mum could have died in minutes, but he was calm under pressure, called his grandmother and helped saved his mum’s life. The nine-year-old, who suffers from asthma and has a hole in his heart, recognised that something wasn’t right when his mother kept slipping …

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