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Tours in Cardiff |
Cardiff Castle (Castell Caerdydd)
Founded in Roman times and developed into a stronghold by the Normans, the ruins of the Norman keep remain. However, the present castle owes its appeal to the Victorian eccentricities of the third Marquis of Bute (1848-1900). Under his direction, architect William Burges (1827-1881) added neo-Gothic towers and ornate interiors with murals, stained glass windows and decorative carving. The castle also houses two military museums and has extensive grounds, incorporated into Bute Park. As part of a 15-year conservation project started in 2000 an interpretation centre will open at the castle in 2008. Here visitors will be able to learn more about the 2,000 years of history on the site.
Castle Street
Tel: (029) 2087 8100.
Website: www.cardiffcastle.com
Admission charge.
Millennium Stadium (Stadiwm y Milleniwm)
Located on the hallowed turf of the former Cardiff Arms Park, the 72,500-capacity Millennium Stadium is one of the most modern sports venues in Europe. It opened in 1999 and has been a great success; big sports events as well as huge arena concerts have taken place here, and the stadium will also play a part in the London 2012 Olympics, hosting several football games. Plans for further development of the complex include a Rugby Hall of Fame, a Welsh Rugby Union Museum and a riverside walkway accessible by boat. Guided tours are available, taking visitors to the pitch, dressing rooms, royal box and other areas.
Westgate Street
Tel: (029) 2082 2228.
Website: www.millenniumstadium.co.uk
Admission charge.
Llandaff Cathedral (Eglwys Gadeiriol Llandaf)
Located 3km (2 miles) from the city centre, in a quiet conservation area, Llandaff Cathedral was founded by St Teilo, in the sixth century, although work began on the present building in 1107. The edifice's full name is The Cathedral and Parish Church of Saints Peter and Paul, Dyfrig, Teilo and Euddogwy. In 1734, the first of several restorations got underway, the last of which was just after WWII, as a result of German bombing badly damaging the nave. The cathedral nowadays is a mix of styles from all these periods. In the sanctuary is St Teilo's Tomb, which, before the Reformation, made the church one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in Wales.
Cardiff Road, Llandaff
Tel: (029) 2056 4554.
Website: www.llandaffcathedral.org.uk
Free admission.
Cathays Park (Parc Cathays)
This impressive, tree-lined area of monumental, white Portland stone buildings reflects the wealth that the coal and steel industries brought to the city in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Highlights include the Cardiff University campus buildings, the Law Courts, City Hall, Alexandra Gardens and the National Museum Cardiff. This museum boasts an extensive collection of art and archaeology, including a fine collection of Impressionist paintings, Bronze Age treasures and Celtic artefacts. The Evolution of Wales exhibition traces the natural history of Wales over 4,600 million years.
City Centre
Tel: (029) 2068 4000 (Cardiff Council Parks Service).
Free admission.
National Museum Cardiff
Tel: (029) 2039 7951.
Website: www.nmgw.ac.uk
Free admission; charge for some temporary exhibitions. Note: The museum is currently undergoing refurbishment, due for completion by the end of 2008. Some of the galleries may be closed during this time.
Cardiff Bay (Bae Caerdydd)
Cardiff Bay juxtaposes outstanding modern architecture, 19th-century dockland heritage (Cardiff was once the world's largest coal exporting ports) and the natural assets of the waterfront to create a striking environment. The Cardiff Bay Barrage, opened in 2001, created a new freshwater lake and 12km (7.5 miles) of waterfront with parks, entertainment complexes, shops, bars and restaurants. Boat tours around the Bay and out to the Barrage are available, operated by Cardiff Cats (tel: 07940 142 409; website: www.cardiffcats.com).
The Bay is home to a number of attractions such as Techniquest Science Discovery Centre, Craft in the Bay, The Senedd (the Welsh Assembly's debating chamber at the Pierhead), Butetown History and Arts Centre, Goleulong 2000 Lightship, the Norwegian Church Arts Centre, where author Roald Dahl was christened, and the Canolfan Mileniwm Cymru (Wales Millennium Centre), the stunning new home of the Welsh National Opera and other major Welsh arts organisations, opened in 2004 (see Culture). The Atlantic Wharf Leisure Village provides further options for family entertainment.
Another must is the Cardiff Bay Visitor Centre - locals call it the 'Tube', as it resembles a giant futuristic telescope. Designed by Will Alsop, the centre combines a steel frame with plywood panels beneath a waterproof skin. The glass end of the tube offers a panoramic view across the bay.
Cardiff Bay
Tel: (029) 2046 3833.
Website: www.cardiffbay.co.uk
Free admission.
Goleulong 2000 Lightship
Harbour Drive
Tel: (029) 2048 7609.
Website: www.lightship2000.co.uk
Free admission.
Norwegian Church Arts Centre
Harbour Drive
Tel: (029) 2045 4899.
Website: www.cardiff.gov.uk or http://members.lycos.co.uk/NorwegianChurch2/Cardiff.html
Free admission; performance prices vary.
Techniquest
Stuart Street
Tel: (029) 2047 5475.
Website: www.techniquest.org
Admission charge.
St Fagans: National History Museum
This museum is set in 42 hectares (104 acres) of parkland, in the village of St Fagans, west of the city centre. It has sufficient scope to keep visitors occupied for a full day and, like the National Museum, there is no charge for admission. It is situated in the grounds of the Elizabethan mansion St Fagans Castle, which was donated to the people of Wales by the Earl of Plymouth. An extensive collection of historic Welsh buildings, including a 19th-century farmyard, pottery, tannery and a Victorian schoolroom, have been brought from all over Wales and rebuilt in the extensive grounds. There is also a recreated Iron-age Celtic village on the site.
St Fagans Castle
Tel: (029) 2057 3500.
Website: www.museumwales.ac.uk
Free admission.
Founded in Roman times and developed into a stronghold by the Normans, the ruins of the Norman keep remain. However, the present castle owes its appeal to the Victorian eccentricities of the third Marquis of Bute (1848-1900). Under his direction, architect William Burges (1827-1881) added neo-Gothic towers and ornate interiors with murals, stained glass windows and decorative carving. The castle also houses two military museums and has extensive grounds, incorporated into Bute Park. As part of a 15-year conservation project started in 2000 an interpretation centre will open at the castle in 2008. Here visitors will be able to learn more about the 2,000 years of history on the site.
Castle Street
Tel: (029) 2087 8100.
Website: www.cardiffcastle.com
Admission charge.
Millennium Stadium (Stadiwm y Milleniwm)
Located on the hallowed turf of the former Cardiff Arms Park, the 72,500-capacity Millennium Stadium is one of the most modern sports venues in Europe. It opened in 1999 and has been a great success; big sports events as well as huge arena concerts have taken place here, and the stadium will also play a part in the London 2012 Olympics, hosting several football games. Plans for further development of the complex include a Rugby Hall of Fame, a Welsh Rugby Union Museum and a riverside walkway accessible by boat. Guided tours are available, taking visitors to the pitch, dressing rooms, royal box and other areas.
Westgate Street
Tel: (029) 2082 2228.
Website: www.millenniumstadium.co.uk
Admission charge.
Llandaff Cathedral (Eglwys Gadeiriol Llandaf)
Located 3km (2 miles) from the city centre, in a quiet conservation area, Llandaff Cathedral was founded by St Teilo, in the sixth century, although work began on the present building in 1107. The edifice's full name is The Cathedral and Parish Church of Saints Peter and Paul, Dyfrig, Teilo and Euddogwy. In 1734, the first of several restorations got underway, the last of which was just after WWII, as a result of German bombing badly damaging the nave. The cathedral nowadays is a mix of styles from all these periods. In the sanctuary is St Teilo's Tomb, which, before the Reformation, made the church one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in Wales.
Cardiff Road, Llandaff
Tel: (029) 2056 4554.
Website: www.llandaffcathedral.org.uk
Free admission.
Cathays Park (Parc Cathays)
This impressive, tree-lined area of monumental, white Portland stone buildings reflects the wealth that the coal and steel industries brought to the city in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Highlights include the Cardiff University campus buildings, the Law Courts, City Hall, Alexandra Gardens and the National Museum Cardiff. This museum boasts an extensive collection of art and archaeology, including a fine collection of Impressionist paintings, Bronze Age treasures and Celtic artefacts. The Evolution of Wales exhibition traces the natural history of Wales over 4,600 million years.
City Centre
Tel: (029) 2068 4000 (Cardiff Council Parks Service).
Free admission.
National Museum Cardiff
Tel: (029) 2039 7951.
Website: www.nmgw.ac.uk
Free admission; charge for some temporary exhibitions. Note: The museum is currently undergoing refurbishment, due for completion by the end of 2008. Some of the galleries may be closed during this time.
Cardiff Bay (Bae Caerdydd)
Cardiff Bay juxtaposes outstanding modern architecture, 19th-century dockland heritage (Cardiff was once the world's largest coal exporting ports) and the natural assets of the waterfront to create a striking environment. The Cardiff Bay Barrage, opened in 2001, created a new freshwater lake and 12km (7.5 miles) of waterfront with parks, entertainment complexes, shops, bars and restaurants. Boat tours around the Bay and out to the Barrage are available, operated by Cardiff Cats (tel: 07940 142 409; website: www.cardiffcats.com).
The Bay is home to a number of attractions such as Techniquest Science Discovery Centre, Craft in the Bay, The Senedd (the Welsh Assembly's debating chamber at the Pierhead), Butetown History and Arts Centre, Goleulong 2000 Lightship, the Norwegian Church Arts Centre, where author Roald Dahl was christened, and the Canolfan Mileniwm Cymru (Wales Millennium Centre), the stunning new home of the Welsh National Opera and other major Welsh arts organisations, opened in 2004 (see Culture). The Atlantic Wharf Leisure Village provides further options for family entertainment.
Another must is the Cardiff Bay Visitor Centre - locals call it the 'Tube', as it resembles a giant futuristic telescope. Designed by Will Alsop, the centre combines a steel frame with plywood panels beneath a waterproof skin. The glass end of the tube offers a panoramic view across the bay.
Cardiff Bay
Tel: (029) 2046 3833.
Website: www.cardiffbay.co.uk
Free admission.
Goleulong 2000 Lightship
Harbour Drive
Tel: (029) 2048 7609.
Website: www.lightship2000.co.uk
Free admission.
Norwegian Church Arts Centre
Harbour Drive
Tel: (029) 2045 4899.
Website: www.cardiff.gov.uk or http://members.lycos.co.uk/NorwegianChurch2/Cardiff.html
Free admission; performance prices vary.
Techniquest
Stuart Street
Tel: (029) 2047 5475.
Website: www.techniquest.org
Admission charge.
St Fagans: National History Museum
This museum is set in 42 hectares (104 acres) of parkland, in the village of St Fagans, west of the city centre. It has sufficient scope to keep visitors occupied for a full day and, like the National Museum, there is no charge for admission. It is situated in the grounds of the Elizabethan mansion St Fagans Castle, which was donated to the people of Wales by the Earl of Plymouth. An extensive collection of historic Welsh buildings, including a 19th-century farmyard, pottery, tannery and a Victorian schoolroom, have been brought from all over Wales and rebuilt in the extensive grounds. There is also a recreated Iron-age Celtic village on the site.
St Fagans Castle
Tel: (029) 2057 3500.
Website: www.museumwales.ac.uk
Free admission.
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