Arcades, history and culture – 15 must-see places in the capital
Anyone who has visited Cardiff will know that it’s a pretty special place.TheWelsh capital has beautiful greenery, historic landmarks and hundreds of eateries as well as iconic buildings like the Principality Stadium. It’s difficult to pin down the best t
1. Insole Court
Where: Llandaff. Why? It’s simply stunning and has something for everyone.
It’s one of Cardiff’s real hidden gems which has recently undergone a stunning £4m renovation.
The house, built in 1856, was shut to the public in December 2014 for the work, which uncovered beautifully decorated walls dating back to 1870.
It has wonderful gardens for walking with the children and the dog and there is a cafe called The Potting Shed which serves cakes, brunch and lunch seven days a week.
If you’re looking for something to do with the kids, there will be a teddy bears’ picnic held in the grounds on Sunday, August 27.
2. Penarth Pier
Where: Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan. Why? OK, so it’s not strictly in Cardiff but it’s only down the road and well worth catching public transport or getting in the car for.
Take a stroll along Penarth Pier, buy some fish and chips or an ice-cream and just enjoy the bustling little seaside esplanade.
The pier itself has an art gallery, a cinema and a cafe, and coupled with breathtaking scenery and plenty of shops, pubs and cafes in the town itself, there are plenty of ways to chill out for a few hours.
If you fancy some food, you are quite literally spoilt for choice, whether you want fine dining at Restaurant James Sommerin or tapas at Bar 44.
3. The Principality Stadium
Where: Westgate Street. Why? The 74,500-seater stadium is one of the standout venues in the city. Home to the Welsh rugby team, it stands tall in the centre of Cardiff and attracts thousands of people for sporting events and concerts.
This year, it hosted the Uefa Champions League cup final and it’s also welcomed Robbie Williams, Justin Bieber and Coldplay.
Take a tour of the iconic venue and walk in the footsteps of Sam Warburton, see where Leigh Halfpenny laces his boots and explore the magnificent facets and features of the amazing worldfamous stadium.
To book tickets, call 029 2082 2432.
4. The Clink
Where: HMP Prison, Knox Road. Why? If you’re looking for an eaterie with a difference, you won’t be disappointed with a visit to The Clink Restaurant.
It’s a fine-dining experience staffed by prisoners working towards gaining qualifications and employment upon release.
Since opening in the Welsh capital, the restaurant has won prestigious awards, including a 2015 Travellers Choice Restaurant award.
Enjoy lunch, dinner or afternoon tea and it also serves a great Sunday roast. To book, call 029 2092 3130.
4. Cardiff Indoor Market
Where: St Mary Street. Why? If you love cheese, head here. If you love Welsh cakes, head here. If you want cockles, head here.
People travel far and wide to sample the amazing delights in this beautiful place.
It’s a must-see for anyone visiting the capital.
5. The Cardiff Bay barrage
Where: Penarth. Why? If the sun is shining there is nothing better than walking the Cardiff Bay 10k trail which takes you through Cardiff Bay, over the barrage and past the wetlands.
Not only is the barrage a pretty marvellous feat of engineering, it’s a great place for a walk, cycle or scooter. There is even a play area and sand for the kids and plenty of restaurants and attractions like The Senedd, the Norwegian Church and Wales Millennium Centre to admire.
If boat trips are your thing you might also want to try the water taxi which runs from the city centre to Cardiff Bay every hour.
6. Castell Coch
Where: Tongwynlais. Why? Just a little way out of the city centre is this incredibly beautiful fairytale castle, built by the eccentric genius William Burges.
It’s set in rolling green hillsides and the grounds are a superb place to walk.
Visit the dungeons, the bedrooms and then have a cuppa in the vintage-style tea rooms.
For more information, go to the Cadw website at www.cadw.gov.wales
7. Llandaff Cathedral
Where: Cathedral Close, Llandaff. Why? It’s breathtakingly beautiful and it stands on one of the oldest Christian sites in Britain. It also boasts some of the finest Medieval architecture in Wales.
Step though the West door and you will see the reinforced concrete arch surmounted by Sir Jacob Epstein’s aluminium stature of Christ in Majesty which stands between the Nave and the choir.
Despite being surrounded on all sides by the bustling modern city of Cardiff, the Llandaff conservation area remains comparatively unspoilt and surprisingly tranquil.
8. The shopping arcades
Where: City centre. Why? The Welsh capital is blessed with a fine shopping, eating and coffee culture but it’s the Edwardian, Victorian and Georgian Arcades that make any visit to the Welsh capital complete.
From their gorgeous glass roofs and wooden balconies to the businesses and people who populate them, you’ll find a plethora of interesting, useful and delicious things on offer in the four fine arcades in Cardiff.
Go to the Morgan, Royal, Duke Street, High Street and Wyndham Arcades and you’ll see why we – and so many other people – love them so much.
9. Spillers Records
Where: 27 Morgan Arcade. Why? Cardiff is home to the oldest record shop in the world.
It stocks a huge selection of music from every genre on both CD and vinyl.
There’s also a neat line in merchandise – get a t-shirt for a bit of cool Cymru.
10. The Classroom
Where: Dumballs Road. Why? Don’t worry, we’re not sending you back to school but to a restaurant that is run by top professionals who are training students at Cardiff and Vale College.
And for that reason, it’s a pretty unique dining experience with an ever-changing menu, depending on the season, and always focusing on regional Welsh produce whenever it can.
Think dishes like leek, red onion and Perl Las tart or whole grilled mackerel, parsley and lime oil, panache of vegetables.
To book, call 029 2025 0377 or go to www.theclassroom.wales 11. Cardiff Castle Where: Castle Street. Why? It’s an obvious choice but it would be criminal to come to beautiful Cardiff and not take a trip to the marvellous castle.