Welcome to Cardiff & the Vale of Glamorgan by Kingfisher Visitor Guides

WELCOME TO

CARDIFF & THE VALE OF GLAMORGAN ATTRACTIONS | DINING | SHOPPING | NIGHTLIFE | CULTURE

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Entertainment Enjoy a film at Everyman Cinema or see award-winning stand-up comedy at The Glee Club.

Relax and Unwind Take in the sights with a journey around the Bay with Aquabus. Enjoy a spot of shopping or treat yourself to a bit of pampering at Ken Picton Salon.

Eat andDrink The perfect place to enjoy a leisurely lunch, delicious dinner or drinks with a view at one of our excellent restaurants, bars and cafés.

ESCAPE THE CITY VISIT THE VALE

Escape the hustle and bustle of the big city and explore the beauty of the Vale. We’re right next door, and with miles upon miles of unrivalled coastline and bustling market towns bursting with independent shops and restaurants to boast, you’re missing out if you leave Cardiff without popping over to see us. Take a look at www.visitthevale.com and decide where you’ll explore first.

DIANC Y DDINAS YMWELD Â’R FRO

Beth am ddianc prysurdeb y ddinas fawr i harddwch y Fro? Rydyn ni reit drws nesaf, a gyda milltiroedd ar filltiroedd o arfordir a threfi marchnad prysur yn fwrlwm gyda siopau a bwytai annibynnol i frolio amdano, byddwch are eich colled os gadewch Caerdydd heb ddod i’n gweld. Cymerwch gip ar www.ymweldarfro.com a phenderfynwch ble y byddwch chi’n ymweld gyda gyntaf. @visitthevale / @ymweldarfro tourism@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk www.visitthevale.com / www.ymweldarfro.com

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CONTENTS

09 WELCOME

The perfect blend of culture, creativity, city, coast and countryside.

12 DAYS OUT

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Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan offers an abundance of things to do with days out and top attractions for the whole family to enjoy.

46 TOP PICKS

Our top things to see and do when visiting this beautiful region.

48 SHOPPING

Shopaholics will love this region for its eclectic mix of boho-chic boutiques, high-street staples and quirky independents.

WELCOME TO CARDIFF & THE VALE OF GL AMORGAN

VISIT THE VALE VALE TRAILS

Get that rare feeling of near-exclusivity, with off-the-beaten-track walks in a county that saves its best for the most discerning. Featuring walks from beginner grade to those for seasoned hikers, it combines convenient location, with accessible, dog-friendly trails and beaches, leading you to discover some of the Vale’s hidden treasures. There’s definitely a trail in the Vale to suit everyone. From gentle countryside and village walks, enjoying charming pubs or tearooms, to exciting beaches and cliffs along the world-famous Glamorgan Heritage Coast. Order your own set of 10 Vale Trails today, or download at www.visitthevale.com/walking

VALE TALES Have you heard the tale of the white lady of St Athan who was buried up to her neck by her husband for being unfaithful? Or the legend about the Captain’s wife from Sully, whose dead body was kept in a box that was mistaken for treasure and stolen. Uncover the myths and legends of the Vale of Glamorgan with Vale Tales – a GPS triggered storytelling app. There are sad stories, mysterious fables , romantic and historical tales, all brought to life by Iolo Morganwg, the Welsh master of the tall tale. Offering a unique, digital experience, you can listen to the many and varied stories of the area while exploring and experiencing the beauty of the Vale of Glamorgan. Download the app today from the AppStore or Google Play and start exploring. Full details are available at www.visitthevale com/valetales

@visitthevale / @ymweldarfro tourism@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk 01446 704867 www.visitthevale.com / www.ymweldarfro.com

CONTENTS

64 EATING OUT

This region is a foodie’s paradise with a host of fantastic restaurants, cafés and pubs – so make sure you bring a healthy appetite.

72 WEEKENDER

Only here for the weekend? Here are some ideas for a memorable short break to Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.

74 ARTS & CULTURE ©JAKE MORLEY/HARE & HOUNDS; KIRSTEN MCTERNAN AND MARK BLOWER FOR CHAPTER 2022

Culture vultures assemble! This region offers the perfect mix of galleries, museums, exhibitions and festivals.

78 AFTER DARK

The nightlife here is thriving, packed with clubs, pubs, bars and live music venues.

82 BEYOND CARDIFF

Although this region has more than enough to keep you busy, a journey further afield can make for an exciting new adventure.

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WELCOME TO CARDIFF & THE VALE OF GL AMORGAN

Nicola Benedetti

Swan Lake

Roberta Flack

ST DAVID’S HALL – THE NATIONAL CONCERT HALL OF WALES AT THE HEART OF THE ARTS IN CARDIFF & WALES St David’s Hall is Wales’ largest performing arts venue. It has an impressive 2,000 seat auditorium with incredible acoustics, that rivals those of the great concert halls across Europe such as Vienna’s stunning Musikverein and Berlin’s Philharmonie. Home to the annual Welsh Proms Cardiff, one of the most successful musical festivals in Wales which attracts over 20,000 visitors each year. A world-class international Concert Series featuring internationally renowned orchestras, soloists and conductors and the bi-annual BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition. The Hall, as it is affectionately known, has been graced by the world’s finest artists including the great conductors Carlo Maria Giulini, Sir Georg Solti and Simon Rattle, violinist Yehudi Menuhin and international orchestras including the Cleveland Orchestra, St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Russia’s oldest orchestra, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Prague Symphony Orchestra and Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. St David’s Hall presents a multitude of live entertainment, including pop, rock, soul, jazz, dance, children’s theatre, musicals, stand up comedy and a stunning Christmas

Ballet Season that is a major highlight each year attracting over 15,000 visitors in just two weeks. Stars of the stage have included Cliff Richard, Rudolph Nureyev, Will Young, Billy Connolly, Jamie Cullum, Michael Ball, James Blunt, Tina Turner and Frankie Boyle; together with world famous singers such as Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Wales’s own Bryn Terfel, Tom Jones and Shirley Bassey. St David’s Hall sits at the very heart of Cardiff’s retail and entertainment centre. Fully fitted for disabled access the building is extremely versatile with technical facilities suitable for major conventions, annual general meetings and corporate presentations or, with a variety of meeting spaces available, smaller meetings, and private lunches. The venue also has function rooms as well as spacious foyers and bar areas with balconies that have views of the city on several levels. With one of the more eclectic artistic programmes in the city, St David’s Hall has become a centre of cultural excellence providing a quality experience accessible for all. Don’t just take our word for it, pay us a visit and experience it first hand!

WELCOME

WELCOME TO CARDIFF & THE VALE OF GLAMORGAN THE PERFECT BLEND OF CULTURE, CREATIVIT Y, CIT Y, COAST AND COUNTRYSIDE

NASH POINT BEACH

©VISIT THE VALE

elcome to Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, a region which is constantly evolving and growing in terms of tourism and culture. The £675 million St David’s shopping development has made Cardiff the number three for footfall and one of the top five shopping destinations in the UK. Cardiff has always been the ‘15-minute city’, with everything within a stone’s throw of the city centre. Cardiff Castle, in the heart of the city, offers 2,000 years of history crowned by the magnificent 19th-century staterooms of the Marquess of Bute. Close by are the Principality Stadium and the must-visit National Museum Cardiff which houses one

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of the finest collections of Impressionist works outside Paris. A short walk, bus or taxi ride takes you from the city centre to Cardiff Bay, where cultural and sporting needs are catered for in equal measure. The Wales Millennium Centre is an arts village in its own right, with eight resident organisations, including Welsh National Opera and the BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales. The Vale of Glamorgan is the most southerly point in Wales, and stands in contrast to its neighbour, Cardiff. If you’re in the capital, take time to strike out a bit further and enjoy the stunning coast and countryside. Please enjoy your stay – and come back soon!

“THE VALE OF GLAMORGAN IS THE MOST SOUTHERLY POINT IN WALES, AND STANDS IN CONTRAST TO ITS NEIGHBOUR, CARDIFF”

WELCOME TO CARDIFF & THE VALE OF GL AMORGAN

Gavin & Stacey Bu miliynau o bobl yn tiwnio ‘mewn i wylio’r rhaglen Nadolig arbennig Gavin & Stacey 2019, yn dilyn ddisgwyl mawr amdano ar ôl lansio ar y teledu yn ôl ym mis Mai 2007. Yn seiliedig ar stori rhanantig rhwng dyn ifanc swynol o Essex a Stacey o’r Barri, dilynodd y rhaglen eu treialon a’u gorthrymderau ochr yn ochr â’u teulu a’u ffrindiau a ymunodd yn yr hwyl ar hyd y ffordd. A gwir seren y sioe? Wel Ynys y Barri wrth gwrs! Wedi’i ffilmio yng nghyrchfan arfordirol enwog Ynys y Barri, mae bellach yn un o gyrchfannau traeth mwyaf poblogaidd Cymru, gydag ymwelwyr yn awyddys i ddal hunlun yn rhai o’r lleoliadau ffilmio poblogaidd. Yn boblogaidd gydag ymwelwyr, dewch o hyd i’ch hun yn: • Chwarae’r ‘slotiau’ yn Arcade Island Leisure Amusement ar yr Ynys • Dal i fyny ar y clecs yng nghaffi Marco • Cael blas ar sglodion o hoff ‘chippie’ Gavin & Stacey; Siop Sglodion Boofy’s • Ail-greu’r olygfa lle ddatgan eu cariad at ei gilydd, a’r lleoliad lle i Stacey ddal Dave’s Coaches i gwrdd â Gavin amy tro cyntaf; Y Sgwâr ar Ynys y Barri.

Ewch ati i gynllunio eich ymweliad a darganfod beth sy’n digwydd ar www.visitthevale.com/barryisland @YmweldArFro tourism@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk www.ymweldarfro.com

Ymunwch ag ymwelwyr o bob cwr o’r byd sydd bellach yn ymweld ag Ynys y Barri i chwilio am y lleoliadau eiconig lle gafodd y gyfres ei ffilmio. P’un a ydych chi’n ffan ai peidio, ni allwch fethu cyffro’r Ynys pan ymwelwch. A chyda chysylltiadau rheilffordd uniongyrchol o ganol dinas Caerdydd gallwch fod ar y traeth yn adeiladu cestyll tywod neu’n eistedd y tu allan i Gwt Traeth yn mwynhau pysgod a’ch sglodion cyn pen hanner awr ar ôl gadael y ddinas.

Millions of people tuned in to watch the eagerly awaited Gavin & Stacey Christmas Special 2019, having first graced our screens back in May 2007. Based on a romantic love story between a charming young man from Essex and our very own Stacey from Barry, the programme followed their trials and tribulations alongside their family and friends who joined in the fun along the way. And the true star of the show? Well Barry Island of course! Filmed at the now infamous coastal resort of Barry Island, it’s become one of Wales’ most loved beach resorts, with visitors flocking to catch a selfie at some of the popular filming locations.

Popular with visitors, find yourself: • Playing the ‘slots at Island leisure Amusement Arcade • Catching up on the local gossip at Marco’s Café • Sample the cuisine at Gavin & Stacey’s chippie of choice; Boofy’s Chip Shop • Re-create the scene where ‘they said it first’ and the location where Dave’s Coaches picked up Stacey to meet Gavin for the first time; The Square on Barry Island. Join visitors from around the world that now visit Barry Island in search of the iconic locations where the series was filmed. Whether you are a fan or not, you can’t miss the excitement of the Island when you visit. And with direct rail links from Cardiff city centre you can be on the beach building sandcastles or sitting outside a Beach Hut enjoying your fish and chips within half an hour of leaving the city.

Get planning your visit ‘now, in a minute’ and find out ‘what’s occurin’ at www.visitthevale.com/barryisland @VisitTheVale tourism@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk www.visitthevale.com BBC-GS TV Productions Ltd – Tom Jackson

GREAT DAYS OUT IN CARDIFF & THE VALE OF GLAMORGAN CARDIFF AND THE VALE OF GL AMORGAN OFFER AN ABUNDANCE OF THINGS TO DO WITH DAYS OUT AND TOP AT TRACTIONS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY TO ENJOY

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DAYS OUT

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ooking to spend your days soaking up history in castles and stately homes? Not a problem. Rather spend your time communing with the countryside? You can do that too. Not only is the Vale of Glamorgan full of wild natural beauty, it’s also rich in history, and that means everything from ancient Roman sites to opulent mansions to coal mines. If that’s not enough for you, head to Cardiff for some world-class museums. FASCINATING MUSEUMS Cosmopolitan Cardiff offers everything from museums to historic sites, with some street art, sports venues and gardens thrown into the mix. Cardiff owes much of its existence to the discovery of coal. In the heyday of ‘black gold’, Cardiff exported millions of tons of coal annually, and one of the main beneficiaries was the Bute family – then owners of Cardiff Castle.

The 3rd Marquess of Bute went on a massive spending spree, commissioning the renowned architect William Burges to oversee the ultimate fantasy castle makeover. A tour of the castle reveals in no uncertain terms how the upper crust lived in the late 19th century. One of the city’s most beautiful buildings is Llandaff Cathedral. It’s set on one of the oldest Christian sites in Britain, dating back to the 6th century. Work began on the current cathedral in 1107, spurred on by Bishop Urban, the first bishop appointed by the Normans. It’s particularly known for the splendid statue by Jacob Epstein, Christ in Majesty. Cardiff Bay sits around the captive waters of a large lagoon, corralled by the barrage. Old and new cluster around the harbour, including the Grade 1-listed Pierhead Building, and the attractive, white-washed Norwegian Church, giving a nod to the area’s seafaring past. >>p21

ABOVE YOU SHOULD HEAD DOWN TO CARDIFF BAY AND DISCOVER ALL IT HAS TO OFFER

WELCOME TO CARDIFF & THE VALE OF GL AMORGAN

Brecon

Everything you’re searching for in a day out – and more!

scenery

history • Wander around our Norman architecture Cathedral or take in a show at the theatre • Stroll/cycle along the canal or hire a boat at the Promenade • Visit our rural and regimental museum • Take a break at one of our eateries or sample local products at the Brecon Producers Market •Immerse yourself in choral jazz or baroque music at our annual festival • Attend Brecon Country Show, the oldest agricultural show in the UK

Guided walks in the wonderful Vale of Glamorgan!

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og frien d ed

Discover coastal paths, magical woodlands, country pubs and charming towns and villages and enjoy walking in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Join me, Chris Jones, for personal guided walks, with history, culture, food, local knowledge, amazing scenery, great walking and plenty of fresh air!

walks

culture heritage

Chris Jones

me@chrisjones.cymru • 07779 712293

Welcome to Extraordinary Find us at St David’s, Cardiff adventuregolf.com

WELCOME TO CARDIFF & THE VALE OF GL AMORGAN

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Where Cardiff finds its voice Llais i Gaerdydd

OPENING TIMES

10AM – 4PM MONDAY – SUNDAY

In our fun, free and interactive galleries, discover how Cardiff was transformed from the small market town of the 1300s, to one of the world’s biggest ports in the 1900s, to the modern, cosmopolitan capital we know today. Yn ein horielau sy’n hwyl, yn rhyngweithiol ac am ddim, gallwch ddysgu sut y trawsnewidiwyd Caerdydd o fod yn dref farchnad fach yn y 1300au i fod yn un o borthladdoedd mwyaf y byd yn y 1900au, i’r brifddinas fodern a chosmopolitaidd a welir heddiw.

Museum of Cardiff, The Old Library, The Hayes, Cardiff CF10 1BH Tel: 029 2034 6214 Amgueddfa Caerdydd, Yr Hen Lyfrgell, Yr Aes, Caerdydd CF10 1BH Email: cardiffstory@cardiff.gov.uk | storicaerdydd@caerdydd.gov.uk | Web: www.cardiffmuseum.com Facebook: facebook.com/cardiffstory | Twitter: @thecardiffstory

WELCOME TO THE DRAMATIC HEART OF WALES Look closely and you’ll find the spirit of a nation. Everything that people enjoy and expect from Wales is alive here in the county of Neath Port Talbot. A place of extreme diversity, where urban east meets rural west of Wales. Valleys and coast, waterfalls and waves, beauty and grit, all combine to form an unexpected and unforgettable experience. Walk, ride, swim or surf, to explore our natural theatre here in the Dramatic Heart of Wales. Our coastline is one of dramatic contrasts, Aberavon Seafront, has one of Wales’ longest sandy beaches, backed by a modern easily accessible promenade

that’s great for a leisurely stroll, or cycle. Aberavon has all the essentials for a family day: cafes, ice cream parlours, and restaurants. For something a little more active try the Adventure Golf Course, Aqua Splash, Skateboard Park, Adventure Playground or Toddler Playground. Our heritage lives on at Margam Country Park with its imposing Castle, Cistercian Abbey ruins and 18th century Orangery. Within its 800 acres of beautiful parkland you will discover child size cottages, an adventure playground, train rides, farm trails, wild deer and plenty of outdoor pursuits including a zip wire, paddle boarding and pedal powered go karting.

Our five valleys have seen a lot over the centuries with the comings and goings of Romans, monks and coal barons. The rise and fall of industrial empires. They’re the birthplace of poets, performers and a patron saint. Coal mining came late to the Afan Valley, and left early: so we did something else instead! We turned it into a huge adventure playground for outdoor activities, and Afan Forest Park is now a brilliant place for hiking, leisure cycling, and mountain biking, where you will find some of the most popular mountain bike trails in the UK. Re-live coal mining history at the South Wales Miners Museum.

The Vale of Neath was the most beautiful and interesting valley in the world, according to 19th-century naturalist and explorer Alfred Russel Wallace. The former mines, mills, metal works and abbey are now picturesque woodland ruins, set around canals and waterfalls. For a glimpse of a natural wonder, visit the impressive Melincourt Waterfall at Resolven. The Dulais Valley was once home to the world’s deepest anthracite coal mine, our miners and tinplate workers have long since left the valley. Today it’s altogether more tranquil. A little further up the valley you will find Sarn Helen an ancient Roman Road in the village of Banwen – there’s good evidence that this was the birthplace of St Patrick, Patron Saint of Ireland. The Swansea Valley is set in rural splendour with lots of small villages and wildlife in abundance. The Swansea Canal provides the perfect setting for a wildlife walk as does the pretty wooded valley at Cwm Du Glen. The vibrant valley town of Pontardawe is a cultural hotspot of music, arts and festivals. The Upper Amman Valley is the most rural and Welsh-speaking of all our valleys, and sits at the gateway to the Black Mountains in the Brecon Beacons National Park. The village of Tairgwaith is a hotbed for the sport of harness racing, offering a quirky change to traditional horse racing. Neath Port Talbot is located in the centre of south Wales only 30 minutes by car from Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Swansea and the Gower Peninsular, and only a 50 minute drive from the Pembrokeshire coast. Our location as the Dramatic Heart of Wales makes us the perfect base for your next stay in the South Wales Region.

WWW.DRAMATICHEART.WALES

HOLM

HOUSE Say ‘I Do’ at Holm

Holm House offers an idyllic location for your special day. The award-winning boutique hotel boasts everything you could dream of for a chic and sophisticated wedding day experience. You and your lucky guests will enjoy several stylish reception spaces, transformed to host your ceremony (fully licenced), wedding breakfast and evening celebration. 12 luxurious bedrooms including a honeymoon suite plus a picturesque garden and terrace with stunning views of Penarth Pier and beyond. With its homely relaxing feel and stunning feature fireplace, Holm Houses’ newly refurbished lounge space sets the perfect scene for intimate ceremonies of up to 40 guests. For larger weddings the restaurant will be transformed into a ‘chapel style’ set up, offering spectacular views of the stunning gardens and the sea. There are also several nearby churches and places of worship if you’re planning a religious ceremony. Food and drink wise, you will be spoilt for choice. Holm can host up to 85 for the wedding breakfast and 120 for the evening reception, whilst their stunning new private dining room, The Nest, is perfect for intimate celebrations of up to 12 guests. Much of the menu’s inspiration is derived from the coastal setting. In addition to the wedding breakfast, Holm offers several delicious canapé and evening buffet options as well as a fully stocked bar boasting fine wines and a fabulous cocktail menu. You will even be invited to a complimentary food and wine tasting, allowing you to carefully select your all-important wedding menu… After dark, Holm House will be transformed into a party setting with ample space for a dance floor, DJ, or band. The venue lends itself to creating a real ‘house party’ vibe. Guests can tear up the dance floor, prop up the bar or enjoy a chat and the romantic scenery of the garden terrace at night. The perfect end. To the perfect day. Visit the website to download the wedding brochure and find more.

www.holmhousehotel.com

Discover over 1,100 years of British History Experience our award-winning tours and exhibitions and make memories to last a lifetime. With plenty to see, make and do, The Royal Mint Experience is the perfect day out for curious minds of all ages.

Discover more at royalmint.com/experience

CELEBRATE | COLLECT | INVEST | SECURE | DISCOVER

Email: enquiries@beaconparkboats.com Tel: +44 (0)1873 858277

Family run, 5 star boating holidays on the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, just an hour from Cardiff. With 19 totally unique luxury narrowboats, self-contained and packed with character, we offer an experience you won’t find anywhere else. Whether you need a fourposter bed, real wood burning stove or an on-board hot tub, we want you to feel inspired to get out there and see the Wales you love from a new perspective. Whether your passion is stargazing, relaxing in a cosy pub or exploring the local trails, a holiday cruise through the stunning scenery of the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal is an experience that you can shape to best suit you. Choose where you wake up each morning, take your time and be immersed in the beauty of the canal from the comfort of a hand-crafted, charming narrowboat. You don’t have to go far to get away from it all. If a day trip is more your style, we offer a variety of options; day boats, pedal boats and canoes for an intimate experience on the canal. However, you want to do it, we can get you out on the water and as close to nature as you can get. www.beaconparkdayboats.co.uk

The Boathouse, Hillside Road, Llangattock, Powys, NP8 1EQ, Wales, UK

www.beaconparkboats.co.uk

BEACON PARK BOATS

DAYS OUT

“OVER 40 HISTORIC BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN RE-ERECTED IN 100 ACRES OF PARKLAND AT ST FAGANS NATIONAL MUSEUM OF HISTORY – IT’S LIKE CLIMBING INSIDE A TIME MACHINE”

©CROWN COPYRIGHT (2023) VISIT WALES/WALES NEWS SERVICE; SMARTIN69/STOCK.ADOBE.COM

The waterfront’s most prominent modern landmark is the Senedd, the home of the Welsh Government. Designed by Richard Rogers it’s constructed from traditional Welsh materials such as slate and oak. Combining a stroll with some art appreciation is always a good idea, and you can discover some beautiful pieces around Cardiff Bay. They include People Like Us in Mermaid Quay, a bronze sculpture of a couple and their dog; and the touching Merchant Seaman’s Memorial in front of the Senedd, which features a timeless face on the hull of a sunken ship. A statue of Cardiff-born composer Ivor Novello sits behind the Pierhead Building; while Mahatma Gandhi sits out on Lloyd George Avenue; and the World Harmony Peace statue of a monk holding a flaming torch invites visitors to hold the torch and offer a silent prayer for peace. NATURAL HISTORY The eclectic National Museum Cardiff houses one of the largest collections of Impressionist paintings outside Paris, and there’s also a stunning natural history section. Follow the poignant story of the stranded leatherback turtle; witness how the basking shark filters its food; or follow Wales’s incredible journey from the Big Bang to the present day, in the Evolution of Wales gallery. The Clore Discovery Centre is a fun, hands-on children’s gallery where kids can run riot. Go back in time at St Fagans National Museum of History, which is just a short drive or bus ride from the centre. More than 40 historic buildings have been re-erected in 100 acres of parkland – stepping inside them is like climbing inside a time machine. >>p29 CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT PEOPLE LIKE US STATUE AT CARDIFF BAY; ST FAGANS NATIONAL MUSEUM OF HISTORY; NATIONAL MUSEUM OF CARDIFF

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WELCOME TO CARDIFF & THE VALE OF GL AMORGAN

Macmillan Cancer Support, registered charity in England and Wales (261017), Scotland (SC039907) and the Isle of Man (604). Also operating in Northern Ireland.

A museum OPENING TIMES

10AM – 4PM MONDAY – SUNDAY

all about Cardiff... As a visitor to Cardiff you want to make the most of your time here and the Museum of Cardiff is a great starting point. Located in the Grade-II* listed Old Library building in the city centre, the museum tells the story of the city from the perspective of those who know it best – its people. Since opening in 2011, the Museum of Cardiff has been welcoming visitors from around the world. With a packed diary of events and exhibitions, there’s always something new to experience. Exploring the museum and its galleries couldn’t be easier. Set over two floors, the museum is divided into distinct areas, allowing you to discover the history of the city and the stories it has to tell. CARDIFF IN CONTEXT GALLERY Discover how Cardiff transformed from a small market town in the 1300s, to one of the world’s largest ports in the 1900s, to the modern, cosmopolitan capital we know today. The Cardiff in Context gallery takes you on a journey through the ages, filled with objects, photographs and film. Don’t miss the miniature doll’s house that rotates to show the passing generations of a typical Cardiff home. The tiny rooms light up and come alive with intricate period design. CITY LAB City Lab is a unique area enabling visitors to investigate Cardiff’s rich heritage. Here you will find ‘Action Stations’ with puzzles and games that will help you piece together Cardiff’s past.

CONTACT

There is always something new to see in our temporary exhibition space, so check our website cardiffmuseum.com to find out what’s on. CITY SHOWCASE City Showcase is a gallery for community groups to share their Cardiff stories and create their own exhibitions. TILED CORRIDOR The beautiful tiled corridor was the original entrance to the Old Library, in which the Museum of Cardiff is housed, and demonstrates Victorian Cardiff’s wealth and ambition. Come and have a look for yourself and don’t miss the ceramic drinking fountains and other decorative features throughout the building. Once you’ve explored the museum it’ll be time for you to go out and discover Cardiff for yourself. AUDIO GUIDES A hand-held audio guide featuring Detective Dewi, who will take kids on an adventure around the museum, looking for clues and solving puzzles. The interactive guide is a great way of encouraging children to explore and learn. Adult audio guides are also available in English, Welsh, French, Spanish, Arabic and Mandarin Chinese. A British sign language guide and an enhanced audio description guide are also available. The Museum is available for hire. Why not hold your next event in a truly unique space? Contact us for details.

Museum of Cardiff, The Old Library, The Hayes, Cardiff CF10 1BH Tel: 029 2034 6214 Email: cardiffstory@cardiff.gov.uk | storicaerdydd@caerdydd.gov.uk Web: www.cardiffmuseum.com | www.amgueddfacaerdydd.com Facebook: facebook.com/cardiffstory | Twitter: @thecardiffstory

CASTELL CAERDYDD CARDIFF CASTLE RHUFEINIG ROMAN

NORMANAIDD NORMAN

FICTORAIDD VICTORIAN

ARCHWILIO 2,000 O FLYNYDDOEDD O HANES EXPLORE 2,000 YEARS OF HISTORY Archebwch tocynnau yn castell-caerdydd.com Book tickets at cardiffcastle.com

GIN CREDIBLE

experiences IN HENSOL CASTLE TOUR & TASTING | GIN/RUM MAKING | COCKTAIL MASTERCLASS

Visit our award winning gin distillery in the cellars of the stunning Hensol Castle. The combination of the historic Hensol Castle together with the modern vibes and fun nature of gin, creates a truly distinctive experience.

www.hensolcastledistillery.com | 01443 667999 Hensol Castle Distillery, Castle Cellars, Hensol, Vale of Glamorgan. CF72 8JX

©CROWN COPYRIGHT (2023) VISIT WALES; ING IMAGE

DAYS OUT

“WALES IS FAMOUS FOR ITS RUGBY AND ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO SEE A MATCH IS THE PRINCIPALITY STADIUM, A MODERN BUILDING ON THE BANKS OF THE RIVER TAFF”

to see a match is the Principality Stadium, a dramatic modern building on the banks of the River Taff, seating almost 75,000. It’s the country’s national stadium, home of Welsh Rugby Union and a fantastic place to soak up all the excitement of the rugby – particularly during the Six Nations. Can’t score a ticket to a match? Make time for a stadium tour. You’ll get to visit the dressing rooms, hang out in the VIP box and stride through the tunnel towards the pitch.

A row of six terraced cottages shows how life evolved from the mid-19th century to the 1970s, and you can freak out the kids by introducing them to the strict discipline of a Victorian school. There’s also a working bakery, a Tudor merchant’s house and a wonderful late-12th-century church. Travelling with the kids? There’s no reason for them to cry boredom when they come to Cardiff, especially if they’d like to fire a rocket, race an electric car, watch a bubble race, or test their reaction times. They can do all this at Techniquest, the UK’s longest-established science centre. It boasts some 160 hands-on exhibits, which do a pretty good job of entertaining kids and adults alike. Wales is famous for its rugby and one of the best places

WINDSWEPT COASTLINE With bucolic countryside and a windswept coastline, the Vale is ripe for hikes and bike rides. But history buffs will be kept happy too, thanks to a heap of ancient houses, towns and villages. The Taff Trail wends its way for 55 miles from Cardiff inland to the attractive market town of Brecon, in the heart of the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park (formally known as Brecon Beacons National Park). Bikes can be hired by the hour from Pedal Power in Cardiff if you feel like cycling part of the trail – it’s flat and easy, as it follows the river Taff through the city. A must-do for outdoorsy types is the Glamorgan Heritage Coast, 14 miles of stunning coastal scenery stretching >>p37

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ABOVE TIME YOUR VISIT RIGHT AND WATCH A RUBGY MATCH AT THE PRINCIPALITY STADIUM – OR IF THAT’S NOT YOUR THING, SPEND THE DAY KAYAKING PAST ON THE RIVER TAFF

WELCOME TO CARDIFF & THE VALE OF GL AMORGAN

JONNY-ROCKS Chauffeurs, provide luxury chauffeuring services throughout the United Kingdom. Covering a total of 46 UK regions with experienced local chauffeurs.

CARDIFF – SOUTH WALES luxurychauffeurhirecardiff.co.uk

Our regional websites are listed below: BEDFORDSHIRE • BERKSHIRE • BIRMINGHAM • BRISTOL & BATH, SOMERSET • BUCKINGHAMSHIRE CAMBRIDGESHIRE • CARDIFF, SOUTH-WALES • CHESHIRE • CORNWALL • CUMBRIA DERBYSHIRE • DEVONSHIRE • DORSET ESSEX GLOUCESTERSHIRE HAMPSHIRE • HEREFORDSHIRE • HERTFORDSHIRE KENT LANCASHIRE • LEEDS • LEICESTERSHIRE • LINCOLNSHIRE • LIVERPOOL • LONDON MANCHESTER NEWCASTLE • NORTHAMPTONSHIRE • NORFOLK • NORTHUMBERLAND • NOTTINGHAMSHIRE OXFORDSHIRE SCOTLAND • SHEFFIELD • SHROPSHIRE • STAFFORDSHIRE • SUFFOLK • SURREY • SUSSEX TEES VALLEY WARWICKSHIRE • WILTSHIRE • WORCESTERSHIRE • WREXHAM YORKSHIRE

UNITED KINGDOM

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ven E 4 y & 202 a l g p Dis urin um ns D e s u pe M w ace O e N Sp

Unique First Class Experience on Every Train

Please visit our website for timetable & bookings Photos Courtesy Andrew Simmonds & VoR

STUNNING SCENERY FROM THE COAST TO THE CAMBRIAN MOUNTAINS

RHEILFFORDD CWM RHEIDOL VALE OF RHEIDOL RAILWAY info@rheidolrailway.co.uk

01970 625 819

www.rheidolrailway.co.uk

Waterfront Partners Cardiff Bay

Cardiff Bay is one of the City’s most cosmopolitan destinations, offering plenty of exciting opportunities for visitors of all ages to spend an enjoyable day and night. Formerly a thriving tidal dock, the area is now a vibrant, popular waterfront destination. The Grade I listed Pierhead Building and the attractive, white-washed Norwegian Church give a nod to the area’s seafaring past, whilst the waterfront’s most prominent modern landmark, the Senedd, is the home of the Welsh Government. Mermaid Quay and The Red Dragon Centre offer a great selection of restaurants, bars, cafes, boutique shopping and entertainment offerings. While Giovanni’s in the Bay provides a little taste of Italy overlooking the

fabulous Roald Dahl Plass, Lo Lounge offers stunning sunset bay views and hosts a full calendar of exciting events. Top attractions to visit include Techniquest Science Discovery Centre, Craft in the Bay – a unique space selling high quality craft and art by members of the Makers Guild in Wales, the Norwegian Church Arts Centre, and Wales Millennium Centre – a stunning international arts centre. Walkers will not be disappointed thanks to the Cardiff Bay Trail and Pont y Werin, which is a 10km walking and cycling trail around Cardiff Bay, while wildlife enthusiasts should make a visit to Flat Holm Island which lies just five miles from shore. Cardiff Boat and Cardiff Cruises also offer a fabulous range of

boating activities, heritage tours, private hire, and trips to the city centre. If you’re looking for somewhere to stay in the Cardiff Bay area, then there are plenty of fantastic options to choose from. Voco St. David’s Hotel offers a stylish five-star spa hotel waterfront experience. The Coal Exchange Hotel is a listed building located in the heart of the bay and offers guests the opportunity to take a step back in time and explore one of Wales’ most significant buildings. Future Inn Cardiff boasts spacious bedrooms, free parking and an onsite Restaurant, whilst the Holiday Inn Express is ideally located between Cardiff Bay and the city centre. For more information on things to do and activities around Cardiff Bay head to the Visit Cardiff Bay website for more info.

W W W .V I S I T C A R D I F F B AY. I N F O

Diwrnodau ¡'w cofio yn Nhy Tredegar

Days to remember made at Tredegar House

Wedi'i leoli' n gyfleus oddi ar yr M4, mae digon i'w ddarganfod yn Nhÿ Tredegar, boed law neu hindda. Camwch yn ôl drwy amser wrth i chi ddarganfod yr ystafelloedd, mynd am dro heddychlon drwy'r gerddi neu redeg yn wyllt yn y parcdir cang.

Conveniently located just off the M4, Tredegar House holds plenty to discover whatever the weather. Step back in time as you explore the impressive rooms, take a peaceful stroll through the gardens or run wild in the extensive parkland.

Ewch i'n gwefan i weld digwyddiadau sydd i ddod, amseroedd agor a phrisiau.

Visit our website for upcoming events, opening times and prices.

nationaltrust.org.uk/tredegar-house ©National Trust 2023. Registered charity No 205846. ©National Trust Images/James Dobson

amgueddfa.cymru

museum.wales

Gadewch i stori Cymru eich ysbrydoli

Be inspired by the story of WALES Amgueddfa Genedlaethol Gaerdydd a Sain Ffagan Amgueddfa Werin Cymru National Museum Cardiff and St Fagans National Museum of History

Mynediad am ddim Free entry

Croeso i Sir Pen-y-bont Welcome to Bridgend County Mae Sir Pen-y-bont yn chwa o awyr iach. Mae’r draethlin yn gartref i syrffio gydol y flwyddyn, traethau baner las a golff o’r radd flaenaf. Mae harddwch naturiol mewndirol yn frith o safleoedd a chwedlau hanesyddol. Bridgend County is a breath of fresh air. The shoreline is home to year-round surfing, blue-flag beaches and world-class golf. Inland, natural beauty is dotted with historic sites and legends.

www.visitbridgend.co.uk

DAYS OUT

“AN ADVENTUROUS 12-MILE ROUND TRIP FROM CARDIFF TAKES YOU TO CASTELL COCH (RED CASTLE), AN ENCHANTING STRUCTURE PERCHED ON A TREE-CLAD HILLSIDE” from Aberthaw to the seaside town of Porthcawl. The area’s weather-worn limestone cliffs, open stretches of golden sand, wind-gnarled wooded valleys and attractive pubs and villages make this area irresistible. The best way to travel is on foot, taking time to absorb the peace and tranquillity and watch the seabirds soaring. The dune system at Merthyr Mawr is spectacular, and has been designated as a national nature reserve, sheltering rare butterflies and moths, as well as the enigmatic glow worm. Nearby is the quaint thatched village of the same name, and a ruined castle with stepping stones across the River Ogmore. If you fancy yourself as a surfer dude, head for Rest Bay in Porthcawl, or for a gentler, family day out try Jackson Bay in Barry. Barry Island is also famous for its funfair and the fact that much of cult comedy Gavin and Stacey was filmed there.

©CROWN COPYRIGHT (2023) CADW; VISIT THE VALE

SUMMER RESIDENCE An adventurous 12-mile round trip from Cardiff takes you to Castell Coch (Red Castle), an enchanting structure perched on a tree-clad hillside. This was yet another flight of fancy constructed by William Burges for the super-rich 3rd Marquess of Bute, who used it as an occasional summer residence. A short train ride from Cardiff is moated Caerphilly Castle – a real medieval must-see and the second largest castle in Britain. It featured in BBC TV series Merlin and has a wonky tower to rival Pisa’s. It also hosts outdoor performances and cinema. Also within easy reach of Cardiff are the spectacular remains of Tintern Abbey, one of the UK’s most dramatic monastic ruins, set in the lush Wye Valley. This Cistercian monastery was wealthy and successful until it was laid waste by Henry VIII, when he embarked upon the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 1530s. The ruins are so atmospheric, they’ve inspired a poem by Wordsworth, a famous painting by Turner and a music video by Iron Maiden. The Roman remains at Caerleon are among the finest in Europe. Once an important legionary fortress, Isca, the remains incorporate a Roman Baths Museum, where clever technology gives the visitor a flavour of their former grandeur. >>p43 TOP LEFT DISCOVER THE MAGNIFICENT INTERIORS OF CASTELL COCH; LEFT VISIT BARRY ISLAND, MADE FAMOUS BY HIT TV SERIES GAVIN & STACEY

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WELCOME TO CARDIFF & THE VALE OF GL AMORGAN

Croeso Caerffili • Visit Caerphilly Lesley Edwards

Professor Pedals

Wrth fy modd heddiw ym Maenordy Llancaiach Fawr, roedd y daith yn anhygoel a’r te prynhawn yn flasus. #HanesWediiAtgyfodi #RhyfelCartref

Diwrnod anhygoel ar y llwybrau heddiw, mae’n werth ymweld – barbeciw a chwrw nes ymlaen yn y maes gwersylla! #FforddGoedwigCwmcarn #LlwybrauBeiciauMynydd #Gwersylla

Loved today at Llancaiach Fawr Manor the tour was amazing and the afternoon tea delicious. #historybroughttolife #civilwar

Awesome day on the trails today well worth a visit, BBQ and beers later at the campsite! #cwmcarnforestdrive #mountainbiketrails #camping

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Noson wych o ddrama a theatreg yn y digwyddiad reslo yn Sefydliad y Glowyr, Coed Duon, heno. Rydyn ni eisoes yn edrych ymlaen at ddychwelyd am y panto Nadolig! #SefydliadYGlowyrCoedDuon #TheatrFyw

Fe wnaethom ni dretio ein hunain i goffi a theisennau yn Coffi Vista cyn ymweld â Chastell Caerffili, diwrnod allan hollol wych, roedd y plant wrth eu boddau! #Caerffili

Great night of drama and theatrics at the wrestling event at Blackwood Miners Institute tonight, we are already looking forward to returning for the Christmas panto! #blackwoodminersinstitute #livetheatre

Treated ourselves to coffee and cakes at Coffi Vista before visiting Caerphilly Castle, absolutely fantastic day out, the kids loved it! #Caerphilly

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Serennog Star-studded Mae ein goleuadau llachar yr un mor ddeniadol, a dim ond 30 munud o Gaerdydd. Our bright lights are just as alluring, and only 30 minutes from Cardiff.

Llanddewi Nant Hodni ym Mharc Cenedlaethol Bannau Brycheiniog, Gwarchodfa Awyr Dywyll Ryngwladol.

Cartref i ddau chef seren Michelin: Chris Harrod (llun) yn The Whitebrook a Shaun Hill yn The Walnut Tree.

Llanthony Priory in the Brecon Beacons National Park, an International Dark Sky Reserve.

Home to two Michelin star chefs: Chris Harrod (pic) at The Whitebrook and Shaun Hill at The Walnut Tree.

#LoveMonmouthshire

visitmonmouthshire.com

Discover Cyfarthfa Museum, Art Gallery and Park A Great Day out for the Whole Family!

Nestled at the foot of the Brecon Beacons lies Cyfarthfa Castle and Park. Commissioned and built in 1824-1825 Cyfarthfa Castle was constructed for the Iron Master Richard Crawshay II. The Castle is now a museum, its unique collections looking at Merthyr Tydfil’s rich heritage from the Roman conquest to the Industrial Revolution and beyond! The Castle also houses a fine art gallery with works from notable artists including Cedrick Morris and Kyffin Williams. Then go and explore the Castle’s 160 acres of parkland, with relaxing sensory gardens, woodland walks, Splash Park and playground and the brand new Caffi Canolfan.

T. 01685 727371 • wellbeingmerthyr.co.uk Cyfarthfa Park • Brecon Road • Merthyr Tydfil • CF47 8PA

ESCAPE THE CITY VISIT THE VALE

You’re missing out if your trip to Cardiff doesn’t include a visit to the Vale. We’re right next door. Dynamic and unforgettable coastline… rolling countryside… and a culture and warmth that oozes from the people and places you’ll find in this memorable destination.

HERE ARE 5 GREAT REASONS TO VISIT THE VALE: 1. OUR BEACHES

We love our beaches in the Vale. Everyone has their favourite. Which is yours? For traditional family fun, visit Barry Island with its stunning beach and Beach Huts at Whitmore Bay. A great day out for all the family, and the location for the filming of ‘Gavin and Stacey’. Explore the natural landscape of the Glamorgan Heritage Coast, 14 miles of unrivalled views,natural beaches, cliff top walks and a haven for wildlife. Or take a trip back in time, Penarth Pier and Esplanade stands majestic and elegant overlooking the Bristol Channel and beyond.

2. A WALKERS PARADISE

The Wales Coast Path stretches the entire length of our coastline, including 14 miles of the dramatic Glamorgan Heritage Coast. You can start from Cardiff Bay with a gentle stroll across the Barrage to the Vale at Penarth. Feeling inspired? Our popular 10 Vale Trails takes you on a series of walks throughout the Vale which are easy to follow and include great places of interest to explore. And if you’re feeling peckish, the routes are scattered with lovely cafés and pubs to recharge the batteries.

3. SPEND A PENNY OR TWO...

Penarth, Cowbridge, Llantwit Major and Barry. Wherever you find yourself, we know you’ll find some great shopping in the Vale. Cosmopolitan Cowbridge, a traditional market town, vibrant and full of bustling independents makes for a great shopping experience, whilst Penarth is alive with great shops offering not only great gifts, but some of the best places to eat in the Vale. Barry High Street was recently voted in the top five for top independent shops in the UK, whilst Llantwit makes for a great day out combining a visit to the shops with a wander through the old town to St. Illtuds Church and Galilee Chapel.

4. PLACES TO EXPLORE

For those seeking a little more culture, spend a perfect day exploring the coastline surrounding St. Donats Castle and Nash Point Lighthouse, visit the National Trusts’ Dyffryn House & Gardens or explore the many CADW properties where Welsh history is preserved for you to enjoy. Walk in the footsteps of Celtic saints at St. Illtyds Church and Galilee Chapel in Llantwit Major or visit Penarth Pier for unrivalled Victorian elegance.

5. FILM MAKERS DREAM

Most famously, Barry is home to the filming of the now iconic TV programme ‘Gavin and Stacey’ with fans flocking to see the popular filming locations of Marco’s Café, Gwens’ house and Barry Island itself. Other film and TV programmes filmed in the Vale include Dr.Who, Sherlock, Brave New World and His Dark Materials. @visitthevale / @ymweldarfro tourism@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk 01446 704867 www.visitthevale.com / www.ymweldarfro.com

GET THE FULL PICTURE!

If you’re planning your next trip, or you want some reminders of this one, view our full portfolio of visitor guides to the UK and Ireland at

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DAYS OUT

“VISIT NATIONAL TRUST-OWNED MANSION, TREDEGAR HOUSE IN NEWPORT, WITH ITS DAZZLING STATE ROOMS, EXQUISITELY CARVED OAK PANELLING AND GLORIOUS PARKLAND”

©NATIONAL TRUST IMAGES/JAMES DOBSON/NATIONALTRUST.ORG.UK

The baths were created to give homesick soldiers a home from home, as was the colossal amphitheatre, seating 6,000 spectators. Now people sunbathe and picnic on its grassy perimeter, a peaceful scene that belies its grisly gladiatorial past. Nearby Newport has several attractions, including the National Trust-owned mansion, Tredegar House, with its dazzling state rooms, exquisitely carved oak panelling and glorious parkland. To see the opposite end of the spectrum, a trip to Big Pit National Coal Museum in Blaenavon, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is well worth it. An underground visit gives insight into how it might have felt to toil below ground for a living. The tours are conducted by ex-miners,

who are knowledgeable and happy to answer questions. Blaenavon Ironworks is another gem. Established in the late 18th century, it was one of the leading Welsh ironworks, and played a key role in the technological development of the iron industry during the Industrial Revolution. The market town of Cowbridge lies in the centre of the rural ‘Vale’, and boasts medieval town walls, a physic garden and some cool pubs and delis. Penarth, just around the headland from Cardiff Bay, is a charming town with a beautifully restored Victorian Pier, clifftop walks and ornamental gardens. Penarth Pier’s crowning glory is a fabulous Art Deco pavilion housing a cinema, tea house and gallery. FLAT HOLM ISLAND Cardiff and Penarth overlook the island of Flat Holm, a nature reserve which welcomes visitors with trips running from Cardiff between March and October. Flat Holm is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest and its Flat Holm Project conserves the island’s natural and cultural features, from maritime grassland to Victorian barracks and seabird colonies to wartime bunkers. There’s no chance of you being bored in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. From history to nature to culture, it has you covered.

TREDEGAR HOUSE

WELCOME TO CARDIFF & THE VALE OF GL AMORGAN

AN INTERNATIONAL SUMMER OF CRICKET IN CARDIFF

Adult Tickets From £35 U17s Tickets From £12 Premium Terrace Tickets £115

TICKETS

Adult Tickets From £42 U17s Tickets From £12 Premium Terrace Tickets £130

www.glamorgancricket.com / 02920 419 311

Sport venue of the year

AN ICONIC STADIUM VENUE IN THE CENTRE OF THE WELSH CAPITAL Sophia Gardens is a 15,000-seater stadium in the centre of Cardiff and proud home of Glamorgan Cricket Club, Welsh Fire and England International cricket matches. The venue has state-of-the-art player facilities, a media centre, and conference, event and hospitality spaces attracting visitors to Wales from around the world. Although a short walk from Cardiff Central train station, Sophia Gardens is also nestled in the idyllic Bute Park. It’s within easy reach of the M4 motorway and easily accessible by air, train and road for UK-wide groups as well as overseas visitors.

A C O N FE R E N C E “AL L ROU N D E R ”

K NO C K YO U R G U E S T S F O R S I X

This is not just a venue for meetings and events with a sporting theme, if you need space and versatility then Sophia Gardens is the place for you. Ranging from big events in Sophia Hall, that can host 540 for a seated dinner and up to 600 for a conference, to smaller 12 person executive suites for more intimate indoor settings – there will be a space to meet your needs and the parking and on-site facilities to match. Why not include a stadium tour or visit to the Cricket Museum of Wales so guests can hear the stories and see the locations where iconic cricket moments unfolded, or have a hit in the nets during one of your breaks – experiences your guests won’t forget!

Sophia Hall, situated on the ground floor of the National Cricket Centre, is one of Cardiff’s largest and most versatile event rooms. As a whole it measures 750 metres squared and will easily accommodate your exhibition and catering requirements for the duration of the event. The suite is a large and adaptable blank canvas enabling clients to tailor the room specifically to their event concept whether it is an exhibition, conference or dinner. Easy ground floor access, supporting kitchens and storage areas mean that the potential of the Sophia Hall is only limited by your imagination. The hall is only available in October and November 2024 so it is recommended that you book this space well in advance.

To book or find out more, please contact 02920 419 337 sales@glamorgancricket.co.uk www.glamorgancricket.com

THE BEST OF CARDIFF & THE VALE OF GLAMORGAN OUR TOP THINGS TO SEE AND DO WHEN VISITING THIS BEAUTIFUL REGION

TOP PICKS

 DISCOVER SCIENCE WITH THE KIDS

Take the kids to Techniquest, the UK’s longestestablished science centre, that has been bringing the joys of the scientific world to a wider audience for more than 30 years. If you’d like to fire a rocket, watch a bubble race, check yourself out in a distorting mirror, or test your reaction times, then this is the place for you. Adults find the place as engrossing as the kids do.

 SHOP UNTIL YOU DROP

The city’s network of Victorian and Edwardian arcades have helped Cardiff build a reputation as one of the UK’s top shopping destinations, and house dozens of fantastic independent shops, restaurants and cafés. The arcades are also delightful architecturally.  SOAK UP THE CULTURE

The Wales Millennium Centre is a lively arts village in its own right. Home to world-renowned Welsh National Opera, visiting West End musicals and eight other organisations, including the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Or you could book a concert at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama’s dazzling auditorium. The acoustics are perfect for classical music.  GO TO CHURCH

©CROWN COPYRIGHT (2023) VISIT WALES; FOTOBEAM.DE/STOCK.ADOBE.COM; JONNY GIOS/UNSPLASH; NATIONAL TRUST IMAGES/ANDREW BUTLER/NATIONALTRUST.ORG.UK; TECHNIQUEST; VISIT THE VALE

Visit Llandaff Cathedral and see Jacob Epstein’s famous Christ in Majesty, a moving statue of the tortured Christ on the cross. The attractive Llandaff village also has a green surrounded by handsome stone houses, atmospheric ruins, cafes, pubs, restaurants and shops, to add a lighter note to the jaunt.  GLAMORGAN HERITAGE COAST

The Glamorgan Heritage Coast is the perfect place for a day out whether you want to walk the stunning coast path, indulge in a spot of surfing, or simply chill out on the beach and have a swim. Summer or winter, the jagged cliff scenery is awe inspiring.  SEE FINE ART COLLECTIONS

Thanks to the generosity of wealthy spinster sisters, Gwendoline and Margaret Davies, who reputedly inherited £500,000 each – a fabulous figure in 1908 – the National Museum Cardiff houses a fine collection of Impressionist paintings. Works the sisters donated to the gallery include Renoir’s tender portrait of the girl in blue, La Parisienne; three of Monet’s Waterlilies series; along with magnificent pieces by Pissarro, Manet, Sisley, Morisot, Cezanne and Van Gogh.

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 CYCLE THE TAFF TRAIL

Hire a bike from Pedal Power in Pontcanna and take a spin along the Taff Trail. If you are bursting with energy, you can pedal all the way to the market town of Brecon in the heart of the beautiful Bannau Brycheiniog National Park (formally known as Brecon Beacons National Park) – a one-way journey of 55 miles.  DISCOVER CARDIFF’S HERITAGE

Cardiff Castle presents a fairy-tale presence, right in the heart of the city, overlooking the main shopping centres. The Castle you see today, is at once a Roman fort, an impressive Norman castle and an extraordinary Victorian Gothic fantasy palace, created for one of the world’s richest men.  SEE DEMOCRACY IN ACTION

While you’re there, visit the Senedd, the seat of Welsh democracy. Wales narrowly voted for devolution in September 1997 – following

which, then First Minister, Rhodri Morgan, aimed to put “clear red water” between Wales and Westminster. The Senedd building, designed by Richard Rogers (mastermind of the iconoclastic Pompidou Centre in Paris), was the first step on that journey.  GLORIOUS GARDENS

Dyffryn Gardens in the Vale of Glamorgan, owned by the National Trust, is a magnificent 55-acre Edwardian garden with an arboretum full of beautiful mature trees; a lovely Italianate terrace; formal lawns, waterways and fountains. There’s also a splendid mansion presiding over the lawns, which is slowly being restored to its former majesty and is closed to the public.

OPPOSITE PAGE TOP TO BOTTOM EXPLORE THE BEAUTIFUL DYFFRYN GARDENS; STROLL ALONG NASH POINT BEACH ON GLAMORGAN’S HERITAGE COAST; ABOVE CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT LET THE KIDS DISCOVER ALL THINGS SCIENCE AT TECHNIQUEST; CARDIFF CASTLE; NATIONAL MUSEUM CARDIFF; WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE

WELCOME TO CARDIFF & THE VALE OF GL AMORGAN

SHOPPING

SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP SHOPAHOLICS WILL LOVE THIS REGION FOR ITS ECLECTIC MIX OF BOHO-CHIC BOUTIQUES, HIGH-STREET STAPLES AND QUIRKY INDEPENDENTS

©WILLIAM87/STOCK.ADOBE.COM

hopping in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan is a whole heap of fun. The city’s nice and compact and many of the retail areas are pedestrianised, so you can shop until you drop but not until you’re footsore! Out in the Vale, there are farm shops, antique shops and boutiques, set deep in the bucolic countryside. Cardiff has a strong, independent spirit and its shops are no different. You’ll find plenty of quirky gems all over the city, selling everything from vinyl to clothing. Head away from the big smoke and into the countryside and you’ll find all the fine food and quirky gift stores you could wish for. If you love a bit of individuality when it comes to shopping, make a beeline for Cardiff’s Grade 2-listed Victorian and Edwardian arcades, and the little shops within them. Some of the most eccentric offerings are housed under the glass-domed roof of the Castle Arcade. INTERESTING SELECTION Troutmark Books spreads out over two levels, selling an eclectic range of limited-edition books and second-hand novels, while Rules of Play is devoted to computer, role play and board games. While you’re here, check out Diba, which offers bespoke clothes for both kids and grown-ups, and has a nice line in leather goods. And don’t miss Wally’s Liquor Cellar, an offshoot of Wally’s famous independent deli in the Royal Arcade. On the upper gallery, you’ll find Cardiff Violins, where walls of gleaming stringed instruments create a fiddler’s Nirvana. As well as buying a new instrument, you could also get your old one restored or repaired. An incredible 14 rooms on the arcade balcony are devoted to this special business. Coffee Barker, with its candlelit tables out in the arcade and its cosy corners inside, makes a great pitstop for coffee or a bite to eat. They serve breakfast and light lunches and, if you fancy something a little stronger to fortify you, they also own the Gin and Juice bar, which stocks an awe-inspiring 350 gins. Check out Castle Welsh Crafts, opposite Cardiff Castle, who specialise in handcrafted, traditional Welsh lovespoons alongside a fantastic range of Welsh gifts and locally made crafts. >>p53

WELCOME TO CARDIFF & THE VALE OF GL AMORGAN

ANTIQUES • VINTAGE • COLLECTABLES HAND-CRAFTED GIFTS 30 traders under one roof in the pretty, historic market town of Cowbridge. An eclectic Aladdin's cave full of hidden treasures! Antiques, vintage, collectables, original rock and pop vinyl records, Welsh interest books, pottery, coins, militaria, jewellery and a wide selection of unique hand-crafted gifts... the list goes on! Soak up the nostalgic music and atmosphere in our vintage tearoom. One of the many independent shops and eateries in town.

Customer Review 2023 “A fabulous place to spend time. Lots of unusual pieces. The Happy Days cafe is a must when in Cowbridge... Once you’ve been there, you’ll always call back”

Open 7 days a week 10-5 Mon-Sat, 11-4 Sundays & Bank Holidays. Tel. 01446 771191 Find us just off the High Street, tucked behind The Duke of Wellington pub, Cowbridge CF71 7BB.

www.happydaysvintagehomestore.co.uk

WELCOME TO CARDIFF & THE VALE OF GL AMORGAN

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S T DAV I D ’ S FASHION, FOOD AND FUN AWAITS YOU IN THE HEART OF CARDIFF!

DINING DELIGHTS Whether you’re stopping while you’re shopping, or planning a memorable meal, there are tempting options at St David’s. Sit outside Wahaca and watch the world go by, treat the family to unrivalled steaks at Gaucho, indulge your senses at The Ivy Asia, or overload on comfort food at Cosy Club.

SHOPPING, SUSSED St David’s is home to an exceptional range of brands. We have style powerhouse ZARA, five floors of clothing and homewares at Primark, departments for all the family at John Lewis and shops the little ones will love, like LEGO and Smiggle. We’re also proud to have an Apple Store and one of the biggest H&Ms in the UK.

CITY CENTRE ADVENTURE For a fun day out, head to Treetop Adventure Golf and tackle the two 18-hole minigolf courses - the Tropical Trail or Ancient Explorer. Fancy some culture? Nearby Cardiff Castle and the National Museum Cardiff are both wonderful. Or you could simply relax with a film at our neighbour, Cineworld.

STDAVIDSCARDIFF.COM

CARDIFF MARKET MARCHNAD

CAERDYDD

Cardiff Market is an impressive Victorian structure which opened in 1891. It offers a unique shopping experience in the heart of the city centre’s Historic Quarter.

Mae Marchnad Caerdydd yn strwythur Fictoraidd trawiadol a agorodd yn 1891. Mae’n cynnig profiad siopa unigryw yng nghanol Cwr Hanesyddol canol y ddinas.

Under one great glass roof you will find a buzzing, lively market filled with local independent businesses and a wealth of products ranging from traditional Welsh cuisine to artisan coffee and street food; clothing, haberdashery and records; fruit and veg to a psychic medium.

Dan un to gwydr gwych, dewch o hyd i farchnad fywiog a phrysur yn llawn busnesau annibynnol lleol a chyfoeth o gynhyrchion yn amrywio o fwyd Cymreig traddodiadol i goffi crefft a bwyd stryd; dillad, manion gwnïo a recordiau; ffrwythau a llysiau i seicig.

Stop off and see us, spend some time exploring the various businesses and experiencing the sights and smells of the beating heart of the city.

Cardiff Market, St Mary Street, Cardiff CF10 1AU Tel: 07890 557047 Email: cardiffmarket@cardiff.gov.uk

Galwch heibio a threulio amser yn archwilio’r gwahanol fusnesau a mwynhau golygfeydd ac arogleuon calon y ddinas.

Marchnad Caerdydd, Heol Eglwys Fair, Caerdydd CF10 1AH Ffôn: 07890 557047 E-bost: marchnadcaerdydd@caerdydd.gov.uk

SHOPPING

LEFT BROWSE THE FAB SELECTION OF SHOPS IN THE MORGAN ARCADE

©CRISTIAN STORTO/STOCK.ADOBE.COM; VISITBRITAIN/ANDREW PICKETT

“THE MORGAN ARCADE IS HOME TO INDEPENDENT STORES, LUXURY BOUTIQUES AND SOME HIGH-END CHAINS. BROWSE LADIESWEAR AT JOULES OR YOU COULD ALSO VISIT THE DR MARTENS STORE” The oldest of Cardiff’s arcades is the Royal Arcade, linking St Mary Street and The Hayes. Built in 1858, its façade reflects the opulence of Victorian architecture. Some of the original shop fronts inside still survive too. You can’t visit the Royal Arcade without stopping to salivate at Wally’s Delicatessen and Kaffeehaus. A Cardiff institution for more than 50 years, it stocks over 100 salamis and cold meats alone. Over the years, it’s won a whole host of awards, including the Best Deli in Wales award and the Small Retailer of the Year award in the Observer Food Monthly magazine. Sadly, the eponymous Wally has passed away, but his son is carrying on the family tradition in style and a Viennese-style café graces the upper level. For products that don’t cost the Earth, in any sense of the word, check out Ganesha Handicrafts, which stocks eco-friendly and Fairtrade goods, such as candles, carvings and cards. If you want a break from all those emails, head to The Pen and Paper Stationery Company, where you can buy beautiful pens and paper and try your hand at writing a letter – if you can still remember how to do so! There are

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some pretty expensive pens here but think of them as a family heirloom and the price isn’t so eye-watering. The Morgan Arcade sits alongside the Royal Arcade and houses its own collection of fascinating little stores. Spillers Records, the world’s oldest record shop, opened in 1894 in the former Queens Arcade. It moved to The Hayes in the 1940s, then to Morgan Arcade in 2010, where it still carries on its proud tradition of free gigs and eclectic music. It’s veritable vinyl heaven. HIT THE ARCADES The Morgan Arcade is also home to other independent stores, luxury boutiques and some high-end chains. Browse ladieswear at Joules or you could also visit the Dr Martens store, if you fancy some trendy leather boots. If you’re into vintage, make for The High Street Arcade where you can do some serious browsing at Hobo’s Vintage Clothing, which bills itself as a ‘deliciously different’ vintage clothing shop. If you’re in the market for some 90s trainers or a shell suit, this is the place to come. Rather get something for the kids? Check out Galactic Attic, a treasure trove of toys. >>p57

WELCOME TO CARDIFF & THE VALE OF GL AMORGAN

CHRISTOPHER GEORGE JEWELLERS CHRISTOPHER JEWELLERS 27 Queens Arcade,GEORGE Cardiff CF10 2BY

27 CF10 2BY Tel:Queens 029 20 Arcade, 231 244 Cardiff www.christophergeorgejewellers.co.uk Tel: 029 20 231 244 www.christophergeorgejewellers.co.uk

QUEENS ARCADE SHOPPING CENTRE CARDIFF, CF10 2BY TEL: 029 2023 1244 WWW.CHRISTOPHERGEORGEJEWELLERS.CO.UK

THE PUMPING STATION OFFERS ONE OF THE LARGEST COLLECTIONS OF ANTIQUES TO BE FOUND ANYWHERE IN WALES An eclectic mix of antiques, mid-century, modern, reproduction furniture, military, books, china, glassware, jewellery, mirrors, giftware, discount fabrics and even a tarot card reader. Why not while away a morning or afternoon with us.

Free parking

Refuel in the onsite Chat Café

029 2022 1085 info@thepumpingstation-cardiff.co.uk

Vintage football and rugby shirts bought and sold

Open 7 days a week 10.00am-5.00pm

Find us at

(including bank holidays)

Penarth Road, Cardiff, South Glamorgan CF11 8TT

W W W.TH EPU M PINGS TATION- CA R DIFF.CO.U K

An independent family business, Castle Welsh Crafts has been flying the flag for Wales since we were established over 40 years ago!

Castle Welsh Crafts is situated directly opposite Cardiff Castle and we specialise in handcrafted welsh gifts. Our speciality being Welsh Lovespoons with always plenty to choose from in our gallery. We also have the world’s largest and smallest lovespoons on display! We offer a personalising service with most of our Lovespoons – a bespoke and personal touch that you can give to your loved ones i.e a spoon suitable for a wedding we would add the names of the bride and groom the date of the marriage etc. Other celebrations are of course also possible. We have a wide range of Welsh gifts and locally made crafts that we can ship worldwide. We have a friendly team working with us, whether its service with a smile or someone to help you shop to find the perfect welsh gift. Our priority is to source as many products as we can from the many talented artists and local suppliers across Wales.

info@castlewelshcrafts.co.uk castlewelshcrafts.co.uk 1-3 Castle Street, Cardiff CF10 1BS

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SHOPPING

©CROWN COPYRIGHT (2023) VISIT WALES; ELCARITO/ UNSPLASH; JENIFOTO/STOCK.ADOBE.COM

Refreshment comes in the form of the New York Deli, where you can make like you’re in Manhattan and order a salt beef sandwich or a bagel. For something a little more refined, Barkers Tea House serves tea, cakes, light lunches and full-on afternoon tea. If you’re after some baked goods, head to The Wyndham Arcade to find Waterloo Tea, a fabulous tea shop with its own bakery. VINTAGE FASHION Bargain hunters can have all kinds of fun at the flea market extraordinaire that is Jacobs Antique Centre. Tucked away near Cardiff Central railway station on West Canal Wharf, it’s home to 30 individual stalls, spread out over three floors and selling everything from vintage fashion to comics to vinyl. They occasionally put on events, such as rooftop cinema screenings. Step back into another eccentric world with a visit to the Cardiff Central Market, a handsome Victorian covered shopping centre that’s home to an oddball selection of retailers. It’s great for a wander and buying something is practically inevitable. The market has been trading since the 1700s, and while you can’t purchase a whole cow, like back in the old days, you can still sift through jewellery, plants, crafts, leather goods and homeware.

ABOVE RIGHT POP INTO CARDIFF CENTRAL MARKET – YOU WON’T LEAVE EMPTY HANDED

If you’re a foodie, you’ll be extra happy. There’s an excellent butcher and fishmonger here, as well as a cheese counter, vegetarian and vegan stalls and a bread stall selling mountains of freshly baked crusty rolls. Follow the smell of baking and join the queue at Cardiff Bakestones, where they produce a range of Welsh cakes and other tempting treats right in front of you. If you’re keen to sample traditional Welsh fare, you can settle in for a full Welsh breakfast featuring laverbread (seaweed) at the Bull Terrier Cafe on the balcony upstairs, overlooking the market. For more market action, join Cardiff’s hipsters at Corp Market, out on Cowbridge Road in Canton. A selection of independent traders centred around a bar and coffee shop, it’s the place to come for high quality, individual finds. Among the stylish traders are a Sicilian deli, a plant shop, a zero-waste food shop and a bookshop aimed at promoting marginalised voices. In the Vale, Cowbridge is awash with independent shops. For beautiful flowers try Gail Armytage Florist or The Bay Tree, both of whom create stunning flower displays for local businesses. The award-winning, colourful Pencil Case features gifts and stationery aimed at young people, and then there’s the lovely Elephant & Bun Delicatessen, as well as >>p61

WELCOME TO CARDIFF & THE VALE OF GL AMORGAN

Discover a whole world of independent boutiques, famous brands, and quality eateries at the Morgan Quarter.

Shwmae! Welcome to Cardiff, the City of Arcades! We’re so excited to invite you to explore the magical Royal and Morgan Arcades, which make up the Morgan Quarter. Originally built in 1896, as an extension to the David Morgan department store, it’s now home to over 80 independent cafes, bars, and shops right in the heart of the city. So, whether you’re visiting to see Wales’ oldest record shop, Spillers, to enjoy a traditional Viennese delicacy at Wally’s Delicatessen and Kaffeehaus, or to have a unique independent shopping experience – the Morgan Quarter has never been a more exciting place to visit!

Where to find us The Morgan Quarter is open seven days a week between 8am – 6pm Monday to Saturday and 10am – 5pm on Sunday.

morganquarter.co.uk

wgc Welsh Gold Company

Beautiful Jewellery Inspired By The Welsh Countryside. Certified To Contain Rare Welsh Gold. The Welsh Gold Company make evocative, distinctive jewellery containing Rare Welsh Gold using the traditional techniques that have been handed down through generations of Welsh goldsmiths. Each piece of WGC jewellery contains Rare Welsh Gold extracted from the Gwynfynydd Gold Mine, which is nestled deep in the mountains of North Wales.

Exclusive to :

Queens Arcade Shopping Centre . Cardiff . CF10 2BY . Tel: 02920 231244 . email: enquiries@christophergeorgejewellers.co.uk AEW2021

©CROWN COPYRIGHT (2023) VISIT WALES

SHOPPING

must make time to visit the hip food stalls while you’re bookshops, boutiques, jewellery shops and galleries. The here, too. They include Mexican, Greek and a parmesan Welsh Coffee Company has set up a coffee shop, Cortile fried chicken burger specialist. Coffee, where Pebble Clothing shop used to be. Prefer to get your retail therapy at the mall or on the Head over to Penarth and you’ll find independent high street? You won’t be disappointed. You’ll find all the shops such as Hamptons, which occupies two storeys of a big brand names in and around converted Victorian meeting house, Cardiff, whether you want to sells a huge array of homewares and wander the high streets or head to stages regular musical evenings. “IT’S NO WONDER an out-of-town mall. If you fancy Shore, located on the Esplanade, is CARDIFF IS ONE OF some designer gear, you can find devoted to all things coastal, so that that here too. shoppers can bring a touch of the THE TOP SHOPPING It’s no wonder Cardiff is one of seaside back home. DESTINATIONS IN THE the top shopping destinations in the Nine miles southwest of Cardiff, UK. The gleaming St David’s Dewi Barry isn’t just known for its wide, UK. THE GLEAMING ST Sant has acres of space filled with golden beach. It’s also a popular DAVID’S DEWI SANT IS stores to match every budget. Its independent shopping hub, bringing flagship store is a sprawling John in punters from across the region. FILLED WITH STORES Lewis & Partners and there’s also a Your first stop should be Goodsheds, Boots and Primark. a former dockyard turned FOR EVERY BUDGET” Other stores include BOSS, sustainable high street. AllSaints, Swarovski, Jo Malone If cool, individual retailers are London, and Castle Fine Art, a commercial gallery your bag you’ll have great fun browsing the independent stocking work by local artists as well as prints by famous traders, which are all housed in shipping containers and names such as Johnny Depp, Bob Dylan and Ronnie Wood. repurposed railway carriages. You’ll find stylish threads at Who says you can only be good at one thing? Box Edit Boutique, beautiful tableware at Matthew Jones If you fancy a break from shopping, but still want to >>p63 Ceramics and gifts and homewares at Annie & Lolo. You

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ABOVE IF SHOPPING IS YOUR THING, MAKE A BEELINE FOR ST DAVID’S DEWI SANT – YOU WON’T BE DISAPPOINTED

WELCOME TO CARDIFF & THE VALE OF GL AMORGAN

s u o l u Fab es

k a c h Wels

day y r e v e dled ly gr id

f resh

Find us opposite Cardiff Castle

• Experience the delicious taste of Wales • Warm, delicious Welshcakes, freshly cooked in store

• Local, independent, artisan bakery • Local gifts, crafts and souvenirs all made in Wales

Visit U

TODAYs Visit us down the Bay, Mermaid Quay

Pay us a visit online at...

www.fabulouswelshcakes.co.uk CC569-FWC-HalfPage-Advert-V3.indd 1

11/01/2018 12:56

BROADEN YOUR HORIZONS

Destination inspiration for more than 75 UK and Ireland towns, cities and counties awaits you at the home of staycation content. Be inspired at

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SHOPPING

“THIS BARGAIN SHOPPER’S PARADISE OFFERS UP TO 60 PER CENT DISCOUNTS, WITH OVER 90 HIGH-STREET AND DESIGNER BRANDS, SUCH AS CALVIN KLEIN, HELLY HANSEN, BOSS AND LEVI’S”

watch the world go by, head for the Hayes Island Snack Bar, an unpretentious hangout billed as the oldest snack bar in Wales. Or you could check out one of the many chain restaurants, which include Shake Shack, Prezzo and Slim Chickens. Further entertainment comes in the form of a Cineworld cinema and a Treetop Adventure Golf. Opposite John Lewis is the Cardiff Central Library, a perfect place to chill if you have shopped and dropped. It was opened in 2009 with great fanfare and a visit from the Manic Street Preachers. Inside, it’s bright, modern and inviting. It houses 90,000 books and has a kids’ area and a relax and read zone. If you feel a pang of familiarity as you enter the Queens Arcade, that could be because of its five minutes of fame on the small screen – it was used as a location during the filming of Doctor Who. Inside, you’ll find shops including Kutchenhaus, Ryman and The Entertainer. LUXURY GOODS Looking for some designer threads? Then Flannels, on Churchill Way, is an excellent place to start. It has all kinds of luxury goods, including from classic designers such as Armani, Ralph Lauren, Paul Smith, Prada and Gucci. On the outskirts of Cardiff, Cardiff Lifestyle Shopping Park is home to several big stores, including Home Sense, Boots, M&S and TK Maxx. (TK Maxx looks like its integrated with Home Sense?) McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Bridgend lies to the west of the Vale, just off the M4 and reachable by bus from Cardiff. This bargain shopper’s paradise offers up to 60 per cent discounts, with over 90 high-street and designer brands, such as Calvin Klein, Helly Hansen, Boss and Levi’s. You can seek out your favourites away from the hustle and bustle of the high street, then take a break in one of the cafés or restaurants. Parents will appreciate the large children’s play area, and there’s even a cinema. When it comes to shopping, Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan deliver the goods. Whether you’re into vintage, independent or high street, there’s lots to keep you going. TOP LEFT HEAD A LITTLE FURTHER AFIELD AND VISIT MCARTHURGLEN DESIGNER OUTLET BRIDGEND FOR BIG-NAME DESIGNER BARGAINS

WELCOME TO CARDIFF & THE VALE OF GL AMORGAN

EXPERIENCE A TASTE SENSATION IN CARDIFF & THE VALE OF GLAMORGAN THIS REGION IS A FOODIE’S PARADISE WITH A HOST OF FANTASTIC RESTAURANTS, CAFÉS AND PUBS – SO MAKE SURE YOU BRING A HEALTHY APPETITE

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EATING OUT

he appetite for fine food in Wales is growing. Eateries in Cardiff and throughout the Vale feature hand-crafted cheese, pâtés, preserves and luscious fruit and vegetables on their menus, alongside salt-marsh Welsh lamb, Welsh black beef and sustainable fish and shellfish. Whether you’re fine dining or grabbing a pastry and a coffee, you’ll find top-quality ingredients and a commitment to going local. Looking for hipster street food? You’ve got it. High-end dining in swish surroundings? Absolutely. A selection of cuisine from around the world? Most definitely. Whatever your foodie requests, it’s certainly easy to meet them in the cosmopolitan city of Cardiff. If you fancy meeting some of Wales’ best food producers in person, head to the Riverside Market, held every Sunday on the Fitzhamon Embankment, opposite the Principality Stadium. On a sunny morning, shoppers gather for coffee (Fairtrade, of course), home-made cakes and a chat, while buskers add to the lively atmosphere. They also have a night market on the last Wednesday of every month, from 5pm to 8pm, where you can eat everything from Malaysian rotis to Caribbean street food. Mini farmers’ markets pop up throughout the city, including at Pontcanna’s King’s Road Yard every Saturday morning. Here you’ll find ethical meat alongside local honey and award-winning cheeses. King’s Road Yard also has a permanent collection of artists and small artisan businesses, including an organic coffee shop and a craft brewery. UNCOMPLICATED DISHES Over in the city centre, The Potted Pig is hugely popular and has featured in the UK’s top 100 restaurants. Housed in the subterranean depths of a former bank vault on St Mary Street, this gem of a restaurant serves uncomplicated dishes that let the locally sourced ingredients sing. Think pork belly with apple and fennel purée or cod loin with cockles and samphire. For gin fans, there’s a great selection of over 30 to choose from. Carnivores will love Pasture, a stylish eatery serving excellent mature beef sourced from farms in Wales and the South West, and dry-aged for a minimum of 35 days. For even more meat, make a trip up to the Marco Pierre White Steakhouse. As well as prime cuts of beef served straight from the grill, you can try top-notch burgers, fish and chips and hearty pies. You can wash it all down with fine wines or delicious cocktails. Great British Menu chef Tommy Heaney opened his own place – Heaneys – in the smart suburb of Pontcanna. The restaurant specialises in seasonal, locally sourced food including herbs hand-picked from the chef’s garden. A new addition next door is Uisce, an oyster and wine bar owned by the same team. Set in a former park keeper’s bungalow at the entrance of Sophia Gardens is Kindle, which specialises in organic, ingredient-led cooking. The owner’s aim is to be as sustainable as possible, using recycled materials in the restoration of the building, including glass and bricks, and supplying produce from their own kitchen garden and greenhouse. Seasonal food is cooked over fire and there’s a small, regularly changing menu featuring dishes such as jerk duck leg and bream with squid tempura.

“SEASONAL FOOD IS COOKED OVER FIRE AND THERE’S A SMALL, REGULARLY CHANGING MENU FEATURING DISHES SUCH AS JERK DUCK LEG AND BREAM WITH SQUID TEMPURA” The owners of Kindle, Phill and Deb Lewis, are also behind neighbourhood bistro Nook, which serves seasonal dishes and natural wines in a site next to Victoria Park, and they also run Dusty’s Pizza, which serves proper Neapolitan pizzas in Llanishen. Y Dosbarth, or The Classroom is staffed by students from Cardiff and Vale College. The elegant European food has gained the approval of Observer food critic Jay Rayner, and features delicious dishes such as pan-fried brill with roasted Jerusalem artichoke. If it’s a treat you’re after, make your way to the Castle Arcade and Coffee Barker, where you can get a caffeine fix and some excellent homemade cakes. Set in the High Street Arcade, its sister operation, Barker Tea Rooms, >>p67

OPPOSITE PAGE ENJOY FINE DINING AT HEANEYS IN PONTCANNA; ABOVE DINE AL FRESCO AT KINDLE, PONTCANNA

WELCOME TO CARDIFF & THE VALE OF GL AMORGAN

EATING OUT

serves fancy afternoon tea. For cake and conversation, head to the leafy surroundings of Waterloo Gardens and grab a seat at Waterloo Tea, which has an in-house bakery and a fantastic collection of baked goods. Cardiff’s food scene grows more and more diverse and that’s a great thing for vegans and vegetarians. There’s a clutch of excellent plant-based restaurants in the city, including Anna Loka, a laid-back café serving all-day breakfasts and burgers on Albany Road. GOURMET BURGERS If it’s fuel for a night out you’re looking for, don’t miss Pieminster, the increasingly popular pie joint that started life in Bristol. Or, for a home-grown gourmet-burger experience, head for Cardiff’s own The Grazing Shed on Barrack Lane. The burgers come with a range of wild and wonderful toppings such as mozzarella and pineapple or chorizo and avocado mash. There are great vegetarian and vegan options available, too. Should you have tickets for a performance at the Wales Millennium Centre, the city’s leading arts venue and home to the world-renowned Welsh National Opera, then try

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TOP LEFT FOR A TWIST ON THE CLASSIC PIE, HEAD TO PIEMINSTER; ABOVE RIGHT IF IT’S HIGH-END INDIAN CUISINE YOU’RE LOOKING FOR, THEN LOOK NO FURTHER THAN THE PURPLE POPPADOM

out Côte Brasserie – a chain it might be, but the standard is great. Another quality chain in the Bay is Bill’s, located in the lovely, listed Pilotage Building. In tune with the multicultural flavour of the city, Cardiff is home to a host of curry houses, from simple takeaways to stylish eateries to authentic Indian veggie diners with Formica tables and oodles of atmosphere. Vegetarian Food Studio on Penarth Road serves Gujarati and other Asian-inspired specialities. It has featured in The Guardian’s UK Top 10 Veggie Eats, as well as gaining recognition in the Daily Telegraph and Sunday Times. Most of their dishes are suitable for vegans too. The nearest Cardiff has to a ‘curry mile’ is Cowbridge Road East. The star of the bunch is the Purple Poppadom, where the menu is far from standard Indian fare – think slow-braised lamb shanks, crispy soft-shell crab with curry leaves and duck poached in coconut sauce. Nearby Mattancherry serves fabulous Keralan food, including dosas, thalis and a special kid’s menu. Cowbridge Road East is also home to Bangkok Cafe, a vibrant spot serving fragrant dishes from across Thailand, and Osaka, which specialises in sushi and noodles. >>p69

WELCOME TO CARDIFF & THE VALE OF GL AMORGAN

Wine & Seafood

Jackson’s and Cora are two family-owned restaurants in Cardiff’s iconic Duke Street Arcade, just opposite Cardiff Castle. The restaurants occupy two floors of the same building. Downstairs, Jackson’s is Cardiff’s only oyster bar, serving a simple menu of seafood, cocktails and wines. Upstairs, Cora is one of Wales’ top restaurants. Serving a changing tasting menu of seasonal produce to just ten guests each day. Cora is featured in the Michelin Guide, The Good Food Guide and Wales’ Best Restaurants.

3-7 Duke Street Arcade

Cardiff

CF10 1AZ

T. 029 2132 1540

www.coracardiff.com

A must-visit for those seeking an authentic taste of Turkey in the vibrant city of Cardiff Tucked away in the charming seaside town of Penarth, just a few miles from Cardiff, Keyif Restaurant beckons visitors to savour a fusion of Turkish heritage and contemporary flair. This culinary haven immerses patrons in a kaleidoscope of hues, enticing scents, and a symphony of flavours. From savoury kebabs to artfully crafted mezes, each dish is a testament to the chef’s expertise. The welcoming ambiance and attentive service elevate the dining experience, making Keyif a destination of choice for those craving an authentic taste of Turkey amidst the picturesque setting of Penarth.

0292 070 2429

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•

info@keyif.co.uk

•

www.keyif.co.uk

•

21 Glebe St, Penarth CF64 1EE

EATING OUT

“THE ATMOSPHERE MAKES YOU WANT TO LINGER FOR HOURS, SHOOTING THE BREEZE WITH FRIENDS. AND, IF YOU WANT TO TAKE A TASTE OF SPAIN HOME WITH YOU, THERE’S A DELI COUNTER FULL OF GOODIES”

A little further out from the centre, Sushi Life, on Wellfield Road, has taken Cardiff by storm with its fresh authentic sushi and excellent service. For more Japanese treats, take a seat at one of the scrubbed pine refectory tables at Tenkaichi, on City Road. They serve up an array of sushi and noodle dishes, plus specialist Bento boxes. There are even more international eats to be had on City Road, including Italian at Giardini di Sorrento, Syrian at Shaam Nights and South Indian at Ponnuswamy Restaurant. For a sunlit taste of Portugal, visit Nata & Co, which has branches in the Castle Quarter Arcades and Clifton Street and offers pastries (including pastel de nata of course), bread and snacks. Cheap, cheerful and delicious!

SMALL PLATES The fabulous Curado Bar gives you an authentic taste of Spain with its excellent tapas, small plates and ruby-red Riojas. The casual, buzzy atmosphere makes you want to linger for hours, shooting the breeze with friends. And, if you want to take a taste of Spain home with you, there’s a deli counter crammed with goodies. There’s also Bar 44, on Westgate Street, which serves top-notch tapas – perfect accompanied with one of their excellent wines or sherries. If you’re after an authentic taste of Italy, head for Casanova, a small restaurant tucked away in a side street opposite the Principality Stadium. It serves hearty classics just like mama used to make. There’s also Café Citta, with its luscious daily specials and wood-fired pizza oven. For some of the best Danish pastries you’ll ever sink your teeth into, get down to Brød on Pontcanna’s Wyndham Crescent, which serves outstanding cinnamon buns and focaccia, alongside coffee, several kinds of sourdough, Danish rye loafs and a superb Danish afternoon tea. For something unusual, try the carrot and linseed bread. The Vale of Glamorgan is characterised by comfortable, welcoming pubs serving hearty food. Many offer fine beer gardens, roaring fires, and a big welcome to the fourlegged friends accompanying walkers. But there’s also a sophisticated side to this part of the world and you’ll find hip coffee shops and fine dining restaurants, too. >>p71 TOP LEFT SAMPLE THE SWEET TREATS ON OFFER AT NATA & CO; LEFT ENJOY TASTY TAPAS DISHES AND FINE WINE AT BAR 44 ON WESTGATE STREET

WELCOME TO CARDIFF & THE VALE OF GL AMORGAN

EATING OUT

LEFT ENJOY AFTERNOON TEA WITH A SPOT OF FIZZ AT LLANERCH VINEYARD, NEAR HENSOL

“THE LOCAL PRODUCE AROUND THESE PARTS IS FABULOUS BUT SO ARE THE RESTAURANTS. WHETHER YOU’RE AFTER COFFEE AND CAKE OR A HIGH-END BLOWOUT, IT’S SURE TO BE DELICIOUS”

Among the best of the pubs in the Vale is the Fox & Hounds in the village of Llancarfan. It serves delicious seasonal food and has a lovely beer garden, plus some boutique bedrooms should you have one too many beers! Set in a charming 14th-century inn, the Plough and Harrow in Monknash is perfect for a pint and some simple pub grub, in front of a roaring fire. Even better if you’ve just come from a windy walk along the Monknash coast. MOREISH SOURDOUGH The Hare & Hounds in Aberthin uses the best Vale of Glamorgan produce and makes everything from scratch, including their moreish sourdough bread. In fact, their bread proved so popular during lockdown that they set up the Hare & Hounds Bakery in Cowbridge, which also sells coffee and pastries and puts on fantastic cheese and charcuterie nights at weekends. The Old Swan Inn sits in the winding streets of the seaside town of Llantwit Major. It’s a true community hub and serves traditional pub classics and well as daily specials. There’s a cosy, 12th-century lounge complete with wood beams and fireplace, as well as a sunny beer garden. Over in Penarth, there’s elegant South Indian dining to be had at Mint & Mustard, which offers a twist on the usual

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classics, while Bar 44 (the sister restaurant to the Cardiff branch) has a nice line in tapas and sherries. For high-end, Spanish-style meat and fish dishes, The Custom House at the marina is well worth a whirl. Fish is a speciality and there’s also an impressive 800-strong wine list. The town’s star act, however, is Home, on Stanwell Road. Set on the seafront, this intimate Michelin-starred restaurant serves four and eight course tasting menus as well as a ‘surprise’ menu. It’s committed to supporting local suppliers and serving seasonal produce. Cowbridge also has a wealth of fantastic eating houses, such as The Penny Farthing, a Welsh and Mediterranean bistro with charming alcoves, window seats and an indoor well. There’s plenty of atmospheric pubs, too, including The Bear Hotel, a coaching inn that serves a legendary Sunday roast, and the Duke of Wellington, a traditional real ale pub that prides itself on simple pub food. For a glimpse of Wales’ wine-producing capabilities, head for Llanerch Vineyard, near Hensol, where the delicious white – Cariad – is produced. There’s also a restaurant, accommodation, wine tasting sessions and a cookery school. The local produce around these parts is fabulous but so are the restaurants. Whether you’re after coffee and cake or a high-end blowout, it’s sure to be delicious.

WELCOME TO CARDIFF & THE VALE OF GL AMORGAN

LIVING FOR THE WEEKEND ONLY HERE FOR THE WEEKEND? HERE ARE SOME IDEAS FOR A MEMORABLE SHORT BREAK TO CARDIFF AND THE VALE OF GL AMORGAN

WEEKENDER

OPPOSITE PAGE VISIT CARDIFF CASTLE; THIS PAGE LEFT TO RIGHT SPEND THE DAY IN PENARTH AND STROLL ALONG THE PIER; CATCH A SHOW AT WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE

DAY 1 u One of Cardiff’s most prominent landmarks is its castle, set in the heart of the city centre, and it makes perfect sense to start a sightseeing tour there. The Bute family – then owners of Cardiff Castle – benefited hugely in financial terms from the booming 19th-century coal industry. The 3rd Marquess of Bute spared no expense on an opulent makeover of the castle’s apartments. Now you might be ready for some refreshment at Pettigrew Tea Rooms in Bute Park, once the castle gardens. After a reviving coffee and cake, stroll through this magnificent public park with its arboretum, herbaceous borders and nature reserve to the Civic Centre and the National Museum Cardiff. Here, one of the largest collections of Impressionist paintings outside Paris is housed. There’s also a fantastic natural history section where you can follow the incredible journey of a leatherback turtle or a basking shark. By now, lunch will be calling. Try the Viennese-style coffee house within Wally’s Deli in the Royal Arcade or Waterloo Tea in the Wyndham Arcade. This brings us to another of Cardiff’s special features, its lovely Victorian and Edwardian arcades. What better way to while away an afternoon than to explore their charms. DAY 2 u Head for Bute Park and catch the waterbus down to Cardiff Bay. The waterfront’s most prominent modern landmark is the Senedd, the home of the Welsh Government, which is well worth taking a tour of. Adjacent is the Wales Millennium Centre, the city’s lively performing arts centre, which is also the base for the world-renowned Welsh National Opera and the National Dance Company of Wales.

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“JUST ACROSS THE WATER FROM CARDIFF LIES PENARTH, WHICH IS HOME TO A TRADITIONAL PIER, COMPLETE WITH AN ART DECO PAVILION, HOUSING A CINEMA, GALLERY AND CAFÉ” The charming Norwegian Church is where writer Roald Dahl was christened. Now it houses a café and arts centre, and on a sunny day you can sit outside and enjoy a fabulous view of the waterfront as you eat lunch. VISIT THE VALE u There’s plenty to keep you occupied in the Vale of Glamorgan, with its rugged coastline and rolling, bucolic interior. Just across the water from Cardiff lies Penarth, which is home to a traditional pier, complete with an Art Deco pavilion, housing a cinema, gallery and café. Nearby Cosmeston Lakes Country Park, a tranquil nature reserve, is a great place for a gentle stroll. More energetic walkers can stride out on the Glamorganshire Heritage Coast path, maybe taking a detour for lunch at the Plough & Harrow in Monknash. Cowbridge, a thriving market town in the heart of the Vale, has plenty of independent shops, as well as great places to eat. The town’s Physic Garden is also worth a whirl, as it has been lovingly looked after by local residents. For gardens on a grander scale, Dyffryn Gardens in St Nicholas, which was acquired by the National Trust, offer 55 acres of beautiful woodland, wild areas, formal lawns, wonderful water features, terraces, and herbaceous borders brimming with colour.

WELCOME TO CARDIFF & THE VALE OF GL AMORGAN

DISCOVER A HIVE OF CULTURE AND CREATIVITY CULTURE VULTURES ASSEMBLE! THIS REGION OFFERS THE PERFECT MIX OF GALLERIES, MUSEUMS, EXHIBITIONS AND FESTIVALS

his little corner of the world sees some of the best music performance in the UK, thanks to a strong Welsh tradition of folk music and singing, and a plethora of live music venues in Cardiff. If you’re an art buff, you won’t be disappointed either. There are fabulous works on display, including a surprisingly great collection of Impressionist paintings. If you want the best live music in Wales, you’ve got to go to Cardiff. There’s everything from classical to rock to afrobeat to get you going. More of a theatre buff? Never fear. There’s everything from lively West End shows to outstanding circus performances. Flagship venues don’t get much better than the Wales Millennium Centre (WMC), located in Cardiff Bay. The gleaming copper-coloured building provides a permanent home to the mother of Welsh cultural organisations, the Welsh National Opera, as well as the highly regarded National Dance Company of Wales. The stunning

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auditorium, the Donald Gordon Theatre, is just as renowned for its aesthetics as it is for its acoustics. Many would argue that the auditorium at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama (RWCMD) gives the WMC a run for its money. What’s more, the college overlooks Bute Park, one of the loveliest urban parks in the UK. Come here to see everything from piano recitals to a recreation of a 17th-century tavern, complete with sea shanties and Purcell overtures. JAZZ CONCERTS An eclectic mix of international artists have graced the RWCMD’s stage, including kora maestro Seckou Keita and innovative Welsh harpist Catrin Finch. The foyer hosts a free jazz concert – AmserJazzTime – every Friday evening during term time, and in summer the terrace overlooking the park is the perfect place for a leisurely glass of wine. Classical music takes centre stage at St David’s Hall in

ARTS & CULTURE

“FOR A WELL-ESTABLISHED, MULTI-FUNCTIONAL ARTS VENUE THAT’S UNAFRAID TO STAGE THE AVANT GARDE, TAKE A TRIP TO CHAPTER ARTS CENTRE”

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programme. The venue also houses a café and office space. In addition to opera and dance, the Wales Millennium Centre stages West End productions such as the massive hit War Horse, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The King and I, We Will Rock You and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Smaller theatres within the complex hold more intimate performances – plays, dance, comedy – and the foyer has a regular free concert for those who happen to be strolling through.

the city centre, also the home of the Welsh Proms. Classical performances are staged in the evening and at lunchtime. Mozart’s Requiem and the Mavron Quartet rub shoulders with a variety of other performances, such as Scottish folksters Breabach, beguiling fiddle player Jackie Oates and guitar supremo Martyn Joseph. The Vale of Glamorgan Festival celebrates contemporary classical music and is devoted entirely to the music of living composers. Held annually in September, it celebrated its half century in 2019. The festival’s prestige attracts an international line-up of artists to incredible venues throughout the Vale and Cardiff. For more live music head to the Tramshed in the lively suburb of Grangetown. It’s a century-old, Grade 2-listed building, which was once the tram depot for West Cardiff. Hawkwind, blues legend Walter Trout, Kae Tempest, New Model Army, Napalm Death, Foo Fighters, Twin Atlantic, Pearl Jam and Sham 69 have all featured on the

OPPOSITE PAGE WATCH PRODUCTIONS SUCH AS A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM AT THE SHERMAN THEATRE; ABOVE LEFT TO RIGHT THE JEWEL IN CARDIFF’S CULTURAL CROWN HAS TO BE WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE; CHAPTER ARTS CENTRE

IMPRESSIVE PERFORMING ARTISTS Cardiff’s New Theatre hasn’t been new for many years. With its Edwardian baroque architecture and its air of faded opulence, it has the stately grace of a dowager duchess. Its back catalogue of performing artists is impressive – Sarah Bernhardt, Anna Pavlova, Laurel and Hardy – while Harold Pinter’s play The Homecoming had its world premiere there in 1965. These days, it’s the place to catch touring productions, such as The Girl on the Train, An Inspector Calls and Peppa Pig’s Best Day Ever, plus big names such as Jimmy Carr and Dawn French, not to mention the annual panto. The Sherman Theatre, on Senghenydd Road, is noted for its brave, artistic productions, partnerships and community works. Never afraid to push boundaries, the Sherman is the first producing theatre in Wales to see its work transferred to the National Theatre in London. For a well-established, multi-functional arts venue that’s unafraid to stage the avant garde, take a trip to Chapter Arts Centre, in the suburb of Canton. Live performances of music, drama and dance are coupled with three cinemas and an art gallery. There’s also a bustling café bar that’s always humming with people of all ages, even toddlers. >>p76

WELCOME TO CARDIFF & THE VALE OF GL AMORGAN

At the other end of town, The Gate Arts and Community Centre, just off the bustling City Road, offers a wide range of facilities, including a 350-capacity performance theatre space, dance studio and art gallery. Ever fancied running away with the circus? Head for NoFit State, the UK’s leading contemporary circus troupe. They’re based in a beautifully restored church on Four Elms Road, Adamsdown. In addition to regular performances, often staged in Big Top in Cardiff Bay, NoFit State runs well-loved community projects and circus skills classes. LIVE EVENTS & FILMS Outside Cardiff, The Memo Arts Centre, formerly known as The Barry Memorial Hall & Theatre is currently the largest multi-arts venue in the Vale of Glamorgan. A registered charity, it programmes a wide array of live events and films, as well as dementia-friendly screenings. Full of beautiful buildings and thought-provoking galleries, Cardiff is a place to let your creative juices flow. Or, at least, see the results of someone else’s creativity! With workshops and art spaces aplenty, you won’t have trouble doing either. The Norwegian Church Arts Centre in Cardiff Bay is a historic Lutheran church and a legacy of Cardiff’s industrial heyday, when the city’s port was one of the world’s busiest, and the Norwegian merchant fleet used it as a key operating centre. The most famous member of

CARDIFF CATHEDRAL THE METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL OF ST DAVID Welcome to the Metropolitan Cathedral Church of St David, Cardiff. The cathedral is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Cardiff and is located in the heart of Cardiff City Centre. The cathedral is also home to the Metropolitan Cathedral Choir, who sing at liturgies and perform concerts within the Cathedral Church. TIMES OF MASS

Saturday – 5.30pm (Vigil) Sunday – 11.00am (Solemn) & 5.30pm (Quiet) Holy Days of Obligation – 6pm (Vigil), 12:30pm & 6pm Weekdays – Monday to Friday 12.45pm, Saturday 10.00am

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Monday to Friday – 12.00pm to 12.30pm Saturday – 10.30am to 12.00pm & 4.30pm to 5.15pm Sunday – 10am to 10.30am

EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT Saturday – 10.30am to 12.00pm

38 Charles Street, Cardiff CF10 2SF | 02920 231407

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ARTS & CULTURE

OPPOSITE PAGE POP INTO THE NORWEGIAN CHURCH ARTS CENTRE; LEFT IF ART IS YOUR THING HEAD TO THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF CARDIFF – YOU WON’T BE DISAPPOINTED

“YOU MIGHT NOT EXPECT TO FIND A WORLD-CLASS IMPRESSIONIST ART COLLECTION IN WALES, BUT HEAD TO THE GRADE 1-LISTED NATIONAL MUSEUM CARDIFF AND YOU’RE IN FOR A REAL TREAT” Cardiff’s Norwegian community was the author Roald Dahl, who was baptised at the church. The Pierhead Building, built in 1897 as the headquarters of the Bute Dock Company, is Grade 1-listed, and houses fascinating images of Cardiff’s golden era as a busy port, when its docklands bristled with the masts of ships. It hosts exhibitions, events and debates. You might not expect to find a world-class Impressionist art collection in Wales, but head to the Grade 1-listed National Museum Cardiff and you’re in for a real treat. It contains an incredible collection bequeathed by the Davies sisters, Gwendoline Davies (1882-1951) and Margaret Davies (1884-1963). The sisters amassed one of the great art collections of the 20th century and bequeathed 260 major works to the gallery. Among these treasures are Renoir’s lovely picture of the girl in blue, La Parisienne; one of Monet’s Waterlilies series; Van Gogh’s Rain-Auvers; and Manet’s The Rabbit. Fans of photography should head to Ffotogallery, set in a former Methodist Sunday school on Fanny Street. It hosts a wide range of events like its bi-annual photo book fair, allowing artists to connect over their work, discover new creatives as audience members and refine their ideas. Peaceful Progress is the umbrella organisation for the professional graffiti art in Cardiff, and the work of

founder, Bryce Davies, can be seen in various locations around town. If craft is your thing, then a must-see is Craft in the Bay, run by The Makers Guild in Wales. There’s a retail space as well as an exhibition area, and the organisation regularly hosts hands-on, creative arts and crafts workshops, as well as demonstrations, talks and community-related activities. It’s housed in the Grade 2-listed ‘D’ Shed, previously an industrial warehouse, located next to Bute East Dock. HAND-THROWN POTTERY For beautiful hand-made homewares, visit the village of Ewenny, near the town of Bridgend, South Wales. It’s home to the unique Ewenny Pottery, a family-run endeavour that’s been going for at least eight generations. They continue the tradition today, making beautiful, hand-thrown, glazed earthenware pottery for use in the home. Set in the United World College Atlantic College, St Donat’s Arts Centre has a spectacular location overlooking the Bristol Channel and the Somerset coast. It puts on a wide variety of events, including a series of Café Concerts, performed by the students of UWC Atlantic. Theatres, concert halls, galleries… you name it. Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan are bursting with art and culture. You just need to get out and explore.

WELCOME TO CARDIFF & THE VALE OF GL AMORGAN

BREWDOG CARDIFF

AFTER DARK

WELCOME TO THE NIGHT THE NIGHTLIFE IN CARDIFF AND THE VALE OF GL AMORGAN IS THRIVING, PACKED WITH CLUBS, PUBS, BARS AND LIVE MUSIC VENUES

he fun doesn’t stop when the sun goes down. Cardiff rocks all year round, whether you’re looking to take in a show, bust a move to some live music or watch some avant garde theatre. There’s so much going on, you’ll barely know where to start. CASK ALES Cardiff’s real ale scene is flourishing. You’ll find subperb microbreweries across the city as well as traditional pubs serving old-fashioned cask ales. Want something more sophisticated? Make like you’re in the Prohibition era and try one of the city’s cocktail bars or speakeasies. Let’s kick off with the city’s great beer scene. Welsh microbreweries are thriving, and in line with the rest of the UK, the public’s thirst is unquenchable. Tiny Rebel, on

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Westgate Street, showcases the eponymous brewery’s wares, as well as more than 200 other types of ale and cider, while theme nights include Americana, folk nights and retro video game nights. Just a stone’s throw away, you’ll find Cardiff’s incarnation of BrewDog, with its 30-plus beers on tap. Nearby is microbrewery and restaurant Zerodegrees, where you can tuck into delicious wood-fired pizza in industrial chic surroundings. The Crafty Devil’s Cellar, on Llandaff Road, Canton, has a cosy bar, shop and beer garden in which to sample their craft beers. The award-winning Cambrian Tap, on St Mary Street, serves Brains craft ales, alongside pies and mash. It also puts on the popular Crafty Laughs comedy night on the first Tuesday of every month. >>p80

WELCOME TO CARDIFF & THE VALE OF GL AMORGAN

A family-run brewery in Cardiff since 1882, S A Brain runs traditional pubs like the City Arms which offers classic and craft cask ales and old school pub grub. It’s a true glimpse of old Cardiff amongst all the hipster bars. Fancy sinking a drink while you play a round of minigolf? You can at Par 59. It has two nine-hole mini golf courses, and there are even ‘caddies’ to take your order while you’re playing a round. Food comes in the form of burgers and fried chicken courtesy of Dirty Birdie. If you are seeking speakeasies, search for a broken bird cage on Barrack Lane, ring the bell, and enter the award-winning Dead Canary, where you can soak up the 1920s atmosphere and some dragon-themed cocktails. You could also find the decadent Pennyroyal cocktail bar hidden behind a black door on High Street; or slip into Lab 22 on Caroline Street for award-winning science themed drinks – you certainly won’t be disappointed. OPEN MIC, COMEDY & CABARET Good times can be had at Porter’s Cardiff, tucked away near the Big Sleep Hotel and not easy to find – but worth it once you do. It puts on regular open mic, comedy and cabaret nights and incorporates the much-acclaimed Other Room – Cardiff’s first professional pub theatre, a tiny 45-seat space. Showstopping, smoking cocktails and Gothic drama can be found at The Libertine Cocktail Bar on High Street, and at The Alchemist on nearby St Mary Street. Of all the gin joints in all the world, you could sample from a huge range of flavours at Gin and Juice, in Castle Arcade. The people in Cardiff are a talented bunch and they’ve got the live music and theatre venues to prove it. You’ll find all kinds of homegrown talent performing on stage

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“THE CITY’S LEADING CULTURAL VENUE IS THE SWISH WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE, A LIVELY PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE THAT ALSO SERVES AS A HOME TO THE WELSH NATIONAL OPERA” here, as well as many international guests, keen to come and perform in this creative city. The Live Lounge, as the name suggests, is a live music venue that has bands playing every night of the week. It showcases up-and-coming acts as well as bands that already have a foot firmly wedged in the touring circuit. Every night has a fresh vibe, so go there and take potluck. All-day food and luscious cocktails add to the mix. One of Cardiff’s institutions is Clwb Ifor Bach, known locally as the ‘Welsh Club’. The vibrant city centre club hosted Coldplay in 1991/2, before superstardom hit. It’s located on Womanby Street, one of the city’s oldest streets, where you’ll also find Fuel Rock Club, the city’s only live music venue dedicated to rock; The Moon, a bar and vegan kitchen that puts on an eclectic range of live music, from reggae to folk; and The Bootlegger bar, a swanky live lounge with music and decor inspired by the Prohibition era. Womanby Street is known as the city’s beating heart for independent music clubs and was the subject of a campaign to prevent developers buying up venues and turning them into faceless blocks of flats. Other great indie venues worth looking up are The Gate Arts and Community Centre, just off City Road; live music and comedy venue The Globe, on Albany Road; and

TOP WATCH A SHOW AT WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE; OPPOSITE PAGE BOTTOM ST DAVID’S HALL IS HOME TO THE ANNUAL WELSH PROMS

AFTER DARK

Tramshed, on Clare Road, a listed building hosting live music, comedy, DJs and cinema. The city’s leading cultural venue is the swish Wales Millennium Centre (WMC), a lively performing arts centre that also serves as a home to the world-renowned Welsh National Opera. The opera company’s production of Wagner’s Die Meistersinger, with the esteemed Bryn Terfel in the lead role, drew a standing ovation from a packed house. And the production of Donizetti’s Anna Bolena extracted tears and applause from a deeply moved audience, as did the wonderful Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves from Verdi’s Nabucco, Handel’s beautiful Orlando, and Janáček’s powerful From the House of the Dead. Don’t be put off by St David’s Hall’s rather pedestrian exterior, it’s a wonderful place for classical music concerts – both lunchtime and evening performances – and is the home of the Welsh Proms. Stars from other genres have also graced its stage, including John Mayall, Michael Bolton, Petula Clark, Alison Moyet and Nick Cave.

STUNNING ACOUSTICS For both music and beauty, head to the immensely stylish auditorium at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in Cardiff Castle’s grounds. It’s worth going for the aesthetics alone, but the acoustics are also stunning. As well as magnificent classical productions, well-received shows have included a joint performance by elfin Welsh harp virtuoso Catrin Finch and Senegalese kora and drum maestro Seckou Keita; a show by jazz sax supremo Gilad Atzmon; and music from the Mercury Music Awardnominated Kit Downes. There’s also a free jazz event – AmserJazzTime – from September to December every Friday evening in the foyer, running from 5.30pm till 7pm. The Richard Burton Company is the Royal Welsh College’s own in-house theatre company, and alumni of the conservatoire include Rob Brydon, Ruth Jones and Sir Anthony Hopkins. The Donald Gordon Theatre has also hosted major shows, such as War Horse, The Lion King, and The Lion, the

Witch, and the Wardrobe. The venue is noted for showcasing the very best in dance, too. Past hits have included The Netherlands Dance Company performing Matthew Bourne’s Lord of the Flies, and English National Ballet’s Strictly Gershwin, as well as a stage production of Dirty Dancing, and Birmingham Royal Ballet’s lovely production of timeless favourite Swan Lake. American singer/songwriter John Grant, and Portuguese fado singer Mariza, have also brought big crowds here. The New Theatre hasn’t been new for some time – 1906, to be exact – but it had a facelift a few years ago. Touring favourites include The Mouse Trap, The Play That Goes Wrong, Thriller, and children’s shows such as Beauty and the Beast and Horrible Histories, as well as the annual panto. Slightly more outré performances find their way to the expensively refurbished Chapter Arts Centre, which also houses a gallery, cinema, restaurant and bar. The hit series Gavin and Stacey succeeded in alerting the world to Welsh comedy and brought terms like ‘cwtch’ and ‘lush’ into common parlance. The Welsh are known for their fantastic sense of humour, and the nation has produced a crop of notable stand-up stars, such as Rhod Gilbert, Chris Corcoran, Elis James and Lloyd Langford. Mainstream venues for a good belly laugh include The Glee Club, which has hosted Alan Carr, Michael McIntyre, Sarah Millican, Ross Noble, Rhod Gilbert and many more. It also doubles up as a live music venue, and has attracted big names including Cerys Matthews, George Ezra, Teenage Fanclub and former Overtones vocalist, Lockie Chapman. Whether it’s rock music, classical recitals or laugh-outloud comedy shows that float your boat, you’ll find something to entertain you all year round in Cardiff.

WELCOME TO CARDIFF & THE VALE OF GL AMORGAN

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READY TO EXPLORE A LITTLE FURTHER? ALTHOUGH CARDIFF AND THE VALE OF GL AMORGAN HAS MORE THAN ENOUGH TO KEEP YOU BUSY, A JOURNEY FURTHER AFIELD CAN MAKE FOR AN EXCITING NEW ADVENTURE

ardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan are great places to spend time, with loads to see, do and try. But one of the brilliant things about its location on the south coast of Wales is that it’s a fantastic base from which to explore. If you are a keen walker, the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park (formally known as Brecon Beacons National Park), one of three national parks in Wales, offers fabulous scenery to hike through. The highest peak in the area is Pen-y-Fan, 2,907 feet, 886 metres above sea level. On a clear day, the peak offers commanding views over the surrounding landscape. In the Bannau Brycheiniog’s (Brecon Beacons) lively market towns, outdoorsy types rub along with writers and artists and the mood is gently alternative and modestly intellectual. A year-round programme of cultural events including the Hay Festival, Green Man, HowTheLightGetsIn and Brecon Jazz draws visitors from all over the world. DAZZLING STATEROOMS The city of Newport, just a 20-minute drive from Cardiff, has a number of attractions including the National Trust-owned mansion, Tredegar House, with its dazzling staterooms, exquisitely carved oak panelling, fascinating insights into ‘below stairs’ life, and glorious parkland. There’s also the magnificent monument to the area’s rich industrial heritage, the Grade 1-listed Transporter Bridge, one of only 10 still operating worldwide. Nature fans can head for the Newport Wetlands, a wonderful RSPB nature reserve on the outskirts of the city. Newport has been a port since medieval times, when the first Newport Castle was built by the Normans. It was also the scene of Britain’s last major uprising, that of the Chartists in 1839, and highly regarded street art in the city commemorates this battle by the working classes for improved conditions. Nearby Newport, the fascinating Roman remains at Caerleon are among the finest in Europe. Once an important legionary fortress, Isca, the remains incorporate a museum, where clever technology gives the visitor a flavour of their former grandeur. The sumptuous baths

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were constructed to give homesick soldiers a home from home, as was the colossal amphitheatre, seating 6,000 spectators. Now people sunbathe and picnic on its grassy perimeter, creating a peaceful scene that belies the place’s somewhat grisly past. Head north from Caerleon into Monmouthshire which offers atmospheric castles, lush gardens, walking trails, fascinating museums and vineyards to explore. Why not take a tour at Parva Farm Vineyard, step back in time at Chepstow Castle or enjoy Michelin-starred dining at The Whitebrook in Monmouth.

“THE HIGHEST PEAK IN THE AREA IS PEN-Y-FAN, AND ON A CLEAR DAY, THE PEAK OFFERS OUTSTANDING VIEWS OVER THE SURROUNDING LANDSCAPE” To the west of the Vale of Glamorgan there are miles of exquisite coastal path to explore, including along the remarkable Gower coastline, Swansea Bay and Carmarthen Bay. Think magnificent contrasts – golden beaches and pine forests, wildlife experiences and historic monuments. Among those historic monuments are several castles, including Llansteffan, built in the 12th century by the Normans on the site of an iron age fort; Kidwelly Castle, which dates back to Norman times; and Laugharne’s medieval castle-turned-mansion. Speaking of Laugharne, its beauty is no secret – it is here most of the exterior shots for hit BBC TV drama, Keeping Faith, were filmed. But it was also in Laugharne that Welsh author and poet Dylan Thomas spent his final few years and wrote some of his most famous work. Swansea and Carmarthenshire were Thomas’ birthplace and stomping grounds, respectively. Visit No 5 Cwmdonkin Drive, in Swansea’s Uplands area to see where Thomas was born and raised. He lived there >>p85

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP PEN-Y-FAN IN BANNAU BRYCHEINIOG NATIONAL PARK; STEP BACK IN TIME AT CHEPSTOW CASTLE; VISIT NEWPORT CASTLE

WELCOME TO CARDIFF & THE VALE OF GL AMORGAN

Newport Cathedral

St Woolos All are welcome to come and explore this beautiful space. 01633 267 464

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enquiries@newportcathedral.org.uk

Stow Hill, Newport NP20 4ED

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for 23 years with his parents, and it was in this inconspicuous house that he wrote much of his work. Today, the house has been restored to look as it did back in 1914 (when he was born in the front bedroom). Of course, Thomas spent his final four years, 1949 to 1953, at the Boathouse in Laugharne with his wife Caitlin and their children. It was here, in a humble shed overlooking the estuary, that he wrote Under Milkwood. You can visit both the Boathouse and shed before grabbing a drink at Thomas’ favourite watering hole, Brown’s Hotel. Finish with a stroll in the gardens of Laugharne Castle, where Thomas was said to have put pen to paper. STUNNING SCENERY If you have a longer break in mind, Pembrokeshire, home to the UK’s only coastal national park, is not to be missed. As well as glorious beaches and some stunning cliff scenery, the area is awash with splendid castles, lovely villages with cosy pubs, ancient burial sites and standing stones, and Carn Menyn, where the famous Stonehenge’s bluestones were quarried. The coastal path is a big draw to visitors from all over the world, and wends its way along glorious clifftops, and down to sandy beaches and quiet coves. But walking is not the only entertainment available in this seaside paradise.

OPPOSITE PAGE WHY NOT EXPLORE FLIMSTON BAY ON PEMBROKESHIRE’S COAST?; ABOVE HEAD TO LAUGHARNE CASTLE IN CARMARTHENSHIRE

There’s surfing, sailing, body boarding, swimming and riding on offer, and places to stay range from smart hotels to welcoming pubs, cosy cottages to campsites. Wildlife spotting is easy in the natural wonderland of Pembrokeshire. Manor Wildlife Park offers the only walking safari in Wales, with conservation as the primary focus. The park works with animal organisations to assist with breeding programmes aimed at reintroducing endangered animals to the wild. You will be able to feed wallabies, walk with lemurs, pet giant rabbits and tickle pygmy goats. The keeper and mini-keeper experiences offer a glimpse behind the scenes. You’ll find two working mills in Pembrokeshire that are well worth a visit. Melin Tregwynt has been weaving its magic since the 17th century and its products can be found in luxury homeware boutiques worldwide. Meanwhile, Solva Woollen Mill is a specialist weaver of wool floor rugs and runners. Pembrokeshire’s produce is world-famous, from its organic fruit and vegetables to freshly caught fish, locally reared meat, and artisanal cheeses and honey. It’s hardly surprising the county’s food markets have won national awards. Keen to take an authentic taste of the county home? Keep your eyes peeled for products sporting the ‘Pembrokeshire Produce Mark’.

WELCOME TO CARDIFF & THE VALE OF GL AMORGAN

DISCOVER THE VALE OF GLAMORGAN If you’re looking for culture and charm, merriment and mystery, or even Gavin and Stacey! you’ll find what you’re looking for in the Vale, and all in the space of a handful of miles, as you explore its seaside, and its rural towns, villages and countryside. The Vale boasts a traditional pier and easy-walking promenades, long, sandy, family and doggy-friendly beaches, with all the fun of the fairground. Or you could choose dynamic cliff walks, affording unrivalled views across the Bristol Channel, or secluded bays and pebble beaches. A county full of surprises, the Vale’s name perfectly captures the essence of rolling, green countryside, stretching as far as the eye can see, and with its remarkably varied coastline, you’ll be spoiled for choice. It’s the quintessential must visit UK coastal destination, with all the drama of the second highest tidal range on Earth! We’re right next door, so escape the hustle and bustle of the city and come and explore the Vale. You’re missing out if you leave Cardiff without popping over to see us.

DARGANFOD BRO MORGANNWG Os ydych chi’n chwilio am ddiwylliant a swyn, llawenydd a dirgelwch, neu hyd yn oed Gavin a Stacey! fe welwch yr hyn rydych chi’n chwilio amdano yn y Fro, a’r cyfan mewn ychydig filltiroedd, wrth i chi grwydro’r ardal. glan y môr, a’i drefi gwledig, pentrefi a chefn gwlad. Mae’r Fro yn gartref i bier traddodiadol a phromenad hawdd eu gerdded, traethau hir, tywodlyd, teuluaidd a chyfeillgar i gŵn, gyda holl hwyl y ffair. Neu fe allech chi ddewis llwybrau cerdded ar draws clogwyni deinamig, gan roi golygfeydd heb eu hail ar draws Môr Hafren, neu faeau diarffordd a thraethau cerigos. Yn sir sy’n llawn syrpreisys, mae enw’r Fro yn cyfleu’n berffaith hanfod cefn gwlad tonnog, gwyrdd, yn ymestyn mor bell ag y gall y llygad ei weld, a gyda’i harfordir hynod amrywiol, byddwch yn cael eich sbwylio gan ddewis. Mae’n hanfodol ymweld â chyrchfan arfordirol y DU, gyda holl ddrama’r amrediad llanw uchaf ond un ar y Ddaear! Rydyn ni drws nesaf, felly dianc rhag prysurdeb y ddinas a dewch i grwydro’r Fro. Rydych chi’n colli allan os byddwch chi’n gadael Caerdydd heb alw draw i’n gweld.

@visitthevale / @ymweldarfro tourism@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk 01446 704867 www.visitthevale.com / www.ymweldarfro.com

Looking to indulge in the best of live entertainment, right in the heart of the city? With 300 events every year from pop, rock, soul and jazz to dance, children’s theatre and stand-up comedy, it’s all there for you at St David’s Hall! One of the top 10 concert halls in the world, the Hall’s impressive 2,000 seat auditorium boasts incredible acoustics, making it the perfect setting for an annual world-class Concert Series, featuring internationally renowned orchestras, soloists and conductors. Other highlights include the biennial BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition, the Welsh Proms, and a stunning Ballet Season taking place each Christmas – a standout in the Hall’s calendar which remains a festive favourite throughout the city!