Days out in and around Cardiff

Cardiff Castle

Cardiff Castle is located in the heart of the city and enjoys a history spanning nearly 2000 years. The highlight at the castle is a guided tour of the spectacular castle apartments. They were created in the 19th century by eccentric architect William Burges for the very rich Third Marquess of Bute. Designed as a medieval fairytale home, the rooms are filled with ornate fireplaces, gilded ceilings, intricate stained glass and carved and painted animals throughout.

Wales Millennium Centre

Wales Millennium Centre opened in 2004 and has already established its reputation as one of the World`s iconic arts and cultural destinations. The vision of the Centre is to be an internationally significant cultural landmark and centre for the performing arts, renowned for inspiration, excellence and leadership.

The Centre is one of the most unique and lively performing arts centres in Europe. Look beyond the amazing exterior, as featured in Torchwood and Dr Who, and you will come across a bustling atmosphere that makes our visitors want to return time and time again.

Note that the Wales Millennium centre is located at Cardiff Bay, served from the City Centre by Cardiff Bus and Arriva Trains Wales services from Queen Street.

Cardiff Shopping

Cardiff is a capital for shopping, and with a combination of designer brands, high street names as well as more individual and independent shops, there's something for everyone.

Recently named the 6th best shopping destination in the UK, Cardiff has the whole spectrum of shopping, with charming Edwardian and Victorian arcades and ultra-modern shopping centres. And when you've had your fill of retail therapy, there are plenty of cafes, restaurants and bars to stop and relax in.

Millennium Stadium

Since opening in June 1999, the Millennium Stadium has welcomed, on average, over 1.3 million visitors per year. Sporting the first fully-retractable roof in the UK, the venue is at the leading edge as a multi-purpose, multi-faceted event venue.

The Millennium Stadium has hosted matches from two Rugby World Cups including the Final in 1999, witnessed two Wales Grand Slam successes in the RBS Six Nations, staged six showpiece FA Cup Finals plus hosted the major artists of the music business with a plethora of major concerts and motorsports events on its CV.

The Millennium Stadium is established as a world class must play, must visit venue and has played home to five major sporting bodies over the last eight years.

National Museum Cardiff

Situated in the heart of Cardiff's elegant civic centre, today the National Museum Cardiff houses Wales's national art, natural history, archaeology and geology collections, as well as major touring and temporary exhibitions. If you want to stand and stare, there's plenty to please your eye - from Impressionist paintings to gigantic dinosaurs. For exploring you can pick up a range of gallery trails to guide you around the Museum. Everyday objects and beautiful artefacts tell the stories of people in Wales and explore our links with the past.

Take an amazing journey in Evolution of Wales from the very beginning of time to the present day. The story begins in space with the Big Bang and takes you on a 4,600 million-year journey, bringing you face to face with dinosaurs and woolly mammoths. Find out how life evolved in Wales and which dinosaurs roamed the land.