Cardiff and South East Wales

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Cardiff and South East Wales

Cardiff and South East Wales Holiday and Tourism Information

From this page you can follow the links to Cardiff and South East Wales holiday accommodation, activities, attractions, historic sites, travel information, and general tourism info for the area.

Cardiff Bay viewed from Penarth - Photo: Nick Smith CCL

It may be the youngest capital city in Britain but Cardiff has everything you should expect from a modern metropolis - elegant architecture, a bustling centre, superb shops, a tapestry of historic buildings, beautiful riverside walks and a famous waterfront.

Beneath it is a superb ‘heritage’ coastline offering Blue Flag beaches, wild cliffs and dramatic mountain views. West is the beautiful Vale of Glamorgan and to the east lies lush countryside.

Within easy reach of the city are some of Wales’ most fascinating villages and a host of towns dating back into the mists of time.

Dunraven Bay, Southerndown - Photo: Paul Roberts CCL

Cardiff stands on the narrowest part of the south Wales coastal plain at the mouth of three rivers, the Taff, Rhymney and Ely, where they run into the Bristol Channel.

Cardiff Castle grounds and keep -
Photo: Nick Smith CCL

In recent times a huge amount of regeneration and restoration has taken place to turn it into one of Britain’s trendiest cities, though its story really began in the 1st century when the Romans built a fort where 11^th century Cardiff Castle now stands.

It played such a pivotal role in the wars between the Normans and the native Welsh that it now claims to have the largest concentration of castles of any European city.

The Norman Robert FitzHamon built the picturesque castle as a defensive structure. William the Conqueror’s eldest son, Duke Robert of Normandy, was held within its sturdy walls until his death in 1134.

Its splendid apartments were created in the 19th century by eccentric architect William Burges for the wealthy Third Marquess of Bute. The Museum of the Royal Regiment of Wales is also housed here.

Legend has it that the knight Lancelot set sail from Cardiff as he escaped the wrath of a cuckolded King Arthur.

Gradually a town began to develop but its modern form dates from the Industrial Revolution following the construction of Cardiff’s sprawling docks, the 25-mile Glamorganshire Canal and the arrival of the railway.

The 2nd Marquess of Bute built the canal to bring huge coal reserves from Merthyr Tydfil to the docks, transforming the town into the world’s biggest coal exporting port. The Taff Vale Railway eventually replaced the barges and enabled new docks to be built.

Nash Point Lighthouse - Photo: Peter Wasp CCL

Today Cardiff has a host of major attractions ranging from the National Assembly for Wales, The National Museum and Gallery, the Metropolitan Cathedral, Cathays Park, the popular Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay barrage and the Coal Exchange.

A ‘must-see’ is St Fagans National History Museum, set in a 100-acre parkland on the outskirts of the city, where over 30 buildings have been rebuilt to show how Welsh people lived at different times in history.

The waterfront has been dramatically transformed to offer family entertainment, international dining, a lively nightlife and attractions around a freshwater lake.

A key modern landmark in Cardiff is the Millennium sports stadium, which rises up at the heart of the city.

In less than an hour you can reach the wilds of the Brecon Beacons, walk along the South Wales ‘Heritage Coastline’ or explore the many castles, great houses and a variety of other attractions.

Forest Fawr, for example, is an ancient woodland linked to the Disneyesque Victorian folly of Castell Coch (the ‘Red Castle’).

Five miles from Cardiff lies the tiny island of Flat Holm, a nature reserve which acted as a sanctuary for Vikings, Anglo-Saxons, silver miners and smugglers. It was fortified in Victorian times and is most famous for receiving the first trans-Atlantic radio message sent by Marconi in 1897.

Waterfall on the River Taff near Pontypridd - Photo: Nantcoly CCL

According to legend the River Ogmore, which runs through the Vale of Glamorgan, was named after the body of the dying King Arthur who was brought up the river to be buried in the mountains above.

The remains of Candleston Castle lies on the edge of Sahara-like sand dunes where parts of the movie ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ were filmed.

The heritage coast and surrounding countryside has much to offer -including seaside fun, picture postcard villages, craft centres, country parks and luscious scenery.

Tourist Information Centres:

BARRY ISLAND (Seasonal)
The Promenade, Paget Road, Barry Island, CF62 5TQ
Tel: 01446 747171
E-mail: tourism@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk

BRIDGEND TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE
Bridgend Designer Outlet, The Derwen, Bridgend, CF32 9SU
Tel: 01656 654906. Fax: 01656 646523
Email: bridgendtic@bridgend.gov.uk

CARDIFF VISITOR CENTRE
16 Wood Street, Cardiff, CF10 1ER.
Tel: 08701 211258
E-mail: visitor@cardiff.gov.uk

NEWPORT
Museum & Art Gallery, John Frost Square, Newport, NP20 1PA
Tel: 01633 842962. Fax: 01633 222615
E-mail: newport.tic@newport.gov.uk

PENARTH (Seasonal)
The Esplanade, Penarth Pier, Penarth, CF64 3AU
Tel: 020 2070 8849
E-mail: tourism@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk

PORTHCAWL TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE
The Old Police Station, John Street, Porthcawl, CF36 3DT
Tel: 01656 786639 Fax: 01656 782387
E-mail: porthcawltic@bridgend.gov.uk

Southern Wales Attraction Partnership (formerly SEWAP) -
www.southwalesattractions.co.uk
Packed with attractions in Cardiff and South Wales for all the family. You'll find places to explore, events to enjoy and activities to discover.

Best Western's Cardiff Hotels: find a hotel in Cardiff

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