Cardiff, the capital of Wales, is the historical, commercial and cultural center of the United Kingdom. Archaeological finds made in the vicinity of Cardiff show that life began to flourish here from about the 5th millennium BC.
HOW TO GET
The airport is 12 miles northwest of downtown, near the Barry area.
In addition, you can get to the city by bus or train; both stations are on Wood St, next door. National Express buses go to Newport, Bristol, London (and its Heathrow and Gatwick airports), Stagecoach takes passengers to South Wales, Abergavenny and Merthyr Tydfil.
TRANSPORT
The fare on city and suburban buses is from 1 GBP to 4.50 GBP, the ticket can be bought from the driver. Taxis can be hailed on the street, hailed over the phone or found at one of the car parks such as behind the train station, on Duke St opposite the castle or at the junction of Greyfriars Rd and Park Pl. The prices on the page are indicated for March 2019.
Flat Cardiff is easy to get around on a bicycle, which can be hired from Pedal Power Cycle Hire.
In Cardiff, problems with parking in the center are not uncommon. Convenient paid parking at Castle Mews and Sophia Gardens (about 3 GBP for 2 hours) will help solve them. And there is a free car park just off Cathedral Road, about 20 minutes from the city centre.
ENTERTAINMENT AND SIGHTS
The central part of Cardiff is, above all, one of the main streets of the city, the High Street and the surrounding areas. In addition to numerous restaurants and hotels, a number of shopping centers can be found here. For example, the shops of St. David's center together form the eleventh largest mall in the UK. They are connected to another well-known shopping arcade, Queen's Arcade. Shopping in Cardiff can be seen as tourist entertainment: shopping in vintage shops from the Victorian and Edwardian eras is doubly enjoyable.
To the west of the center is the Millennium Stadium. Not only national football and rugby competitions are held here, but also concerts (Madonna, Paul McCartney, Tina Turner and the Rolling Stones are a short list of world-famous names). It is one of Cardiff's main attractions and a source of pride for local residents. In the northern part of the center of Cardiff there is another "top" attraction - Cardiff Castle. Theaters, a concert hall and the National Museum are nearby.
Cardiff Castles
There are several interesting castles in Cardiff. In particular, it is worth paying attention to the fortress named after the city. Cardiff Castle is located where you least expect to see it, practically in the heart of the city. Its history is two millennia of rebellions and various kinds of battles. It is considered one of the most important in the territory of Wales and is a work of architecture in the neo-Gothic style. The last reconstruction was made in the 19th century. Opening hours: from March to October, every day, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Ticket sales until 5:00 p.m. November to February 9am to 5pm. Ticket sales until 4:00 p.m. Entrance fee: for adults - 13 GBP, for children from 16 to 5 years - 9.25 GBP. Children of a younger age - free of charge.
Koch Castle or Red Castle is located near Cardiff. It seems to have come off the pages of a fairy tale and is another bright representative of Neo-Gothicism. Like Cardiff Castle, it was rebuilt in the 19th century, based on the former 13th century fortress on the site. Because of the picturesque landscape and the excellent work of the architects of the past, Koch Castle has been the setting for many historical and fantasy films. Working hours: from April 1 to June 30, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; from July 1 to August 31, from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; from September 1 to October 31, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; from November 1 to February 28-29, from Monday to Saturday, from 10:00 to 16:00, on Sunday, from 11:00 to 16:00; from March 1 to 31, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Entrance fee: for adults - 6 GBP. Children under five years old - free of charge. There are discounts for large families. Ticket sales end half an hour before closing time.
