Things to Do in Cardiff

Stretching for 1.1km along the Cardiff Bay, the recently established Cardiff Bay Barrage is the result of a 220 million pound engineering project, extending south from Cardiff docks until Penarth. A series of locks, sluice gates and bridges now traverse the bay, with a dedicated fish pass and designated Angling zone, as well as two yacht clubs.

For visitors, it’s the landscaped embankment that is most appealing, dotted with picturesque picnic spots and offering expansive views out across the British Channel from its pay-per-view telescope. The public space keeps in with the nautical theme, with the tip of the Barrage shaped like a ship’s bow, billowing sails set along the waterfront and a series of walkways combining wooden decking with marine blue railings. Even the children’s play area continues the style, featuring pirate ships and boats set to a blue backdrop.

Visit during the day when you can explore the history of the docks at the Age of Coal Exhibition and soak up the maritime atmosphere on the Cardiff Bay Barrage Coast Path, or take a stroll through the area at night, when the sails are illuminated and the water is dancing with lights.

Housing Cardiff’s premium art and history collection, the National Museum and Art Gallery is the city’s most visited museum, dating back to 1927. Set in the tranquil surroundings of Cathays Park, the museum houses a vast collection of Welsh archaeology, geology and natural history items, depicting the country’s fascinating history and ancestry through a series of inventive installations.

It’s the adjourning art gallery, however, that draws the most attention. Renowned as one of Europe’s finest art collections, with pieces dating back to the turn of the 16th century, the museum’s 15 galleries showcase Europe’s art history through a range of different styles, including paintings, drawings, sculptures, ceramics and silverwork. Particularly notable are the extensive 19th and 20th century galleries featuring Monet's famous San Giorgio Maggiore at Dusk; the world's largest collection of works by satirical artist Honoré Daumier and works by Poussin and Salvator Rosa, among a roster of other celebrated names. A bronze cast of Rodin's The Kiss is the key piece of the impressionist gallery, displayed alongside works by Renoir, Van Gogh and Cézanne, and homegrown artists like Thomas Jones, Augustus John and Richard Wilson feature prominently in a gallery devoted to Welsh art.

Built to host the 1999 Rugby World Cup Final and celebrate the upcoming millennium, the Cardiff Millennium Stadium is now the city's largest venue and the National Stadium of Wales. Designed by Rod Sheard, the grand stadium seats up to 74,500 and features a fully retractable roof.

Cardiff's Millennium Stadium is home to the Wales national rugby union team and the Wales national football team, as well as having hosted a number of important sporting events over the years, including the World Rally Championship, the Speedway Grand Prix of Great Britain and the 2012 Summer Olympics football events. Boxing, motor sports, cricket and equestrian sports have all been played within the stadium at some point, but the arena is most known as a music venue, with acts like Bon Jovi, U2, Eric Clapton, Rihanna, Madonna and The Rolling Stones all hosting concerts within its walls.

Standing proud in the heart of the city since Cardiff was granted its city status back in 1906, the City Hall remains the focal point of the city's celebrated civic center "“ encircled in landscaped gardens, tree-lined alcoves and striking architectural landmarks.

The arresting Edwardian building blends English and French Renaissance styles, with its magnificent façade characterized by its domed atrium, striking clock tower and dramatic water feature. It's the 194-foot high clock tower with it's four-face gilded dials and the HC Fear statue of a Welsh dragon perched atop the dome, that have become most iconic to its design, taking prominent place on the city skyline.

Alongside hosting prestigious national and international events, the City hall makes a popular wedding and celebration venue, with its exquisite interiors carved from Portland Stone and embellished with bronze chandeliers. The hall's celebrated art collection, including the renowned "˜Winter' piece by Joseph Farquharson, and a series of beautifully sculpted marble statues are also available for public viewing.

With its a unique approach to science, Cardiff's leading science and discovery center, Techniquest, is one of the most popular discovery centers in the whole of the UK, dedicated to making science not only accessible, but a whole lot of fun.

Since it opened 1986, the Techniquest Science Discovery Centre, located in Cardiff Bay, has become one of the most visited family attractions in the country, with over 120 hands-on exhibits and a Science theatre to keep children (and inquisitive adults) amused.
A series of fully interactive puzzles bring the weird and wonderful tricks of science to life, along with some mind-blowing optical illusions. Watch objects hover in a vertical wind tunnel; make your own shadow freeze in place; find your way through a complex maze of mirrors; act out a rocket or hot air balloon launch; or test your reflexes through a series of challenges.

There's method behind the madness too - as each installation leaves you desperate for explanations, you'll find yourself soaking up information without even realizing and there's plenty to take in. Learn how the surface tension of bubbles affects their speed in a "˜bubble race'; understand how acoustic design can make a whisper audible from 100 feet away; figure out how an object can roll uphill and experiment with making yourself "˜invisible'. Finally, once your brain is well and truly frazzled, head to the Planetarium, where you can lay back and marvel at the glittering night sky.