This Is My Top 10 Things To Do in Cardiff

A tranquil oasis in the middle of the metropolis, Bute Park is the ideal place to spend some time outdoors in Cardiff. Unfortunately, we visited Cardiff in February after a very rainy winter and park flooded and we couldn't enjoy it.

Cardiff became a City of Arcade due to the highest concentration of Victorian, Edwardian and contemporary indoor shopping arcades which stretching for nearly a kilometre between the main shopping streets and the castle end of the city,.  You can't guarantee many things in life, but you always can guarantee that it will rain in February in Cardiff. They are eight Victorian and Edwardian arcade in Cardiff, and they are all worth a visit and they are a great escape wile is raining.

Wyndham Arcade was built in 1887 by the Cardiff Arcade Company and it runs from St Mary Street to Mill Lane. This is one of the most beautiful arcades, located in the centre and has a variety of restaurants and several independent shops.

Morgan Arcade  is the one of most enchanting  and is the considered best preserved of Cardiff's arcades, with first-floor Venetian windows and original slender wooden storefronts. Morgan arcade gives you a truly unique window-shopping experience.

Mermaid Quay full of restaurants and shops,great place to stop for a drink or a bite to eat. While we visited Cardiff, The UK’s largest animatronic T-Rex was on display in Mermaid Quay.

20 min drive from Cardiff and you are in an enchanted forest with a fairy tale castle. This is the feeling you get when you see this castle for the first time. But in reality, this is a product of Marquess of Bute money and architect and designer William Burges fantasy. Marquess of Bute inherited the ruins of an old 13th-century fortress, and he was obsessed with it. Work began in 1868 when he hired an architect and designer William Burges, and both of them created a magnificent medieval fantasy. 

William Burges managed to give an authentic medieval appearance to castle, but its richly decorated interiors are made in a purely Victorian style. The castle was hardly used for living - immediately after the construction was completed, the marquis lost interest in him. Because the castle really looks very impressive, it is often shot in historical and adventure films. In particular, scenes from a film about Robin Hood were shot here.

It looks like we only look at the castles on this holiday, but this is a well known fact; Wales has more castles per square mile than any other country in Europe. So, we just had to see one more. Not far from Cardiff, about 20-30 min ride is a very impressive Caerphilly castle. This castle is one of the largest medieval fortresses in the UK, but is far from the most famous, largely because for a long time it was abandoned. At the same time, castle is very well preserved, and its size is really impressive. But it is also interesting that the real history of the castle was very short, almost immediately after construction, it ceased to be necessary and did not really take part in any battles. 

This castle was build right in the middle of the Baron wars. The Caerphilly Castle is a perfect reflection of the history of Wales in the 13th century. The English lord Gloucester decided to gain power over the local lands and began to build Caerphilly. He chose this strategic location, which previously was a Roman fortification, because roads to the north of Wales and to England connected here. But this territory was already owned by the Welsh Duke Llewelyn of Grifid, the last ruler of independent Wales. Their wars became the high point of Caerphilly. The castle was abandoned for some time and life returned to it only in the 18th century, when the owners undertook the restoration. 

But who cares about all that drama. Every castle has a dragon story, and this one no exception. If you want to know the epic story of the Caerphilly dragon, you need to visit the castle. There is a full audio-visual display with smoke, snores and roar. Great fun for kids and adults.

Entrance ticket covers not only the courtyard, but also the dragon display and chambers, which are very modest.  Stone rooms have nothing to offer, except for the high ceilings and huge fireplaces. Hopefully, you will get better weather than we did because this castle has so much to offer. I could spend there hours walking around the castle gardens and climing every step. Unfortunately, the rain was an unwelcome friend on this visit. If you are in Cardiff, please don't pass the opportunity to visit it. You won't be disappointed. 

Outside much more to see, more than forty original buildings representing various historical eras were transported and placed on the territory of the museum. There are a chapel, mill, post office, houses and much more. Some of these exhibits work on the principle of “living history” - these are the existing forge, mill and weaving workshop. The products of these workshops can be bought here, in souvenir shops but expensive.  If you like a little action then you can climb, swing, balance and wobble your way through the trees on the High Ropes. The course costs £12 per person for one full circuit which includes a 50m zip wire to finish.

There are no mountains, no mountain rivers, but yes, you can do White Water Rafting in Cardif. If you are looking for an adventure, than Cardiff International White Water centre is the place to go.  They offer white water rafting sessions year-round, whatever the weather and it's cost between £40.00 and £55.00 p/p. The courses last approximately two hours. 

Air Trail High Ropes and Climbing Wall also on offer in the centre. They can organise Gorge Walking, another fun thing to do when you are in Cardiff. Gorge Walking takes place in the Neath Valley about an hour drive from Cardiff and takes you through gorges and waterfalls, over rocks and leaping into plunge pools.

Most of the activities you need to book in advance, especially on school holidays.

For architecture enthusiasts, Wales’ capital leaves you spoilt for choice; from monuments, to the city’s interesting industrial past and to modern structures, statues there and here. For shopaholics, there is plenty to explore too. Great High street and tons of little independent shops won't disappoint anyone.