About Cardiff
Since becoming the Capital of Wales in 1955, Cardiff remained mostly unrecognised but it now ranks alongside Edinburgh and London as one of the most captivating destinations in the United Kingdom. Cardiff offers revitalizing cultural sights, an inventive music scene, and a food scene that's on the up.
Cardiff is also considered an unrivalled sport-watching haven, and simply put, rugby reigns in the city. Great bands like the Manic Street Preachers and Super Furry Animals also hail from Cardiff, and in fact, music is serious business in the city. It's also one of the UK's top film and TV locations, having served as the backdrop for notable productions like the BBC series, Village.
There are endless lists of fascinating sites as well as event spaces in Cardiff that host countless occasions throughout the year. You'll equally find selections of production locations in Cardiff that suit creative projects.
Attractions in Cardiff
There are always exciting events happening around Cardiff and the city also presents numerous attractions. From zipping your way through a rafting course to exploring a gothic castle; the seaside city offers plenty of thrilling adventures.
- Cardiff Castle
One of the most charming castles in Wales, Cardiff Castle is a lovely blend of Victorian Gothic revival mansion and a medieval castle. The castle that has been in existence for over two thousand years was once a refuge location for Roman soldiers. Daytime visits here include the Norman Keep and interpretation centre with film and exhibition presentations.
- Cardiff City Stadium
Home to the Wales national football team and Cardiff City Football Club, the stadium is a top attraction in the city. The stadium that opened in July 2009 is part of the Leckwith development. Other than hosting football and rugby matches, the stadium also accommodates various events like parties, weddings, and exhibitions.
- National Museum Cardiff
An art gallery and museum in Cardiff, the National Museum Cardiff has several notable collections of botany, zoology, geology, applied, and fine art. The Museum also has a Clore Discovery Centre that offers hands-on exploration of the millions of items in the museum that are normally in storage including Bronze Age weapons, fossils, and insects.
- Cardiff Bay
Cardiff Bay is a vibrant waterfront surrounding a freshwater lake. The site offers the ultimate entertainment spot with tons of attractions to explore. These include notable buildings like the Pierhead Building, St David’s Hotel, Wales Millennium Centre, and Norwegian Church. Cardiff Bay is also known for water-based attractions like Cardiff International Pool and Cardiff Sailing Centre.
- Aqua Park
Considered Wales' largest Aqua Park, this is the place for adrenaline junkies who want to share the fun moments and laughter. You'll encounter an inflatable Aqua Park featuring trampolines, climbing walls, slides, monkey bars, and balance bars.
Production Locations in Cardiff
Perhaps it's not a well-known fact, but Cardiff commands attention within the UK TV and film circles. The Welsh capital is home to Pinewood Studios and has provided filming locations for productions like the fantasy drama His Dark Materials and the BBC One sci-fi series Doctor Who. That's a compelling reason to explore the production spaces in Cardiff for your upcoming film or photoshoot.
- Film Studios
Pinewood Studios has served as a film shoot location for various productions. Located in St Mellons, Cardiff, Stage 1 of the studio's complex is where The Bastard Executioner was produced. Some scenes of the fourth season of Sherlock were also filmed at the Pinewood Studio.
- Popular Attractions
Doctor Who fans can never resist playing a game of "spot the location" on a visit to Cardiff. Several of the city’s attractions were featured on the 12 seasons of the show including Cardiff Bay, Cardiff Castle, and St. Fagans.
- Markets and Hotels
The Sky One series Discovery of Witches was filmed in multiple bewitching locations that showcase Cardiff in a cinematic light. The Exchange Hotel and Cardiff Market are some of the noteworthy locations that provided filming locations for the production.
- Arcades
The Edwardian-era arcades in Cardiff have also served as the backdrop of several notable productions. Traitors, the 2019 drama series, filmed several scenes at the Castle Arcade alongside other noteworthy locations like Wharton Street and The Goat Major pub.
- City Streets
The streets of Cardiff have a cinematic charm and hence the reason why they equally work as filming locations for establishing scenes. They are also perfect locations for photoshoots and journalistic interviews.
Event and Meeting Venues in Cardiff
Cardiff presents beautifully renovated arcades that provide an unmatched shopping experience. It's also where you'll find slot machines and selections of specialty stores. That describes just one of the city's gorgeous spaces, and there are equally plenty of other lovely event and meeting venues in Cardiff.
- Ballrooms
Ballrooms often host events that lean on the formal side with large guest lists. Usually, ballroom events also involve some dancing. They are popular anniversary, reunion, corporate events, and wedding venues in Cardiff. Each location is different and you can even find one located within a seaside establishment.
- Conference Rooms
Conference rooms are where important business deals take place. However, these rooms are increasingly used for various other activities like interviews, focus group discussions, and round-table talks.
- Banquet Hall
As implied, the banquet halls in Cardiff host diverse occasions that place an emphasis on feasting. They are mostly used as reception venues in Cardiff for occasions that are preceded by ceremonies like weddings, graduations, and baptisms.
- Workshops
Workshop venues favour multi-day functions that are activity-laden and knowledge-based. They work for art exhibitions, product launches, conferences, seminars, masterclasses, and panel discussions. They can equally work for activity-based social occasions with large guests lists.
- Rooftops
There's no better experience than gathering loved ones to celebrate a special occasion against the vantage point of a rooftop venue in Cardiff. Book a balcony bar in Cardiff as the ideal setting. With spectacular views of the surroundings, such locations suit intimate occasions like celebratory dinners, wedding showers, and bridal showers.
