Places to visit & things to do in Cardiff & South Wales

Posted: January 5th, 2010 | Author: Ed Walker | Filed under: blogging, wales, web | Tags: , , , , , , | 7 Comments »

Mermaid Quay

I’m starting a new job in Cardiff with Media Wales on January 11th. While I have been assured I will be spending many hours in the office/hunting down stories in Cardiff, I am hoping that I will be allowed a few evenings to explore Cardiff and the surrounding area. Here’s my list of places to visit so far, but please comment below or message me on twitter (@ed_walker86) with your suggestions of other places to try. My mission is to visit/do the things on the list by the end of 2010, and most likely post some evidence (photos/videos/links) on this blog.

Cardiff

Have a filthy night out at Metro’s

Dance like a muppet in the Welsh Club (Clwb Ifor Bach)

Watch some bands at the Buffalo Bar (via @evacaiden)

See some art and drink a cocktail at Milgi (via @evacaiden)

Watch a Six Nations rugby match (I managed to watch an Autumn International, does that count?)

Watch a Cardiff Blues rugby match

Watch a Glamorgan 20:20 game

Go for a coffee with Glyn Mottershead (via @egrommet and @digidickinson)

Take a photo of the Millennium Stadium from the terrace at the back of my flat at sunrise and sunset

Visit Cardiff Castle and learn about its history

Go for a curry at Mint & Mustard (via @evacaiden)

Complete the Cardiff City Centre pub crawl in one day/evening (via @uncle_wilco)

Have a coffee and cupcake at The Pot Cafe (via @fillefi) – I had a coffee but not a cupcake, had some hummus and pitta bread instead

Take in the view of Llandaff Cathedral and enjoy the prettiness (via @fillefi)

Eat a pizza at Kalla Bella in Llandaff (via @fillefi)

Go shopping in the Arcades and enjoy some cheese at Madame Fromage and sandwich at the New York Deli (via @fillefi)

Take a Sunday stroll around Roath Park (via @fillefi)

Have a picnic in Sophia Gardens (via @cardiffbites)

Get cultured at the Chapter Arts Centre (via @cardiffbites)

Attend a Cardiff Tweetup (via @cardiffbites)

Watch the Cardiff Devils Ice Hockey team (via @cardiffbites)

Go to Cardiff Museum and St Fagans (via @cardiffbites)

Find the cheese market at the Castle and much some lovely cheese (via @becky_rutt)

Have a pint of dark in either Old Arcade, Vulcan or Goat Major pubs (via @uncle_wilco)

Potter round the junk and interesting stuff at Jacob’s Antique Market and have a mug of tea (via @uncle_wilco)

Have a ham bap from Cardiff Indoor Market – and smell the fish (via @uncle_wilco)

Chicken curry (off the bone) and chips in Caroline Street after a night on the SA (via @uncle_wilco)

Feed the ducks at Roath Park lake – or risk a boat ride (via @uncle_wilco)

Have a Clarks pie (cold & warm) (via @uncle_wilco)

Have tea at Waterloo Gardens Tea Room (via @speedupdating)

Eat a cheese dosa at the Vegetarian Food Studio in Grangetown/Riverside (via @henrywiddicombe)

South Wales

Take a trip to the Gower and sit on a sandy beach and watch some birds

Visit the Big Pit and find out about mining in South Wales

Take a walk down Cosmeston Lakes (via @cardiffbites)

Visit Tenby and go to Oakwood Park (via @cardiffbites)

Visit Caephilly Castle on a wet Sunday and see Tommy Cooper Statue (via @uncle_wilco)

Have fish and chips from Boffy’s “Cod Father of Sole”‘ on Barry Island (via @uncle_wilco)

Wales in general

Buy a welsh hat and wear it on St David’s Day (via @uncle_wilco) – a welsh hat is one of these (I have been reliably informed).

Take an evening/weekend course in Welsh and learn the conversational basics. Any recommendations for where I can do this?

Let me know anything else I should be doing/exploring/seeing/experiencing in Cardiff and South Wales!

Image used in this post is of Mermaid Quay in Cardiff Bay. Image credit to John Greenaway.


7 Comments on “Places to visit & things to do in Cardiff & South Wales”

  1. 1 Nicki @cardiffbites said at 10:19 pm on January 6th, 2010:

    In Cardiff
    1. Picnic in Sophia Gardens
    2. Get cultured at Chapter Arts Centre (www.chapter.org)
    3. Come to a Cardiff Tweetup (www.cardifftweetups.co.uk)
    4. Go watch the Red Devils Ice Hockey team
    5. Check out Cardiff Museum and St Fagans (both free)

    Outside Cardiff
    1. Take a walk down Cosmeston Lakes
    2. Visit Tenby and go to Oakwood Park

    :D

  2. 2 Squire said at 12:38 am on January 9th, 2010:

    Put me down for the curry and visiting the Big Pit.

    Cool.

  3. 3 egrommet said at 3:21 pm on January 11th, 2010:

    There is a Welsh beginners course at Maes-y-Coed Road community centre in Heath (north Cardiff), starting in Feb. It’s one a number around the city http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/learnwelsh/courses/findacourse/index.html?area=heath&level=&time=

  4. 4 uncle wilco said at 12:34 pm on January 12th, 2010:

    Ed some more things.

    1) Visit Caephilly castle on a wet Sunday and see Tommy Cooper Stature

    2) Have fish n chips from Boffys “Cod Father of Sole” on Barry Island

    3) Have a pint of Dark in either Old arcade, Vulcan or Goat Major pubs

    4) Potter round the junk and interesting stuff at Jacob’s Antique Market and have a mug of tea

    5) Have a ham bap from Cardiff indoor market – and smell the fish.

    6) Chicken Curry (off the bone) and Chips in Caroline street after a night on the SA

    7) Feed the ducks at Roath Park lake – or risk a boat ride

    8) Have a clarks pie (cold & warm)

  5. 5 Places to visit & things to do in Cardiff & South Wales by … said at 7:04 am on January 15th, 2010:

    [...] You find the original post here http://www.edwalker.net/blo … | Ed Walker [...]

  6. 6 Katie Chappelle (@KatieWEPR) said at 7:53 pm on January 17th, 2010:

    A few more to add to your list;
    - Buy some exotic produce from Wally’s Deli in Cardiff
    - Walk/cycle across the Cardiff Bay Barrage to Penarth (great views of Cardiff)
    - See some outdoor Shakespeare at Cardiff Castle this summer
    - The official tour of the Millennium Stadium is also worth doing
    Enjoy!

  7. 7   Does the web allow us to get to know a place faster? by edwalker.net said at 3:32 pm on March 29th, 2010:

    [...] like walking into a pub and shouting ‘What’s good to do round here?’ – I did just that via this blog – and got a great response. Now, whenever I have some spare time, or some bored time, I can [...]


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