Whether Cardiff is your intended destination or just a brief stopover on the way to your new home, we have compiled this guide to help you get your bearings on arrival. To obtain more details about the city check out the websites listed at the end of this profile.
Cardiff has a population of 310,000.
Cardiff is a relatively flat city bounded by hills on the outskirts to the east, north and west. Its geographic features were influential in its development as the world's largest coal port, most notably its proximity and easy access to the coal fields of the south Wales valleys.
Cardiff is built on reclaimed marshland on a bed of Triassic stones; this reclaimed marshland stretches from Chepstow to the Ely Estuary, which is the natural boundary of Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. Cardiff is bordered to the west by the rural district of the Vale of Glamorgan, which is also known as The Garden of Cardiff, to the east by the city of Newport, to the north by the South Wales Valleys and to the south by the Severn Estuary and Bristol Channel. The River Taff winds through the centre of the city and together with the River ELy flows into the freshwater lake of Cardiff Bay. A third river, the Rhymney flows through the east of the city entering directly into the Severn Estuary.
As the capital city of Wales, Cardiff is the main engine of growth in the Welsh economy and conveys economic, social and cultural benefits across the wider region. Cardiff is the principal finance and business services centre in Wales, and as such there is a strong representation of finance and business services in the local economy. The economy of Cardiff and adjacent areas makes up nearly 20% of Welsh GDP and 40% of the city’s workforce are daily in-commuters from the surrounding south Wales area. Following the decline of the city’s heavy industry in the latter part of the 20th century, the economy of Cardiff is now dominated by the service sector with just 9% of employees engaged in manufacturing activities.
Public administration, education and health is the largest sector in Cardiff, providing employment for 32% of the city’s workforce. Cardiff is the main financial and business services centre in Wales and as such, the sector provides employment for 20% of the city’s workforce. This sector, combined with the Public Administration, Education and Health sectors, have accounted for around 75% of Cardiff's economic growth since 1991.
Cardiff is the major transport hub in Wales and is the focus for many arterial road and rail routes that connect the city to the rest of Wales and England. The M4 is the principal motorway in the region that connects Cardiff with Bridgend, Swansea and Carmarthen in the west, and Bristol, Swindon, Reading and London in the east. As with many other cities car traffic has caused congestion problems and as such the council has designated bus lanes to improve transport into and out of the city centre. The council has also revealed plans to introduce congestion charging, as in London, but only once there has been significant investment in the city's public transport network.
There are several road and rail bridges that cross the River Taff in Cardiff. These include the Clarence Road Bridge, a comparatively modern bridge which replaced a swing bridge. Cardiff has a comprehensive bus network, with council-owned Cardiff Bus providing the vast majority of routes in the city and as well as Newport, Penarth, Barry, Cardiff International Airport and Llantwit Major. Veolia Transport Cymru and Stagecoach in South Wales also provide services in the city.
Cardiff has a suburban rail system under the name of Valley Lines, which is operated by Arriva Trains Wales. There are eight lines which serve 20 stations in the city, 26 in the wider urban area and more than 60 in the South Wales valleys and the Vale of Glamorgan. Cardiff Central railway station is the largest railway station in Wales with 7 platforms, and one of the busiest in the UK. It provides direct services to major cities as well as serving as an interchange for services from West Wales. Cardiff Queen Street railway station is the second busiest in Wales and is hub for routes via the Valley Lines services that connect the South Wales valleys and the Cardiff suburbs with the city centre. Its location at the eastern end of the city centre makes it convenient for commuters and shoppers alike. This station also provides services to Cardiff Bay, these do not call at Central.
Two waterbus firms operate half-hourly services from Bute Park in the city centre to Cardiff Bay and onwards to Penarth. Throughout the summer (March to October), boats also depart from Cardiff Bay to take visitors to Flat Holm Island. The Paddle Steamer Waverley and MV Balmoral sail from Britannia Quay (in Roath Basin) to various destinations in the Bristol Channel.
Cardiff and South & West Wales are served by Cardiff International Airport (CWL), the only international airport in Wales. It provides links domestically and internationally.
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Cardiff is home to Cardiff Castle, the National Assembly for Wales, St. David's Hall, the National Museum and Gallery, Cathays Park and the Cardiff Metropolitan Cathedral. The Welsh National Opera moved into the Wales Millennium Centre in November 2004. Cardiff Castle is a major tourist attraction in the city and is situated in the heart of the city centre, near the main shopping area of Queen Street and St. Mary's Street. The National History Museum at St Fagans in Cardiff is a large open air museum housing dozens of buildings from throughout Welsh history that have been moved to the site in Cardiff.
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Other major attractions are the Cardiff Bay regeneration sites which include the recently opened Wales Millennium Centre and the National Assembly for Wales and many other cultural and sites of interest including the Cardiff Bay Barrage and the famous Coal Exchange. The
New Theatrewas founded in 1906 and completely refurbished in the 1980s. Until the opening of the Wales Millennium Centre in 2004, it was the premier venue in Wales for touring theatre and dance companies, and is located in the city centre.
Other venues which are popular for gigs and sporting events include Cardiff International Arena and St David's Hall. Cardiff City Hall is situated among Cathays Park's numerous green spaces, which are popular with students on sunny days. The Big Weekend Festival is held annually in late July/August in the city centre and plays host to a number of free musical performances, fairground rides and cultural events such as a Children's Festival that takes place in the grounds of Cardiff Castle.
Cardiff hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1883, 1899, 1938, 1960 and 1978, and is set to host it again in 2008. Cardiff is unique in Wales in having two permanent stone circles used by the Gorsedd of Bards during Eisteddfodau. The original circle stands in Gorsedd Gardens in front of the National Museum while its 1978 replacement is situated in Bute Park.
The city now hosts The Cardiff Design Festival and began showcasing the best of Welsh design during the summer of 2005. Since then the festival has grown into a diverse range of designers exhibiting their wares at the 2006 portable exhibition.
Europe's youngest capital city has so much to offer, from historic castles and classical concerts, to vibrant street festivals and tranquil parks. Cardiff is home to several major arts venues which host a diverse programme of music and drama. There are also many sports venues for spectators as well as for people who enjoy taking part. There is a wide range of leisure centres, swimming pools, skateboard parks and a riding school.
| Take a stroll round Cardiff Bay, cycle along the Taff Trail or find out more about Cardiff's history by following the Cardiff Centenary Walk. Venture out into the countryside on your doorstep, or visit the tiny island of Flat Holm a wildlife haven just five miles from the city. Whatever your interests, you're sure to find something to enjoy in Cardiff. |
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Cardiff Visitors Guide
www.visitcardiff.co.uk
Cardiff City Council
www.cardiff.gov.uk
BBC Wales
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southeast/sites/cardiff/
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Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
|
Avg. Max. |
8°C |
8°C |
11°C |
13°C |
17°C |
17°C |
22°C |
21°C |
18°C |
15°C |
11°C |
9°C |
|
Avg. Min. |
2°C |
2°C |
4°C |
3°C |
8°C |
11°C |
13°C |
13°C |
10°C |
8°C |
4°C |
3°C |
|
Rainfall mm |
119 |
91 |
89 |
65 |
65 |
66 |
61 |
90 |
104 |
117 |
117 |
128 |
Cardiff has a temperate climate where summers and winters are generally mild. More specifically Cardiff has an oceanic climate, with prevailing winds blowing in from the south-west over the Atlantic Ocean.
Cardiff has a relatively dry climate compared with most of Wales with an average rainfall of 1,065 millimetres (41.9 in). It is also a relatively mild city with an average January temperature of 4.5 °C (40.1 °F) and an average July temperature of 16 °C (61 °F).
