Cardiff

Cardiff sits at the mouth of the River Taff between the Bristol Channel and rolling hills, with a medieval castle at its center. The city spreads across diverse neighborhoods that mix narrow historic streets with modern buildings and green spaces.

The settlement began as a Roman fort in the 1st century and grew into a global coal export center during the 19th century industrial boom. This transformation made it one of Britain's busiest ports at the time.

The National Museum Cardiff houses European art and natural history collections, while the Wales Millennium Centre stages opera, ballet, and theatrical performances that draw visitors from across the region.

The main train station connects directly to London Paddington in about two hours, while buses and water taxis move people around the city. The center is easily walkable and most sights lie relatively close together.

Cardiff Bay has the only artificial surfing lagoon in a European capital city with controlled waves. This facility lets surfers of all levels practice year-round regardless of weather conditions.

Location: Wales

Inception: April 1, 1996

Capital city: Cardiff

Shares border with: The Vale of Glamorgan, Newport, City of Bristol, Caerphilly County Borough, Rhondda Cynon Taf

Website: http://cardiff.gov.uk

GPS coordinates: 51.50000,-3.16667

Latest update: December 14, 2025 09:40