Cardiff

Cardiff is the capital and largest city of Wales. In 2024, it had a population of 383,919 people and is officially called the City and County of Cardiff. It is the eleventh largest city in the United Kingdom and lies in the southeast of Wales.

The city grew from a small town into an important port when coal mining began in the area. It became a city in 1905 and was named the capital of Wales in 1955. Cardiff is the main commercial center of Wales and homes the Senedd, the Welsh Parliament.

Cardiff is well known for television and film production, including shows like Doctor Who, Torchwood, and Sherlock. Cardiff Bay includes important buildings such as the Senedd building and the Wales Millennium Centre arts complex. Work continues on many projects in the city, such as the Cardiff International Sports Village and a new business district. The city is a popular tourist spot and was voted the best city in the UK in 2023.

History

Main articles: History of Cardiff and Timeline of Cardiff history

Etymology

The name "Cardiff" comes from old Welsh words. In Welsh, the city is called Caerdydd. This name started as Caerdyf, which means "the fort of the Taff" — referring to an old Roman fort by the River Taff. Over time, the name changed in everyday speech before becoming the modern Caerdydd. The English name "Cardiff" also comes from this old Welsh word.

Origins

People lived in the area of Cardiff as far back as 6000 BC, long before famous places like Stonehenge or the Great Pyramid were built. Early settlers left behind stone structures called burial chambers. Later, the Romans built a fort there around AD 75, which became part of a network of forts protecting their lands.

Norman occupation and Middle Ages

In 1081, a famous English king, William I, visited Cardiff and started building a castle there. This castle became very important to the city. Over the years, it was changed and made bigger, especially during a time called the Victorian era.

A town grew up around the castle. In the Middle Ages, Cardiff was an important place, even though it was smaller than many English towns. It got special permissions called charters from kings, which helped it grow.

County town of Glamorganshire

In 1536, laws were passed that made Cardiff the main town of a place called Glamorganshire. The town became more important over time, getting new rights and charters. It also became a busy port.

Building the docks

In the 1800s, a wealthy family helped build big docks in Cardiff. These docks became very important for moving coal from nearby valleys. The city grew quickly because of this, with many people moving there for jobs.

County Borough of Cardiff

By 1889, Cardiff had grown so much that it became a special kind of town called a county borough, meaning it was very important and self-governing.

City and capital city status

In 1905, King Edward VII gave Cardiff the status of a city. Later, in 1955, Cardiff was named the capital city of Wales. Even though some other cities wanted to be the capital, Cardiff became the main city for Wales. It became a center for government and culture in the following years.

Government

Main article: Politics in Cardiff

See also: Cardiff Council and Senedd

Cardiff is an important city for government. The Welsh Government and the UK Government both have important offices here. The Senedd, which is the Welsh Parliament, has its home in Cardiff Bay since 1999. The building opened in 2006.

Cardiff has representatives in the Senedd and in the UK Parliament at Westminster. The city is split into different areas for elections, and people in Cardiff choose their leaders every few years.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Cardiff

The center of Cardiff is flat, with hills surrounding it to the east, north, and west. This shape helped Cardiff become an important port for coal because it is close to the coal fields of the South Wales Valleys. The highest point in the area is Garth Hill, which is 307 meters (1,007 feet) above sea level.

Cardiff was built on land that used to be marshland, resting on stones from a time called the Triassic period. This marshland reaches from Chepstow to the Ely Estuary. The stones from this time, such as marl, sand, and conglomerate, are often purple and are used in many buildings. One special stone used in Cardiff is called “Radyr Stone,” found in the Radyr area. Other stones like sandstones from the Brecon Beacons and famous white Portland stone from Dorset are also used. A common stone in the area is a yellow-grey limestone from the Vale of Glamorgan.

Cardiff is next to the Vale of Glamorgan to the west, Newport to the east, the South Wales Valleys to the north, and the Severn Estuary and Bristol Channel to the south. The River Taff flows through the city center and joins the River Ely in Cardiff Bay. Another river, the Rhymney, runs through the east of the city and flows into the Severn Estuary.

Cityscape

See also: List of places in Cardiff

"Inner Cardiff" includes areas like Plasnewydd, Gabalfa, Roath, Cathays, Adamsdown, and Splott close to the city centre. Other inner areas such as Butetown, Grangetown, Riverside, and Canton are also part of this region. Some parts south of the A4161 road are among the poorest in Wales, while areas like Gabalfa and Cathays have many students.

To the west, Ely and Caerau have large housing areas, while Culverhouse Cross is more prosperous. Other western and northern areas such as Fairwater, Heath, and Lisvane have some of the most expensive homes in Wales. In the east, areas like Pentwyn and Llanedeyrn mostly have public housing, but new private homes are being built. Pontprennau is a newer suburb, and St Fagans is a village with a museum that cannot be developed further.

Since 2000, Cardiff has seen taller buildings and new high-rise apartments, especially in the city centre and Cardiff Bay.

Climate

See also: Climate of the United Kingdom § Wales

Cardiff has a mild climate, often cloudy, wet, and windy. It is one of the warmer and wetter cities in the UK, with average yearly temperatures around 11°C and rainfall around 1,200 mm. Summers are warm and sunny, with temperatures usually between 19 and 22°C. Winters are wet but rarely very cold or rainy. Spring and autumn have mild temperatures around 15°C.

The northern part of the area is cooler and wetter than the city centre. Cardiff gets about 1,573 hours of sunshine each year, with the sunniest month being July and the least sunny being December. Rain can happen any time of year, but it usually falls in shorter showers during summer.

Demography

Main article: Demographics of Cardiff

Cardiff, the capital and largest city of Wales, is growing again after a decline in the 1970s and 1980s. In the 2021 census, the population reached 362,400, up from 346,100 in 2011. Between mid-2007 and mid-2008, Cardiff was the fastest-growing local authority in Wales. The larger urban zone around Cardiff has over 841,000 people, making it the 10th largest in the UK. The metropolitan area has nearly 1.1 million people.

Cardiff is a diverse city due to its history of trade, immigration after World War II, and many international students. In 2011, about 15% of the city's population belonged to groups other than white, including Asian, Black, and Arab communities. The city has many cultural events and books that celebrate this diversity.

The city has several hospitals, with the University Hospital of Wales being the largest and handling most emergencies. Other hospitals include Llandough Hospital, St. David's Hospital, Cardiff Royal Infirmary, Rookwood Hospital, and the Velindre Cancer Centre.

Cardiff has a rich language history. Welsh was the main language until the Victorian era, but its use has grown again, especially through Welsh-medium education. Today, around 12% of Cardiff residents speak Welsh. The city also has speakers of many other languages, including Somali, Urdu, Bengali, and Arabic, due to its diverse population.

Cardiff has various religious communities. The largest groups are those with no religion and Christianity, followed by Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Judaism, and others. The city has several important religious buildings, including Llandaff Cathedral, Cardiff Metropolitan Cathedral, and mosques, temples, and synagogues. The Muslim community in Cardiff is one of the oldest in the UK, with over 11,000 people. The Hindu community has grown since the 1950s and 1960s, with three temples in the city.

Economy

Main article: Economy and industry of Cardiff

Cardiff is the capital city of Wales and plays a big role in the country's economy. Even though Cardiff only has about 10% of Wales’ population, it creates nearly 20% of the country’s wealth. Many people from nearby areas come to work in the city every day.

For many years, industry has been very important to Cardiff. The city grew because of the need for coal to make iron and steel. Coal was brought from places like Merthyr Tydfil to Cardiff by canal and later by railway. At its busiest time, Cardiff’s port, called Tiger Bay, was the most active in the world, especially for sending out coal.

Today, Cardiff is a key place for finance and business services in Wales. Many big companies have offices in the city. Tourism is also very important, with millions of visitors each year. The city has many hotels, shops, and places to eat. Cardiff is also home to important media companies and has many film studios.

Shopping

See also: List of shopping arcades in Cardiff

Most of Cardiff’s shops are in the city centre, especially around St Mary Street and High Street. There are also big shopping areas outside the centre. A major shopping place called St. David's Centre was updated in 2009 and is now one of the biggest in the United Kingdom.

The Castle Quarter has old shopping areas with Victorian and Edwardian style, including Castle Arcade, Morgan Arcade, and Royal Arcade. Cardiff also has many markets, like the big Cardiff Central Market.

Transport

Main article: Transport in Cardiff

Rail

Main article: Rail transport in Cardiff

Cardiff Central railway station is the biggest train station in Wales. It handles over 12.5 million passengers each year and offers direct trains to places like Bridgend, Newport, Wrexham, Holyhead, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, and London.

Cardiff Queen Street railway station is the second busiest station in Wales. It connects the city center with the South Wales Valleys and suburbs through the Valley Lines services. There is also a local train network called the Valleys & Cardiff Local Routes, run by Transport for Wales, serving many stations around Cardiff.

Metro

The South Wales Metro is a new public transport system being built around Cardiff. It will include electric trains and new light rail lines. Some lines are already being built to connect places like Penarth, Cardiff Bay, Radyr, Treherbert, Aberdare, and Merthyr Tydfil. More lines are planned for the future.

Air

Cardiff Airport (CWL) is Wales’ only international airport. It is located about 10 miles west of the city in Rhoose village. Buses and trains connect the airport to Cardiff city center.

Road and bus

Main article: Bus transport in Cardiff

The M4 motorway links Cardiff to Swansea in the west and Newport and London in the east. Cardiff has many bus routes operated by companies like Cardiff Bus, Adventure Travel, Stagecoach South Wales, and First Cymru. Most city buses stop at the Cardiff Bus Interchange near Central Station.

Cycle

Main article: Cycling in Cardiff

The Taff Trail is a long path for walking and cycling that goes from Cardiff Bay to the Brecon Beacons National Park. It passes through many green spaces in Cardiff.

Water

The Aquabus water taxi runs every hour between the city center and Cardiff Bay. There are also boat trips from Cardiff to places like Flat Holm Island and around the Bristol Channel.

Telecommunications

See also: List of Wales dialling codes

The phone number for Cardiff and nearby towns like Penarth, Dinas Powys, and Caerphilly starts with 029. When calling within this area, you only need to use the eight-digit local number.

Before April 22, 2000, the area used shorter six-digit numbers with a different code. There is still a mistaken belief that the code is 02920, but this is not correct. Newer Cardiff numbers follow the (029) 21xx xxxx and (029) 22xx xxxx ranges.

Education

See also: List of schools in Cardiff

Cardiff has many places for learning. There are four big universities: Cardiff University, Cardiff Metropolitan University, University of South Wales, and the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. These universities have students all over the city.

Besides universities, Cardiff has colleges for younger students. There are also many primary and secondary schools, some of which teach lessons in the Welsh language. There are special schools for very young children, too. The city also has a fun science place called Techniquest where kids can try things out themselves.

Landmarks and attractions

See also: Architecture of Cardiff and Listed buildings in Cardiff

Cardiff has many famous buildings and places to visit. Some of the most well-known are the Principality Stadium, the Pierhead Building, the Welsh National Museum, and the Senedd building, which is where the Welsh Parliament meets. Other important spots include Cardiff Castle, St David's Hall, St John the Baptist Church, Llandaff Cathedral, and the Wales Millennium Centre.

Cardiff Castle is a big attraction right in the middle of the city. The National History Museum at St Fagans is an open-air museum with buildings from different times in Welsh history brought together in one place. The Civic Centre in Cathays Park has many grand buildings from the early 1900s, such as the City Hall and the National Museum and Gallery of Wales. These buildings are around a park called Queen Alexandra Gardens, which has the Welsh National War Memorial and other small memorials.

Cardiff is known for having more castles than any other city in the world. Besides Cardiff Castle, there is Castell Coch in Tongwynlais, a colorful castle built in the 1870s. There are also old castle remains in Morganstown and Rhiwbina, and a ruined castle called Morgraig Castle. There is also the old Llandaff Bishop's Palace, now just a ruined gatehouse.

Other popular places include the Cardiff Bay area, home to the Wales Millennium Centre and the Senedd building, as well as the Cardiff Bay Barrage and the historic Coal Exchange. The New Theatre, founded in 1906, is a well-known venue for plays and dance performances. Other spots for concerts and events are Cardiff International Arena, St David's Hall, and the Principality Stadium. The museum Cardiff Story opened in 2011 and tells the history of the city.

Cardiff has over 1,000 important buildings, from big castles to small houses. The city also has lovely walks, like the Centenary Walk, which goes through many landmarks. The Animal Wall in Bute Park has 15 carved animal statues.

Culture and recreation

Main articles: Culture and recreation in Cardiff, List of cultural venues in Cardiff, and List of public art in Cardiff

Cardiff has many places to explore, from historic spots like Cardiff Castle and Castell Coch to modern places such as the Wales Millennium Centre and Cardiff Bay. The city has grown as a popular place to visit, earning awards like being voted one of the top cities in the UK.

The city holds many fun yearly events, such as Sparks in the Park, The Great British Cheese Festival, Pride Cymru, Cardiff Winter Wonderland, Cardiff Festival, and Made in Roath.

Music and performing arts

Main article: Music of Cardiff

Cardiff is a lively place for music and shows. Big concerts happen at St David's Hall, Cardiff International Arena, and sometimes the Principality Stadium. One big yearly event is the Cardiff Big Weekend Festival, a free outdoor festival in the summer that draws many visitors.

Cardiff has hosted important music events like the National Eisteddfod and the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition. The Wales Millennium Centre is a venue for many types of performances, and St David's Hall features classical music and other genres. The city has produced many famous musicians and bands and is known for its strong music scene.

Visual arts

See also: Art in Cardiff

Cardiff holds an annual photomarathon where photographers compete to take pictures on different topics.

Sporting venues

Cardiff has many places for sports. The Principality Stadium is the national rugby stadium, and the city has hosted big events like the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games and some matches during the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Recreation

Cardiff has a fun nightlife, with many clubs and bars in the city centre and Cardiff Bay. The Brewery Quarter is a popular spot with bars and restaurants.

Cardiff is also known for its many parks and green spaces. Bute Park is one of the largest, and there are other popular parks like Roath Park and Victoria Park. The city has plenty of open areas to explore, including nature reserves and country parks.

Media

Main article: Media in Cardiff

See also: Media in Wales

Cardiff is an important place for television and radio in Wales. Big TV companies like BBC Cymru Wales, ITV Wales, and S4C have their main offices there. There is also a local TV station called Made in Cardiff.

Many popular TV shows and movies are filmed in Cardiff, such as Casualty, Doctor Who, The Sarah Jane Adventures, Torchwood, Merlin, Class, The Valleys, Upstairs Downstairs, A Discovery of Witches, His Dark Materials, Being Human, The Story of Tracy Beaker, Wizards vs Aliens, Sherlock, and Sex Education.

The main newspaper in Cardiff is the South Wales Echo, and the national paper is the Western Mail. Both are located on Park Street in the city centre. Other papers like Capital Times, Echo Extra, and the South Wales edition of Metro are also available there.

There are many radio stations in Cardiff, including Capital South Wales, Heart South Wales, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, Nation Radio Wales, Radio Cardiff, Smooth Wales, and Xpress Radio.

The Principality Stadium was one of the first famous places in Britain to have a full 360-degree tour on Google Street View.

Sport

Main article: Sport in Cardiff

See also: Leisure centres in Cardiff, List of stadia in Wales by capacity, and Rugby in Cardiff

Cardiff is a city that loves sports! It holds many big games and events from all over the world. People have been enjoying sports there since the 1800s. Almost all of Wales’s sports groups have offices in Cardiff, and the city has many great places to watch games. In 2008/09, more than half of Cardiff’s people took part in sports and fun activities, the most in all of Wales.

Rugby fans know all about Cardiff’s famous stadiums, like the old National Stadium, Cardiff Arms Park, and the new Principality Stadium. The Principality Stadium was used for the FA Cup for six years while Wembley Stadium was being rebuilt. In 2009, Cardiff hosted the first cricket test between England and Australia to be played in Wales. Cardiff also hosted some football games in the London 2012 Olympics.

Cardiff City F.C., started in 1899, used to play at Ninian Park until 2008/09. Now they play at Cardiff City Stadium. They are the only team from outside England to have won the FA Cup, beating Arsenal in 1927. Cardiff City has played in the English Football League since 1920/21 and was in the English Premier League in 2013/14 and 2018/19.

Cardiff Metropolitan University F.C. plays in the Cymru Premier league. They won the Welsh League Cup in 2018/19.

Cardiff has many smaller football teams too, like Bridgend Street A.F.C., Caerau (Ely) A.F.C., Cardiff Corinthians F.C., Cardiff Draconians F.C., Cardiff Grange Harlequins A.F.C., and Ely Rangers A.F.C.

There are also women’s football teams in Cardiff, such as Cardiff City Ladies and Cardiff Met. Ladies.

In the 1990s, a London football club named Wimbledon FC wanted to move to Cardiff, but the move never happened. In 2003, the club moved to Milton Keynes and changed its name to Milton Keynes Dons.

Cardiff Arms Park is a very famous place. It has hosted important rugby matches, including three Welsh Grand Slams in the 1970s and games in the 1991 Rugby World Cup. The site has been used for sports since the 1850s, first for cricket and then for rugby. The old National Stadium was replaced in 1999 by the Principality Stadium, which is now home to Wales’s national rugby and football teams.

Cardiff Cricket Club was formed in 1819, and Glamorgan County Cricket Club has played first-class cricket since 1921. They now play at Sophia Gardens.

Cardiff has a long history with boxing, from the early 1900s to recent big fights.

Cardiff’s ice hockey team, the Cardiff Devils, plays at Ice Arena Wales. The team was founded in 1986 and was very successful in the 1990s.

Cardiff hosted the 1958 Commonwealth Games. The city has many sports facilities, including the Cardiff International Pool, which opened in 2008. When finished, the International Sports Village will have even more sports facilities for many different games.

The Principality Stadium also hosts motor-sport events, like the World Rally Championship. The Cardiff Half Marathon happens every October and is one of the biggest runs in the United Kingdom.

Notable people

Main article: List of people from Cardiff

See also: Category:People from Cardiff

Many well-known people come from Cardiff. This includes historical figures like the 12th-century Welsh leader Ifor Bach and modern figures such as author Roald Dahl, actor Ioan Gruffudd (known for Fantastic 4), and sports stars like Gareth Bale and Sam Warburton.

The city has also produced famous musicians like Shirley Bassey and Charlotte Church, as well as popular bands such as Catatonia and Super Furry Animals.

Twinning

Cardiff has friendly partnerships with several cities around the world. These include Luhansk in Ukraine, Hordaland county in Norway, Sucre in Bolivia, Nantes in France, Stuttgart in Germany, Xiamen in China, and Lima in Peru. These partnerships help the cities work together and share ideas.

Namesakes

In the United States, two places are named after Cardiff, Wales: Cardiff-by-the-Sea in Encinitas, California and Cardiff, Alabama. There is also a place called Cardiff in New Zealand, in the area known as Taranaki, which was named after Cardiff in Wales.

Diplomatic presence

Many countries have representatives in Cardiff. Some, like Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Denmark, Canada, Thailand, and the Czech Republic, have honorary consulates. The United States Embassy to the UK also has a smaller office in the city.

Freedom of the City

The following people and military units have received the Freedom of the City of Cardiff. This is a special honor given by the city, and each person or group received it on a specific date.

Individuals

• Andrew Fulton: 31 March 1886
• Alfred Thomas, 1st Baron Pontypridd: 13 August 1888
• William Gladstone: 6 July 1889
• Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale: 17 September 1890
• Sir Henry Morton Stanley: 27 March 1891
• Sir David Evans: 1 July 1892
• Field Marshal Lord Roberts of Kandahar: 26 January 1894
• Sir Edward Reed: 28 September 1895
• Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII): 27 June 1896
• Robert Windsor-Clive, 1st Earl of Plymouth: 3 June 1897
• David Jones: 18 April 1898
• Field Marshal Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener: 2 December 1897
• Lieutenant General Lord Baden-Powell: 29 May 1903
• William Lewis, 1st Baron Merthyr: 10 March 1905
• Prince of Wales (later King George V): 29 June 1905
• David Lloyd George: 24 June 1908
• Godfrey Morgan, 1st Viscount Tredegar: 25 October 1909
• Francis John Beavan: 10 October 1910
• Sir William James Thomas: 12 April 1915
• William Morris Hughes: 24 March 1916
• Lord Rhondda: 27 October 1916
• William Massey: 8 May 1917
• Field Marshal Jan Smuts: 27 October 1917
• Sir Robert Borden: 24 July 1918
• Maharaja Sir Bhupinder Singh of Patiala: 24 July 1918
• Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII): 26 June 1919
• Sir Charles Hayward Bird: 5 July 1923
• Duke of York: 22 October 1926
• William Tatem, 1st Baron Glanely: 26 March 1928
• Sir William Reardon Smith: 26 March 1928
• Lord Davies of Llandinam: 26 October 1931
• Sir Illtyd Thomas: 26 October 1931
• Prince George, Duke of Kent: 25 October 1932
• John Sankey, 1st Viscount Sankey: 5 March 1934
• Sir Goscombe John: 26 October 1936
• Ivor Windsor-Clive, 2nd Earl of Plymouth: 26 October 1936
• William Morris, 1st Viscount Nuffield: 15 October 1937
• Wyndham Portal, 1st Viscount Portal: 15 October 1937
• Duchess of Edinburgh (later Queen Elizabeth II): 27 May 1948
• Sir Winston Churchill: 16 July 1948
• Sir William Richard Williams: 11 May 1954
• Sir Herbert Hiles: 11 May 1954
• Philip, Duke of Edinburgh: 1 December 1954
• Major Lord Tenby of Bulford: 26 October 1956
• Prince of Wales (Later King Charles III): 5 July 1969
• Lord Callaghan of Cardiff: 16 March 1975
• Lord Tonypandy: 16 March 1975
• Diana, Princess of Wales: 29 October 1981
• Pope John Paul II: 2 June 1982
• Sir Cennydd Traherne: 29 January 1985
• Philip Dunleavy: 25 January 1993
• Nelson Mandela: 16 June 1998
• Cledwyn Hughes, Baron Cledwyn of Penrhos: 4 December 2000
• Baroness Grey-Thompson: 27 November 2003
• Colin Jackson: 27 November 2003
• Major Sir Tasker Watkins: 12 April 2006
• Dame Shirley Bassey: 23 February 2012

Military units

• The Welch Regiment: 10 June 1944
• The Welsh Guards: 27 April 1957
• The Royal Regiment of Wales: 11 June 1969
• The Royal Welch Fusiliers: 7 November 1973
• The 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards: 29 July 1985
• HMS Cardiff, RN: 3 February 1988
• The Merchant Navy Association (Wales): 3 September 2001
• 203 (Welsh) Field Hospital (Volunteers) RAMC: 21 April 2014
• HMS Dragon, RN: 18 May 2014