CAERDYDD/CARDIFF, Wales

[Bristol Mike]

CAERDYDD/CARDIFF, Wales

Country: Wales
County: South Glamorgan
Population
- City: 341, 054

Today, my work took me by train across the Severn Estuary from Bristol to Cardiff for the day. With over an hour to spare before the train home, I took a wander with the camera and was lucky enough to avoid the rain that had fallen in the morning.

Cardiff is the capital and largest city in Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for Wales. The unitary authority area's mid 2010 population was estimated to be 341,054, while the population of the Larger Urban Zone was estimated at 861,400 in 2009. Cardiff is a significant tourism centre and the most popular visitor destination in Wales with 18.3 million visitors in 2010.

The city of Cardiff is the county town of the historic county of Glamorgan (and later South Glamorgan). Cardiff is part of the Eurocities network of the largest European cities. The Cardiff Urban Area covers a slightly larger area outside of the county boundary, and includes the towns of Dinas Powys and Penarth. A small town until the early 19th century, its prominence as a major port for the transport of coal following the arrival of industry in the region contributed to its rise as a major city. Cardiff was made a city in 1905, and proclaimed capital of Wales in 1955. Since the 1990s Cardiff has seen significant development with a new waterfront area at Cardiff Bay which contains the Senedd building (which I unfortunately did not have time to go and explore - perhaps on a sunny day), home to the Welsh Assembly and the Wales Millennium Centre arts complex. Current developments include the continuation of the redevelopment of the Cardiff Bay and city centre areas with projects such as the Cardiff International Sports Village, a BBC drama village, and a new business district in the city centre. Cardiff is the largest media centre in the UK outside of London.

Overall, I was very impressed with the city. Although noticeably smaller than Bristol, it feels very cosmopolitan and features a very fine selection of buildings, especially the castle and the civic buildings.

See what you make of it.

[Bristol Mike]

[Bristol Mike]

[openlyJane]

I have only been to Cardiff once - a visit to the art gallery as a trainee teacher. The little I saw was very impressive - as reflected in your photographs.

[pal7]

Cardiff, England??

[tehpr0]

Amazing and magnifficent city!

[christos-greece]

Beautiful, very nice photos from this town Mike

[Bristol Mike]

Originally Posted by openlyJane

I have only been to Cardiff once - a visit to the art gallery as a trainee teacher. The little I saw was very impressive - as reflected in your photographs.

It's a very pleasant city indeed and the area around the Art Gallery in particular (if it's the one I'm thinking of).

Originally Posted by pal7

Cardiff, England??

Nah, Cardiff Wales.

Originally Posted by tehpr0

Amazing and magnifficent city!

Thanks very much!

Originally Posted by christos-greece

Beautiful, very nice photos from this town Mike

Thanks Christos!

[Linguine]

beautiful and lovely Cardiff...thanks for the wonderful photos.

[cardiff]

Lovely pictures of St Marys street, cant wait to see some more. Shame the weather wasnt with you, the tables and chairs really come out and give the city center a really nice vibe. Intereting old pic of the castle apartments

[Bristol Mike]

Originally Posted by Linguine

beautiful and lovely Cardiff...thanks for the wonderful photos.

Thanks - it's a lovely city!

Originally Posted by cardiff

Lovely pictures of St Marys street, cant wait to see some more. Shame the weather wasnt with you, the tables and chairs really come out and give the city center a really nice vibe. Intereting old pic of the castle apartments

Thanks! It is a shame, the sun did come out from time to time and it was much better as I was leaving but it didn't really detract from the city itself. It felt like a lively city as it was and I can imagine what St. Mary's Street would be like on a sunny day like today.

[Bristol Mike]

[aarhusforever]

Lovely and beautiful city..even though I spottet one of those nasty Daleks in your photos Thank you for sharing, my friend

[cardiff]

Lol, if you go down the bay you will see a tardis outside the new museum as well!

[Bristol Mike]

Originally Posted by aarhusforever

Lovely and beautiful city..even though I spottet one of those nasty Daleks in your photos Thank you for sharing, my friend

Thank you, it certainly is! Haha, yes that one did creep into my picture.

Originally Posted by cardiff

Lol, if you go down the bay you will see a tardis outside the new museum as well!

I haven't yet ventured to the Bay, it's quite decentralised from the rest of the city isn't it. I went to lunch at the Red Dragon Centre this afternoon but only for half an hour.

[Bristol Mike]

[cardiff]

Originally Posted by Bristol Mike

I haven't yet ventured to the Bay, it's quite decentralised from the rest of the city isn't it. I went to lunch at the Red Dragon Centre this afternoon but only for half an hour.

The red dragon center was one of the first developments in the bay, across the road from it is the Opera house and 3 minutes walk is the waterfront with Mermaid Quays restaurants. What promted you to eat in the Red Dragon center, i wouldnt eat there unless visiting the Imax cinema, bowling or casino? The whole center is very much at odds with the rest of the bay, but without it who kows what would be there, as it offered something to do when there was litterally nothing around it. Its about the same distance as Cabots circus to Queens square in bristol, as it is from SD2 to mermaid quay, not that far really but a very seperate place to the center.

[Delirium]

Another good set, mike.

The Bay is very much an out of town destination and experience in many respects; it's a good mile/ 20-25 minute walk from the centre with an urban realm designed as such. Going on a tangent, the neighbourhood in between (Butetown) is certainly a unique place, I remember walking with friends through it late one saturday night... that was certainly interesting!

Dunno if you've been or'll have time to visit but Castell Coch on the northern outskirts is a pretty lush place to visit; very different from the other castles in Wales.

[Bristol Mike]

Originally Posted by cardiff

The red dragon center was one of the first developments in the bay, across the road from it is the Opera house and 3 minutes walk is the waterfront with Mermaid Quays restaurants. What promted you to eat in the Red Dragon center, i wouldnt eat there unless visiting the Imax cinema, bowling or casino? The whole center is very much at odds with the rest of the bay, but without it who kows what would be there, as it offered something to do when there was litterally nothing around it. Its about the same distance as Cabots circus to Queens square in bristol, as it is from SD2 to mermaid quay, not that far really but a very seperate place to the center.

It is a slightly odd place for that area but I suppose it serves as a recreational facility and there are some really nice places to eat there. It was the recommendation of who I was meeting to go and have lunch at the spicy place. I'm sure when I go to Cardiff not to work I will walk from the centre to the waterfront and witness how long it is.

Originally Posted by Delirium

Another good set, mike.

The Bay is very much an out of town destination and experience in many respects; it's a good mile/ 20-25 minute walk from the centre with an urban realm designed as such. Going on a tangent, the neighbourhood in between (Butetown) is certainly a unique place, I remember walking with friends through it late one saturday night... that was certainly interesting!

Dunno if you've been or'll have time to visit but Castell Coch on the northern outskirts is a pretty lush place to visit; very different from the other castles in Wales.

Thanks! Yeah that's fair enough. As I said above, I'm sure I will see what Butetown looks like; is it mostly residential? I have seen Castell Coch numerous times when turning off the M4 up into the valleys but never actually been. I can remember there used to be a kids programme set in that castle but can't remember what it's called. Lovely castle though.

[Bristol Mike]

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