5 Reasons to Visit Cardiff

iStock_cardiffsign.JPGCardiff is the capital of Wales and a great place to spend a weekend, or longer away. Travelodge has a wide selection of hotels in the area, including our Cardiff Central hotel which puts you right at the heart of action so you can pick a base that suits you. Here are 5 reasons why you absolutely must visit Cardiff:

Sports

If you’re a Sport lover then Cardiff is a great place to visit. Home of Welsh rugby for more than a century, Cardiff is ideal for anyone wanting to get up close and personal with the game. The Millennium Stadium hosts a range matches as well as several other sports including The Speedway Grand Prix. For the more active among you, there’s also the change to get hands on and physical. Cardiff is a fantastic base for adventure holidays and is also home to Cardiff International White Water, which offers an Olympic standard raft and canoe course and The Cardiff Devils, an ice hockey rink which is open to the public when it is not in use for competitions. The stunning landscape surrounding Cardiff makes it the perfect destination for cyclists, walkers and lovers of water sports, all out in the open.

Historic Houses and Castles

iStock_cardiffcastleCardiff is home to an abundance of historical houses and castles. Cardiff Castle is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Wales and for good reason. It houses over 2,000 years of history, from the Roman times to the present day.

Just outside Cardiff, Castell Coch is surrounded by woodland and is known for its fairytale qualities. Complete with towers and turrets, Coch is simply a dream.

Finally, Carephilly Castle is a grand masterpiece and the second largest castle in Britain. One tower is famously know for its curious lean, setting itself up as a rival for the more famous wonky tower of Piza! Nearby, at Llancaiach Fawr Manor, watch history come alive in a fantastically reconstructed gentry manor house, dating back to 1645.

BBC Wales and The Doctor Who Experience

No trip to Cardiff is complete without a visit to the BBC studios where Doctor Who is filmed and stop at The Doctor Who Experience next door. The interactive journey takes you on an exciting trip into the world of The Doctor, giving you a chance to fly the TARDIS and come face to face with Cyber Men. Complete with real Doctor Who memorabilia, props and costumes from 1963 until today, The Doctor Who Experience is a journey you will never forget.

The Arts and Entertainment

There is an abundance of theatres and art galleries in Cardiff, all waiting to be discovered. You can catch concerts ranging from Gary Barlow to Russell Howard in the coming months and the renowned theatre production, War Horse will be opening in Cardiff in June. Art lovers should enjoy Cardiff’s impressionist collection which is known to be one of the largest collections outside Paris. Shows and exhibitions are constantly changing, so be sure to check the listings before you visit.

Take a Tour

If you are new to Cardiff or Wales then taking a tour is a great way to make the most out of your time away. Tours around Cardiff, are an insightful way to find out about the history of the town, while travelling further a field will bring you into contact with the stunning nature that Wales has to offer. Walking tours, cycling tours and bus tours are all an option.