With the summer holidays fast approaching it’s time to start thinking of activities to do with the children. Cardiff is somewhere we like to visit not only because we’ve family just outside the capital but also because there is so much to see and do. I love the hustle and bustle of Cardiff but also enjoy visiting the quieter areas too. I’m hoping we’ll have the chance to visit over the summer and visit some of our favourite places and explore some new ones along the way. I thought I would share some of the places and things to do with you and hopefully inspire you to visit.
When we lived near Cardiff one of my favourite places to visit was Dyffryn Gardens in St Nicholas just outside Cardiff. Dyffryn Gardens is a superb example of Edwardian Garden design which covers 55 acres. The magnificent Victorian Dyffryn House overlooks some of these. When we first visited it was opened by a group of supporters and I spent many days exploring the grounds with both dad of 3 and our older two sons as toddlers. We would picnic on the lawns, explore the gardens and climb trees. It was one place I was sad to leave behind when we moved back to west wales and knew I would miss our regular visits. I was delighted when I discovered the National Trust had taken over Dyffryn Gardens and even more thrilled when we returned a couple of years ago to see the transformation. It’s somewhere I’m hoping we can visit over the holidays. To find out more about Dyffryn Gardens and the events taking place over the summer please visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/
The National Museum Cardiff, Cathys is another great place to visit. With free entry to the majority of the exhibitions it provides a great day out. The National Museum Cardiff houses Wales geology, natural history and art collections. There is so much to see it’s well worth the visit. There are various activities running throughout the summer for which there is usually a small cost. Located in the civic centre of Cardiff it’s not far from Cardiff Castle, Bute Park and the Shops. For further information please visit www.museum.wales/Cardiff
Cardiff Bay is another area of Cardiff that is full of hustle and bustle and lots to see and do, from Techniquest to the Norwegian Church and even its on Beach which arrives at the end of July for two months. There’s a host of restaurants and eateries to wet your appetite too. For those wanting to catch a movie or play some ten pin bowling then the Red Dragon Centre will be for you. There is of course the Wales Millennium Centre which has an exciting program of shows this summer. The National Eisteddfod will also be hosted at the Roald Dahl Plass in August which will also bring a whole host of things to do and see to Cardiff Bay.
For those looking for a fun way to get into Cardiff how about taking the Aquabus from Mermaid Quay in Cardiff Bay to Cardiff Castle grounds. The service runs hourly and is a great way to see some of Cardiff a different way. I know the last time we were in Cardiff we spotted the service and plan to try it out over the summer. Also available is the Cardiff Boat which again runs from Mermaid Quay to Bute Park For more information please visit Wales Millennium Centre
There are also lots of green spaces around Cardiff that are well worth exploring from Bute Park and Arboretum near the city centre to Victoria Park there is so much to do in Bute Park from the fitness trail to the sculpture trail and of course the wildlife. Then Victoria Park located in Canton has basketball courts, Bowling green and pavilion and it’s fantastic splash pad which was opened in 2016.
For those interested in History why not pay a visit to The Cardiff Story Museum which is housed in the old library in the Hayes. The Museum tells the story of Cardiff’s heritage from it’s beginning to present day. They have a collection of photographs and objects which have personal stories connected to them and help tell Cardiff’s story. Entry is free all though there maybe a charge for some events. This is also on our to do list when we visit next.
If these ideas have wet your appetite for visiting Cardiff over the Summer, you can find some more ideas by clicking the link you can find some more ideas What ever you do when in Cardiff this Summer I hope you have a fantastic time and I would love to hear what you got up to.
Disclaimer: This is a collaborative post however the content is my own