249km (155 miles) W of London; 177km (110 miles) SW of Birmingham; 64km (40 miles) SE of Swansea.
If you remember Cardiff's dull, industrial reputation from yesteryear, you may not want to fit the capital of Wales into your already busy schedule. But to omit it would be a shame, because it has blossomed into one of the most inviting cities of Britain, and is an ideal base for exploring its own attractions, plus the major scenic beauty spots of South Wales.
You can visit it for its castles and museums. The National Museum of Wales is the treasure trove of the principality -- from paintings to silver, from ceramics to dinosaur skeletons -- and the Welsh Folk Museum, on 100 acres of parkland, is one of Europe's leading open-air museums. A trio of castles is a worthy sightseeing goal, including Cardiff Castle, an extravaganza of whimsy, color, and rich architectural detail -- built on the site of a Roman fort. Caerphilly Castle is an imposing moated fortress whose massive water defenses form the second largest castle area in Britain, and Castell Coch is a fairy-tale castle with pepperpot turrets and round towers. On the outskirts, Llandaff Cathedral is built on the site of a religious community from the 16th century.
In spite of its industrial reputation from long ago, Cardiff today is also visited for its parks and gardens, notably Dyffryn Gardens, 560 acres of landscaped botanical wonder, and Roath Park, east of the center, with facilities for boating and fishing on a 32-acre site. There's a lot going here, especially in summer. Winter visits tend to be duller.
