Near Cardiff Accommodation

Fairytale Castle Coch

Caerphilly Castle covered in snow

Annual events at Caerphilly Castle

Tourist Information Caerphilly & near Cardiff

Once you've had your fill of the many attractions around Cardiff City centre and Cardiff Bay there's more to explore aplenty around Cardiff. Some of the most spectacular Castles in Wales are situated around Cardiff, including Castell Coch and Carephilly Castle. Towards the Cardiff suberb of Llandaff is the renowned Chapter Cinema, theatre and art gallery complex - not to be missed! Just north of Cardiff stop off at the superb Museum of Welsh Life at St Fagans.

Chapter Cinema Gallery & Theatre, Cardiff

Moving towards the attractive Cardiff suburb of Llandaff just to the north of Cardiff is the renowned Chapter Arts centre, a hotspot for independent cinema, theatre and art in the form of the Oriel Gallery which hosts changing exhibitions and talks. The independent cinema choice is excellent, serving up a choice of all the best world cinema from Spanish to old remastered favourites like Rebecca.

Chapter's gallery is open 7 days a week, Tuesdays to Sundays from 12 noon to 8pm and on Mondays from 1pm to 5pm and it's free to enter so what are you waiting for. Leaning towards contemporary art (especially that which uses film), some of the best new talent exhibits here. The annual 11 day Cardiff Film Festival held every November uses the Chapter as it's main base for film showings, talks and more. See the Cardiff Film Festival website right for details.

That's not all - there's a splendid theatre within the Chapter Arts centre complex too, with Cardiff based companies like Fat Belly Productions laying on productions, mingled with performances by top comedians and more. For full listings details check the Chapter weblink right for details, and book online. A chic gift shop, cafe and bar are all on-site.

Chapter Cinema Gallery Theatre Digital Café Bar Shop, market Road, Canton, Cardiff, CF5 1QE. Tel: +44 029 2031 1050.

National History Museum, Museum of Welsh Life, St Fagans Near Cardiff

The area immediately around Cardiff is blessed with some superb attractions and museums. One of the best is the longstanding (opened in 1948) National History Museum or Museum of Welsh Life as it's commonly known. Set in the grounds of St Fagans Castle, this castle is actually a 16th century Elizabethan manor house now belonging to the people of Wales. Much work has gone into this museum over the years, with numerous old buildings reconstructed within the 100 acre parkland including old schools, a farm and a chapel as well as a fascinating Workmen's Institute and an entire row of iron workers' cottages transplanted from Merthyr Tydfil. These carefully reconstructed buildings take you on a journey through various aspects of Welsh life from the Celtic period to the present day.

Specialist changing exhibitions blend with costume exhibitions, photography and farming implement displays. The well tended gardens make for pleasant strolls, and on-site is a mock up environmentally friendly 'Future House'. Demonstrations of crafts are all about - offering insights into the making of cidar, clogs and so forth, and you can buy handmade blankets from the Wool Mill. Livestock and poultry are also bred on the grounds.

Tearooms, a café restaurant, plenty of space for kids to romp around, a visitors centre and various workshops are all included. Open from 10am to 5pm daily, St Fagans is also open on Bank Holiday Mondays. Checkout the weblink right for more details. This superb museum is also conveniently just 4 miles to the west of Cardiff city centre.

Museum of Welsh Life, St Fagans: National History Museum, St Fagans, Cardiff CF5 6XB. Tel +44 (0)29 20573500.

Castell Coch Tours, Wales

Of all the castles across Wales, (there's around 600 in all), Castell Coch fits neatly into a fairytale vision of what castles should look like. William Burges (designer) certainly pushed his kitsch factor to the full here, employing an extravagant Victorian gothic style to great effect akin to Cardiff Castle. Castell Coch is dramatically surrounded by forests, with it's Disney turrets jutting up above the treeline and is situated just 5 miles northwest of Cardiff city centre via the A470. Alternatively cycle to it from Cardiff along the Taff Trail!

Before Burges got stuck in, the site was occupied by the original Red Castle constructed by Norman Gilbert de Clare in the 13th Century. Burges incorporated much of the ruins of this original into his design. Inside is just as, if not more so, kitsch as the outside, with sculptured monkeys, elaborate and gaudy bedrooms and the ultimate medieval touch - 19th century style - a drawbridge and portcullis! The Castell Coch experience also includes an audio tour, parking, toilets, a cafe and shop all on-site, as well as baby changing facilities.

Although Castell Coch was designed for use by the Bute family as a summer residence, they found little use for it. Today it's a popular tourist attraction owned by Cardiff Council. The food in the on-site tearoom is particularly popular! Open in Spring (April to May) from 9.30am to 5pm, Summer (June to September) from 9.30am to 6pm) and in Autumn(October) from 9.30am to 5pm, Winter (November to March) 9.30am to 4pm). Closed over Christmas Period.

Castell Coch, Tongwynlais, Cardiff, CF15 7JS. Tel: 02920 810101. (see website right for further details).

Penarth - Victorian & Edwardian Seaside Architecture

If you're looking for a quieter seaside base with a quaint Victorian feel about it, situated ideally close to Cardiff city centre, then Penarth just south of Cardiff is a good choice. During the coal boom of the late 19th century there were working docks here at Penarth. Wealthy Victorians and Edwardians linked to coal came to live, and much of the elaborate seaside architecture has been preserved here, giving it an edge. Plenty of green space too - Penarth bears the nickname 'Garden of the Sea'.

Penarth Pier and Promenade is a leisurely joy, dotted with fascinating Victorian and Edwardian architecture (note the pier pavillon building). Take a long seaside walk from Penarth towards Cardiff and the Barrage. Buses and trains run regularly from Penarth (which has it's own small station) to Cardiff Central.

Caerphilly and Caerphilly Castle History

Just a 10 mile drive up from Cardiff and you'll find yourself in Caerphilly, famous for it's tasty cheese (popular with miners past!) which is celebrated in an annual big cheese festival, and it's spectacular castle. One of the most dramatic Castles in Wales, Caerphilly Castle is the UK's second largest castle! There's more to Caerphilly though than Castles and Cheese. Caerphilly sits within the exquisite Rhymney Valley to the north of Cardiff and is a popular base for walkers, nature lovers and those seeking outdoor leisure pursuits in stunning countryside. It's just on the doorstep of the Brecon Beacons National Park too!

Caerphilly Castle has to be seen - striking and imposing, it sits within a 30 acre site and is surrounded by two lakes (a good defence mechanism!). Work began on Caerphilly castle as far back as 1268 overseen by the Norman Lord Gilbert de Clare. A strategic site of old, the Romans had a fort nearby, it was attacked by the last Welsh Prince of Wales Llywelyn early on in it's life. Llwellyn's campaign was later crushed by Edward I. By the late 14th century Caerphilly Castle became primarily an administrative centre and an opulent centre for entertainment with it's huge Grand Hall.

Caerphilly Castle was restored between 1928 and 1939 by the fourth marquis of Bute. The leaning tower is a result of subsidance not attack. The castle's concentric plan is beautifully preserved, and today the Great Hall is available for functions. Open in Spring from 9.30am to 5pm, Summer 9.30am to 6pm, Autumn 9.30am to 5pm and Winter from 9.30am to 4pm Mondays to saturdays/Sundays 11am to 4pm. Closed over Christmas Period. Last entry is 30 minutes before closing times. Caerphilly Castle, Caerphilly, CF83 1JD. Tel: (029) 2088 3143.

For full listings on events and things to do in the Caerphilly area take a look at the excellent Official Caerphilly Tourist Info site to the right. Outdoor sports such as horse riding, trekking, climbing, mountain biking and quad biking are popular in the area and easily accessed through a choice of leisure outlets. The area is rich in Country Parks, many of which had acres of woodland and meadows to roam about in, for example Sirhowy Valley Country Park which offers fishing too in it's lakes. Don't miss the stunning 7 mile woodland drive in the Cwmcarn Forest which also has a campsite, visitor centre and mountain bike trails. Visit the Caerphilly Tourist Information Centre at Twyn Square, Caerphilly, CF83 1JL. Tel: (029) 2088 0011. Open April to September from 10am to 6pm, October to March 10am to 5pm.

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