Life at Glamorgan
In Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital city of Wales, and has all the facilities and attractions you would expect from a major European city. Here are ten things you might not know about Cardiff:</p>
Cardiff is a must see
The Frommer’s Guide ranks Cardiff as one of the 13 must-see global destinations for 2008. Some of Cardiff’s biggest sightseeing attractions are the Millennium Stadium, Wales Millennium Centre and Cardiff Castle. There’s also the Museum of Welsh Life in St Fagans, and the National Museum of Wales.
Cardiff is cool
Renowned travel guide Lonely Planet has described Cardiff as the “epitome of cool”. The city is home to a thriving music and arts scene. Music venues include Cardiff International Arena, the Millennium Stadium and the Coal Exchange as well as renowned club venues like Clwb Ifor Bach and The Globe. Cardiff’s major cultural venues include the Wales Millennium Centre, St David’s Hall, The New Theatre and Chapter Arts Centre. There are also several small independent art galleries, including BayArt in Cardiff Bay.
Cardiff is on TV (and on the radio, and in the papers)
Several world famous BBC TV shows have been filmed and produced in Cardiff including Dr Who, Torchwood and Being Human. A new BBC Wales Drama Village is being built in Cardiff Bay, and hit shows like Casualty and Welsh soap Pobl Y Cwm will soon be made there. ITV Wales and S4C also have bases in the area, and radio stations Capital FM, Real Radio and Nation all broadcast from Cardiff.
The city is also home to Media Wales, who publish the South Wales Echo, Western Mail and Wales on Sunday newspapers. Buzz and The Sprout are two of Cardiff’s most established independent magazines.
Cardiff is great for sport
Barclays Spaces for Sports voted The Millennium Stadium as one of the seven sporting wonders of the world. The city is also home to Cardiff Blues Rugby Union team, Cardiff City Football Club, Glamorgan County Cricket Club and the Cardiff Devils Ice Hockey team, not to mention the national football and rugby teams. For those more adventurous tastes there’s Cardiff Bay kayaking and rafting facility Cardiff International White Water and Boulders indoor climbing centre.
Cardiff is fantastic for shopping
Experian named Cardiff as the 6th best shopping destination in the UK in 2009, partly due to the £750million St David’s Dewi Sant shopping centre. The centre includes household names likes H&M, Lego, Apple, Hollister, Monsoon, Urban Outfitters, Henley’s, G Star, Nike and Gap. Cardiff is also home to several arcades packed with independent shops, including Spillers Records, reportedly the oldest record shop in the world.
Cardiff is cosmopolitan
More than 100 ethnic communities have been based in the city for over 100 years. One study by CILT, The National Centre for Languages, found that Cardiff has speakers of at least 94 languages. Somali, Urdu, Bangla and Arabic are the most commonly spoken foreign languages in the city. Around 11% of the population speak Welsh (Cymraeg) according to the 2001 Census, so there are ample opportunities for learners to practice!
Cardiff is green
It’s a city of parks, and has more green space per person than any other UK core city. Green spaces include Bute Park, Roath Park (with its own boating lake), Heath Park, Victoria Park and Pontcanna Fields.
Cardiff is ethical
The city has been designated as the world’s first Fair Trade Capital, encouraging ethical trading and fair prices for producers in third world countries. Closer to home, the city has at least two regular Farmers Markets in Riverside and Roath providing local produce at prices that are fair to consumers and farmers.
Cardiff also has a cycle hire network for the emissions-conscious. The on-street OYBike System allows users to hire and return a bicycle via mobile phone.
Cardiff is flat
Which might not seem important – unless you like cycling, walking or running! Cardiff is one of the flattest cities in Britain, which makes the Cardiff Half Marathon a hugely popular annual event. Cardiff has more hours of sunlight than Milan, and contrary to what some people believe, it doesn’t rain all the time in Wales!
Cardiff is well-loved
A 2006 EU Urban Audit Perceptions survey revealed Cardiff residents believe the City is one of Europe’s best places to live and work.