Cardiff

Why Cardiff is the best city to live and study English in Wales

Cardiff is Wales's capital, largest city, and eleventh-largest in the United Kingdom.

Cardiff offers everything you would expect from a capital city: excellent shopping, museums, dining, and world-class entertainment.

• No 1 UK city to live for young people (Independent, 2013).
• Ranked as the third-best capital city in Europe (Quality of Life in European Cities Survey 2016).
• 330 Parks and gardens ( 10% of Cardiff is parkland).
• No. 1 Peaceful Major Urban Area in the UK (The UK Peace Index, 2013).
• Cardiff is 35% cheaper than London (Expatistan.com – 2017).
• 99% of people would recommend Cardiff as a destination to visit.
• Cardiff is going from strength to strength as a city. It was rated the third-best city in Europe (Quality of Life in Europe Cities Survey 2016).
• Cardiff is one of the UK’s top-ranked big cities for a quality life.

• Heritage: Romans, Normans, and Victorians helped shape Cardiff today. You can learn about Cardiff’s rich history at its many historical sites and museums.
• Sports: Twice awarded ‘European Capital of Sport’, Cardiff has fast become a leading city for sport on an international level. The Principality Stadium hosted the 2015 Rugby World Cup and the 2017 UEFA Champions League football final!
• Low Cost & Safe: Cardiff is one of the best-value university cities. Throughout the year, regular free festivals and events, such as the ‘Big Weekend’, one of the UK’s biggest free outdoor music festivals. It is also one of the safest UK cities in which to live.
• Entertainment & The Arts: You find poetry in the buildings and music in the air when you visit Cardiff! You can end live concerts by world-famous artists like Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, and Justin Bieber or enjoy classical music and drama at the Wales Millennium Centre or St. David’s Hall.
• Nightlife: Cardiff has competitive nightlife and a well-established pub culture. If you are looking for a night out, the lively St Mary Street or Cardiff Bay are the busiest areas at the weekend.

The most popular tourist attractions and things to do and see in Cardiff

• Aquabus.
• Cardiff Bay.
• Cardiff Castle.
• Cardiff Market.
• Castell Coch.
• Llandaff Cathedral.
• Mermaid Quay.
• Millennium Centre.
• National Museum of Wales.
• Principality Stadium.
• St David’s Shopping Centre.
• White Water Rafting Centre.

The most important events and festivals in Cardiff

• Six Nations, Principality Stadium (Feb-Mar annual).
• The RHS Flower Show (Mar-Apr annual).
• Cardiff International Food & Drink Festival (July-Aug annual).
• FIM Speedway Grand Prix, Principality Stadium (Summer annual).
• Extreme Sailing Series, Cardiff Bay (Aug annual).
• Winter Wonderland, Civic Centre (Nov-Jan).
• Volvo Ocean Race.
• Eisteddfod.

The most famous sights in Cardiff

• Cardiff Castle.
• Cardiff Story Museum.
• National Museum of Cardiff.
• Pierhead Building.
• Principality Stadium.
• St. Fagan’s National Museum of Wales.