A mini guide to
The Edwardian civic centre and National Museum, then student Cathays and leafy Roath Park
1 / 4Welcome to the area
Cathays Park is Cardiff's civic centre, a group of early 20th-century buildings in white Portland stone around Alexandra Gardens. City Hall, the National Museum Cardiff, the Temple of Peace and the Welsh National War Memorial are all here, a few minutes' walk north of the castle.
Beyond them, Visit Cardiff describes Cathays as a lively student neighbourhood with independent cafés and affordable places to eat, about a 10 to 20-minute walk from the centre. To the north-east, Roath has Roath Park and its lake and the cafés and restaurants of Wellfield Road, about 20 to 30 minutes' walk away.
Highlights
If you only have a few hours, these are good places to begin.
Free museum and art gallery, with exhibitions from contemporary art to dinosaurs, part of Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales.
Directions Website Report a problem with National Museum Cardiff (Amgueddfa Genedlaethol Caerdydd)
Park with a 30-acre (12-hectare) lake, 1.3 miles (2.1 km) around, on reclaimed bogland north-east of the centre.
Grade I listed Edwardian Baroque city hall in Portland stone, opened in 1906 as part of the Cathays Park civic centre.
Civic centre of early 20th-century public buildings around a central garden, Alexandra Gardens.
Directions Report a problem with Cathays Park and Alexandra Gardens
First World War memorial by Sir Ninian Comper in Alexandra Gardens, unveiled in 1928.
Directions Report a problem with Welsh National War Memorial
Non-religious civic building by Sir Percy Thomas in Cathays Park, the Welsh National Temple of Peace and Health.
Find your way
The map shows Cathays Park and Roath and the streets around it. The Getting there page lists nearby stops and stations.
Insider tips
National Museum Cardiff is free; its site offers a free admission ticket to book and lists the opening hours.
City Hall, the museum, the war memorial and the Temple of Peace stand close together around Alexandra Gardens.
The lake is about 1.3 miles (2.1 km) around; Visit Cardiff mentions boating and fishing, the lighthouse and the conservatory.
Visit Cardiff describes Wellfield Road as a small, busy street of cafés, restaurants and independent shops.
Tips from the Britlens editors
Explore this guide
Cardiff
Restaurant streets, riverside parkland, a cathedral village and the castles and museum beyond
Open the mini guide →
The castle, the national stadium, a Victorian market and the arcades, all within a short walk
Open the mini guide →
The redeveloped docklands: the Senedd, the Millennium Centre and a freshwater bay
Open the mini guide →Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits
Keep exploring Cardiff
English (UK)
English (US)
Français
Deutsch
Español
Italiano
Nederlands
简体中文