Bute Park

...Cathedral Road and Western Avenue, Bute Park is easily accessible whether travelling by car or by foot. Close to Cardiff Castle, the National Museum of Wales and 2 minutes walk from the main central shopping area, Bute Park is a welcome retreat for office workers taking a lunch break, and an ideal place to relax after a busy days shopping.

From Junctions 29, 32 or 33 of the M4, follow the signposts to Cardiff City Centre - the main ...
...are prepared to walk). Additionally, Bute Park is only 10 minutes walk from the central bus/train station

==HISTORY==

Covering nearly 130 acres, Bute Park is named after the third Marquis of Bute, a major landowner in Cardiff. The park was open to the public from 1783 to 1863, after which public permission was withdrawn to protect the privacy of the Bute family as Cardiff's population grew rapidly. However, the Marquis ... more

LOCATION AND ACCESSIBILITY

Situated in the heart of Cardiff City centre with entrances off Castle Street, Cathedral Road and Western Avenue, Bute Park is easily accessible whether travelling by car or by foot. Close to Cardiff Castle, the National Museum of Wales and 2 minutes walk from the main central shopping area, Bute Park is a welcome retreat for office workers taking a lunch break, and an ideal place to relax after a busy days shopping.

From Junctions 29, 32 or 33 of the M4, follow the signposts to Cardiff City Centre - the main entrance is located just past Cardiff Castle. There are a number of multi storey car parks located in the vicinity of the park, although these can be quite expensive. There is also an open air car park located at Sophia Gardens with parking at reduced rates from that of the City centre. Alternatively, the Council now has a voucher scheme running, whereby visitors can purchase parking vouchers from shops leading into the centre at a cost of £1.20 each, and you are then able to use designated spaces in the City Centre, providing anywhere from 1 to 8 hours parking (depending on how far you are prepared to walk). Additionally, Bute Park is only 10 minutes walk from the central bus/train station

HISTORY

Covering nearly 130 acres, Bute Park is named after the third Marquis of Bute, a major landowner in Cardiff. The park was open to the public from 1783 to 1863, after which public permission was withdrawn to protect the privacy of the Bute family as Cardiff's population grew rapidly. However, the Marquis subsequently donated the land to Cardiff City Council and it was re-opened to the public in 1947.

Bute Park forms a huge open space within the centre of Cardiff. The park's designer and planner, Andrew Pettigrew, was a well known park designer in the second half of the 19th Century, and the flowing, informal design helped facilitate an easy transition from a private pleasure ground to a public park. Much of the Victorian planting, particularly of ornamental trees, survives. Once forming the grounds of Cardiff Castle, the park has a long history of landscaping going back to the medieval period. The park owes its present day appearance to late 18th Century landscaping by Capability Brown and late 19th Century alterations by the third Marquis of Bute.

WHAT'S TO SEE?

Although not a 'tourist attraction' in the true sense, the beautiful Bute Park, provides residents and visitors to Cardiff with greenery and a peaceful retreat in the very heart of the city. Running northwards the length of the River Taff, it offers a combination of flower gardens, recreation grounds and even a circle of standing stones. Within the park is to be found the Glamorgan County Cricket Club, Sophia Gardens, the Welsh Institute of Sport and Cardiff Riding School. The park also backs onto the Welsh College of Music and Drama and incorporates at its northern end the Cardiff Caravan Park.

The standing stone circle is to be found at the south east end of the park, parallel to the exterior wall of Cardiff Castle grounds, decorated with sculptures of tropical animals. At the northern end of the Park there is a 40 ft weir (close to the ambulance station).

ATTRACTIONS

The park is home to many events during the year including beer festivals, numerous open air concerts, firework displays and trade shows. I have listed a few of this year's events below.

15 - 17 April 2006

Bute Park hosts the start of the Royal Horticultural Society's flower show season April, when on display are feature gardens designed by Welsh societies, colleges and designers, as well as displays of bedding plants by Welsh Local Authorities (Tickets £10.00 adults, free for children under 16).

22 - 23 July 2006

Tesco Children's Festival - two days of entertainment in Cooper's Field in Bute Park, just behind the Castle. Walkabout characters, a circus and theatre shows, music and a maze are amongst the attractions. (All tickets £3.00, children under 3 free).

9 September 2006

The annual Gay Pride Mardi Gras in the Welsh capital takes place in Coopers Field, scheduled to start at 1.00pm.

November 2006

The Cardiff Round Table Firework Display is the biggest in Wales, especially worth seeing because of the added spectacle of Cardiff Castle as a backdrop. It takes place in Coopers Field. Children's rides and food and drink stalls are also provided (Adults £5.00, Children £3.00).

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For avid mountain bikers, the Taff Trail follows the course of the river Taff through the Park on its 52 mile route from the Brecon Beacons all the way to Cardiff Bay, with some spectacular scenery along the way. For the less adventurous, there is a 4 mile cycle path running the length of the River Taff, leading from the heart of the city right through to Llandaff (2.5 miles) in one direction, and Cardiff Bay (1.5 miles) in the other.

A great place for a summer picnic, for a game of football or just to get away from the hustle and bustle (you really can't hear the traffic once in the park), well worth a visit if you happen to be in the area. 

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