Cardiff Experience

There's lovely!!

Advantages: Friendly, compact, lots to see and do
Disadvantages: Weather perhaps

...a very biased review. Cardiff is my home city and I love it. So biased I may be, but let me tell you why and maybe you'll agree that Cardiff is a great place to live and to visit. I've lived here all my life (apart from University up in London) and always picture myself coming back here after moves away. It has a draw for me, like the proverbial Mothership calling me home! HISTORY AND LOCATION: Cardiff is the capital city of the small Principality ...
...a city since 1905. Cardiff was settled by the Romans, and invaded by the Normans. It remained a small town until the Industrial Revolution when it came into its own. Cardiff was, once upon a time, one of the most important cities in the world. It may be a cliche to say that Welsh people live down mines, but at the beginning of the 20th century the mines made Cardiff one of the richest cities in the world. The docks were constantly bustling, transport ...

tartlette83 11.04.2006 · Read full review
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Review of Cardiff in general

CARDIFF - TRANSPORT HUB OF WALES

Advantages: Good existing infrastructure that is slowly improving (although not quickly enough)
Disadvantages: Uneven quality of transport services.

...infrequent and overpriced. Queuing and getting your ticket at the city's main station can be long leading to delays. Additionally some services are too crowded and a backlog of trains can occur at the main station leading to additional delays --- AUTOMOTIVE --- Cardiff is very much geared to the automobile (like so many other large cities). Buses are one of its main assets with a large fleet and good coverage. There is also a large number of Taxi's ...
...is however the ruler of the city, which leads to much traffic congestion. -Pro's- Bus services have a wide catchment area, are one of the cheapest modes of transport in the city and come frequently at most hours. Information at bus stops and on the buses themselves is good with electronic noticeboards clearly displaying running times and bus numbers. Taxi's are mostly found in the city centre to flag down, but can be called citywide. The main ...

Puma1000 19.01.2005 · Read full review
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Review of Getting around in Cardiff

Cardiff City Centre - Shopping

Advantages: Wide variety of shops - a large amuont under cover
Disadvantages: Parking costs

...the '70's to a major shopping centre over the last 30 years, and it has certainly benefitted from all the inward investment and new development that comes with this recognition. Travelling into Cardiff City centre by car is not too much of a problem traffic wise compared to other major cities in the UK. There are the usual rush hour delays on weekdays, but these are usually resolved by about 9.30, and on weekends the roads stay fairly clear, except ...
...option. The main paved shopping thoroughfare in Cardiff is Queen Street (Next, Dixons, Gap, Lush, T K Maxx etc) which now houses three major covered shopping centres - The Capitol Centre (Monsoon, Accessorize, The Gadget Shop, Virgin etc), The Queens Arcade (Disney Store, La Senza, The Pier, Argos etc) and the St David's Centre (Marks & Spencer, BHS, Boots, Mothercare etc) - these three being the best places to go if you are looking for up to the ...

Serenfach 08.03.2006 · Read full review
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Review of Shopping in Cardiff

It's not all Coal Mines and Choirs

Advantages: Great by Day - Superb by Night
Disadvantages: None - I'm Biased !!

...biased when it comes to Cardiff but what do you expect from a Welshman. Contrary to popular belief you won't find sheep strolling round the streets (unless there's a rugby international on!!), there's no coal mines (Maggie Thatcher put paid to all that) and very few Male Voice Choirs serenade you as you walk about town (unless it's a Friday night then every Welshman thinks he's Tom Jones!!). What you will find is a vibrant young city with plenty ...
...a little known fact that Cardiff is actually home to 2 of them, whilst everyone is aware of the Norman castle which dominates the centre of the city, there is also Cap Coch about 5 miles from the City Centre. The 2 castles couldn't contrast more if they were painted black and white. Whilst 'Cardiff Castle' boats a acreage to rival most small villages, Cap Coch - built by the Marquis of Bute at the end of the 19th century is placed halfway up a hill ...

Earniestrimmtrabs 11.05.2005 · Read full review
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Review of Cardiff in general

CARDIFF CITY - WHAT ABOUT IT?

Advantages: Emerging dynamic City, decent facilities, good location.
Disadvantages: Some drab areas in need of renovation.

--- Overview --- Cardiff city is quite unique in being the capital of Wales but also having a sizeable English and migrant population. This gives the place a very cosmopolitan feel along with its Celtic heritage. Having come out of a long period of neglect, Cardiff is now an emerging dynamic city. The UK government and Welsh national assembly are both investing large sums in the city. Despite this the era of decline is still noticeable with large ...
...some other cities, I feel Cardiff has slightly more of this than average, but as the development continues this will only improve. --- Facilities --- Cardiff is well endowed with facilities. Its most recent one being the Welsh Millennium centre, primarily an opera house, which is of world standard. Among the others include the Millennium Stadium host to world sporting events (including the FA cup until Wembly Stadium is finished being built) and ...

Puma1000 16.01.2005 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Cardiff in general