Cardiff

Towards the end of the 18th century, when Wales began to experience the changes industrialisation would bring, Cardiff was to experience a series of changes that would transform it beyond recognition. The iron masters and colliery owners of the South Wales valleys needed an outlet to the sea for their booming businesses and chose Cardiff, at the head of the River Taff. For Cardiff, this signalled the biggest change in its long history. In the 1790's the Bute family built the Glamorganshire canal to join Cardiff with Merthyr Tydfil. Then, soon after, the Taff Vale Railway to Merthyr and the Rhondda was built in the 1840's. This opening up of travel brought with it different people, merchandise and a wealth of opportunity that increased the prosperity of this once quiet and typical Welsh town.

The Butes remained the most influential of families and owned vast areas of the coal rich Welsh valleys. In 1839 the second Marquis, who built much of present day Cardiff, created the first Cardiff Dock; with others quick to follow his lead. Soon, all the coal and iron from the Welsh valleys was exported from these docks. The town was reborn as an important trading centre and by the start of the 20th century, Cardiff had become one of the world's leading ports. Today Cardiff is a modern, cosmopolitan city of well over 320,000 inhabitants and a wealth of things to see and do.

As well as being one of Europe's finest maritime cities, Cardiff is surrounded by some of the most beautiful countryside in Britain. Wales is famed for its myths, legends and history that can be clearly traced today with many old sites and buildings just waiting to be explored. For those with a love of time travel, this is truly an exceptional starting point for heading back into the near and distant past.

Excellent town planning has placed Cardiff's parks and gardens to within yards of the city centre and shopping area, indeed Bute Park grew out of the grounds of Cardiff Castle and the world renowned Roath Park and Lake are enjoyed by tourists, residents and a wide variety of wildlife. The City is acclaimed for its Civic Centre with many buildings made of the unique white Portland stone, including the National Museum and Gallery, Cathay's Park and City Hall. In the heart of the City, just off High Street are the fascinating Edwardian Arcades, lined with specialist shops retaining their original facades and offering a variety of goods. There also, the Victorian covered market that together with up to date modern shopping precincts, gives Cardiff one of the finest shopping centres in Great Britain.

No trip to Cardiff would be complete without a visit to Cardiff Castle, featuring Roman and Norman fortification and extraordinarily ornate decorative schemes throughout this fantastic medieval Castle. The castle grounds are home to The Welsh Regiment Museum and The Queen's Dragoon Guards Museum. Nearby, a more modern accomplishment of great worth is the Millennium Stadium, already an iconic building praised for its atmosphere by both football and rugby supporters alike.

Along Cardiff Bay's outstanding eight mile waterfront, investment has created a setting for new developments; including the new Welsh Assembly Government building and the stunning Millennium Centre, home to the Welsh National Opera, and a showpiece Welsh performing arts venue. The Bay has been transformed with leisure facilities including the science museum "Techniquest", the Norwegian Church, now a cafe and art gallery and the Welsh Industrial and Maritime Museum. A number of boat tours operate from Mermaid Quay, giving you a unique vantage point from which to enjoy the wonders of this city.