View source for Cardiff

{{Short description|Capital and largest city of Wales}}
{{hatnote group|
{{Other uses}}
{{redirect|Caerdydd|the TV drama|Caerdydd (TV series){{!}}''Caerdydd'' (TV series)}}
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Cardiff
| native_name = {{native name|cy|Caerdydd}}
| settlement_type = [[Capital city]] and [[Principal areas of Wales|county]]
| image_skyline = {{multiple image |border=infobox |perrow=1/2/2/2/2 |total_width=270 |caption_align=center
 | image1   = Cardiff's skyline 2020.jpg
 | caption1 = Skyline of Cardiff
 | image2   = Senedd (51845859151).jpg
 | caption2 = [[Senedd building]]
 | image3   = Cardiff Bay WMC.jpg
 | caption3 = [[Wales Millennium Centre]]
 | image4   = Llandaff Cathedral (geograph 3435762 cropped).jpg
 | caption4 = [[Llandaff Cathedral]]
 | image5   = Cardiff Castle - panoramio (1).jpg
 | caption5 = [[Cardiff Castle]]
 | image6   = Cardiff (15989519375).jpg
 | caption6 = [[City Hall, Cardiff|City Hall]] 
 | image7   = Amgueddfa Genedlaethol Caerdydd.JPG
 | caption7 = [[National Museum Cardiff|National Museum]]
 | image8   = Cardiff Central Library, October 2022.jpg
 | caption8 = [[Cardiff Central Library|Central Library]]
 | image9   = Principality Stadium May 3, 2016.jpg
 | caption9 = [[Millennium Stadium|Principality Stadium]]
}}
| imagesize = 
| image_alt = 
| image_caption = 
| image_flag = Flag of Cardiff.svg
| flag_alt = 
| image_shield = Coat of Arms of Cardiff.svg
| shield_alt = 
| shield_link = 
| image_blank_emblem = 
| blank_emblem_size = 
| blank_emblem_type = 
| blank_emblem_link = 
| etymology = 
| nickname = 
| motto = {{Unbulleted list
 |{{langx |cy|Y ddraig goch ddyry cychwyn |translation=the red dragon will lead the way}}
 |{{langx |cy|Deffro mae'n ddydd! |translation=awake, it is day!}}
 }}
| image_map = 
| map_alt = 
| map_caption = 
| pushpin_map = Wales#United Kingdom
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Wales##Location in the United Kingdom
| pushpin_relief = yes
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-caption = Map of the principal area of the City and County of Cardiff
| mapframe-shape = yes
| mapframe-marker = city
| mapframe-zoom = 10
| coordinates = {{coord|51|28|54|N|03|10|45|W|region:GB|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = [[Sovereign state]]
| subdivision_name = [[United Kingdom]]
| subdivision_type1 = [[Countries of the United Kingdom|Country]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Wales]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Regions of Wales|Region]]
| subdivision_name2 = 
| subdivision_type3 = [[Preserved counties of Wales|Preserved county]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[South Glamorgan]]
| subdivision_type4 = 
| subdivision_name4 = 
| established_title = City status
| established_date = 1905
| established_title2 = Capital city
| established_date2 = 1955
| named_for = 
| seat_type = Administrative{{nbsp}}HQ
| seat = [[City Hall, Cardiff|City Hall]]
<!-- Government -->| government_footnotes = <ref name="Council leadership">{{cite web |url=https://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ENG/Your-Council/Pages/default.aspx |title=Your Council |website=Cardiff Council |access-date=6 August 2024 |archive-date=25 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325202537/https://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ENG/Your-Council/Pages/default.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| government_type = [[Local government in Wales#Principal councils|Principal council]]
| governing_body = [[Cardiff Council]]
| leader_title = 
| leader_name = 
| leader_title1 = [[Political make-up of local councils in the United Kingdom|Control]]
| leader_name1 = {{UK council control|GSS=W06000015}}
| leader_title2 = 
| leader_name2 = 
| leader_title3 = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MPs]]
| leader_name3 = {{Collapsible list |title=4 MPs
 |1=[[Cardiff West (UK Parliament constituency)|Cardiff West]] (L)
 |2=[[Cardiff South and Penarth (UK Parliament constituency)|Cardiff South and Penarth]] (L)
 |3=[[Cardiff North (UK Parliament constituency)|Cardiff North]] (L)
 |4=[[Cardiff East (UK Parliament constituency)|Cardiff East]] (L)
 }}
| leader_title4 = [[Member of the Senedd|MSs]]
| leader_name4 = {{Collapsible list |title=12 MSs
 |1=6 in [[Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf]]
 |2=6 in [[Caerdydd Penarth]]
 }}
<!-- Area -->
<!-- ALL fields with measurements have automatic unit conversion -->| area_footnotes = <ref name="popstats">{{UK subdivision statistics citation }}</ref>
| area_total_km2 = {{UK subdivision area|GSS=W06000015}}
| area_land_km2 = 
| area_water_km2 = 
| area_rank = [[List of Welsh principal areas|{{Welsh council area rank|GSS=W06000015}}]]
<!-- Population -->| population_footnotes = <ref name="popstats" />
| population_as_of = {{UK subdivision statistics year}}
| population_total = {{UK subdivision population|GSS=W06000015}}
| population_rank = [[List of Welsh principal areas|{{Welsh council population rank|GSS=W06000015}}]]
| population_density_km2 = {{UK subdivision density|GSS=W06000015}}
| population_demonym = <!-- demographics (section 1) -->
| demographics_type1 = Ethnicity <span style="font-weight:normal;">([[2021 United Kingdom census|2021]])</span>
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis">{{NOMIS2021 |id=W06000015 |title=Cardiff Local Authority |access-date=14 July 2024 }}</ref>
| demographics1_title1 = [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|Ethnic groups]]
| demographics1_info1 = {{Collapsible list
 | 79.2% [[White people in the United Kingdom|White]]
 | 9.7% [[British Asians|Asian]]
 | 4.0% [[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Mixed]]
 | 3.8% [[Black British people|Black]]
 | 3.3% [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|other]]
 }}
<!-- demographics (section 2) -->| demographics_type2 = Religion <span style="font-weight:normal;">(2021)</span>
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis"/>
| demographics2_title1 = [[Religion in Wales|Religion]]
| demographics2_info1 = {{Collapsible list
 | 42.9% [[Irreligion in the United Kingdom|no religion]]
 | 38.3% [[Religion in Wales#Christianity|Christianity]]
 | 9.3% [[Islam in Wales|Islam]]
 | 1.5% [[Hinduism in Wales|Hinduism]]
 | 0.4% [[Buddhism in Wales|Buddhism]]
 | 0.4% [[Sikhism in Wales|Sikhism]]
 | 0.2% [[History of the Jews in Wales|Judaism]]
 | 0.6% [[Religion in Wales|other]]
 | 6.3% not stated
}}
| timezone1 = [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]]
| utc_offset1 = +0
| timezone1_DST = [[British Summer Time|BST]]
| utc_offset1_DST = +1
<!-- Codes -->| postal_code_type = [[Postcodes in the United Kingdom|Postcode areas]]
| postal_code = [[CF postcode area|CF]]
| area_code_type = [[Telephone numbers in the United Kingdom|Dialling codes]]
| area_code = 029
| iso_code = [[ISO 3166-2:GB|GB-CRF]]
| blank1_name = [[GSS coding system|GSS code]]
| blank1_info = W06000015
| website = {{URL|cardiff.gov.uk}}
}}
'''Cardiff'''{{efn|{{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|ɑːr|d|ᵻ|f|audio=En-uk-Cardiff.ogg}}; {{langx|cy|Caerdydd}} {{IPA|cy|kairˈdiːð, kaːɨrˈdɨːð||Caerdydd.ogg}}}} is the [[capital city|capital]] and [[List of urban areas in the United Kingdom|largest city]] of [[Wales]]. Cardiff had a population of {{UK subdivision population|GSS=W06000015}} in {{UK subdivision statistics year}}<ref name="popstats" /> and forms a [[Principal areas of Wales|principal area]] officially known as the '''City and County of Cardiff''' ({{langx|cy|Dinas a Sir Caerdydd|links=no}}). The city is the [[List of cities in the United Kingdom|eleventh largest in the United Kingdom]]. Located in the [[South East Wales|southeast of Wales]] and in the [[Cardiff Capital Region]], Cardiff is the [[county town]] of the [[Historic counties of Wales|historic county]] of [[Glamorgan]] and in 1974–1996 of [[South Glamorgan]]. It belongs to the [[Eurocities]] network of the largest European cities.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.eurocities.org/ |title=Eurocities |access-date=20 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928110159/http://www.eurocities.org/main.php |archive-date=28 September 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref> A small town until the early 19th century, its prominence as a port for coal when mining began in the region helped its expansion. In 1905, it was ranked as a city and in 1955 proclaimed [[capital of Wales]]. The [[Cardiff urban area]] covers a larger area outside the county boundary, including the towns of [[Dinas Powys]] and [[Penarth]].

Cardiff is the main commercial centre of Wales as well as the base for the [[Senedd]], the Welsh Parliament. At the 2021 census, the unitary authority area population was put at 362,400<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/bulletins/populationandhouseholdestimateswales/census2021#local-authority-populations-in-wales |title=Population and household estimates, Wales: Census 2021: 3. Local authority populations in Wales |publisher=Office of National Statistics |date=28 June 2022 |access-date=10 April 2025}}</ref> an increase of 4.7% compared to the 2011 census when the population was 346,100.<ref name=":2" /> The population of the wider urban area in 2011 was 479,000.<ref name="statswales.gov.wales">{{Cite web |title=Welsh Government Official Data – Stats Wales |url=https://statswales.gov.wales/Catalogue/Population-and-Migration/Population/Estimates/Local-Authority/populationestimates-by-localauthority-year |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620101839/https://statswales.gov.wales/Catalogue/Population-and-Migration/Population/Estimates/Local-Authority/populationestimates-by-localauthority-year |archive-date=20 June 2018 |access-date=25 July 2017 }}</ref> In 2011, it ranked sixth in the world in a [[National Geographic (magazine)|''National Geographic'' magazine]] list of alternative tourist destinations.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-13875925 |work=BBC News |title='Gem' Cardiff in world's top 10 places to visit in 2011 |date=22 June 2011 |access-date=21 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180917201359/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-13875925 |archive-date=17 September 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> It is the most popular destination in Wales with 21.3 million visitors in 2017.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://businessnewswales.com/cardiff-boasts-record-visitor-numbers-during-2017/ |title=Cardiff Boasts Record Visitor Numbers During 2017 |date=26 March 2018 |work=Business News Wales |access-date=7 July 2018 |language=en-GB |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180707203046/https://businessnewswales.com/cardiff-boasts-record-visitor-numbers-during-2017/ |archive-date=7 July 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> It was voted as the best city in the UK at the 2023 Readers' Choice Awards.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-11 |title=Cardiff tops Condé Nast's UK city poll |url=https://www.wales.com/news/united-kingdom/cardiff-tops-conde-nasts-uk-city-poll |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=Wales |language=en}}</ref>  

Cardiff is a major centre for television and film production (such as the 2005 revival of ''[[Doctor Who]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=Doctor Who filming location in South Wales |url=https://www.visitwales.com/things-do/attractions/tv-and-film-locations/must-visit-guide-doctor-who-filming-locations-wales |access-date=7 November 2023 |website=VisitWales}}</ref> ''[[Torchwood]]'' and ''[[Sherlock (TV series)|Sherlock]]'') and is the Welsh base for the main national broadcasters.

[[Cardiff Bay]] contains the [[Senedd building]] and the [[Wales Millennium Centre]] arts complex. Work continues at Cardiff Bay and in the centre on projects such as [[Cardiff International Sports Village]], [[Roath Lock|BBC drama village]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Proposed BBC Drama Village at Media Capital, Roath Basin |url=http://wales.gov.uk/publications/accessinfo/drnewhomepage/economicdrs/2010/bbcdramavillage/?lang=en |publisher=Welsh Assembly Government |access-date=6 April 2011 |date=14 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315165706/http://wales.gov.uk/publications/accessinfo/drnewhomepage/economicdrs/2010/bbcdramavillage/?lang=en |archive-date=15 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and a new business district.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Cardiff Business District 'needs skills and transport' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-12905961 |publisher=BBC Wales |access-date=6 April 2011 |date=30 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110402184433/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-12905961 |archive-date=2 April 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==History==
{{Main|History of Cardiff|Timeline of Cardiff history}}

===Etymology===
{{lang|cy|Caerdydd}} (the [[Welsh language|Welsh]] name of the city) derives from the [[Middle Welsh]] {{lang|wlm|Caerdyf}}. The change from {{lang|wlm|-dyf}} to {{lang|cy|-dydd}} shows the colloquial alteration of Welsh ''f'' {{IPA|cy|v|}} and ''dd'' {{IPA|cy|ð|}} and was perhaps also driven by [[folk etymology]]. This [[sound change]] probably first occurred in the [[Middle Ages]]; both forms were current in the [[Tudor period]]. {{lang|wlm|Caerdyf}} has its origins in [[sub-Roman Britain|post-Roman]] [[Brythonic languages|Brythonic]] words meaning "the fort of the [[River Taff|Taff]]". The [[Cardiff Roman Fort|fort]] probably refers to that established by the [[Roman Britain|Romans]]. {{lang|cy|Caer}} is Welsh for ''fort'' and {{lang|cy|-dyf}} is a form of {{lang|cy|Taf}} (Taff), the river which flows by Cardiff Castle, with the {{angle bracket|t}} showing [[consonant mutation]] to {{angle bracket|d}}, as is normal in compound words, and the vowel showing [[affection (linguistics)|affection]] as a result of a (lost) [[genitive case]] ending.<ref name=hwo>Hywel Wyn Owen and Richard Morgan, ''Dictionary of the Place-names of Wales''. University of Wales Press, 2007, {{ISBN|1-84323-901-9}}, p. 70.</ref>

The [[anglicised]] ''Cardiff'' is derived from {{lang|wlm|Caerdyf}}, with the Welsh ''f'' {{IPA|cy|v|}} borrowed as ''ff'' {{IPAc-en|f|}}, as also happens in ''Taff'' (from Welsh {{lang|cy|Taf}}) and ''[[Llandaff]]'' (from Welsh {{lang|cy|Llandaf}}).

The antiquarian [[William Camden]] (1551–1623) suggested that the name Cardiff may derive from *{{lang|wlm|Caer-Didi}} ("the Fort of Didius"), a name supposedly given in honour of {{lang|la|[[Aulus Didius Gallus]]|italic=no}}, governor of a nearby province at the time when the Roman fort was established. Although some sources repeat this theory, it has been rejected on linguistic grounds by modern scholars such as Professor {{lang|cy|Gwynedd|italic=no}} Pierce.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/whatsinaname/sites/videoexplorer/pages/?jumpTo=cardiff |title=What's In A Name? – Cardiff |last=Pierce |first=Gwynedd O |publisher=BBC Wales |access-date=17 July 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090115122320/http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/whatsinaname/sites/videoexplorer/pages/?jumpTo=cardiff |archive-date=15 January 2009 }}</ref>

===Origins===
[[archaeology|Archaeological]] evidence from sites in and around Cardiff show that people had settled in the area by at least around 6000&nbsp;BC, during the early Neolithic: about 1,500 years before either [[Stonehenge]] or the [[Great Pyramid of Giza]] was completed.<ref name="Coflein St L">{{Cite web |date=26 July 2007 |title=St Lythans Chambered Long Cairn, Maesyfelin; Gwal-y-Filiast, site details |url=http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/227289/details/ST+LYTHANS+CHAMBERED+LONG+CAIRN%2C+MAESYFELIN%3B+GWAL-Y-FILIAST/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717040000/http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/227289/details/ST+LYTHANS+CHAMBERED+LONG+CAIRN%2C+MAESYFELIN%3B+GWAL-Y-FILIAST/ |archive-date=17 July 2012 |access-date=9 June 2009 |work=The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales website |publisher=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales }}</ref><ref name="Coflein Tink">{{Cite web |date=29 January 2003 |title=Tinkinswood Chambered Cairn, site details |url=http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/94510/details/TINKINSWOOD+CHAMBERED+CAIRN/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519182602/http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/94510/details/TINKINSWOOD+CHAMBERED+CAIRN/ |archive-date=19 May 2012 |access-date=9 June 2009 |work=The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales website |publisher=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales }}</ref><ref name="Coflein Cae">{{Cite web |year=2009 |title=Cae-Yr-Arfau; Cae'Rarfau Burial Chamber, site details, Coflein |url=http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/93016/details/CAE-YR-ARFAU%3B+CAE%27RARFAU+BURIAL+CHAMBER/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519110846/http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/93016/details/CAE-YR-ARFAU%3B+CAE%27RARFAU+BURIAL+CHAMBER/ |archive-date=19 May 2012 |access-date=9 June 2009 |work=The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales website |publisher=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales }}</ref><ref name="Coflein Gwern">{{Cite web |date=10 February 2003 |title=Gwern-Y-Cleppa, Long Barrow, site details |url=http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/307811/details/GWERN-Y-CLEPPA%2C+LONG+BARROW/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519182557/http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/307811/details/GWERN-Y-CLEPPA%2C+LONG+BARROW/ |archive-date=19 May 2012 |access-date=9 June 2009 |work=The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales website |publisher=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales }}</ref><ref name="Stonehenge">{{Cite web |year=2009 |title=Your guide to Stonehenge, the World's Favourite Megalithic Stone Circle |url=http://www.stonehenge.co.uk/history.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930081506/http://www.stonehenge.co.uk/history.php |archive-date=30 September 2012 |access-date=9 June 2009 |work=Stonehenge.co.uk website |publisher=Longplayer SRS Ltd }}</ref> These include the [[St Lythans burial chamber]] near [[Wenvoe]], (approximately {{convert|4|mi|0|abbr=out|spell=on|disp=or}} west of Cardiff city centre); the [[Tinkinswood|Tinkinswood burial chamber]], near [[St. Nicholas, Vale of Glamorgan|St. Nicholas]] (about {{convert|6|mi|0|abbr=out|spell=on|disp=or}} west of Cardiff city centre), the Cae'rarfau [[Chambered tomb|Chambered Tomb]], [[Creigiau]] (about {{convert|6|mi|km|0|abbr=out|spell=on|disp=or}} northwest of Cardiff city centre) and the Gwern y Cleppa [[long barrow]], near [[Coedkernew]], [[Newport, Wales|Newport]] (about {{convert|8|mi|0|abbr=out|spell=on|disp=or}} northeast of Cardiff city centre). A group of five [[Bronze Age Britain|Bronze Age]] [[tumulus|tumuli]] is at the summit of the [[Garth Hill|Garth]], within the county's northern boundary.<ref name="Coflein Garth">{{Cite web |title=Garth Hill, Barrow I |url=http://www.coflein.gov.uk/pls/portal/coflein.w_details?inumlink=6060351 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121223142900/http://www.coflein.gov.uk/pls/portal/coflein.w_details?inumlink=6060351 |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 December 2012 |access-date=30 September 2008 |publisher=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales |year=2008 |work=The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales website }}</ref> Four [[British Iron Age|Iron Age]] [[Hill fort#Britain|hill fort]] and [[Enclosure (archaeology)|enclosure]] sites have been identified within Cardiff's county boundaries, including [[Caerau Hillfort]], an enclosed area of {{convert|5.1|ha|acre|frac=4}}.<ref name="Coflein Graig">{{Cite web |title=Castle Field Camp E OF Craig-Llywn, site details |url=http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/301309/details/CASTLE+FIELD+CAMP+E+OF+CRAIG-LLYWN/ |access-date=9 June 2009 |publisher=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales |date=22 October 2004 |work=The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519110841/http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/301309/details/CASTLE+FIELD+CAMP+E+OF+CRAIG-LLYWN/ |archive-date=19 May 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Coflein Craigyparc">{{Cite web |title=Craig-Y-Parc, enclosure, site details |url=http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/91922/details/CRAIG-Y-PARC%2C+ENCLOSURE/ |access-date=9 June 2009 |publisher=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales |year=1990 |work=The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519182609/http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/91922/details/CRAIG-Y-PARC%2C+ENCLOSURE/ |archive-date=19 May 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Coflein Llwynda">{{Cite web |title=Llwynda-Ddu, Hillfort, site details |url=http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/94599/details/LLWYNDA-DDU%2C+HILLFORT/ |access-date=9 June 2009 |publisher=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales |date=14 June 1989 |work=The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519110836/http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/94599/details/LLWYNDA-DDU%2C+HILLFORT/ |archive-date=19 May 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Coflein Caerau">{{Cite web |title=Caerau Hillfort, site details |url=http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/94517/details/CAERAU+HILLFORT/ |access-date=9 June 2009 |publisher=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales |date=5 February 2003 |work=The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519110829/http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/94517/details/CAERAU+HILLFORT/ |archive-date=19 May 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Cardiff Castle (Roman wall).jpg|thumb|left|Front wall of [[Cardiff Castle]]<br />part of the original Roman fort beneath the red stones]]

Until the [[Roman conquest of Britain]], Cardiff was part of the territory of the [[Silures]] – a [[Iron Age tribes in Britain|Celtic British tribe]] that flourished in the [[Iron Age]] – whose territory included the areas that would become known as [[Breconshire]], [[Monmouthshire (historic)|Monmouthshire]] and Glamorgan.<ref name="Wales Hist 1">{{Cite book |last=Davies |first=John |author-link=John Davies (historian) |title=A History of Wales |publisher=Penguin |year=1994 |location=London |pages=17–18 |isbn=0-14-014581-8 }}</ref> The {{cvt|3.2|ha|acre|frac=4|adj=on}} [[Cardiff Roman Fort|fort]] established by the [[Roman army|Romans]] near the mouth of the [[River Taff]] in AD&nbsp;75, in what would become the north western boundary of the centre of Cardiff, was built over an extensive settlement that had been established by the Romans in the 50s&nbsp;AD.<ref name="Coflein 2">{{Cite web |title=Cardiff Roman settlement – Site details – coflein |url=http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/301346/details/CARDIFF+ROMAN+SETTLEMENT/ |access-date=10 June 2009 |publisher=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales |date=30 August 2007 |work=RCAHMW website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727072730/http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/301346/details/CARDIFF+ROMAN+SETTLEMENT/ |archive-date=27 July 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> The fort was one of a series of military outposts associated with {{lang|la|[[Isca Augusta]]}} ([[Caerleon]]) that acted as border defences. The fort may have been abandoned in the early 2nd century as the area had been subdued. However, by this time a civilian settlement, or {{lang|la|[[vicus (Rome)|vicus]]}}, was established. It was likely made up of traders who made a living from the fort, ex-soldiers and their families. A [[Roman villa]] has been discovered at [[Ely, Cardiff|Ely]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rees |first=William |title=Cardiff: A History of the City |publisher=The Corporation of the City of Cardiff |year=1969 |page=1 }}</ref> Contemporary with the [[Saxon Shore forts]] of the 3rd and 4th centuries, a stone fortress was established at Cardiff. Similar to the shore forts, the fortress was built to protect [[Britannia]] from raiders.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rees |first=William |title=Cardiff: A History of the City |publisher=The Corporation of the City of Cardiff |year=1969 |page=2 }}</ref> Coins from the reign of [[Gratian]] indicate that Cardiff was inhabited until at least the 4th century; the fort was abandoned towards the end of the 4th century, as the last Roman legions left the province of Britannia with [[Magnus Maximus]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rees |first=William |title=Cardiff: A History of the City |publisher=The Corporation of the City of Cardiff |year=1969 |page=3 }}</ref><ref name="Visit 1">{{Cite web |title=About Cardiff >> Cardiff History >> Cardiff History |url=http://www.visitcardiff.com/About-Cardiff/Cardiff-History.html |access-date=8 June 2009 |publisher=Cardiff & Co |year=2009 |work=The official website for Cardiff |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511141305/http://www.visitcardiff.com/About-Cardiff/Cardiff-History.html |archive-date=11 May 2008 }}</ref>

Little is known of the fort and civilian settlement in the period between the Roman departure from Britain and the Norman Conquest. The settlement probably shrank in size and may even have been abandoned. In the absence of Roman rule, Wales was divided into small kingdoms; early on, [[Meurig ap Tewdrig]] emerged as the local king in [[Glywysing]] (which later became [[Glamorgan]]). The area passed through his family until the advent of the Normans in the 11th century.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rees |first=William |title=Cardiff: A History of the City |publisher=The Corporation of the City of Cardiff |year=1969 |pages=4–5 }}</ref>

===Norman occupation and Middle Ages===
[[File:We'll keep the Red Dragon flying here^ - geograph.org.uk - 2104072.jpg|left|thumb|The Norman keep]]
In 1081 [[William the Conqueror|William I, King of England]] visited Cardiff as part of an [[armed pilgrimage across South Wales]] and ordered work to begin on the castle keep within the walls of the old Roman fort.<ref name="Coflein 1">{{Cite web |title=Cardiff Castle – Site details – coflein |url=http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/33/details/CARDIFF+CASTLE/ |access-date=8 June 2009 |publisher=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales |date=3 December 2007 |work=RCAHMW website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110916114757/http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/33/details/CARDIFF+CASTLE/ |archive-date=16 September 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> Cardiff Castle has been at the heart of the city ever since.<ref name="Cardiff Visitors">{{Cite web |url=http://www.visitcardiff.com/About-Cardiff/Cardiff-History.html |publisher=Visit Cardiff |title=Cardiff history |access-date=29 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080208165613/http://www.visitcardiff.com/About-Cardiff/Cardiff-History.html |archive-date=8 February 2008 }}</ref> The castle was substantially altered and extended during the Victorian period by [[John Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute]], and the architect [[William Burges]].<ref name=Scheduled>{{Cadw|uid=3388|class=SM|num=GM171|desc=Cardiff Castle and Roman Fort|access-date=15 October 2021 }}</ref> Original Roman work can, however, still be distinguished in the wall facings.

A town grew up under the castle, consisting mainly of settlers from England.<ref name="Cardiffians">{{Cite web |url=http://www.cardiffians.co.uk/timeline.html |publisher=Cardiffians |title=Cardiff Timeline |access-date=29 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080219053249/http://www.cardiffians.co.uk/timeline.html |archive-date=19 February 2008 }}</ref> Cardiff had a population of between 1,500 and 2,000 in the Middle Ages – a normal size for a Welsh town in the period.<ref name="Tim Lambert-short history of Cardiff">{{Cite web |url=http://www.localhistories.org/Cardiff.html |publisher=Tim Lambert |title=A short history of Cardiff |access-date=29 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121211062541/http://www.localhistories.org/Cardiff.html |archive-date=11 December 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It was the centre of the Norman [[Marcher lord|Marcher Lordship]] of Glamorgan. By the end of the 13th century, Cardiff was the only town in Wales with a population exceeding 2,000, although it remained relatively small compared with notable towns in England and continued to be contained within its walls, which were begun as a wooden [[palisade]] in the early 12th century.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.helsinki.fi/iehc2006/papers3/Campbell122.pdf |title=Benchmarking medieval economic development: England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, circa 1290 |first=Bruce M S |last=Campbell |date=25 August 2006 |access-date=20 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002125826/http://www.helsinki.fi/iehc2006/papers3/Campbell122.pdf |archive-date=2 October 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> It was of sufficient size and importance to receive a series of charters, notably in 1331 from William La Zouche, Lord of Glamorgan through marriage with the [[de Clare]] family,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://calmview.cardiff.gov.uk/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=BC%2f1%2f1&pos=2 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20160426230208/http://calmview.cardiff.gov.uk/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=BC/1/1&pos=2 |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 April 2016 |title=Cardiff Borough Council Records: Charter 1 |access-date=23 March 2016 }}</ref> [[Edward III]] in 1359,<ref name="calmview.cardiff.gov.uk">{{Cite web |url=http://calmview.cardiff.gov.uk/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=BC%2f1%2f4&pos=5 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141258/http://calmview.cardiff.gov.uk/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=BC%2f1%2f4&pos=5 |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 June 2018 |title=Cardiff Borough Council Records: Charter 4 |access-date=23 March 2016 }}</ref> then [[Henry IV of England|Henry IV]] in 1400,<ref name="calmview.cardiff.gov.uk"/> and later [[Henry VI of England|Henry VI]].

In 1404, [[Owain Glyndŵr]] burned Cardiff and took possession of the Castle.<ref name="Bob Sanders-period up to 1699">{{Cite web |url=https://www.angelfire.com/ga/BobSanders/CDFF1.html |publisher=Bob Sanders |title=A Cardiff & Vale of Glamorgan Chronology up to 1699 |access-date=29 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513111318/http://www.angelfire.com/ga/BobSanders/CDFF1.html |archive-date=13 May 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> As many of the buildings were made of timber and tightly packed within the town walls, much of Cardiff was destroyed. The settlement was soon rebuilt on the same street plan and began to flourish again.<ref name="Tim Lambert-short history of Cardiff"/> (Glyndŵr's statue was erected in Cardiff Town Hall in the early 20th century, reflecting the complex, often conflicting cultural identity of Cardiff as capital of Wales.)  Besides serving an important political role in the governance of the fertile south Glamorgan coastal plain, Cardiff was a busy port in the Middle Ages and declared an [[English staple port]] in 1327.

===County town of Glamorganshire===
[[File:Cardiff-Castle.jpg|thumb|View of Caerdiffe Castle]]
[[File:Cardiff old town hall, Glamorganshire.jpeg|thumb|upright|[[Cardiff Town Hall|Cardiff old town hall]] (1860)]]
In 1536, the [[Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542]] led to the creation of Glamorganshire and Cardiff was made the [[county town]], it also became part of [[Kibbor]] [[hundred (county subdivision)|hundred]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cardiff-records/vol2/pp8-41#h2-0001 |website=british-history.co.uk |title=The manors of Cardiff district: Descriptions }}</ref> around the same time the Herberts became the most powerful family in the area.<ref name="Cardiffians"/> In 1538, [[Henry VIII]] closed Cardiff's [[Dominican Order|Dominican]] and [[Franciscan]] friaries, whose remains were used as building materials.<ref name="Tim Lambert-short history of Cardiff"/> A writer in this period noted: "The River Taff runs under the walls of his honours castle and from the north part of the town to the south part where there is a fair quay and a safe harbour for shipping."<ref name="Tim Lambert-short history of Cardiff"/>

Cardiff became a [[borough]] in 1542<ref name="Bob Sanders-period up to 1699"/> and further [[Royal Charter]]s were granted to it by Elizabeth I in 1600<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://calmview.cardiff.gov.uk/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=BC%2f1%2f10&pos=11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620153437/http://calmview.cardiff.gov.uk/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=BC%2f1%2f10&pos=11 |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 June 2018 |title=Cardiff Borough Council Records: Charter 12 – Exemplifications of Confirmation |access-date=23 March 2016 }}</ref> and James I in 1608.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://calmview.cardiff.gov.uk/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=BC%2f1%2f11&pos=12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620153332/http://calmview.cardiff.gov.uk/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=BC%2f1%2f11&pos=12 |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 June 2018 |title=Cardiff Borough Council Records: Charter 13 – Charter of Liberties |access-date=23 March 2016 }}</ref> In 1573, it was made a head port for collection of customs duties.<ref name="Cardiffians"/> [[Pembrokeshire]] historian [[George Owen of Henllys|George Owen]] described Cardiff in 1602 as "the fayrest towne in Wales yett not the welthiest".<ref name="Cardiffians"/> It gained a second Royal Charter in 1608.<ref name="GoogoBits">{{Cite web |url=http://www.googobits.com/articles/2181-a-history-lovers-guide-to-cardiff.html |publisher=GoogoBits.com |title=A History Lovers Guide to Cardiff |access-date=31 December 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080117091733/http://www.googobits.com/articles/2181-a-history-lovers-guide-to-cardiff.html |archive-date=17 January 2008 }}</ref>

[[File:John Speed's map of Cardiff 1610.jpg|thumb|left|[[John Speed]]'s map of Cardiff from 1610]]
A [[Bristol Channel floods, 1607|disastrous flood]] in the [[Bristol Channel]] on 30 January 1607 (now believed to have been a tidal wave)<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/6311527.stm |title=Anniversary of 1607 killer wave |work=BBC News |date=30 January 2007 |access-date=8 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070210031214/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/6311527.stm |archive-date=10 February 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref> changed the course of the River Taff and ruined [[St Mary's Church, Cardiff|St Mary's Parish Church]], which was replaced by a chapel of ease dedicated to St John the Baptist.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-QUIAAAAQAAJ&q=cardiff+1607&pg=PA31 |title=A History of the Town and Castle of Cardiff |last=Jenkins |first=William L. |publisher=Charles Wakeford |year=1854 |pages=31–33 |access-date=1 October 2018 |archive-date=28 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210528130541/https://books.google.com/books?id=-QUIAAAAQAAJ&q=cardiff+1607&pg=PA31 |url-status=live }}</ref>

During the [[Second English Civil War]] [[St Fagans]], just to the west of the town, the [[Battle of St Fagans]], between [[Cavalier|Royalist]] rebels and a [[New Model Army]] detachment, was a decisive victory for the [[Roundhead|Parliamentarians]] that allowed [[Oliver Cromwell]] to conquer Wales.<ref name="Bob Sanders-period up to 1699"/> It was the last major battle in Wales, with about 200, mostly Royalist soldiers killed.<ref name="Cardiffians"/>

Cardiff was at peace throughout the ensuing century. In 1766, [[John Stuart, 1st Marquess of Bute]] married into the Herbert family and was later created [[Baron Cardiff]].<ref name="Cardiffians"/> In 1778, he began renovating Cardiff Castle.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://coflein.gov.uk/media/18/219/cpg211.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127163625/https://coflein.gov.uk/media/18/219/cpg211.pdf |archive-date=27 November 2022 |url-status=live |title=Cardiff Castle and Bute Park |page=2 |publisher=Coflein |access-date=27 November 2022 }}</ref> A [[racecourse]], [[printing press]], bank and [[coffee house]] opened in the 1790s and Cardiff gained a [[stagecoach]] service to London. Despite these improvements, Cardiff's position in the Welsh [[urban hierarchy]] declined over the 18th century. [[Iolo Morganwg]] called it "an obscure and inconsiderable place" and the [[Census Act 1800|1801 census]] found a population of only 1,870, making it only the 25th largest town in Wales, well behind [[Merthyr]] and [[Swansea]].<ref name="Encyclopedia of Wales">{{Cite book |first1=John |last1=Davies |first2=Nigel |last2=Jenkins |first3=Menna |last3=Baines |first4=Peredur I. |last4=Lynch |title=The Welsh Academy Encyclopedia of Wales |publisher=University of Wales Press |location=Cardiff |date=17 April 2008 |isbn=978-0-7083-1953-6 |editor-first=John |editor-last=Davies }}</ref>

===Building the docks===
{{main|Cardiff Docks}}

<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Cardiff Docks.jpg|thumb|[[Tiger Bay|Cardiff Docks]]—from where coal was shipped throughout the world]] -->
In 1793, [[John Crichton-Stuart, 2nd Marquess of Bute]] was born. He spent his life building the Cardiff docks and was later hailed as "the creator of modern Cardiff".<ref name="Cardiffians"/> A twice-weekly boat service between Cardiff and [[Bristol]] opened in 1815,<ref name="Bob Sanders 2">{{Cite web |url=https://www.angelfire.com/ga/BobSanders/CDFF2.html |publisher=Bob Sanders |title=A Cardiff & Vale of Glamorgan Chronology 1700–1849 |access-date=4 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080518194424/http://www.angelfire.com/ga/BobSanders/CDFF2.html |archive-date=18 May 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> and in 1821, the Cardiff Gas Works was established.<ref name="Bob Sanders 2"/>

After the Napoleonic Wars Cardiff suffered some social and industrial unrest, starting with the trial and hanging of [[Dic Penderyn]] in 1831.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Brief History of Wales |last=Morgan |first=Gerald |publisher=Y Lolfa |year=2011 |isbn=978-1847710185 }}</ref>

[[File:A view of the jubilee dock, Cardiff, from the eastern side.jpeg|thumb|left|Jubilee dock, Cardiff, from the eastern side (1849)]]
The town grew rapidly from the 1830s onwards, when the [[John Crichton-Stuart, 2nd Marquess of Bute|Marquess of Bute]] built a [[dock (maritime)|dock]], which eventually linked to the [[Taff Vale Railway]]. Cardiff became the main port for coal exports from the [[Cynon Valley|Cynon]], [[Rhondda]], and [[Rhymney Valley|Rhymney]] valleys, and grew in population at a rate of nearly 80 per cent per decade between 1840 and 1870. Much of this was due to migration from within and outside Wales: in 1841, a quarter of Cardiff's population were English-born and more than 10 per cent born in Ireland.<ref>{{Cite book |last=O'Leary |first=Paul |title=Irish Migrants in Modern Wales |publisher=Liverpool University Press |year=2004 |page=14 |isbn=978-0-85323-858-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qkCmYNMVMxwC |access-date=2 October 2008 |archive-date=28 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210528130601/https://books.google.com/books?id=qkCmYNMVMxwC |url-status=live }}</ref> By the 1881 census, Cardiff had overtaken Merthyr and Swansea to become the largest town in Wales.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Thompson |first=Francis Michael Longstreth |title=The Cambridge Social History of Britain, 1750–1950 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |page=311 |isbn=978-0-521-43816-2 |year=1993 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eozO2RzSAVUC&pg=PA311 |access-date=30 May 2020 |archive-date=28 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210528130543/https://books.google.com/books?id=eozO2RzSAVUC&pg=PA311 |url-status=live }}</ref> Cardiff's status as the premier town in South Wales was confirmed when it was chosen as the site for the [[University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire]] in 1883.<ref name="Encyclopedia of Wales"/>

A permanent military presence was established with the completion of [[Maindy Barracks]] in 1877.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/wa-25831-detroit-st-vincent-block-at-maindy-barrac |title=Detroit & St Vincent block at Maindy Barracks, Cathays |publisher=British Listed buildings |access-date=23 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424005035/http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/wa-25831-detroit-st-vincent-block-at-maindy-barrac |archive-date=24 April 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Cardiff faced a challenge in the 1880s when [[David Davies (industrialist)|David Davies of Llandinam]] and the [[Barry Railway Company]] promoted rival docks at [[Barry, Vale of Glamorgan|Barry]]. These had the advantage of being accessible in all [[tide]]s: David Davies claimed his venture would cause "grass to grow in the streets of Cardiff". From 1901 coal exports from Barry surpassed those from Cardiff, but the administration of the coal trade remained centred on Cardiff, in particular its [[Coal Exchange]], where the price of coal on the British market was determined and the first million-pound deal was struck in 1907.<ref name="Encyclopedia of Wales"/> The city also strengthened its industrial base when the owners of the [[Dowlais Ironworks]] in Merthyr (who would later form part of [[GKN|Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds]]) built a [[steel mill|steelworks]] close to the docks at East Moors, which Lord Bute opened on 4 February 1891.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.archivesnetworkwales.info/cgi-bin/anw/fulldesc_nofr?inst_id=33&coll_id=77663&expand= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090104023150/http://www.archivesnetworkwales.info/cgi-bin/anw/fulldesc_nofr?inst_id=33&coll_id=77663&expand= |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 January 2009 |title=East Moors Steelworks, Cardiff collection (record of information achival) |date=1 February 2006 |publisher=Glamorgan Records Office |access-date=2 October 2008 }}</ref>

===County Borough of Cardiff===
Cardiff became a [[county borough]] on 1 April 1889 under the [[Local Government Act 1888]]. The town had grown rapidly and had a population of over 123,000. It retained its county borough status until 1974.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Row |first1=B. W. |last2=Squire |first2=F. G. |title=Cardiff 1889–1974: The Story of the County Borough |publisher=The Corporation of Cardiff |year=1974 |pages=13–15 }}</ref>{{Clarify|reason=What happened in 1974? How did it lose its county borough status? What is it now?|date=December 2022}}

===City and capital city status===
{{Main|Capital of Wales}}

[[File:View of St. John the baptist church, 1852.jpeg|upright|thumb|[[St John the Baptist Church, Cardiff]], the only medieval building next to Cardiff Castle to still be in city centre. Seen here in 1852]]
[[File:Cardiff (15803795227).jpg|thumb|[[National Museum Cardiff|National Museum of Wales, Cardiff]]]]
King [[Edward VII]] granted Cardiff [[City status in the United Kingdom|city status]] on 28 October 1905.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Beckett |first=J.V. |title=City Status in the British Isles, 1830–2002 |publisher=Ashgate Publishing Ltd |year=2005 |page=2 |isbn=978-0-7546-5067-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jqqSSOyjBEoC&pg=PP8 |access-date=2 October 2008 |archive-date=28 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210528130543/https://books.google.com/books?id=jqqSSOyjBEoC&pg=PP8 |url-status=live }}</ref> It acquired a Roman Catholic cathedral in 1916. Later, more national institutions came to the city, including the [[National Museum Cardiff|National Museum of Wales]], the [[Welsh National War Memorial]], and the [[University of Wales]] Registry Building, but it was denied the [[National Library of Wales]], partly because the library's founder, Sir John Williams, considered Cardiff to have "a non-Welsh population".<ref name="Encyclopedia of Wales" />

Following a brief post-war boom, Cardiff docks entered a prolonged decline in the [[interwar period]]. By 1936, trade was at less than half its value in 1913, reflecting the slump in demand for [[South Wales coalfield|Welsh coal]].<ref name="Encyclopedia of Wales" /> Bomb damage in the [[Cardiff Blitz]] of World War II included the devastation of [[Llandaff Cathedral]], and in the immediate postwar years, the city's link with the Bute family came to an end.

The city was recognised as the [[Capital of Wales|capital city of Wales]] on 20 December 1955, in a written reply by the [[Home Secretary]], [[Gwilym Lloyd George, 1st Viscount Tenby|Gwilym Lloyd George]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1955-12-20/debates/f75e8a8b-79d6-42d2-96be-80f271ffe0b1/CapitalOfPrincipality(Cardiff) |title=Capital of Principality (Cardiff) (Hansard, 20 December 1955) |website=hansard.millbanksystems.com |access-date=30 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830234559/http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/written_answers/1955/dec/20/capital-of-principality-cardiff |archive-date=30 August 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Caernarfon]] had also vied for the title.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Cardiff as Capital of Wales: Formal Recognition by Government |newspaper=The Times |date=21 December 1955}}</ref> Welsh local authorities had been divided: only 76 out of 161 chose Cardiff in a 1924 poll organised by the ''South Wales Daily News''.<ref name="Johnes 2012">{{Cite journal |author=Prof. Martin Johnes |url=https://www.academia.edu/716868 |title=Cardiff: The Making and Development of the Capital City of Wales |year=2012 |volume=26 |issue=4 |pages=509–28 |journal=Contemporary British History |doi=10.1080/13619462.2012.676911 |s2cid=144368404 |access-date=11 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511111542/https://www.academia.edu/716868/Cardiff_The_Making_and_Development_of_the_Capital_City_of_Wales |archive-date=11 May 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> The subject was not debated again until 1950, and meanwhile Cardiff took steps to promote its "Welshness". The stalemate between Cardiff and cities such as Caernarfon and Aberystwyth was not broken until Cardiganshire County Council decided to support Cardiff; and in a new local authority vote, 134 out of 161 voted for Cardiff.<ref name="Johnes 2012" />

Cardiff therefore celebrated two important [[anniversary|anniversaries]] in 2005. The ''Encyclopedia of Wales'' notes that the decision to recognise the city as the capital of Wales "had more to do with the fact that it contained marginal [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] constituencies than any reasoned view of what functions a Welsh capital should have." Although the city hosted the [[Commonwealth Games]] in 1958, Cardiff became a centre of national administration only with the establishment of the [[Welsh Office]] in 1964, which later prompted the creation of various other public bodies such as the [[Arts Council of Wales]] and the [[Welsh Development Agency]], most of which were based in Cardiff.

[[File:Cardiff Bay at night.jpg|thumb|Redevelopment in the city's historic Cardiff Bay area]]
The East Moors Steelworks closed in 1978 and Cardiff lost population in the 1980s,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_table_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_TPop&u_id=10150530&c_id=10001043&add=N |title=Cardiff Wales Through Time – Population Statistics |access-date=20 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210191149/http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_table_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_TPop&u_id=10150530&c_id=10001043&add=N |archive-date=10 December 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> consistent with a wider pattern of counter-urbanisation in Britain. However, it recovered to become one of the few cities outside London where population grew in the 1990s.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://sticerd.lse.ac.uk/dps/case/cbcb/census1.pdf |title=The Growth and Decline of Cities and Regions |date=1 July 2004 |access-date=20 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528025505/http://sticerd.lse.ac.uk/dps/case/cbcb/census1.pdf |archive-date=28 May 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> During this period the [[Cardiff Bay Development Corporation]] was promoting the [[Urban renewal|redevelopment]] of south Cardiff; an evaluation of the regeneration of Cardiff Bay published in 2004 concluded that the project had "reinforced the competitive position of Cardiff" and "contributed to a massive improvement in the quality of the built environment, although it had "failed "to attract the major inward investors originally anticipated".<ref>Esys Consulting Ltd, Evaluation of Regeneration in Cardiff Bay. A report for the Welsh Assembly Government, December 2004.</ref>

In the [[1997 Welsh devolution referendum]], Cardiff voters rejected the establishment of the National Assembly for Wales by 55.4% to 44.2% on a 47% turnout, which Denis Balsom partly ascribed to a general preference in Cardiff and some other parts of Wales for a British rather than exclusively Welsh [[national identity|identity]].<ref>Denis Balsom, "The referendum result". James Barry Jones and Denis Balsom, eds: ''The Road to the National Assembly for Wales''. Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 2000.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.swansea.ac.uk/history/research/Wales%20the%20Postnation.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080408201247/http://www.swansea.ac.uk/history/research/Wales%20the%20Postnation.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 April 2008 |title=Wales: The Post-Nation |access-date=20 May 2008}}</ref> The relative lack of local support for the Assembly and difficulties between the Welsh Office and Cardiff Council in acquiring the originally preferred venue, [[Cardiff City Hall]], encouraged other local authorities to bid to house the Assembly.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/34653.stm |title=Where To Now for the Welsh Assembly? |date=25 November 1997 |publisher=BBC Wales |access-date=20 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090115093512/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/34653.stm |archive-date=15 January 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ossw.wales.gov.uk/2006/foi/foi_20060920_15.pdf |title=Welsh Assembly Accommodation |date=2 October 1997 |access-date=20 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528025511/http://ossw.wales.gov.uk/2006/foi/foi_20060920_15.pdf |archive-date=28 May 2008}}</ref> However, the Assembly was eventually located at [[Tŷ Hywel]] in Cardiff Bay in 1999. In 2005, a new debating chamber on an adjacent site, designed by [[Richard Rogers]], was opened.

==Government==
{{Main|Politics in Cardiff}}

{{See also|Cardiff Council|Senedd}}
{{multiple image
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| caption2          = The HQ of the [[Government of the United Kingdom|UK Government's]] [[Office of the Secretary of State for Wales|Secretary of State for Wales]] in [[Tŷ William Morgan|William Morgan House]]
}}

The Senedd (Welsh Parliament; {{Langx|cy|Senedd Cymru}}) has been based in Cardiff Bay since its formation in 1999 as the "National Assembly for Wales". The Senedd building was opened on 1 March 2006 by [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|The Queen]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/tm_objectid%3D16757822%26method%3Dfull%26siteid%3D50082%26headline%3Dqueen-to-open-wales--senedd-name_page.html |title=Queen to open Wales' Senedd |date=1 March 2006 |publisher=WalesOnline.co.uk |access-date=22 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120055847/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/tm_objectid%3D16757822%26method%3Dfull%26siteid%3D50082%26headline%3Dqueen-to-open-wales--senedd-name_page.html |archive-date=20 January 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Member of the Senedd|Members of the Senedd]] (MSs), the Senedd Commission and ministerial support staff are based in Cardiff Bay.

Cardiff is represented by twelve MSs in two constituencies; [[Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf]] and [[Caerdydd Penarth]]. These constituencies for the Senedd are formed by pairing up the Westminster constituencies. Each constituency returns six members to the Senedd. The most recent Senedd election was held on [[2026 Senedd election|7 May 2026]].

[[Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf]] is represented by [[Zaynub Akbar]] ([[Plaid Cymru]]), [[Nick Carter (politician)|Nick Carter]] (Plaid Cymru), [[Dafydd Trystan Davies]] (Plaid Cymru), [[Cai Parry-Jones]] ([[Reform UK]]), [[Shav Taj]] ([[Welsh Labour]]) and [[Paul Rock (politician)|Paul Rock]] ([[Wales Green Party]]).<ref>{{cite web|title=Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf - Welsh Parliament Constituency|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election/2026/wales/constituencies/W09000052|publisher=BBC News|website=bbc.com/news|access-date=11 May 2025}}</ref> [[Caerdydd Penarth]] is represented by [[Anna Brychan]] (Plaid Cymru), [[Leticia Gonzalez (politician)|Leticia Gonzalez]] (Plaid Cymru), [[Kiera Marshall]] (Plaid Cymru), [[Joseph Martin (Welsh politician)|Joseph Martin]] (Reform UK), [[Anthony Slaughter]] (Wales Green Party) and [[Huw Thomas (Labour politician)|Huw Thomas]] (Welsh Labour).<ref>{{cite web|title=Caerdydd Penarth - Welsh Parliament Constituency|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election/2026/wales/constituencies/W09000053|publisher=BBC News|website=bbc.com/news|access-date=11 May 2025}}</ref>

[[File:2024 Wales Cardiff Constituencies map.svg|thumb|160x160px|Map of the four Westminster constituencies covering Cardiff (in pink) since 2024. 1 = [[Cardiff West (UK Parliament constituency)|Cardiff West]], 2 = [[Cardiff North (UK Parliament constituency)|Cardiff North]], 3 = [[Cardiff South and Penarth (UK Parliament constituency)|Cardiff South and Penarth]], 4 = [[Cardiff East]].]]
At Westminster, Cardiff is represented by four constituencies: [[Cardiff East]], [[Cardiff North (UK Parliament constituency)|Cardiff North]], [[Cardiff South and Penarth (UK Parliament constituency)|Cardiff South and Penarth]], and [[Cardiff West (UK Parliament constituency)|Cardiff West]].

The [[Welsh Government]] is headquartered in Cardiff's [[Cathays Park]], where most of its civil servants are based, with smaller numbers in other central locations: [[Cathays]], [[Canton, Cardiff|Canton]], and [[Cardiff Bay]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://wales.gov.uk/contact_us/officelocations/southeastwalesoffices/cardiff/?lang=en |title=Offices in Cardiff |publisher=Welsh Government |date=15 October 2012 |access-date=2 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406020251/http://wales.gov.uk/contact_us/officelocations/southeastwalesoffices/cardiff/?lang=en |archive-date=6 April 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> There are other Welsh Government offices in other parts of Wales, such as Llandudno and Aberystwyth, and there are international offices.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://wales.gov.uk/contact_us/officelocations/?lang=en |title=Office locations |publisher=Welsh Government |date=23 May 2011 |access-date=2 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130221171036/http://wales.gov.uk/contact_us/officelocations/?lang=en |archive-date=21 February 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Local government===
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| caption1          = [[City Hall, Cardiff|City Hall]] is home to some of the Council's departments and Council Chambers.
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| caption2          = [[County Hall, Cardiff|County Hall]] is the head office.
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Between 1889 and 1974 Cardiff was a county borough governed by [[Cardiff County Borough Council]] (known as Cardiff City Council after 1905). Between 1974 and 1996, Cardiff was governed by [[Cardiff City Council]], a district council of [[South Glamorgan]]. Since [[Local Government (Wales) Act 1994|local government reorganisation in 1996]], Cardiff has been governed by the City and County Council of Cardiff, based at [[County Hall, Cardiff|County Hall]] in Atlantic Wharf, Cardiff Bay. Voters elect 75 councillors every four years.

Between the 2004 and 2012 local elections, no individual political party held a majority on Cardiff County Council. The [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] held the largest number of seats and Cllr [[Rodney Berman]] was Leader of the council.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?nav=2872%2C4274%2C4956&parent_directory_id=2865 |title=Council Composition |date=14 May 2008 |publisher=Cardiff County Council |access-date=22 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060927042410/http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?Parent_Directory_id=2865&nav=2872%2C4274%2C4956 |archive-date=27 September 2006 }}</ref> The Liberal Democrats and Plaid Cymru formed a partnership administration.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics-news/2008/05/13/lib-dems-and-plaid-set-for-a-coalition-in-cardiff-91466-20899896/ |title=Lib Dems and Plaid set for a coalition in Cardiff |last=Shipton |first=Martin |date=13 May 2008 |publisher=WalesOnline |access-date=22 October 2008 |archive-date=28 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210528130543/https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/lib-dems-plaid-set-coalition-2176063 |url-status=live }}</ref> In the [[2012 Cardiff Council election|2012 elections]] the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] achieved an outright majority, after gaining an additional 33 seats across the city.

Cardiff is divided into communities, several with their own [[community council]] and the rest governed directly by Cardiff City Council. Elections are held every five years. The last contested elections would have been held at the same time as the [[2017 Cardiff Council election]] had there been more candidates standing than available seats. Those with community councils are:
*Lisvane (10 seats)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Your Local Councillors |url=http://www.lisvanecommunity.org.uk/Lisvane-CC/community_council-7044.aspx#councillors |publisher=[[Lisvane]] Community Council |access-date=26 March 2020 |archive-date=27 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727071138/http://www.lisvanecommunity.org.uk/Lisvane-CC/community_council-7044.aspx#councillors |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*Old St. Mellons (9 seats)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Councillors |url=http://www.oldstmellonscommunitycouncil.org.uk/OSM-Community-Council/councillors-9368.aspx |publisher=[[Old St Mellons]] Community Council |access-date=26 March 2020 |archive-date=26 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326195154/http://www.oldstmellonscommunitycouncil.org.uk/OSM-Community-Council/councillors-9368.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>
*Pentyrch (13 seats)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Councillors |url=http://www.pentyrch.cc/?page_id=72 |publisher=[[Pentyrch]] Community Council |access-date=26 March 2020 |archive-date=27 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727071527/http://www.pentyrch.cc/?page_id=72 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*Radyr & Morganstown (13 seats)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Councillors and staff |url=https://www.radyrandmorganstown.org/councillors-and-staff.html |publisher=[[Radyr]] & [[Morganstown]] Community Council |access-date=26 March 2020 |archive-date=26 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326195147/https://www.radyrandmorganstown.org/councillors-and-staff.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
*Tongwynlais (9 seats)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Community Councillors |url=https://www.tongwynlais.org/community-councillors/ |publisher=[[Tongwynlais]] Community Council |access-date=26 March 2020 |archive-date=26 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326195153/https://www.tongwynlais.org/community-councillors/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
*St Fagans (9 seats)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Your Community Councillors |url=http://www.stfaganscommunitycouncil.org.uk/St-Fagans-Cc/your_community_councillors-9441.aspx |publisher=[[St Fagans]] Community Council |access-date=26 March 2020 |archive-date=26 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326195150/http://www.stfaganscommunitycouncil.org.uk/St-Fagans-Cc/your_community_councillors-9441.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Geography==
{{main|Geography of Cardiff}}

The centre of Cardiff is relatively flat and bounded by hills to the east, north and west. Its location influenced its development as the world's largest coal port, notably its proximity and easy access to the coalfields of the [[South Wales Valleys]]. The highest point in the local authority area is [[Garth Hill]], {{cvt|307|m|ft|0|abbr=off}} [[Above mean sea level|above sea level]].

Cardiff is built on reclaimed marshland on a bed of [[Triassic]] stones. This reclaimed marshland stretches from [[Chepstow]] to the [[Ely Estuary]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=7004 |title=Cardiff Supplementary Planning Guidance: Archaeologically Sensitive Areas |date=20 July 2006 |publisher=Cardiff County Council |access-date=1 October 2008 |format=PDF |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609181416/http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=7004 |archive-date=9 June 2011 }}</ref> which is the natural boundary of Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. Triassic landscapes of this part of the world are usually shallow and low-lying, consistent with the flatness of the centre of Cardiff.<ref>{{Cite journal |year=2008 |title=Discussion on palaeoecology of the Late Triassic extinction event in the SW UK |journal=Journal of the Geological Society |publisher=Geological Society of London |volume=165 |issue=5 |pages=988–992 |url=http://jgs.lyellcollection.org/cgi/content/full/165/5/988 |access-date=1 October 2008 |doi=10.1144/0016-76492008-014 |last1=Radley |first1=J. D. |last2=Twitchett |first2=R. J. |last3=Mander |first3=L. |last4=Cope |first4=J.C.W |s2cid=129263471 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013221304/http://jgs.lyellcollection.org/cgi/content/full/165/5/988 |archive-date=13 October 2008 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref> The classic Triassic [[marl]], [[sand]] and [[conglomerate (geology)|conglomerate]] rocks are used predominantly throughout Cardiff as building materials. Many of these Triassic rocks are purplish, especially the coastal marl found near Penarth. One of the Triassic rocks used in Cardiff is "Radyr Stone", a [[freestone (masonry)|freestone]] which as its name suggests is quarried in the Radyr district.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.englishstone.org.uk/documents/dimension%20stone%208.html |title=Triassic building sandstone resources |access-date=7 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610061832/http://www.englishstone.org.uk/documents/dimension%20stone%208.html |archive-date=10 June 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> Cardiff has also imported some materials for buildings: [[Devonian]] sandstones (the [[Old Red Sandstone]]) from the [[Brecon Beacons]] has been used. Most famously, the buildings of [[Cathays Park]], the civic centre in the centre of the city, are built of [[Portland stone]] from Dorset.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.swga.org.uk/pdf/CathaysPark.pdf |title=Geological Walks in Wales: Cathays Park |publisher=Geologists Association South Wales |access-date=22 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081029202443/http://www.swga.org.uk/pdf/CathaysPark.pdf |archive-date=29 October 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> A widely used building stone in Cardiff is the yellow-grey [[Early Jurassic|Liassic]] [[limestone]] rock of the Vale of Glamorgan, including the rare "Sutton Stone", a conglomerate of lias limestone and [[carboniferous]] limestone.<ref>{{Cite journal |url=https://castlestudiesgroup.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/CSGJ11.pdf |title=Castell Morgraig |last=Iowerth |first=Dylan |journal=Castle Studies Group Newsletter |year=1998 |volume=11 |pages=35-39}}</ref>

Cardiff is bordered to the west by the rural district of the Vale of Glamorgan, also known as the Garden of Cardiff,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gardenofcardiff.com/ |title=The Garden of Cardiff |access-date=20 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509082545/http://www.gardenofcardiff.com/ |archive-date=9 May 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> to the east by the city of Newport; to the north by the [[South Wales Valleys]], and to the south by the [[River Severn|Severn Estuary]] and [[Bristol Channel]]. The River Taff winds through the city centre and together with the [[River Ely]] flows into the freshwater Cardiff Bay. A third river, the [[Rhymney River|Rhymney]], flows through the east of the city directly into the Severn Estuary.

Cardiff lies near the [[Glamorgan]] [[Heritage Coast]], stretching westward from Penarth and Barry – [[commuter town]]s of Cardiff – with striped yellow-blue [[Jurassic]] limestone cliffs. The Glamorgan coast is the only part of the [[Celtic Sea]] with exposed Jurassic ([[blue lias]]) geology. This stretch of coast with its reefs, sandbanks and serrated cliffs was a [[ship graveyard]]; many ships sailing to Cardiff during the industrial era were wrecked on this hostile coastline during west/south-westerly gales. Smuggling, deliberate shipwrecking and attacks on ships were also common.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.kenfig.org.uk/smuggling.html |title=Smuggling Around Kenfig |publisher=Kenfig.org |access-date=19 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080422181813/http://www.kenfig.org.uk/smuggling.html |archive-date=22 April 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Cityscape==
{{See also|List of places in Cardiff}}
[[File:Cardiff Bay from Penarth.jpg|thumb|left|Overlooking [[Cardiff Bay]], viewed from [[Penarth]]]]
[[File:Cathays Library (2010), Cardiff.jpg|thumb|Cathays Library]]
[[File:Dock feeder canal in Atlantic Wharf - geograph.org.uk - 1654966.jpg|thumb|The dock feeder canal<br />[[Atlantic Wharf]]]]
"Inner Cardiff" consists of the wards of [[Plasnewydd]], [[Gabalfa]], [[Roath]], [[Cathays (electoral ward)|Cathays]], [[Adamsdown]] and [[Splott]] ward on the north and east of the city centre, and [[Butetown]], [[Grangetown, Cardiff|Grangetown]], [[Riverside, Cardiff|Riverside]] and [[Canton, Cardiff|Canton]] to the south and west.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cardifflife.net/cardiffwheretolive.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929094036/http://www.cardifflife.net/cardiffwheretolive.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 September 2007 |title=Places to live in Cardiff |publisher=cardifflife.net |access-date=1 June 2009 }}</ref> The inner-city areas to the south of the [[A4161 road]], known as the "Southern Arc", are with the exception of Cardiff Bay some of the poorest districts of Wales, with low levels of economic activity.<ref>{{Cite book |author1=Alan Hooper |author2=John Punter |title=Capital Cardiff 1975–2020: Regeneration, Competitiveness and the Urban Environment |publisher=[[University of Wales Press]] |location=Cardiff |year=2006 |page=63 |isbn=0-7083-2063-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hvud9bNwTisC&q=%22southern+arc%22+cardiff&pg=PT81 |access-date=15 October 2020 |archive-date=28 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210528130604/https://books.google.com/books?id=Hvud9bNwTisC&q=%22southern+arc%22+cardiff&pg=PT81 |url-status=live }}</ref> On the other hand, Gabalfa, Plasnewydd and Cathays north of the 'arc' have large student populations,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/for/prospective/pg/life/accommodation/areasofcardiff/index.html |title=Areas of Cardiff |publisher=Cardiff University |access-date=18 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110117170044/http://cardiff.ac.uk/for/prospective/pg/life/accommodation/areasofcardiff/index.html |archive-date=17 January 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> and Pontcanna (north of Riverside and alongside Canton) is a favourite for students and young professionals. [[Penylan]], to the north east of Roath Park, is an affluent area popular with older parents and the retired.

To the west lie [[Ely, Cardiff|Ely]] and [[Caerau, Cardiff|Caerau]], which have some of the largest housing estates in the United Kingdom. With the exception of some outlying privately built estates at [[Michaelston-super-Ely]], this is an economically disadvantaged area with high numbers of unemployed households. [[Culverhouse Cross]] is a more affluent western area of the city. [[Fairwater, Cardiff|Fairwater]], [[Heath, Cardiff|Heath]], [[Birchgrove, Cardiff|Birchgrove]], [[Gabalfa]], [[Mynachdy]], [[Llandaff North]], [[Llandaff]], [[Llanishen]], [[Radyr]], [[Whitchurch, Cardiff|Whitchurch]] & [[Tongwynlais]], [[Rhiwbina]], [[Thornhill, Cardiff|Thornhill]], [[Lisvane]] and [[Cyncoed]] lie in an arc from the north-west to the north-east of the centre. Lisvane, Cyncoed, Radyr and Rhiwbina contain some of the most expensive housing in Wales.

Further east lie the wards of Pontprennau and Old St Mellons, St Mellons, Rumney, [[Pentwyn, Cardiff|Pentwyn]], [[Llanrumney]], [[Llanedeyrn]] and [[Trowbridge, Cardiff|Trowbridge]]. The last four are largely public housing stock, although much new private housing is being built in Trowbridge. [[Pontprennau]] is the newest "suburb" of Cardiff, while [[St Mellons|Old St Mellons]] has a history going back to the 11th-century [[Norman Conquest]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.oldstmellons.co.uk/history/ |title=Old St Mellons History |access-date=18 April 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071213150548/http://www.oldstmellons.co.uk/history/ |archive-date=13 December 2007 }}</ref> The region that may be called "Rural Cardiff" contains the villages of [[St. Fagans|St Fagans]], Creigiau, [[Pentyrch]], [[Tongwynlais]] and [[Gwaelod-y-garth]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?nav=2870%2C3139%2C3158%2C3965&parent_directory_id=2865 |title=Landscape Study of Cardiff |date=17 October 2008 |publisher=Cardiff County Council |access-date=22 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060927160311/http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?Parent_Directory_id=2865&nav=2870%2C3139%2C3158%2C3965 |archive-date=27 September 2006 }}</ref> In 2017, plans were approved for a new suburb of 7,000 homes between [[Radyr]] and [[St Fagans]], known as [[Plasdwr|Plasdŵr]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-40342706 |title=Bus interchange future for Cardiff to be revealed |work=BBC News |date=27 June 2017 |access-date=29 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171202224806/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-40342706 |archive-date=2 December 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> St Fagans, home to the [[Museum of Welsh Life]], is protected from further development.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=9569 |title=St Fagans Conservation Area Appraisal |year=2007 |publisher=Cardiff County Council |access-date=18 April 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609185142/http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=9569 |archive-date=9 June 2011 }}</ref>

Since 2000, there has been a marked change of scale and building height in Cardiff, with the development of the [[Cardiff city centre|city centre]]'s first purpose-built high-rise apartments.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hooper |first=Alan |author2=Hunter, John |title=Capital Cardiff 1975–2020. Regeneration, Competitiveness and the Urban Environment |editor=Alan Hooper, John Punter |publisher=University of Wales Press |location=Cardiff |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-7083-2063-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hvud9bNwTisC&q=%22Regeneration,+Competitiveness+and+the+Urban+Environment%22 |access-date=15 October 2020 |archive-date=28 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210528130604/https://books.google.com/books?id=Hvud9bNwTisC&q=%22Regeneration%2C+Competitiveness+and+the+Urban+Environment%22 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[List of tallest buildings and structures in Cardiff|Tall buildings]] have been built in the city centre and Cardiff Bay, and more are planned.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.skyscrapernews.com/bdbsearch.php?city=Cardiff |title=Skyscrapernews.com search results: Cardiff |access-date=23 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100103115124/http://skyscrapernews.com/bdbsearch.php?city=Cardiff |archive-date=3 January 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Climate==
{{See also|Climate of the United Kingdom#Wales}}
{{climate chart
|Cardiff
|2.5|8.6|127.0
|2.5|9.2|93.0
|3.9|11.3|85.3
|5.7|14.4|72.1
|8.5|17.4|78.5
|11.3|20.1|73.5
|13.1|21.8|83.6
|12.9|21.4|104.8
|10.7|19.1|86.3
|8.0|15.3|129.1
|4.9|11.6|130.7
|2.8|9.1|139.6
|source=[https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/location-specific-long-term-averages/gcjszmp73 Met Office], 1991–2020 averages
|float=right
}}
Cardiff, in the [[Temperate zone|north temperate zone]], has a [[maritime climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: Cfb) marked by mild weather that is often cloudy, wet and windy.<ref name="Met Off 1">{{Cite web |url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/wl/ |publisher=Met Office |year=2009 |title=Met Office: Regional Climate: Wales |access-date=29 June 2009 |work=Met Office website |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113130422/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/wl/ |archive-date=13 January 2012 }}</ref> Cardiff is one of the warmest and wettest cities in the UK, with an average annual temperature and rainfall of approximately 11°C and 1200mm respectively. Summers tend to be warm and sunny, with average maxima between {{cvt|19|and|22|°C|°F}}. Winters are fairly wet, but excessive rainfall as well as frost are rare. Spring and autumn feel similar, with mild temperatures averaging around 15°C as daytime maxima. Rain is unpredictable at any time of year, although showers tend to be shorter in summer.<ref name="Airport guide">{{Cite web |url=http://www.cardiff-cwl.airports-guides.com/cwl_climate.html |publisher=TravelSmart Ltd |year=2009 |title=Weather at Cardiff Airport (CWL):Weather and Climate in Cardiff Area, Wales, U |access-date=1 July 2009 |work=Airports guides website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090914043201/http://www.cardiff-cwl.airports-guides.com/cwl_climate.html |archive-date=14 September 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The northern part of the county, being higher and inland, tends to be cooler and wetter than the city centre.<ref name="OS 171">{{Cite map |publisher=Ordnance Survey |title=Landranger Map sheet 171 |isbn=0-319-22771-5 |cartography=Ordnance Survey |edition=2002 C1 |section=ST083 990 }}</ref>

Cardiff's maximum and minimum monthly temperatures average {{cvt|21.8|°C|°F}} (July) and {{cvt|2.5|°C|°F}} (January and February).<br />For Wales, the temperatures average {{cvt|19.3|°C|°F}} (July) and {{cvt|1.6|°C|°F}} (February).<ref name="Met Off 2">{{Cite web |url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/location-specific-long-term-averages/gcjszmp73 |publisher=Met Office |year=2025 |title=Met Office: averages 1991–2020 |access-date=29 July 2025 |work=Met Office website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090805000908/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19712000/sites/cardiff.html |archive-date=5 August 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Met Off 3">{{Cite web |url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19712000/areal/wales.html |publisher=Met Office |year=2009 |title=Met Office: averages 1971–2000 |access-date=29 June 2009 |work=Met Office website |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929102646/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19712000/areal/wales.html |archive-date=29 September 2007 }}</ref>

Cardiff has 1,573 hours of sunshine in an average year (Wales 1,407.5 hours). Cardiff is sunniest in July, with an average 199.6 hours during the month (Wales 177 hours), and least sunny in December with 50.4 hours (Wales 41.4 hours).<ref name="Met Off 2"/><ref name="Met Off 3"/>

Cardiff experiences less rainfall than average for Wales. It falls on 153 days in an average year, with total annual rainfall of {{cvt|1203.3|mm|in}}. Monthly rainfall patterns show that from October to January, average monthly rainfall in Cardiff exceeds {{cvt|100|mm|in}} each month, the wettest month being December with {{cvt|139.6|mm|in}} and the driest from April to June, with average monthly rainfall fairly consistent between {{cvt|70|and|80|mm|in}}.<ref name="Met Off 2"/><ref name="Met Off 3"/>

{{Weather box
| location = Cardiff ([[Bute Park]])<br>[[Location identifier#WMO station identifiers|WMO ID]]: 99610; coordinates {{coord|51.48818|N|3.18859|W|type:landmark_region:GB|name=Met Office Bute Park|format=dms}}; elevation: {{convert|9|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}; 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1913–present{{efn|Extreme temperature records were measured at Cardiff (1913–1976), Cardiff Weather Centre (1982–2006) and Bute Park (1977–present).}}
| metric first = Yes
| single line = Yes
| Jan record high C = 15.0
| Feb record high C = 18.3
| Mar record high C = 21.6
| Apr record high C = 26.9
| May record high C = 32.9
| Jun record high C = 32.1
| Jul record high C = 33.6
| Aug record high C = 34.5
| Sep record high C = 29.7
| Oct record high C = 27.1
| Nov record high C = 18.7
| Dec record high C = 16.7
| Jan high C = 8.6
| Feb high C = 9.2
| Mar high C = 11.3
| Apr high C = 14.4
| May high C = 17.4
| Jun high C = 20.1
| Jul high C = 21.8
| Aug high C = 21.4
| Sep high C = 19.1
| Oct high C = 15.3
| Nov high C = 11.6
| Dec high C = 9.1
| year high C = 15.0
| Jan mean C = 5.6
| Feb mean C = 5.9
| Mar mean C = 7.6
| Apr mean C = 10.1
| May mean C = 13.0
| Jun mean C = 15.7
| Jul mean C = 17.5
| Aug mean C = 17.2
| Sep mean C = 14.9
| Oct mean C = 11.7
| Nov mean C = 8.3
| Dec mean C = 6.0
| year mean C = 
| Jan low C = 2.5
| Feb low C = 2.5
| Mar low C = 3.9
| Apr low C = 5.7
| May low C = 8.5
| Jun low C = 11.1
| Jul low C = 13.1
| Aug low C = 12.9
| Sep low C = 10.7
| Oct low C = 8.0
| Nov low C = 4.9
| Dec low C = 2.8
| year low C = 7.3
| Jan record low C = -16.7
| Feb record low C = -11.1
| Mar record low C = -8.9
| Apr record low C = -4.8
| May record low C = -2.0
| Jun record low C = 1.0
| Jul record low C = 4.5
| Aug record low C = 3.6
| Sep record low C = 0.5
| Oct record low C = -3.4
| Nov record low C = -8.7
| Dec record low C = -10.1
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 127.0
| Feb precipitation mm = 93.0
| Mar precipitation mm = 85.3
| Apr precipitation mm = 72.1
| May precipitation mm = 78.5
| Jun precipitation mm = 73.5
| Jul precipitation mm = 83.6
| Aug precipitation mm = 104.8
| Sep precipitation mm = 86.3
| Oct precipitation mm = 129.1
| Nov precipitation mm = 130.7
| Dec precipitation mm = 139.6
| year precipitation mm = 
| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 15.6
| Feb precipitation days = 12.0
| Mar precipitation days = 12.3
| Apr precipitation days = 10.7
| May precipitation days = 11.2
| Jun precipitation days = 10.4
| Jul precipitation days = 11.2
| Aug precipitation days = 12.4
| Sep precipitation days = 11.8
| Oct precipitation days = 15.0
| Nov precipitation days = 15.6
| Dec precipitation days = 15.2
| year precipitation days = 
| Jan sun = 53.5
| Feb sun = 76.2
| Mar sun = 116.6
| Apr sun = 177.0
| May sun = 198.4
| Jun sun = 195.2
| Jul sun = 199.6
| Aug sun = 185.3
| Sep sun = 151.9
| Oct sun = 103.9
| Nov sun = 65.0
| Dec sun = 50.4
| year sun = 1572.9
| source 1 = [[Met Office]]<ref name="Met office">{{cite web |url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/uk-climate-averages/gcjszmp44 |title=Cardiff 1991–2020 Averages |publisher=Met Office |access-date=11 January 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/interesting/aug1990 |title=Hot Spell August 1990 |publisher=Met Office |access-date=14 December 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/interesting/july2006 |title=Record Breaking Heat and Sunshine – 2006 |publisher=Met Office |access-date=14 December 2018 }}</ref> [[Ordnance Survey]]<ref>[[Ordnance Survey]] 1:25,000 map, [https://www.bing.com/maps/?mkt=en-gb&v=2&cp=51.486871%7E-3.183023&lvl=16.1&sp=Point.51.48818_-3.18859_Met+Office+Bute+Park&sty=s&style=s spot height adjacent to the specified coordinates]</ref>
| source 2 = [[Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute|KNMI]]<ref name="KNMI">{{cite web |url=https://eca.knmi.nl//download/millennium/millennium.php |title=Cardiff – STAID 2126 and 17483 |access-date=23 April 2020 |publisher=KNMI |archive-date=9 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709010608/https://eca.knmi.nl//download/millennium/millennium.php |url-status=dead }}</ref> Starlings Roost Weather<ref>{{cite web |url=http://starlingsroost.ddns.net/weather/ukobs/temp_month_record_tmax_map.php |title=Monthly Extreme Maximum Temperature |access-date=5 February 2023 |publisher=Starlings Roost Weather |archive-date=1 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201173843/http://starlingsroost.ddns.net/weather/ukobs/temp_month_record_tmax_map.php |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://starlingsroost.ddns.net/weather/ukobs/temp_month_record_tmin_map.php |title=Monthly Extreme Minimum Temperature |access-date=5 February 2023 |publisher=Starlings Roost Weather |archive-date=1 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201173844/http://starlingsroost.ddns.net/weather/ukobs/temp_month_record_tmin_map.php |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| date = February 2012}}

==Demography==
{{main|Demographics of Cardiff}}

{{Historical populations|state=collapsed|1801|6342|1851|26630|1861
|48965|1871
|71301|1881
|93637|1891
|142114|1901|172629|1911|209804|1921
|227753|1931
|247270|1941
|257112|1951
|267356|1961
|278552|1971
|290227|1981
|274500|1991
|272557|2001
|292150|2011
|346100|2021
|footnote=<span style="font-size: smaller">Source: [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_table_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_TPop&u_id=10150530&c_id=10001043&add=N Vision of Britain] except 2011, which is the 2011 census data from the [http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/population-and-household-estimates-for-wales/stb-2011-census-wales.html Office for National Statistics]. Historical populations are calculated with the modern boundaries</span>
|362400}}

Following a period of decline in the 1970s and 1980s, Cardiff's population is growing again. It reached 362,400 in the [[2021–2022 United Kingdom censuses|2021 census]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/censuspopulationchange/W06000015/ |title=How the population changed in Cardiff: Census 2021 |publisher=[[Office for National Statistics]] |date=28 June 2022 |access-date=18 July 2022 |work=[[Office for National Statistics|ONS]] website }}</ref> compared to a [[2011 United Kingdom census|2011 census]] figure of 346,100.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |url=http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/population-and-household-estimates-for-wales/stb-2011-census-wales.html |title=2011 Census – Population and Household Estimates for Wales, March 2011 |publisher=[[Office for National Statistics]] |date=16 July 2012 |access-date=17 July 2012 |work=Office for National Statisitcs |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20160106124930/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/population-and-household-estimates-for-wales/stb-2011-census-wales.html |archive-date=6 January 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Between mid-2007 and mid-2008, Cardiff was the fastest-growing local authority in Wales, with growth of 1.2%.<ref name="2008 population">{{Cite web |url=http://wales.gov.uk/docs/statistics/2009/090827sb492009en.pdf?lang=en |format=PDF |title=2008 Mid-year Estimates of Population |publisher=National Office of Statistics for Wales |date=27 August 2009 |access-date=28 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606191116/http://wales.gov.uk/docs/statistics/2009/090827sb492009en.pdf?lang=en |archive-date=6 June 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> According to 2001 census data, Cardiff was the 21st largest [[List of conurbations in the United Kingdom|urban area]] in the United Kingdom.<ref>Pointer, Graham, [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_compendia/fom2005/03_FOPM_UrbanAreas.pdf The UK's major urban areas], ''Focus on People and Migration'', 2005. Retrieved 12 June 2008. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110804232006/http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_compendia/fom2005/03_FOPM_UrbanAreas.pdf|date=4 August 2011 }}</ref> The Cardiff [[Larger Urban Zone]] (a [[Eurostat]] definition including the Vale of Glamorgan and a number of local authorities in [[South Wales Valleys|the Valleys]]) has 841,600 people, the 10th largest LUZ in the UK.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.staedtestatistik.de/fileadmin/urban-audit/pdf/EU_stateofcities_2007.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719085823/http://www.staedtestatistik.de/fileadmin/urban-audit/pdf/EU_stateofcities_2007.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 July 2011 |title=REG 7 1300_cover2.indd |access-date=2 January 2010 }}</ref> The Cardiff and South Wales Valleys metropolitan area has a population of nearly 1.1 million.<ref name="espon.eu">{{Cite web |url=http://www.espon.eu/export/sites/default/Documents/Projects/ESPON2006Projects/StudiesScientificSupportProjects/UrbanFunctions/fr-1.4.3_April2007-final.pdf#page=119 |title=ESPON Project 1.4.3 Study on Urban Functions |access-date=23 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924002318/http://www.espon.eu/export/sites/default/Documents/Projects/ESPON2006Projects/StudiesScientificSupportProjects/UrbanFunctions/fr-1.4.3_April2007-final.pdf#page=119 |archive-date=24 September 2015 }}</ref>

[[File:Cardiff northern residential.jpg|left|thumb|Residential areas of northern Cardiff]]
Official census estimates of the city's total population have been disputed. The city council published two articles arguing that the 2001 census seriously under-reported the population of Cardiff, and in particular the ethnic minority population of some inner city areas.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=3418&Language= |title=Cardiff Council Representations to ONS on the 2001 Census: Section 1 |format=PDF |access-date=28 December 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926220923/http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=3418&Language= |archive-date=26 September 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=3419&Language= |title=Cardiff Council Representations to ONS on the 2001 Census: Section 2 |format=PDF |access-date=28 December 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926221139/http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=3419&Language= |archive-date=26 September 2007 }}</ref>

The Welsh Government's official mid-year estimate of the population of the Cardiff local authority area in 2019 was 366,903.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population estimates by local authority and year |url=https://statswales.gov.wales/Catalogue/Population-and-Migration/Population/Estimates/Local-Authority/populationestimates-by-localauthority-year |access-date=26 April 2021 |website=statswales.gov.wales |archive-date=20 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620101839/https://statswales.gov.wales/Catalogue/Population-and-Migration/Population/Estimates/Local-Authority/populationestimates-by-localauthority-year |url-status=dead }}</ref> At the 2011 census, the official population of the Cardiff Built Up Area (BUA) was put at 447,287.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/articles/ref/builtupareas_userguidance.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=27 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204061348/http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/articles/ref/builtupareas_userguidance.pdf |archive-date=4 December 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/census/2011/ks101ew |title=KS101EW (Usual resident population) – Nomis – Official Labour Market Statistics |publisher=Nomisweb.co.uk |date=27 March 2011 |access-date=16 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108122327/http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/census/2011/ks101ew |archive-date=8 January 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The BUA is not contiguous with the local authority boundary and aggregates data at a lower level; for Cardiff this includes the urban part of Cardiff, Penarth/Dinas Powys, Caerphilly and Pontypridd.

Cardiff has an ethnically diverse population due to past trading connections, post-war [[immigration]] and large numbers of foreign students who attend university in the city. The ethnic make-up of Cardiff's population at the 2011 census was: 84.7% White, 1.6% mixed White and Black African/Caribbean, 0.7% mixed White and Asian, 0.6% mixed other, 8.1% Asian, 2.4% Black, 1.4% Arab and 0.6% other ethnic groups.<ref name=":0">{{NOMIS2011|id=1946157397|title=Cardiff Local Authority |access-date=9 February 2018 }}</ref> This means almost 53,000 people from a non-white ethnic group reside in the city. This diversity, especially that of the city's long-established African<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Killingray |first1=David |title=Africans in Britain |date=2012 |publisher=Routledge |location=London |isbn=978-0714641072 |page=6 }}</ref> and Arab<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Gilliat-Ray |first1=S. |last2=Mellor |first2=J. |title=Bilād al-Welsh (Land of the Welsh): Muslims in Cardiff, South Wales: past, present and future. |journal=The Muslim World |date=2010 |volume=100 |issue=4 |pages=452–453 |doi=10.1111/j.1478-1913.2010.01331.x |issn=1478-1913 }}</ref> communities, has been recorded in cultural exhibitions and events, along with books published on this subject.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lee |first=Brian |title=Butetown and Cardiff Docks |publisher=The History Press |date=15 April 1999 |isbn=978-0-7524-1582-6 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bhac.org/black_history.html |title=Black History in Butetown |publisher=Butetown History & Arts Centre |access-date=18 April 2008 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=6 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070806155310/http://www.bhac.org/black_history.html }}</ref>

===Health===
{{Main|Cardiff and Vale University Health Board}}

[[File:University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park - Cardiff - geograph.org.uk - 1736088.jpg|thumb|left|[[University Hospital of Wales]]]]
There are seven NHS hospitals in the city, the largest being the [[University Hospital of Wales]], which is the third largest hospital in the UK and deals with most accidents and emergencies.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/about/community/healthofnation/allwalesrole/index.html |title=About Cardiff University – All-Wales Role |publisher=[[Cardiff University]] |access-date=7 January 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110117174955/http://cardiff.ac.uk/about/community/healthofnation/allwalesrole/index.html |archive-date=17 January 2011 }}</ref> The University Dental Hospital, which provides emergency treatment, is also located on this site. [[Llandough Hospital]] is located in the south of the city.

[[St David's Hospital, Cardiff|St. David's Hospital]], the city's newest hospital, built behind the former building, is located in Canton and provides services for the elderly and children. [[Cardiff Royal Infirmary]] is on Newport Road, near the city centre. The majority of this hospital was closed in 1999, but the west wing remained open for clinic services, genitourinary medicine and rehabilitation treatment. [[Rookwood Hospital]] and the [[Velindre Cancer Centre]] are also located within Cardiff. They are administered by the [[Cardiff and Vale University Health Board]], with the exception of Velindre, which is run by a separate trust.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cardiffandvale.wales.nhs.uk/portal/page?_pageid=33,482279,33_482283&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL |title=Cardiff & Vale NHS Trust – Our Hospitals |publisher=[[Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust]] |access-date=7 January 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080803025901/http://www.cardiffandvale.wales.nhs.uk/portal/page?_pageid=33%2C482279%2C33_482283&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL |archive-date=3 August 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sites3/home.cfm?orgid=357&redirect=yes |title=Velindre Cancer Centre |publisher=Velindre NHS Trust |access-date=7 January 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081025051622/http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sites3/home.cfm?orgid=357&redirect=yes |archive-date=25 October 2008 }}</ref> [[Spire Healthcare]], a private hospital, is in Pontprennau.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.spirehealthcare.com/cardiff/?pathname=cardiff |title=Spire Cardiff Hospital |publisher=[[Spire Healthcare]] |access-date=7 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716120007/http://www.spirehealthcare.com/cardiff/?pathname=cardiff |archive-date=16 July 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Language===
{{See also|Cardiff dialect}}
[[File:Bilingual railway sign - geograph.org.uk - 33133.jpg|thumb|Bilingual signs are commonplace in Cardiff.]]
Cardiff has a chequered linguistic history with [[Welsh language|Welsh]], English, [[Latin]], [[Old Norse|Norse]] and [[Norman language|Norman French]] preponderant at different times. Welsh was the majority language in Cardiff from the 13th century until the city's explosive growth in the [[Victorian era]].<ref name="welsh">{{Cite book |last=Jenkins |first=Geraint H. |title=The Welsh Language before the Industrial Revolution |location=Cardiff |year=1997 |isbn=978-0-7083-1418-0 }}</ref> As late as 1850, five of the 12 [[Anglican]] churches within the current city boundaries conducted their services exclusively in Welsh, while only two worshipped exclusively in English.<ref name="welsh"/> By 1891, the percentage of Welsh speakers had fallen to 27.9% and only [[Lisvane]], [[Llanedeyrn]] and [[Creigiau]] remained as majority Welsh-speaking communities.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Language and Community in the Nineteenth Century |first=Geraint H. |last=Jenkins |isbn=0-7083-1467-8 |year=1998 |publisher=Univ. of Wales Press |location=Cardiff }}</ref> The Welsh language became grouped around a small cluster of chapels and churches, the most notable of which is Tabernacl in the city centre, one of four UK churches chosen to hold official services to commemorate the new millennium.

The city's first Welsh-language school (Ysgol Gymraeg Bryntaf) was established in the 1950s. Welsh has since regained ground.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/2755217.stm |title=Census shows Welsh language rise |date=14 February 2003 |publisher=BBC Wales |access-date=19 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080406154822/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/2755217.stm |archive-date=6 April 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> Aided by [[Welsh-medium education]] and migration from other parts of Wales, there are now many more Welsh speakers in the local authority: their numbers doubled between the 1991 and 2021 censuses, from 18,071 (6.6%) to 42,757 (12.2%) residents aged three years and above.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=2021 Census |url=https://www.welshlanguagecommissioner.wales/policy-and-research/the-position-of-the-welsh-language/2021-census |access-date=2026-02-17 |website=www.welshlanguagecommissioner.wales |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-06 |title=Welsh language in Wales (Census 2021) [HTML] {{!}} GOV.WALES |url=https://www.gov.wales/welsh-language-wales-census-2021-html |access-date=2026-02-17 |website=www.gov.wales |language=en}}</ref> The [[LSOA]] (Lower Layer Super Output Area) with the highest percentage of Welsh speakers in the city centre is found in [[Victoria Park, Cardiff|Victoria Park]], at 28.7%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Welsh speaking ability - Census Maps, ONS |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/census/maps/choropleth/identity/welsh-speaking-ability/welsh-skills-speak/can-speak-welsh |access-date=2026-02-17 |website=www.ons.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref> 

[[City of Cardiff Council|Cardiff City Council]] adopted a five-year Welsh-language strategy in 2017, aimed at increasing the number of Welsh speakers (aged 3+) in Cardiff by 15.9%, from 36,735 in 2011 to 42,584 residents by the 2021 Census.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://businessnewswales.com/improving-bilingual-services-welsh-language-standards/ |title=Improving Bilingual Services with the Welsh Language Standards |date=28 June 2017 |work=Business News Wales |access-date=13 July 2017 |language=en-GB |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017145513/https://businessnewswales.com/improving-bilingual-services-welsh-language-standards/ |archive-date=17 October 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> In the 2021 Census, 42,757 (12.2%) of Cardiff's population could speak Welsh.<ref name=":1" />

In addition to English and Welsh, the diversity of Cardiff's population (including foreign students) means that many other languages are spoken. One study has found that Cardiff has speakers of at least 94 languages, with [[Somali language|Somali]], [[Urdu]], [[Bengali language|Bengali]] and [[Arabic language|Arabic]] being the most commonly spoken foreign ones.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cilt.org.uk/pdf/pubs/positively_plurilingual.pdf |title=Positively Plurilingual |access-date=3 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071128094815/http://www.cilt.org.uk/pdf/pubs/positively_plurilingual.pdf |archive-date=28 November 2007 }}</ref>

The modern [[Cardiff dialect|Cardiff accent]] is distinct from that of nearby South Wales Valleys. It is marked primarily by:
*Substitution of {{angle bracket|iə}} by {{angle bracket|jøː}}<ref name="Phonetics">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tPwYt3gVbu4C&q=cardiff%20accent&pg=PA87 |title=English in Wales: Diversity, Conflict, and Change |first1=Nikolas |last1=Coupland |first2=Alan Richard |last2=Thomas |date=1 January 1990 |publisher=Multilingual Matters |isbn=9781853590313 |via=Google Books |access-date=19 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170319200135/https://books.google.com/books?id=tPwYt3gVbu4C&pg=PA87&lpg=PA87&dq=cardiff%20accent&source=bl&ots=G0VLcC5XKi&sig=PQ-dMr1AN-fnS86oZt6fLqBb8bU&hl=en&ei=TMeOS_3BKI6A4Qaq6YitDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CA8Q6AEwBDgy#v=onepage&q=cardiff%20accent&f=false |archive-date=19 March 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Cardiff accent">{{Cite web |url=http://www.bl.uk/learning/langlit/sounds/text-only/wales/cardiff/ |title=Accents and dialects of the UK: Cardiff ''Accessed 2 March 2010'' |access-date=8 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805064351/http://www.bl.uk/learning/langlit/sounds/text-only/wales/cardiff/ |archive-date=5 August 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*''here'' [hiːə] pronounced as {{Not a typo|[(h)jøː]}} in the broader form{{clarify|date=December 2019}}
*The vowel of ''start'' may be realised as {{IPA|[æː]}} or even {{IPA|[ɛː]}}, so that ''Cardiff'' is pronounced {{IPA|[ˈkæːdɪf]}}.

====Language schools====
Due to its diversity and large student population, more people now come to the city to learn English. Foreign students from Arab states and other European countries are a common sight on the streets of Cardiff.<ref name="2008 population"/> The [[British Council]] has an office in the city centre and there are six accredited schools in the area.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.britishcouncil.org/accreditation-az-list.htm |title=A-Z list of accredited centres |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100601085533/http://www.britishcouncil.org/accreditation-az-list.htm |archive-date=1 June 2010 }}</ref>

===Religion===
{{main|Christianity in Wales|Religion in Wales}}

{{multiple image
| align             = right
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| header            = Cardiff's cathedrals
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| total_width       = 300
| image1            = Llandaff Cathedral (geograph 3435762 upright).jpg
| width1            = 
| alt1              = 
| caption1          = [[Llandaff Cathedral]], an [[Anglicanism|Anglican]] cathedral, the parish church of Llandaff, the seat of the [[Bishop of Llandaff]], the head of the [[Church in Wales]]
| image2            = Eglwys Gadeiriol Caerdydd.jpg
| width2            = 
| alt2              = 
| caption2          = [[Cardiff Metropolitan Cathedral]], a [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] cathedral, the seat of the [[Archbishop of Cardiff]]
}}

{{Pie chart|label1=No religion|value1=42.9|color1=DarkOrange|label2=Christianity|label3=Islam|label4=Hinduism|label5=Buddhism|value2=38.3|value3=9.3|value4=1.5|value5=0.4|value6=0.4|value7=0.2|value8=0.6|value9=6.3|label6=Sikhism|label7=Judaism|label8=Other religion|label9=Not stated|color2=Red|color3=Green|color4=Yellow|color5=Blue|color6=DarkKhaki|color7=Purple|color9=Grey|caption=Religion in Cardiff (2021)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/censusareachanges/W06000015/ |title=How life has changed in Cardiff: Census 2021 }}</ref>|color8=White}}
Since 1922, Cardiff has included [[Llandaff]] within its boundary, along with the [[Anglicanism|Anglican]] [[Llandaff Cathedral]], the parish church of Llandaff and the seat of the [[Bishop of Llandaff]], head of the [[Church in Wales]] and the [[Diocese of Llandaff]].

There is a [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] [[Cardiff Metropolitan Cathedral|cathedral]] in the city. Since 1916, Cardiff has been the seat of a Catholic archbishop, but there appears to have been a fall in the estimated Catholic population, with numbers in 2006 around 25,000 fewer than in 1980.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dcard.html#stats |title=Archdiocese of Cardiff – Statistics |access-date=18 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517123138/http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dcard.html#stats |archive-date=17 May 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> Likewise, the Jewish population appears to have fallen – there are two synagogues in Cardiff, one in Cyncoed and one in Moira Terrace, as opposed to seven at the turn of the 20th century.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.jewishgen.org/jcr-uk/Community/Cardiff.htm |title=JCR-UK – Cardiff Community |date=14 October 2005 |access-date=23 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080512081945/http://www.jewishgen.org/JCR-UK/Community/Cardiff.htm |archive-date=12 May 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> There are several [[Nonconformist (Protestantism)|nonconformist]] chapels, an early 20th century Greek Orthodox church and 11 mosques.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/GLA/Roath/Chapels.html |title=Cardiff, Llandaff & Roath chapels database |access-date=23 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080119180148/http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/GLA/Roath/Chapels.html |archive-date=19 January 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nostos.com/church/ |title=The Greek Orthodox Church in Great Britain |access-date=23 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080122154842/http://www.nostos.com/church/ |archive-date=22 January 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.muslimdirectory.co.uk/displayresults.php?PHPSESSID=f0fb8b41d8758983e7d43cddb556b9df&businesstype=1&orgtype=&country=UK&city=Cardiff |title=Muslim Directory – Mosques in Cardiff |access-date=23 January 2008 |archive-date=11 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211202744/http://www.muslimdirectory.co.uk/displayresults.php?PHPSESSID=f0fb8b41d8758983e7d43cddb556b9df&businesstype=1&orgtype=&country=UK&city=Cardiff |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the 2001 census, 66.9% of Cardiff's population described itself as Christian, a percentage point below the Welsh and UK averages.

The oldest of the non-Christian communities in Wales is Judaism. Jews were not permitted to live in England and Wales between the 1290 [[Edict of Expulsion]] and the 17th century. A Welsh Jewish community was re-established in the 18th century.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/religion/sites/timeline/pages/religion_in_wales_15.shtml |title=Multicultural Wales |access-date=6 December 2007 |publisher=British Broadcasting Company |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080430180121/http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/religion/sites/timeline/pages/religion_in_wales_15.shtml |archive-date=30 April 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> There was once a fairly substantial Jewish population in South Wales, most of which has disappeared. The [[Orthodox Jewish]] community congregations are consolidated in the [[Cardiff United Synagogue]] in Cyncoed, which was dedicated by Chief Rabbi [[Jonathan Sacks]] in 2003.<ref>[http://www.somethingjewish.co.uk/articles/717_chief_visits_bristol.htm Chief visits Bristol and Cardiff] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510221504/http://www.somethingjewish.co.uk/articles/717_chief_visits_bristol.htm|date=10 May 2012}}. Somethingjewish.co.uk (16 December 2003). Retrieved on 17 July 2013.</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Holt |first1=Faygie Levy |title=Cardiff Rabbi Builds Sukkah Awareness Through BBC Radio Show in Wales |url=http://www.chabad.org/news/article_cdo/aid/3066412/jewish/Cardiff-Rabbi-Builds-Sukkah-Awareness-Through-BBC-Radio-Show-in-Wales.htm |publisher=Chabad.org Jewish News |date=17 September 2015 |quote=Educational options for adults are also expanding, says Rabbi Rose, noting that the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute's (JLI) "Journey of the Soul" course |access-date=18 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151011210201/http://www.chabad.org/news/article_cdo/aid/3066412/jewish/Cardiff-Rabbi-Builds-Sukkah-Awareness-Through-BBC-Radio-Show-in-Wales.htm |archive-date=11 October 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Cardiff Reform Synagogue]] is in Adamsdown.
{{multiple image
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| footer_background = 
| total-width       = 350
| image1            = Mosque in Crwys Road - geograph.org.uk - 625292.jpg
| width1            = 
| alt1              = 
| caption1          = [[Shah Jalal Mosque, Cardiff|Shah Jalal Mosque]] on Crwys Road, Cardiff. Built in 1899 as a Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Chapel; a mosque since 1990.
| image2            = Shree Swaminarayan Temple - Cardiff - geograph.org.uk - 1605788.jpg
| width2            = 
| alt2              = 
| caption2          = [[Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Cardiff|Shri Swaminarayan Mandir]] in Grangetown is the first and largest Hindu temple in Wales.
| image3            = Sri Dasmais Singh Sabha Gurdwara - Cardiff - 4836850.jpg
| width3            = 
| alt3              = 
| caption3          = Sri Dasmais Singh Sabha Gurdwara, Bhatra Sikh centre, Riverside
}}

Cardiff's Muslim population is much above the Welsh average and the longest established in the UK, being started by Yemeni and Somali sailors settling in the 19th century.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ansari |first=Humayun |author-link=Humayun Ansari |title=The Infidel Within: Muslims in Britain Since 1800 |publisher=C. Hurst & Co |year=2004 |location=London |page=429 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=43G472v4KMUC&q=cardiff+yemeni+sailors&pg=PA156 |isbn=978-1-85065-686-9 |access-date=15 October 2020 |archive-date=28 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210528130605/https://books.google.com/books?id=43G472v4KMUC&q=cardiff+yemeni+sailors&pg=PA156 |url-status=live }}</ref> Cardiff now has over 11,000 Muslims with various national affiliations<ref name="cityprofile">{{Cite web |url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/profiles/00pt.asp |title=Census 2001 – Profiles – Cardiff |access-date=12 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070816024606/http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/profiles/00pt.asp |archive-date=16 August 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref> – nearly 52 per cent of the Muslim population in Wales.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Social Audit of the Muslim Community in Wales |url=http://gov.wales/docs/statistics/2007/070509socialmuslimen.pdf |date=3 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903214306/http://gov.wales/docs/statistics/2007/070509socialmuslimen.pdf |archive-date=3 September 2015 }}</ref>

The proportion of Cardiff residents declaring themselves Hindu, Sikh and Jewish were all considerably higher than the Welsh averages, but lower than the UK figures. The city has had a Hindu community since Indian immigrants settled in the 1950s and 1960s. The first Hindu temple in the city was opened in [[Grangetown, Cardiff|Grangetown]] on 6 April 1979 on the site of an abandoned synagogue.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.swaminarayanwales.org.uk/History/history.asp |title=History of Shree Swaminarayan Temple Cardiff |access-date=21 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420155606/http://www.swaminarayanwales.org.uk/History/history.asp |archive-date=20 April 2008 }}</ref> The 25th anniversary of the founding was celebrated in September 2007 with a parade of over 3,000 people through the city centre, including Hindus from across the United Kingdom and members of Cardiff's other religious communities.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/7006249.stm |title=Worshippers celebrate with parade |date=22 September 2007 |publisher=BBC Wales |access-date=21 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090115130822/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/7006249.stm |archive-date=15 January 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> There are over 2,000 Hindus in Cardiff, worshipping at three temples.<ref name="cityprofile"/>

In the 2001 census 18.8% of the city's population stated they had no religion, while 8.6% did not state a religion.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/profiles/00PT-A.asp#ethnic |title=Census 2001 – Profiles – Cardiff – Ethnicity & Religion |date=19 February 2003 |access-date=23 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070524193506/http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/profiles/00PT-A.asp#ethnic |archive-date=24 May 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{clear}}

==Economy==
{{Main|Economy and industry of Cardiff}}

[[File:Exchange Hotel, Cardiff.jpg|thumb|[[The Coal Exchange]]]]
As the capital city of Wales, Cardiff is the main engine of growth in the Welsh economy. Though the population of Cardiff is about 10% of the Welsh population, the economy of Cardiff makes up nearly 20% of Welsh GDP and 40% of the city's workforce are daily in-commuters from the surrounding South Wales area.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/articles/economic_trends/Sub-regional_&_Local_Area_GDP.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090924210535/http://www.statistics.gov.uk/articles/economic_trends/Sub-regional_%26_Local_Area_GDP.pdf |archive-date=24 September 2009 |url-status=dead |title=Sub-regional and local area gross domestic product |last=Clifton-Fearnside |first=Alex |author2=Adam Douglas |date=14 May 2002 |publisher=Office for National Statistics |access-date=18 April 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.statswales.wales.gov.uk/TableViewer/document.aspx?ReportId=4903&IF_Language=isl |title=Statistics on Commuting in Wales |date=5 December 2007 |publisher=Statistics for Wales |access-date=18 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114021425/http://www.statswales.wales.gov.uk/TableViewer/document.aspx?ReportId=4903&IF_Language=isl |archive-date=14 January 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Industry has played a major part in Cardiff's development for many centuries. The main catalyst for its transformation from a small town into a big city was the demand for coal required in making iron and later steel, brought to sea by [[packhorse]] from [[Merthyr Tydfil]]. This was first achieved by building a {{convert|25|mi|km|adj=on|abbr=out}} canal from Merthyr ({{cvt|510|ft|m|disp=or}} above sea level) to the [[Taff Estuary]] at Cardiff.<ref name="canal">{{Cite web |url=http://www.alangeorge.co.uk/the_glamorganshire_canal.htm |title=The Glamorganshire Canal |access-date=19 April 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071227160758/http://www.alangeorge.co.uk/the_glamorganshire_canal.htm |archive-date=27 December 2007 }}</ref> Eventually the [[Taff Vale Railway]] replaced the canal barges and massive marshalling yards sprang up as new docks were developed in Cardiff – all prompted by the soaring worldwide demand for coal from the South Wales valleys.

At its peak, Cardiff's port area, known as [[Tiger Bay]], became the busiest port in the world and – for some time – the world's most important coal port.<ref name="Grauniad Dinas">{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2009/jun/09/walk-guides-cardiff-wales-architecture?page=2 |title=Cardiff's millennium makeover, Cardiff – Travel |access-date=2 June 2010 |date=9 June 2009 |work=The Guardian |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606214328/http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2009/jun/09/walk-guides-cardiff-wales-architecture?page=2 |archive-date=6 June 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="BBC Dinas">{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/2854567.stm |title=Capital claims – A city's struggle |access-date=2 June 2010 |date=22 April 2003 |work=BBC News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040713044548/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/2854567.stm |archive-date=13 July 2004 |url-status=live }}</ref> In the years leading up to the [[First World War]], more than 10 million tonnes of coal was exported annually from [[Cardiff Docks]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/rhagor/article/?article_id=50 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120530052329/http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/rhagor/article/?article_id=50 |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 May 2012 |title=Cardiff – Coal and Shipping Metropolis of the World |publisher=National Museum of Wales |access-date=19 April 2008 }}</ref> In 1907, Cardiff's [[Coal Exchange]] was the first host to a business deal for a million [[Pound Sterling|pounds Sterling]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.glamro.gov.uk/check/Building%20of%20a%20Capital%202/A_Why.html |title=Why Did Cardiff Grow? |publisher=Glamorgan Record Office |access-date=19 April 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081123034747/http://www.glamro.gov.uk/check/Building%20of%20a%20Capital%202/A_Why.html |archive-date=23 November 2008 }}</ref> The high demand for Welsh coal and specifically Welsh artificial fuel, named Patent Fuel, is shown by the numerous factories producing this fuel, with the same recipe, in the region of Cardiff. Most well known factories were the Star Patent fuel Co., the Crown Patent fuel, the Cardiff Patent fuel etc.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Davies |first=J. |title=The South Wales Coal Annual For 1908 |year=1908 |edition=1908 |location=Cardiff }}</ref> After a period of decline, due to low demand on coal, Cardiff's port has started to grow again – over 3 million tonnes of cargo passed through the docks in 2007.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7414502.stm |title=Ports' resurgence as imports grow |date=22 May 2008 |publisher=BBC News Wales |access-date=28 May 2008 }}</ref>

[[File:71 Bridge Street (1), Cardiff city centre.jpg|upright|thumb|The 26-storey [[Bridge Street Exchange]], at {{cvt|85|m|ft}} in height, is the [[List of tallest buildings in Cardiff|tallest building in Cardiff]].<ref name="Beeb">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-43880385 |title=Tallest building for Cardiff gets 'topped out' |work=BBC News |date=24 April 2018 |access-date=22 November 2021 }}</ref>]]

Cardiff today is the main finance and business [[Service (economics)|services]] centre in Wales, with strong representation of finance and business services in the local economy. This sector, combined with the public administration, education and health sectors, have accounted for about 75% of Cardiff's economic growth since 1991.<ref name="employ">{{Cite web |url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/objview.asp?Object_ID=3393& |title=Labour Market:An overview of Cardiff Employment and the local economy |date=9 April 2004 |publisher=Cardiff County Council |access-date=19 April 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609174301/http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/objview.asp?Object_ID=3393& |archive-date=9 June 2011 }}</ref> The city was recently placed seventh overall in the top 50 European cities in the fDI 2008 Cities of the Future list published by the [[fDi magazine]], and ranked seventh in terms of attracting foreign investment.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://fdimagazine.com/cp/10/FDI_052-055_0208-2.pdf |title=European Cities & Regions of the Future 2008/09 |date=1 February 2008 |access-date=25 March 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080408201244/http://fdimagazine.com/cp/10/FDI_052-055_0208-2.pdf |archive-date=8 April 2008 }}</ref> Notable companies such as [[Legal & General]], [[Admiral Insurance]], [[HBOS]], [[Zurich Financial Services|Zurich]], [[ING Direct]], [[The Automobile Association|The AA]], [[Principality Building Society]], [[118 118 (UK)|118118]], [[Centrica plc|British Gas]], [[SA Brain & Company Ltd|Brains]], [[SWALEC|SWALEC Energy]] and [[BT Group|BT]], all operate large national or regional headquarters and contact centres in the city, some of them based in Cardiff's office towers such as [[Capital Tower, Cardiff|Capital Tower]] and Brunel House. Other major employers include [[NHS Wales]] and the Senedd. On 1 March 2004, Cardiff was granted [[Fairtrade City]] status.

Cardiff is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United Kingdom, receiving 18.3 million visitors in 2010 and generating £852 million for the city's economy.<ref name="tourism">{{Cite web |url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?nav=2874,5852&parent_directory_id=2865&id=11590&Language= |title=Tourism Boost for Cardiff Economy |date=13 May 2011 |publisher=[[Cardiff County Council]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402175425/http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?nav=2874%2C5852&parent_directory_id=2865&id=11590&Language= |archive-date=2 April 2012 |url-status=dead |access-date=27 May 2011 }}</ref> One result is that one in five employees in Cardiff are based in the distribution, hotels and restaurants sector, highlighting the growing retail and tourism industries in the city.<ref name="employ"/> The city has many hotels of varying sizes and standards, providing almost 9,000 available beds.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=8719 |format=PDF |title=Cardiff Essential Facts – Tourism |publisher=Cardiff County Council |date=1 May 2007 |access-date=25 March 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609173534/http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=8719 |archive-date=9 June 2011 }}</ref>
{{multiple image
| align             = right
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| header            = The BBC Cymru Wales estate in Cardiff
| header_align      = center
| header_background = 
| footer            = 
| footer_align      = left
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| caption_align     = center
| total_width       = 400px
| image1            = BBC Cymru Wales (geograph 6226511) (cropped).jpg
| alt1              = 
| caption1          = [[BBC Cymru Wales New Broadcasting House|BBC New Broadcasting House]]
| image2            = Roath Lock studios in Cardiff.jpg
| alt2              = 
| caption2          = [[Roath Lock|BBC Roath Lock Studios]]
}}

Cardiff is home to the Welsh media and a large media sector with [[BBC Cymru Wales]], [[S4C]] and [[ITV Wales & West|ITV Wales]] all having studios in the city.<ref name="media"/> There is a large independent TV production industry sector of over 600 companies, employing around 6,000, with a turnover estimated at £350 million.<ref name="media">{{Cite web |url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=3775 |title=The Film, TV and Multimedia Sector in Cardiff |publisher=Economic Development Division, Cardiff County Council |format=PDF |date=1 December 2003 |access-date=11 September 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609173256/http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=3775 |archive-date=9 June 2011 }}</ref> Just to the north-west of the city, in [[Rhondda Cynon Taff]], the first completely new film studios in the UK for 30 years are being built, to be named [[Valleywood]]. The studios are set to be the biggest in the UK. In 2011 the BBC completed the [[Roath Lock]] studios in Cardiff Bay to film dramas such as ''Casualty'', ''Doctor Who'', and ''Pobol y Cwm''.<ref>{{Cite news |title=BBC Wales drama village's first phase completed |work=BBC News |date=20 January 2011 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-12231117 |access-date=18 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211123601/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-12231117 |archive-date=11 December 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Cardiff has several regeneration projects, such as St David's 2 Centre and surrounding areas of the city centre, and the £1.4 billion International Sports Village in Cardiff Bay, which played a part in the [[2012 Summer Olympics|London 2012 Olympics]]. It features the only [[Olympic-size swimming pool|Olympic-standard swimming pool]] in Wales, the [[Cardiff International Pool]], which opened on 12 January 2008.

According to the Welsh Rugby Union, the Principality Stadium contributed £1 billion to the Welsh economy in the ten years after it opened in 1999, with around 85% of that staying in the Cardiff area.<ref name="WRU Mileniwm 1">{{Cite web |title=Stadium has boosted economy by £1bn in |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/business-in-wales/business-news/2009/06/24/stadium-has-boosted-economy-by-1bn-in-its-first-decade-91466-23959813/ |access-date=28 June 2009 |date=24 June 2000 |work=WalesOnline website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090627031924/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/business-in-wales/business-news/2009/06/24/stadium-has-boosted-economy-by-1bn-in-its-first-decade-91466-23959813/ |archive-date=27 June 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Shopping===
{{See also|List of shopping arcades in Cardiff}}
[[File:St David's Centre newly opened.jpg|thumb|[[St. David's (Cardiff)|St. David's]] in [[The Hayes]] is the [[List of UK shopping centres|largest shopping centre in Wales]].]]

Most of Cardiff's shopping portfolio is in the [[Cardiff city centre|city centre]] around Queen Street, [[St. Mary Street/High Street|St Mary Street and High Street]], with large suburban [[retail parks]] in Cardiff Bay, [[Culverhouse Cross]], [[Leckwith]], [[Penylan|Newport Road]] and [[Pontprennau]], together with markets in the city centre and [[Splott]]. A £675 million regeneration programme for Cardiff's [[St. David's Centre]] was completed in 2009, providing a total of {{cvt|1400000|sqft|m2}} of shopping space, making it one of the largest shopping centres in the United Kingdom.<ref name="stdavids2">{{Cite web |url=http://www.stdavids2.com/Template01.asp?pageid=95 |title=St Davids 2 and Cardiff |access-date=3 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070723160331/http://www.stdavids2.com/Template01.asp?pageid=95 |archive-date=23 July 2007 }}</ref> The centre was named the international shopping centre of the year in 2010 by Retail Leisure International (RLI).<ref name="StDavid22">{{Cite web |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2010/06/17/cardiff-s-st-david-s-is-world-s-top-retail-arcade-91466-26668936/ |title=St David 2 Worlds best shopping mall |date=16 June 2010 |access-date=17 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120123143923/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2010/06/17/cardiff-s-st-david-s-is-world-s-top-retail-arcade-91466-26668936/ |archive-date=23 January 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Summer on Queen Street - Cardiff - geograph.org.uk - 1363923.jpg|thumb|Queen Street, one of Cardiff's main shopping areas]]
The [[Castle Quarter (Cardiff)|Castle Quarter]] is a commercial area in the north of the city centre, which includes some of Cardiff's Victorian and Edwardian arcades: [[Castle Arcade]], [[Morgan Arcade]] and [[Royal Arcade, Cardiff|Royal Arcade]], and principal shopping streets: [[St Mary Street/High Street|St Mary Street, High Street]], [[The Hayes]], and Queen Street. Morgan Arcade is home to [[Spillers Records]], the world's oldest record shop.<ref>{{Cite news |title=World's oldest record shop (est. 1894) is threatened with closure |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/dec/12/pop.rock |work=guardian.co.uk |access-date=11 September 2008 |location=London |first=Steven |last=Morris |date=12 December 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606214332/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/dec/12/pop.rock |archive-date=6 June 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="spillers">{{Cite news |url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/article656416.ece |title=World's oldest record shop in the death grip of a developer |newspaper=The Times |quote=The owners of Spillers Records, recognised by Guinness World Records as the oldest such emporium on Earth, say that it will close unless a buyer is found. |date=1 December 2006 |access-date=11 September 2008 |location=London |first1=Fiona |last1=Hamilton |first2=Sam |last2=Coates |first3=Michael |last3=Savage |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517084203/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/article656416.ece |archive-date=17 May 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Cardiff has a number of markets, including the vast Victorian indoor [[Cardiff Market|Cardiff Central Market]] and the Riverside Community Market.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Collins |first=Hannah |date=3 September 2023 |title=Riverside Famers' Market: 25 years of sustainable food & community spirit |url=https://www.buzzmag.co.uk/riverside-farmers-market-25-years-cardiff/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260205211920/https://www.buzzmag.co.uk/riverside-farmers-market-25-years-cardiff/ |archive-date=5 February 2026 |access-date=5 February 2026 |work=Buzz Magazine}}</ref>

==Transport==
{{Main|Transport in Cardiff}}

===Rail===
{{main|Rail transport in Cardiff}}

[[Cardiff Central railway station]] is the largest railway station in Wales, with eight platforms coping with over 12.5 million passengers a year.<ref>[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/feeds/new-platform-at-cardiff-central-station-will-help-to-ease-congestion-as-railway-upgrade-in-south-wales-continues/ New platform at Cardiff Central will help to ease congestion as railway upgrade in South Wales continues] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180512181941/https://www.networkrail.co.uk/feeds/new-platform-at-cardiff-central-station-will-help-to-ease-congestion-as-railway-upgrade-in-south-wales-continues/|date=12 May 2018}} Network Rail 1 December 2016.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/nav.1529 |title=Station usage |publisher=Office of Rail Regulation |access-date=13 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070705115621/http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/nav.1529 |archive-date=5 July 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref> It provides direct services to [[Bridgend railway station|Bridgend]] and [[Newport railway station|Newport]], long-distance, cross-Wales services to [[Wrexham General railway station|Wrexham]] and [[Holyhead railway station|Holyhead]], and services to [[Bristol Temple Meads railway station|Bristol]], [[Birmingham New Street railway station|Birmingham]], [[Manchester Piccadilly railway station|Manchester]] and [[Paddington railway station|London]]. Cardiff Central Station is situated within the southern border of what was known [[Temperance Town, Cardiff|Temperance Town]], a former residential area within central Cardiff.

[[Cardiff Queen Street railway station]] is the second busiest in Wales and the hub for the [[Valley Lines]] services that connect the [[South Wales Valleys]] and the Cardiff suburbs with the city centre. It is located at the eastern end of the city centre and provides services to Cardiff Bay. Cardiff has a [[Commuter rail in the United Kingdom|suburban rail system]] known as the [[Valleys & Cardiff Local Routes]], operated by [[Transport for Wales Rail|Transport for Wales]]. There are eight lines that serve 20 stations in the city, 26 in the wider urban area (including Taffs Well, [[Penarth]] and Dinas Powys) and more than 60 in the South Wales valleys and the [[Vale of Glamorgan]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk/WorkArea/showcontent.aspx?id=4776 |title=Network Map – Valleys & Cardiff local routes |publisher=Arriva Trains Wales |access-date=20 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525204307/http://www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk/WorkArea/showcontent.aspx?id=4776 |archive-date=25 May 2011 }}</ref>

===Metro===
The [[South Wales Metro]] is an integrated public transport system under development in south-east Wales, centered on Cardiff. The project is to include the electrification of some of the existing railway lines and the creation of multiple [[light rail]] and [[light rapid transit]] lines. Four lines are under construction with a further three planned. The first lines will link [[Penarth]] and [[Cardiff Bay]] to {{rws|Radyr}}, {{rws|Treherbert}}, {{rws|Aberdare}} and {{rws|Merthyr Tydfil}}, with plans to also serve [[Pontyclun]], [[St Mellons]] and [[Porth Teigr]]. Alongside this, current commuter services will be improved with a near-tripling in capacity on some routes to {{rws|Bridgend}} and {{rws|Rhymney}}.

===Air===
{{main|Cardiff Airport|Cardiff Heliport}}

Domestic and international air links to Cardiff and South & West Wales are provided from [[Cardiff Airport|Cardiff Airport (CWL)]], the only international airport in Wales. The airport lies in the village of [[Rhoose]], {{convert|10|mi|km|0|abbr=out}} west of the city. There are regular bus services linking the airport with Cardiff city centre, and a train service from [[Rhoose Cardiff International Airport railway station]] to Cardiff Central.

===Road and bus===
{{Main|Bus transport in Cardiff}}

The [[M4 motorway]] connects Cardiff with [[Swansea]] to the west and [[Newport, Wales|Newport]] and London to the east, with four junctions on the M4, including one with the [[A48(M) motorway|A48(M)]]. The [[A470 road|A470]] provides an important link from the city to the [[A465 road|Heads of the Valleys road]]. When completed, the [[A4232 road|A4232]] – also known as the Peripheral Distributor Road – will form part of the Cardiff ring-road system, along with the M4 motorway between junctions 30 and 33.<ref name="Ring Roads">{{Cite web |url=http://www.pberry.plus.com/ukroads/ring_roads/ |publisher=Paul Berry |title=Ring Roads |access-date=8 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071109114828/http://www.pberry.plus.com/ukroads/ring_roads/ |archive-date=9 November 2007 }}</ref>

Cardiff has a comprehensive bus network, whose providers include the [[municipal bus companies|municipal bus company]] [[Cardiff Bus]] (routes within the city and to Newport, Barry and Penarth), [[Adventure Travel (bus company)|Adventure Travel]]  (cross-city and to [[Cardiff Airport]]), [[Stagecoach South Wales]] (to the [[South Wales Valleys]]) and [[First Cymru]] (to Cowbridge and Bridgend). [[National Express Coaches|National Express]] provides direct services to major cities such as [[Bristol]], London, [[Newcastle upon Tyne]] and [[Manchester]]. Most bus services in the city use [[Cardiff Bus Interchange]] located next to Central Station, which opened in 2024 replacing an older structure on the same site, whilst intercity and coach services use the coach terminal located near [[Sophia Gardens]] in the north of the city centre.

===Cycle===
{{Main|Cycling in Cardiff}}

The [[Taff Trail]] is a [[walkway|walking]] and [[cycle path]] running for {{convert|55|mi|km|round=5|abbr=out}} between Cardiff Bay and [[Brecon]] in the [[Brecon Beacons]] National Park. It runs through Bute Park, [[Sophia Gardens]] and many other green areas within Cardiff. It is possible to cycle the entire distance of the [[Trail]] almost completely off-road, as it largely follows the [[River Taff]] and many of the disused railways of the Glamorganshire valleys.

[[Nextbike]] previously operated a public bike-hire scheme in the city between March 2018 and January 2024,<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 December 2023 |title=Nextbike Cardiff: Bike sharing scheme scrapped due to theft |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-67646004 |access-date=3 February 2024 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB }}</ref> with the scheme allegedly being scrapped due to theft. Cardiff Council are seeking a replacement operator.

===Water===
The Aquabus water taxi runs every hour between the city centre (Taff Mead Embankment) and Cardiff Bay (Mermaid Quay), and between Cardiff Bay and Penarth [[Cardiff Bay Barrage]]. Throughout the year, Cardiff Waterbus<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cardiffwaterbus.com/ |title=The original Cardiff Waterbus |website=cardiffwaterbus.com |access-date=9 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150801084105/http://cardiffwaterbus.com/ |archive-date=1 August 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> sail between the Pierhead on The Waterfront and the Penarth end of the Cardiff Bay Barrage with short sightseeing cruises.

Between March and October boats depart from Cardiff Bay for [[Flat Holm]] Island. The ''[[PS Waverley]]'' and ''[[MV Balmoral (1949)|MV Balmoral]]'' sail from Britannia Quay (in Roath Basin) to various destinations in the [[Bristol Channel]].
<gallery>
File:Cardiff Central station (26526139271).jpg|[[Cardiff Central railway station]]
File:Gorsaf Heol y Frenhines, Caerdydd.JPG|[[Cardiff Queen Street railway station]]
File:Depo Ffynnon Taf - TfW 398011 llaes 398010.JPG|[[South Wales Metro]] [[tram-train]]s 
File:Cardiff Airport (Oct 2010).jpg|[[Cardiff Airport]]
File:Bus Interchange Open (1).jpg|[[Cardiff Bus Interchange]]
File:Cardiff Bus (Bws Caerdydd) YN17ONL.jpg|[[Cardiff Bus]]  is the main bus operator in the Cardiff area
File:Cycle lane in Excalibur Drive, Cardiff.jpg|Typical cycle lane in Cardiff
File:Aquabushydro1.jpg|Aquabus
</gallery>

==Telecommunications==
{{See also|List of Wales dialling codes}}
'''029''' is the current telephone dialling code for Cardiff,<ref name="wales online 02921">{{cite news |last=Malone |first=Sam |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/new-029-22-cardiff-telephone-2731565 |title=New phone numbers for Cardiff as first sets of 029 prefixes begin running out |work=Wales Online |date=18 April 2013 |access-date=29 May 2023 }}</ref> as well as for the neighbouring towns of Penarth, Dinas Powys and [[Caerphilly]]. The dialling code is optional when dialling within the area: one can dial between any two phones within the 029 code using only the eight-digit local number.

Prior to the [[Big Number Change]] on 22 April 2000 the area had shorter, six-digit local numbers with an area code of 01222.<ref name="wales online 02921" /> This was 0222 before May 1995, derived from 0 (indicating it was a trunk call), 22 (CA on a telephone pad, for CArdiff) and 2 (as 220 was used for CAmbridge and 221 for BAth). Before the introduction of automated trunk call dialling, non-local numbers were accessed through a system of manual telephone exchanges, in common with the rest of the United Kingdom.

There remains a common misconception that local numbers are still six digits long and that the code is 02920, even though there are newer Cardiff numbers in the ranges (029) 21xx xxxx and (029) 22xx xxxx.<ref name="wales online 02921" />

==Education==
{{See also|List of schools in Cardiff}}

Cardiff is home to four major institutions of higher education: [[Cardiff University]], [[Cardiff Metropolitan University]], [[University of South Wales]] and the [[Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama]].

Cardiff University was founded by a [[royal charter]] in 1883 as the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/about/milestones/index.html |title=About Cardiff University – Milestones |publisher=Cardiff University |access-date=20 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926212224/http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/about/milestones/index.html |archive-date=26 September 2007 }}</ref> is a member of the [[Russell Group]] of leading research led universities, having most of its campus in [[Cathays]] and the city centre. [[Cardiff Metropolitan University]] (formerly UWIC) has campuses in the Llandaff, [[Cyncoed]] and city centre areas, and is part of the confederal [[University of Wales]]. The [[Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama]] is a [[music school|conservatoire]] established in 1949 and is based in the grounds of Cardiff Castle. The [[University of South Wales]]'s Cardiff campus, [[Atrium (Cardiff)|Atrium]], is home to the Cardiff School of Creative & Cultural Industries and is located in the city centre.

The total number of higher education students in the city is around 43,900.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.hesa.ac.uk/dox/dataTables/studentsAndQualifiers/download/institution0607.xls |title=Table 0a – All students by institution, mode of study, level of study, gender and domicile 2006/07 |publisher=Higher Education Statistics Agency |format=XLS |access-date=4 December 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130709132444/http://www.hesa.ac.uk/dox/dataTables/studentsAndQualifiers/download/institution0607.xls |archive-date=9 July 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cci.glam.ac.uk/faqs/#numbers |title=FAQs, Cardiff School of Creative & Cultural Industries, University of Glamorgan |publisher=[[University of Glamorgan]] |access-date=4 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070826194742/http://cci.glam.ac.uk/faqs/ |archive-date=26 August 2007 }}</ref> The city also has two [[further education]] colleges: [[Cardiff and Vale College]] and [[St David's Catholic College|St David's College]]. The former is the result of a merger, completed in August 2011, between [[Coleg Glan Hafren]] and [[Barry College]]. Further education is also offered at most high schools in the city.

Cardiff has three state nursery schools (one bilingual), 98 state primary schools (two bilingual, fifteen [[Welsh medium education|Welsh medium]]), and 19 state secondary schools (three Welsh medium).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://apps8.cardiff.gov.uk/schools/index.php |title=Schools Search Page |publisher=Cardiff Council. Retrieved 8 December 2016. |access-date=8 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220082913/http://apps8.cardiff.gov.uk/schools/index.php |archive-date=20 December 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> There are also several independent schools in the city, including [[St John's College, Cardiff|St John's College]], [[The Cathedral School, Llandaff|Llandaff Cathedral School]], [[Cardiff Sixth Form College]], [[Kings Monkton School]] and [[Howell's School Llandaff|Howell's School]], a single-sex girls' school (until sixth form). In 2013 Cardiff Sixth Form College came top of the independent senior schools in the UK, which were based on the percentage of A* and A at [[GCE Advanced Level|Advanced Level]]. Also in the top 100 were St John's College and Howell's School.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.best-schools.co.uk/league-tables/a-level-passes.aspx |title=The Top 100 Senior Schools A*and A Grade at A Level |publisher=Best-Schools.co.uk |access-date=30 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031040833/http://www.best-schools.co.uk/league-tables/a-level-passes.aspx |archive-date=31 October 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Notable schools include [[Whitchurch High School]] (the largest secondary school in Wales),<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.estyn.gov.uk/english/provider/6815403/ |title=Whitchurch High School: 2003 Inspection Report |last=Medhurst |first=B W |date=28 March 2003 |publisher=[[Estyn]] |access-date=5 June 2008 |format=PDF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117163324/http://www.estyn.gov.uk/english/provider/6815403/ |archive-date=17 January 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Fitzalan High School]] (one of the most multi-cultural state schools in the UK),<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.estyn.gov.uk/inspection_reports/Fitzalan_sec_2004.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090514052918/http://www.estyn.gov.uk/inspection_reports/Fitzalan_sec_2004.pdf |archive-date=14 May 2009 |title=Fitzalan High School: 2004 Inspection Report |last=Owen |first=G |date=13 December 2004 |publisher=[[Estyn]] |access-date=5 June 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf]] (the largest Welsh medium secondary school in Wales).

As well as academic institutions, Cardiff is also home to other educational and learning organisations such as [[Techniquest]], a hands-on science discovery centre that now has franchises throughout Wales, and is part of the Wales Gene Park in collaboration with Cardiff University, [[NHS Wales]] and the [[Welsh Development Agency]] (WDA).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wales Gene Park |url=http://www.wgp.cf.ac.uk/listWorkProgProEd.htm |access-date=31 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070625151144/http://www.wgp.cf.ac.uk/listWorkProgProEd.htm |archive-date=25 June 2007 }}</ref> Cardiff is also home to a regional office of the [[International Baccalaureate]] Organisation (IBO).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ibo.org/contact-the-ib/office-locations/ |title=IBO office locations |date=13 October 2014 |publisher=[[International Baccalaureate|International Baccalaureate Organisation]] |access-date=12 September 2024 }}</ref>


{|class="toccolours" style="margin:0.5em auto"
|-
|<gallery caption="University Campuses in Cardiff" mode="packed">
File:Cardiff University main building.jpg|[[Cardiff University]] {{endash}} Cathays Park and Heath Park Campuses
File:Cardiff Metropolitan University Llandaff Campus (2).jpg|[[Cardiff Metropolitan University]] {{endash}} Llandaff and Cyncoed Campuses
File:University of South Wales, Cardiff Campus.jpg|[[University of South Wales]] {{endash}} Cardiff Campus
File:Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama.jpg|[[Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama]], part of the University of South Wales Group 
File:Wales Academy of Voice & Dramatic Arts, University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Cardiff.jpg|[[University of Wales Trinity Saint David]] {{endash}} Cardiff Campus
File:Cardiff 13737 University of Wales Registry 01.JPG|[[University of Wales]] is a confederal university based in the [[University of Wales Registry]]. 
</gallery>
|}

==Landmarks and attractions==
{{See also|Architecture of Cardiff|Listed buildings in Cardiff}}
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| image1            = Adeilad y Pierhead, Caerdydd.jpg
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| caption1          = [[Pierhead Building]] is part of the [[Senedd_building#Senedd_estate_in_Cardiff_Bay|Senedd estate in Cardiff Bay]].
| image2            = Cardiff, Church Street, St. John the Baptist.jpg
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| caption2          = [[St John the Baptist Church, Cardiff|St John the Baptist Church]] is the oldest [[Church in Wales]] building in the city.
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| caption3          = Cardiff Crown Court is part of the Wales Circuit of [[His Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service]].
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Cardiff has many landmark buildings such as the Principality Stadium, [[Pierhead Building]], the Welsh National Museum and the Senedd building, the home of the Welsh Parliament. Cardiff is also known for Cardiff Castle, [[St David's Hall]], [[St John the Baptist Church, Cardiff|St John the Baptist Church]], [[Llandaff Cathedral]] and the [[Wales Millennium Centre]].

[[Cardiff Castle]] is a major tourist attraction in the city and is situated in the heart of the [[Cardiff city centre|city centre]]. The [[St Fagans National History Museum|National History Museum at St Fagans]] in Cardiff is a large open-air museum housing dozens of buildings from throughout Welsh history that have been moved to the site in Cardiff. The Civic Centre in [[Cathays Park]] comprises a collection of [[Edwardian architecture|Edwardian]] buildings such as the [[City Hall, Cardiff|City Hall]], [[National Museum Cardiff|National Museum and Gallery of Wales]], [[Cardiff Crown Court]], and buildings forming part of Cardiff University, together with more modern civic buildings. These buildings are laid out around the Queen Alexandra Gardens, a formal park which contains the [[Welsh National War Memorial]] and a number of other, smaller memorials.

In addition to Cardiff Castle, [[Castell Coch]] is a castle in [[Tongwynlais]], in the north of the city. The current castle is an elaborately decorated Victorian [[folly]] designed by [[William Burges]] for the Marquess and built in the 1870s, as an occasional retreat. However, the Victorian castle stands on the footings of a much older medieval castle possibly built by [[Ifor Bach]], a regional baron with links to Cardiff Castle also. The exterior has become a popular location for film and television productions. It rarely fulfilled its intended role as a retreat for the Butes, who seldom stayed there. For the Marquess, the pleasure had been in its creation, a pleasure lost following Burges's death in 1881.

Cardiff claims the largest concentration of [[castles]] of any city in the world.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.skysports.com/rugbyunion/World_Cup/Story/0,21043,13092_2689478,00.html |title=2007 Rugby World Cup City Guides – Cardiff |publisher=Sky Sports |access-date=19 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080405094448/http://www.skysports.com/rugbyunion/World_Cup/Story/0%2C21043%2C13092_2689478%2C00.html |archive-date=5 April 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> As well as Cardiff Castle and Castell Coch, there are the remains of two [[motte-and-bailey castle]]s in [[Morganstown]] and [[Rhiwbina]], known as [[Morganstown Castle Mound]] and [[Twmpath Castle]] or Twmpath Motte (also known as {{lang|cy|Caer Cynwrig}}) respectively.<ref name="Morganstown">{{Cadw|uid=3373|class=SM|num=GM256|desc=Morganstown Castle Mound |access-date=24 April 2021 |archive-date=24 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424071247/https://cadwpublic-api.azurewebsites.net/reports/sam/FullReport?lang=&id=3373 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Twmpath Motte">{{Cadw|uid=3465|class=SM|num=GM017|desc=Twmpath, Rhiwbina |access-date=24 April 2021 |archive-date=24 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424064805/https://cadwpublic-api.azurewebsites.net/reports/sam/FullReport?lang=&id=3465 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Twmpath]] (being a Welsh word for a small mound),<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.castlewales.com/twmpath.html |title=Twmpath Castle |year=2002 |access-date=21 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307035335/http://www.castlewales.com/twmpath.html |archive-date=7 March 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> which along with a castle at Whitchurch (known as Treoda and destroyed by housing in the 1960s) formed an arc of fortifications which divided the Norman lordship from the Welsh lordship of Senghenydd.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gatehouse-gazetteer.info/Welshsites/482.html |title=The Gatehouse: Treoda, Whitchurch |date=8 October 2007 |access-date=28 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130815082212/http://www.gatehouse-gazetteer.info/Welshsites/482.html |archive-date=15 August 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> Further up the Cefn Cibwr ridge on the boundary with Caerphilly there is also another ruined castle, known as [[Morgraig Castle]] ({{langx|cy|Castell Morgraig}}). Archaeological evidence suggests this castle was never finished, and it is debated whether the fortification was of Norman or Welsh origin. The concentration of castles indicates the moveable nature of the border between the Norman lordship of Glamorgan, centred at Cardiff, and its Welsh neighbours to the north.

There is also the ruined [[Bishop's Palace, Llandaff|Llandaff Bishop's Palace]], also known as Llandaff Castle,<ref name="Britannica">{{Cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Llandaff |title=Llandaff |publisher=[[Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.]] |access-date=5 April 2021 |archive-date=6 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206235749/https://www.britannica.com/place/Llandaff |url-status=live }}</ref> which was the home of the medieval bishops, which was destroyed about 1403–1404 by the Welsh leader [[Owain Glyndŵr]]. Now only the ruined gatehouse remains.<ref name="Britannica"/> Not strictly a castle in the historical sense, [[St Fagans National History Museum|Saint Fagans Castle]] is a preserved 17th-century manor house, once the seat of the [[Earl of Plymouth|Earls of Plymouth]].

{|class="toccolours" style="margin:0.5em auto"
|-
|<gallery caption="Cardiff's castles" mode="packed">
File:Cardiff Castle (15802151760).jpg|[[Cardiff Castle]]
File:Castell Coch - exterior.JPG|[[Castell Coch]] 
File:St Fagans National History Museum 196.JPG|[[St Fagans Castle]]
File:Bishops palace llandaff.jpg|[[Bishop's Palace, Llandaff|Bishop's Palace]]<br />''(also known as Llandaff Castle)''
File:Twmpath Castle (2).jpg|The overgrown [[Twmpath Castle|Twmpath Castle or Motte]]<br />''(also known as Caer Cynwrig)''
File:Morganstown Castle Mound 3.jpg|The overgrown [[Morganstown Castle Mound]] 
File:Caer Castell Camp 0194.jpg|The overgrown [[Caer Castell Camp]]
</gallery>
|}
Other major tourist attractions are the [[Cardiff Bay]] regeneration sites, which include the recently opened Wales Millennium Centre and the Senedd building, and many other cultural and sites of interest, including the [[Cardiff Bay Barrage]] and the famous [[Coal Exchange]]. The [[New Theatre (Cardiff)|New Theatre]] was founded in 1906 and refurbished in the 1980s. Until the opening of the Wales Millennium Centre in 2004, it was the premier venue in Wales for touring theatre and dance companies. Other venues popular for concerts and sporting events include [[Cardiff International Arena]], St David's Hall and the Principality Stadium. [[Cardiff Story]], a museum documenting the city's history, has been open to the public since the spring of 2011.

Cardiff has over 1,000 listed buildings, ranging from the more prominent buildings such as the castles, to smaller buildings, houses and structures.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?Parent_Directory_id=2865&nav=2870,3139,3939,3972 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060927041924/http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?Parent_Directory_id=2865&nav=2870%2C3139%2C3939%2C3972 |archive-date=27 September 2006 |title=Listed and Locally Listed Buildings |publisher=Cardiff County Council |access-date=28 May 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Cathedral Road was developed by the 3rd Marquis of Bute and is lined by fine villas, some backing on to Sophia Gardens.

Cardiff has walks of special interest for tourists and [[Walking|ramblers]] alike, such as the [[Cardiff Centenary Walk|Centenary Walk]], which runs for {{convert|2+1/4|mi|km|round=0.5|abbr=out}} within Cardiff city centre. This route passes through many of Cardiff's landmarks and historic buildings. The [[Animal Wall]], designed by [[William Burges]] in 1866, marks the south edge of Bute Park on Castle Street. It bears 15 carved animal statues.

==Culture and recreation==
{{Main|Culture and recreation in Cardiff|List of cultural venues in Cardiff|List of public art in Cardiff}}

[[File:Cardiff Bay WMC.jpg|thumb|[[Wales Millennium Centre]]]]
Cardiff has many cultural sites varying from the historical Cardiff Castle and out of town [[Castell Coch]] to the more modern [[Wales Millennium Centre]] and Cardiff Bay. Cardiff was a finalist in the [[European Capital of Culture]] 2008.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/2959944.stm |title=Liverpool named as European Capital of Culture |date=4 June 2003 |work=BBC News |access-date=28 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071217061749/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/2959944.stm |archive-date=17 December 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref> In recent years Cardiff has grown in stature as a tourist destination, with recent accolades including Cardiff being voted the eighth favourite UK city by readers of ''[[The Guardian]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2007/nov/04/escape?page=all |title=Observer Travel Awards: Your holiday winners |date=4 November 2007 |access-date=12 December 2007 |work=The Guardian |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606235025/http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2007/nov/04/escape?page=all |archive-date=6 June 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The city was also listed as one of the top 10 destinations in the UK on the official British tourist boards website Visit Britain,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.visitbritain.co.uk/ |title=Visit Britain |access-date=12 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928114810/http://www.visitbritain.co.uk/ |archive-date=28 September 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and US travel guide Frommers have listed Cardiff as one of 13 top destinations worldwide for 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.frommers.com/trip_ideas/cultural_immersion/article.cfm?ideaID=CULTURE&articleID=4811&t=Frommer%27s%20Top%20Destinations%20for%202008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080219200126/http://frommers.com/trip_ideas/cultural_immersion/article.cfm?ideaID=CULTURE&articleID=4811&t=Frommer%27s%20Top%20Destinations%20for%202008 |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 February 2008 |title=Frommer's Top Destinations for 2008 |date=4 December 2007 |access-date=12 December 2007 }}</ref> Annual events in Cardiff that have become regular appearances in Cardiff's calendar include [[Sparks in the Park]], [[The Great British Cheese Festival]], [[Pride Cymru]] (formerly Cardiff Mardi Gras), Cardiff Winter Wonderland, Cardiff Festival and [[Made in Roath]].

===Music and performing arts===
{{main|Music of Cardiff}}

[[File:Utilita Arena, Cardiff September 2024 (1).jpg|thumb|left|[[Cardiff International Arena|Utilita Arena Cardiff]]]]
A large number of concerts are held in the city, the larger ones at St David's Hall, Cardiff International Arena and occasionally the Principality Stadium. A number of festivals are also held in Cardiff, the largest being the [[Cardiff big weekend|Cardiff Big Weekend]] Festival, held annually in the city centre in the summer and playing host to free musical performances (from artists such as [[Ash (band)|Ash]], [[Jimmy Cliff]], [[Cerys Matthews]], the [[Fun Loving Criminals]], [[Soul II Soul]] and [[the Magic Numbers]]), fairground rides and cultural events such as a Children's Festival that takes place in the grounds of Cardiff Castle. The annual festival claims to be the UK's largest free outdoor festival, attracting over 250,000 visitors in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/music/sites/big_weekend/ |title=BBC Wales – Big Weekend |access-date=23 February 2008 |archive-date=28 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210528130551/https://edigitalsurvey.com/l.php?id=INS-642345567&v=7038&x=1600&y=1000&d=24&c=null&ck=1&p=%2Fwales%2Fmusic%2Fsites%2Fcardiff-big-weekend%2F&fu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fwales%2Fmusic%2Fsites%2Fcardiff-big-weekend%2F&xdm=edr&xdm_o=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk&xdm_c=edr0 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Cardiff hosted the [[National Eisteddfod]] in 1883, 1899, 1938, 1960, 1978, 2008 and 2018. Cardiff is unique in Wales in having two permanent [[stone circles]] used by the Gorsedd of [[Bard]]s during Eisteddfodau. The original circle stands in Gorsedd Gardens in front of the [[National Museum Cardiff]] while its 1978 replacement is situated in [[Bute Park]]. Since 1983, Cardiff has hosted the [[BBC Cardiff Singer of the World]] competition, a world-renowned event on the opera calendar which is held every two years. The city also hosts smaller events.

The [[Wales Millennium Centre]] hosts performances of opera, ballet, dance, comedy, musicals and is home to the [[BBC National Orchestra of Wales]]. St David's Hall (which hosts the Singer of the World competition) has regular performances of classical music and ballet as well as music of other genres. The largest of Cardiff's theatres is the [[New Theatre (Cardiff)|New Theatre]], situated in the city centre just off Queen Street. Other such venues include the [[Sherman Theatre]], [[Chapter Arts Centre]] and [[the Gate Arts Centre]].

The Cardiff music scene is established and wide-ranging: home to the [[BBC National Orchestra of Wales]] and the [[Welsh National Opera]]; has produced several leading acts; has acted as a springboard for Welsh bands to become famous. Acts hailing from Cardiff include [[Charlotte Church]], [[Shirley Bassey]], [[Iwan Rheon]], [[the Oppressed]], [[Kids In Glass Houses]], [[Los Campesinos]], [[the Hot Puppies]], [[The School (UK)|the School]], [[We're No Heroes]], [[Budgie (band)|Budgie]] and [[Shakin' Stevens]]. Also, artists such as [[Stereophonics]], [[the Automatic]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://theautomatic.co.uk/band.php |title=The Automatic / Band |publisher=theautomatic.co.uk |access-date=8 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080417213451/http://www.theautomatic.co.uk/band.php |archive-date=17 April 2008 }}</ref> [[Manic Street Preachers]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.myspace.com/manics |title=Manic Street Preachers on MySpace Music – Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music |date=2 January 2010 |publisher=[[Manic Street Preachers]] |access-date=2 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100101212617/http://www.myspace.com/manics |archive-date=1 January 2010 }}</ref> [[Lostprophets]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/music/sites/lostprophets/pages/rise.shtml |title=The rise of Lostprophets |publisher=[[BBC Wales]] |last=Pattison |first=Louis |access-date=8 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202142753/http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/music/sites/lostprophets/pages/rise.shtml |archive-date=2 December 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Underworld (band)|Underworld]], [[Super Furry Animals]], [[Catatonia (band)|Catatonia]] and [[Bullet for My Valentine]] have links with the city and are associated with the Cardiff music scene.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/cardiff-music-scene-the-scene-is-more-alive-than-ever-428059.html |title=Cardiff music scene: 'The scene is more alive than ever' |date=30 November 2006 |work=[[The Independent]] |last=Mugan |first=Chris |access-date=8 December 2008 |location=London |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101113001608/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/cardiff-music-scene-the-scene-is-more-alive-than-ever-428059.html |archive-date=13 November 2010 }}</ref> In 2010, Cardiff was named the UK's second "most musical" city by [[PRS for Music]].<ref>[https://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/2010/03/13/bristol-named-britain-s-most-musical-city-115875-22107650/ "Bristol names Britain's most musical city"] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605083821/http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/2010/03/13/bristol-named-britain-s-most-musical-city-115875-22107650/|date=5 June 2011}} ''Daily Mirror''</ref>

===Visual arts===
{{see also|Art in Cardiff}}
Cardiff has held a [[photomarathon]] in the city each year since 2004, in which photographers compete to take the best 12 pictures of 12 previously unknown topics in 12 hours. An exhibition of winners and other entries is held in June/July each year.<ref>Karen Price (21 June 2013) [http://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/new-views-city-unveiled--4695993 "Cardiff Photomarathon 2013: New views of the city unveiled"] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809114012/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/new-views-city-unveiled--4695993|date=9 August 2014}}, ''WalesOnline''. Retrieved 28 July 2014</ref>

===Sporting venues===
Cardiff's former municipal baths opened in 1862, as Turkish Baths, and were taken over by the City Council in 1873, before closing over a century later.<ref>{{cite web |title=Site of Cardiff Baths |url=https://historypoints.org/index.php?page=site-of-cardiff-baths |website=HistoryPoint |access-date=4 February 2025}}</ref> 

Sporting venues include the [[Millennium Stadium|Principality Stadium]] – the national stadium and home of the [[Wales national rugby union team]] – [[Sophia Gardens (cricket ground)|Sophia Gardens]] for [[Glamorgan County Cricket Club]], [[Cardiff City Stadium]] for [[Cardiff City F.C.]] and the [[Wales national football team|Wales football team]], [[Cardiff International Sports Stadium]], home of [[Cardiff Amateur Athletic Club]], [[Cardiff Arms Park]] for [[Cardiff Blues]] and [[Cardiff RFC]] rugby union teams, and [[Ice Arena Wales]] for [[Cardiff Devils]] ice hockey team. It hosted the [[1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games]] and was dubbed European City of Sport for its role in international sporting events in 2009 and again in 2014.<ref>{{Cite news |title=City takes European sports capital title for 2014 |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/cardiffonline/cardiff-news/2011/04/01/city-takes-european-sports-capital-title-for-2014-91466-28440348/ |access-date=6 April 2011 |newspaper=South Wales Echo |date=1 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120123142245/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/cardiffonline/cardiff-news/2011/04/01/city-takes-european-sports-capital-title-for-2014-91466-28440348/ |archive-date=23 January 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Principality Stadium hosted 11 football matches during the [[2012 Summer Olympics]], including the opening event and the men's bronze medal match.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Olympic football in Cardiff |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-12905961 |publisher=Visit Cardiff |access-date=6 April 2011 |date=22 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110402184433/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-12905961 |archive-date=2 April 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Recreation===
[[File:Bute Park, Cardiff.jpg|thumb|[[Bute Park]]]]

Cardiff has a strong nightlife. Most clubs and bars are situated in the city centre, especially St Mary Street. More recently Cardiff Bay has built up a strong night scene, with many modern bars and restaurants. The Brewery Quarter on St Mary Street is a recently developed venue for bars and restaurant with a central courtyard. Charles Street is also a popular part of the city.

[[File:Scott Memorial, Roath Park - geograph.org.uk - 27200.jpg|thumb|left|The lake at [[Roath Park]], including the lighthouse erected as a memorial to [[Robert Falcon Scott|Captain Scott]]]]

Cardiff is known for its extensive parks and other green spaces covering around 10% of the city's total area.<ref name="trends">{{Cite web |url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=4289 |format=PDF |title=Cardiff Population Trends |date=4 January 2006 |access-date=21 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609173610/http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=4289 |archive-date=9 June 2011 }}</ref> In 2022 according to research by Drinking Straw Cardiff has the highest percentage of green spaces in the UK and the fourth highest in Europe.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bakar |first=Faima |title=Revealed: this is officially the greenest city in the UK |url=https://www.timeout.com/uk/news/revealed-this-is-officially-the-greenest-city-in-the-uk-112222 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205174034/https://www.timeout.com/uk/news/revealed-this-is-officially-the-greenest-city-in-the-uk-112222 |archive-date=5 February 2023 |access-date=2026-02-16 |work=Time Out United Kingdom |language=en-GB |url-status=live }}</ref> Cardiff's main park, Bute Park (which was formerly the castle grounds) extends northwards from the top of one of Cardiff's main shopping street (Queen Street); when combined with the adjacent [[Llandaff Fields]] and Pontcanna Fields to the north-west it produces a massive open space skirting the River Taff. Other popular parks include [[Roath Park]] in the north, donated to the city by the [[John Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute|3rd Marquess of Bute]] in 1887, which includes a popular boating lake; [[Victoria Park, Cardiff]]'s first official park; and [[Thompson's Park]], formerly home to an [[aviary]] removed in the 1970s. Wild open spaces include Howardian Local Nature Reserve, {{cvt|32|acre|ha|abbr=off}} of the lower Rhymney valley in Penylan noted for its orchids,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Useful information |url=http://www.howardianlnr.org.uk/info.html |website=Howardian Local Nature Reserve |access-date=9 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804122517/http://howardianlnr.org.uk/info.html |archive-date=4 August 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Forest Farm Country Park]], over {{cvt|150|acre|ha|abbr=off}} along the River Taff in Whitchurch.

==Media==
{{Main|Media in Cardiff}}

{{See also|Media in Wales}}
[[File:Media Wales, Six Park Street, Cardiff 001.jpg|thumb|upright|The [[South Wales Echo]] and [[Western Mail (Wales)|Western Mail]]]]

Cardiff is the Welsh base for the main national broadcasters ([[BBC Cymru Wales]], [[ITV Wales]] and [[S4C]]). A locally based television station, ''Made in Cardiff'', is also based in the city centre. Major filming studios in Cardiff include the BBC's [[Roath Lock]] Studios and [[Pinewood Studios]] Wales.

Several contemporary television programmes and films are filmed in and/or set in Cardiff such as ''[[Casualty (TV series)|Casualty]]'', ''[[Doctor Who]]'', ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]'', ''[[Torchwood]]'', ''[[Merlin (TV series)|Merlin]]'', ''[[Class (2016 TV series)|Class]]'', ''[[The Valleys (TV series)|The Valleys]]'', ''[[Upstairs Downstairs (2010 TV series)|Upstairs Downstairs]]'', ''[[A Discovery of Witches (TV series)|A Discovery of Witches]]'', ''[[His Dark Materials (TV series)|His Dark Materials]]'', ''[[Being Human (British TV series)|Being Human]]'', ''[[The Story of Tracy Beaker (TV series)|The Story of Tracy Beaker]]'', ''[[Wizards vs Aliens]]'', ''[[Sex Education (TV series)|Sex Education]]'' and ''[[Sherlock (TV series)|Sherlock]]''.<ref>[http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2010/08/13/remake-of-upstairs-downstairs-filming-in-wales-91466-27054006/ Remake of Upstairs Downstairs filming in Wales] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100922110234/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2010/08/13/remake-of-upstairs-downstairs-filming-in-wales-91466-27054006/|date=22 September 2010}} Wales Online 13 August 2010. Retrieved 23 August 2010.</ref>

The main local newspaper is the ''[[South Wales Echo]]''; the national paper is the ''[[Western Mail (Wales)|Western Mail]]''. Both are based in Park Street in the city centre. ''Capital Times'', ''Echo Extra'' and the South Wales edition of ''[[Metro (Associated Metro Limited)|Metro]]'' are also based and distributed in the city.

There are several magazines, including ''[[Primary Times]]'' and a monthly ''[[papur bro]]'', and a Welsh-language community newsletter called ''[[Y Dinesydd]]'' (The Citizen). Radio stations serving the city and based in Cardiff include [[97.4 & 103.2 Capital FM South Wales|Capital South Wales]], [[Heart South Wales]], [[BBC Radio Wales]], [[BBC Radio Cymru]], [[Nation Radio Wales]], [[Radio Cardiff]], [[Smooth Wales]] and [[Xpress Radio]].

The Principality Stadium was one of the first six British landmarks to be fully mapped on [[Google street view|Google Street View]] as a 360-degree virtual tour.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8149329.stm |title=BBC News Locations |work=BBC News |access-date=21 July 2009 |date=14 July 2009 }}</ref>

==Sport==
{{Main|Sport in Cardiff}}

{{See also|Leisure centres in Cardiff|List of stadia in Wales by capacity|Rugby in Cardiff}}
[[File:Cardiff Arms Park - north stand.jpg|Cardiff Arms Park|thumb|left]]
Cardiff hosts many high-profile sporting events at local, national and international level and in recognition of the city's commitment to sport for all was awarded the title of European Capital of Sport 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?nav=2868%2C5924%2C5925%2C6188&parent_directory_id=2865&id=11467 |title=Cardiff is named European Capital for Sport |publisher=Cardiff Council |work=Sport Cardiff |access-date=2 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028084516/http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?nav=2868%2C5924%2C5925%2C6188&parent_directory_id=2865&id=11467 |archive-date=28 October 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://yourcardiff.walesonline.co.uk/2011/04/01/cardiff-announced-as-2014-europeancapital-of-sport/ |title=Cardiff announced as 2014 European Capital of Sport |work=yourCardiff |date=1 April 2011 |access-date=2 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513185732/http://yourcardiff.walesonline.co.uk/2011/04/01/cardiff-announced-as-2014-europeancapital-of-sport |archive-date=13 May 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.aceseurope.eu/index.php/en/2012-09-01-17-17-01/european-capitals-of-sport |title=European Capitals of Sport list |publisher=European Capitals and Cities of Sport Federation |access-date=2 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130614130203/http://www.aceseurope.eu/index.php/en/2012-09-01-17-17-01/european-capitals-of-sport |archive-date=14 June 2013 }}</ref> Organised sports have been held in the city since the early 19th century.<ref name="Arms Park 1">{{Cite web |url=http://www.cricinfo.com/glamorgan/content/story/60134.html |publisher=ESPN EMEA Ltd |date=6 January 2005 |title=Cricinfo.com |access-date=26 June 2009 |work=ESPN Cricinfo website |archive-date=28 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210528130548/https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/cardiff-s-first-home-60134 |url-status=live }}</ref> National home sporting fixtures are nearly always played in the city. All Wales's multi-sports agencies and many of the [[Countries of the United Kingdom|country]]'s [[Governing bodies of sports in Wales|sports governing bodies]] have their headquarters in Cardiff and the city's many top quality venues have attracted world-famous sports events, sometimes unrelated to Cardiff or to Wales. In 2008/09, 61% of Cardiff residents regularly participated in sport and active recreation, the highest percentage in ll 22 local authorities in Wales.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://wales.gov.uk/docs/statistics/2010/100517profilecardiffen.pdf |title=Wayback Machine- Web cite query result |website=www.webcitation.org |access-date=28 May 2021 |archive-date=8 August 2010 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/5rpWuiiAM?url=http://wales.gov.uk/docs/statistics/2010/100517profilecardiffen.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Rugby union]] fans around the world have long been familiar with the old National Stadium, Cardiff Arms Park, and its successor the [[Principality Stadium]], which hosted the [[FA Cup]] for six years (from 2001 to 2006) it took to rebuild [[Wembley Stadium]]. In 2009, Cardiff hosted the first [[Australian cricket team in England in 2009|Ashes]] cricket test between England and Australia to be held in Wales. Cardiff hosted eight football matches of the [[London 2012 Olympics]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/olympics_2012/4657779.stm |title=Cardiff to host Olympics football |date=6 July 2005 |via=news.bbc.co.uk |access-date=24 April 2021 |archive-date=24 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424132013/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/olympics_2012/4657779.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:MillenniumStadiumExterior.jpg|thumb|[[Principality Stadium]]]]
[[Cardiff City F.C.]] (founded 1899 as Riverside AFC) played their home games at [[Ninian Park]] from 1910 until the end of the 2008–09 season. The club's new home is the [[Cardiff City Stadium]], which they initially rented to the [[Cardiff Blues]], the city's professional rugby union team, the Blues returning to the Arms Park in 2012. Cardiff City have played in the English [[The Football League|Football League]] since the 1920–21 season, climbing to Division 1 after one season.<ref name="1927 1">{{Cite web |url=http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/page/ClubHistory/0,,10335~61928,00.html |publisher=Cardiff City Football Club & FL Interactive |date=17 November 2004 |title=Cardiff City – Club – Club History – Club History – The Foundations and Early Y |access-date=26 June 2009 |work=Cardiff City FC website |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090813201655/http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/page/ClubHistory/0%2C%2C10335~61928%2C00.html |archive-date=13 August 2009 }}</ref><ref name="1927 2">{{Cite web |url=http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/page/ClubHistory/0,,10335~61930,00.html |publisher=Cardiff City Football Club & FL Interactive |date=17 November 2004 |title=Cardiff City – Club – Club History – Club History – The Roaring Twenties |access-date=26 June 2009 |work=Cardiff City FC website |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090520124931/http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/page/ClubHistory/0%2C%2C10335~61930%2C00.html |archive-date=20 May 2009 }}</ref> Cardiff City are the only non-English team to have won the [[FA Cup]], beating [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] in the [[1927 FA Cup Final|1927 final]] at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]].<ref name="1927 2"/> They were runners up to [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]] in the [[2008 FA Cup Final|2008 final]], losing 1–0 at the new Wembley Stadium.<ref name="1927 3">{{Cite web |url=http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/page/ClubHistory/0,,10335~61926,00.html |quote=In 2013 the Club won promotion to the Premier League, the second Welsh Club do so as Swansea City had gained the honour of being the first in the 2010–2011 season. Cardiff struggled all season and returned to the Championship having finished bottom. |publisher=Cardiff City Football Club & FL Interactive |date=17 November 2004 |title=Cardiff City – Club Honours and History |access-date=26 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091223061126/http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/page/ClubHistory/0%2C%2C10335~61926%2C00.html |archive-date=23 December 2009 }}</ref> In the 2013/14 and 2018/19 seasons Cardiff City played in the English [[Premier League]].

[[Cardiff Metropolitan University F.C.]] of the Athletic Union of Cardiff Metropolitan University, based in Cyncoed, play in the [[Cymru Premier]], having been promoted from Welsh League Division One in 2016. They were winners of the [[Welsh League Cup]] for the 2018–19 season. 
<ref name="1927 4">{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/default.stm |publisher=BBC |date=26 June 2009 |title=BBC Sport – Football-My Club-C-Cardiff |access-date=26 June 2009 |work=BBC News website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090124181119/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/default.stm |archive-date=24 January 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Cardiff has numerous smaller clubs including [[Bridgend Street A.F.C.]], [[Caerau (Ely) A.F.C.]], [[Cardiff Corinthians F.C.]], [[Cardiff Draconians F.C.]], [[Cardiff Grange Harlequins A.F.C.]], and [[Ely Rangers A.F.C.]], which all play in the [[Welsh football league system]].<ref name="Peldroed 1">{{Cite web |url=http://www.welshleague.org.uk/directory_of_clubs.htm |publisher=The Welsh Football League |year=2009 |title=Directory of Clubs |access-date=26 June 2009 |work=Welsh League website |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218005515/http://welshleague.org.uk/directory_of_clubs.htm |archive-date=18 February 2009 }}</ref>

[[File:Welsh Institute of Sport, Cardiff - entrance.JPG|thumb|[[Sport Wales National Centre]], Cardiff, headquarters of [[Sport Wales]], the [[Welsh Sports Association]] and the [[Federation of Disability Sport Wales]]]]
In addition to men's football teams [[Cardiff City Ladies F.C.|Cardiff City Ladies]] of the [[FA Women's Premier League Southern Division]] are based in the city. Teams in the [[Welsh Premier Women's Football League]] are [[Cardiff Met. Ladies F.C.|Cardiff Met. Ladies]], [[Cyncoed Ladies F.C.|Cyncoed Ladies]] and [[Cardiff City F.C. (women)|Cardiff City]].

During the 1990s, London-based football club [[Wimbledon FC]] expressed interest in relocating to Cardiff, having been without a home of their own since exiting [[Plough Lane (1912–98)|Plough Lane]] stadium in 1991 and sharing with [[Crystal Palace FC]] at [[Selhurst Park]]. The relocation of the club to Cardiff did not happen; in 2003, the club moved to [[Milton Keynes]] and a year later rebranded as [[Milton Keynes Dons FC|Milton Keynes Dons]].<ref name="Warren">{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wimbledon/3596377.stm |work=BBC News |first=Dan |last=Warren |title=Dons' darkest day |date=6 April 2004 |access-date=14 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051211210410/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wimbledon/3596377.stm |archive-date=11 December 2005 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Cardiff Arms Park ({{langx|cy|Parc yr Arfau Caerdydd}}), in central Cardiff, is among the world's most famous venues—being the scene of three Welsh [[Grand Slam (rugby union)|Grand Slams]] in the 1970s ([[1971 Five Nations Championship|1971]], [[1976 Five Nations Championship|1976]] and [[1978 Five Nations Championship|1978]]) and six Five Nations titles in nine years—and was the venue for Wales's games in the [[1991 Rugby World Cup]].<ref name="Arms Park 2">{{Cite web |url=http://www.cardiff-rfc.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=68 |publisher=Cardiff Rugby Football Club |date=2 November 2007 |title=Cardiff RFC – CRFC History |access-date=26 June 2009 |work=Cardiff RFC website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090604215745/http://www.cardiff-rfc.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=68 |archive-date=4 June 2009 |url-status=usurped }}</ref><ref name="rwc 1">{{Cite web |url=http://www.rwc2007.irb.com/destinationFrance/venues/venue=1/stadium.html |publisher=RWCL |year=2007 |title=RWC 2007 – The Millennium Stadium |access-date=27 June 2009 |work=2007 RWCL website |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312041919/http://www.rwc2007.irb.com/destinationFrance/venues/venue%3D1/stadium.html |archive-date=12 March 2012 }}</ref><ref name="Arms Park 3">{{Cite web |url=http://www.viamichelin.be/viamichelin/gbr/dyn/controller/Datasheet/4fef4a879fbee938b9416dcacea56b3b/125195/Cardiff%20or%20the%20pride%20of%20being%20Welsh! |publisher=ViaMichelin SAS |year=2009 |title=Cardiff or the pride of being Welsh! |access-date=28 June 2009 |work=ViaMichelin website}}{{dead link|date=June 2015 }}</ref><ref name="Arms Park 4">{{Cite web |url=http://guides.travelchannel.com/cardiff/business-travel/personal-business/public-access-sports-grounds/386235.html |publisher=The Travel Channel L.L.C. |year=2009 |title=Cardiff travel guide: Cardiff vacation ideas: Travel Channel |access-date=28 June 2009 |work=Travel Channel website}}{{dead link|date=November 2016|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The Arms Park has a sporting history dating back to at least the 1850s, when Cardiff Cricket Club (formed 1819) relocated to the site.<ref name="Arms Park 1"/> The ground was donated to Cardiff CC in 1867 by the Marquess of Bute. Cardiff Cricket Club shared the ground with Cardiff Rugby Football Club (founded 1876) — forming [[Cardiff Athletic Club]] between them — until 1966, when the cricket section moved to Sophia Gardens. Cardiff Athletic Club and the [[Welsh Rugby Union]] established two stadia on the site—Cardiff RFC played at their stadium at the northern end of the site, and the Wales national rugby union team played international matches at the National Stadium, Cardiff Arms Park, which opened in 1970. The National Stadium was replaced by the 74,500 capacity Millennium Stadium ({{langx|cy|Stadiwm y Mileniwm}}) in 1999—in time for the [[1999 Rugby World Cup]]—and is home stadium to the [[Wales national rugby union team|Wales national rugby]] and [[Wales national football team|football]] teams for international matches.<ref name="Arms Park 1"/><ref name="Arms Park 2"/><ref name="Mileniwm 1">{{Cite web |url=http://www.millenniumstadium.com/information/facts_and_figures.php |publisher=Millennium Stadium plc |year=2009 |title=Millennium Stadium:Information:About the Venue:Facts&Figures |access-date=25 June 2009 |work=Millennium Stadium website |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608154948/http://www.millenniumstadium.com/information/facts_and_figures.php |archive-date=8 June 2011 }}</ref><ref name="Mileniwm 2">{{Cite web |url=http://www.millenniumstadium.com/history/index.php |publisher=Millennium Stadium plc |year=2009 |title=Millennium Stadium:Information:Stadium History:Stadium History |access-date=29 June 2009 |work=Millennium Stadium website |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608155032/https://www.millenniumstadium.com/history/index.php |archive-date=8 June 2011 }}</ref> In addition to Wales's [[Six Nations Championship]] and other international games, the Principality Stadium held four matches in the [[2007 Rugby World Cup]] and six FA Cup finals (from the [[2001–02 FA Cup|2001–02]] to [[2005–06 FA Cup|2005–06]] seasons) while [[Wembley Stadium]] was being rebuilt.<ref name="rwc 1"/>

[[File:The SWALEC Stadium, Cardiff.jpg|thumb|left|SWALEC Stadium]]

[[Cardiff Cricket Club]] was formed in 1819 and [[Glamorgan CCC|Glamorgan County Cricket Club]] has competed as a first-class county since 1921. Its headquarters and ground is the [[SWALEC Stadium]], [[Sophia Gardens]], since moving from Cardiff Arms Park in 1966. The Sophia Gardens stadium underwent multimillion-pound improvements since being selected to host the first [[England cricket team|"England"]] v [[Australia national cricket team|Australia]] [[Test cricket|Test match]] of the [[Australian cricket team in England in 2009|2009 Ashes series]].<ref name="Arms Park 1"/><ref name="Sophia 1">{{Cite web |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/06/17/what-the-ashes-could-do-for-cardiff-91466-23894940/ |publisher=Media Wales Ltd |date=17 June 2009 |title=WalesOnline – News – Wales News – What the Ashes could do for Cardiff |access-date=26 June 2009 |work=WalesOnline website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006230314/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/06/17/what-the-ashes-could-do-for-cardiff-91466-23894940/ |archive-date=6 October 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[The Hundred (cricket)|The Hundred]] franchise team [[Welsh Fire]] is also based at the stadium.

Cardiff has a long association with boxing, from [[Jim Driscoll|'Peerless' Jim Driscoll]] — born in Cardiff in 1880 — to more recent, high-profile fights staged in the city.<ref name="Peerless 1">{{Cite web |url=http://www.newtown-cardiff.org.uk/page11.htm |publisher=Newtown Association |year=2000 |title=Untitled Normal Page |access-date=28 June 2009 |work=Newtown Association website |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080827234551/http://www.newtown-cardiff.org.uk/page11.htm |archive-date=27 August 2008 }}</ref> These include the [[World Boxing Council|WBC]] [[Lennox Lewis vs. Frank Bruno]] [[heavyweight]] championship fight at the Arms Park in 1993, and many of [[Joe Calzaghe]]'s fights, between 2003 and 2007.

Cardiff's professional ice hockey team, the [[Cardiff Devils]], plays in the 3,000-seat [[Ice Arena Wales]] in the Cardiff International Sports Village. It plays in the 12-team professional [[Elite Ice Hockey League]]. Founded in 1986, it was one of the most successful British teams in the 1990s.

Cardiff's only American-flag football team is the Hurricanes. It won the British Championship in 2014 after falling short by 2 points in a quarter-final to eventual winners, the London Rebels, the previous year. It is based at Roath Recreational Ground.

[[File:Cardiff International Pool '09.jpg|thumb|[[Cardiff International Pool]] at the [[Cardiff International Sports Village|International Sports Village]], Cardiff Bay]]
The [[1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games|1958 Commonwealth Games]] were hosted by Cardiff. These involved 1,130 athletes from 35 national teams competing in 94 events.<ref name="Empire 1958">{{Cite web |url=http://www.commonwealthgames.org.au/Templates/Games_PastGames_1958.htm |publisher=Australian Commonwealth Games Association |year=2007 |title=ACGA Past Games 1958 |access-date=25 June 2009 |work=Australian Commonwealth Games Association website |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090912190520/http://commonwealthgames.org.au/Templates/Games_PastGames_1958.htm |archive-date=12 September 2009 }}</ref> One of the venues for those Games—The Wales Empire Swimming Pool—was demolished in 1998 to make way for the Principality Stadium. The GBP32m [[Cardiff International Pool]] in [[Cardiff Bay]], opened to the public on 12 January 2008 — part of the GBP1bn International Sports Village (ISV) — is the only Olympic-standard swimming pool in Wales. When complete, the ISV complex will provide Olympic standard facilities for sports including [[boxing]] and [[fencing]], gymnastics, [[judo]], [[white water]] events (including [[Whitewater canoeing|canoeing]] and [[Whitewater kayaking|kayaking]]) and [[wrestling]] as well as a [[Indoor skiing|snow dome]] with real snow for [[skiing]] and [[snowboarding]], an [[Cardiff Arena|arena]] for public [[ice skating]] and [[ice hockey]] and a hotel.<ref name="Pool 1">{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/7184798.stm |work=BBC News |date=12 January 2008 |title=£32m world-class pool is opened |access-date=26 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090314193215/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/7184798.stm |archive-date=14 March 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="ISV 1">{{Cite web |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/03/21/cardiff-new-ice-rink-to-be-complete-by-2011-says-berman-91466-23198378/ |publisher=Media Wales Ltd |date=21 March 2009 |title=Cardiff new ice rink to be complete by 2011, says Berman |access-date=28 July 2012 |work=WalesOnline website |archive-date=28 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210528130547/https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/cardiff-new-ice-rink-complete-2119279 |url-status=live }}</ref> Some of the sports facilities at the ISV were to be used as training venues for the [[London 2012 Olympics]].<ref name="ISV 2">{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/london_2012/7275423.stm |date=3 March 2008 |title=Olympic training venues – Wales |access-date=26 June 2009 |work=BBC Sport |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081227104505/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/london_2012/7275423.stm |archive-date=27 December 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:GB Rally December 2006.jpg|thumb|A stage of Wales Rally GB, hosted inside the [[Principality Stadium]]]]
The Principality Stadium hosts motor-sport events such as the [[World Rally Championship]], as part of [[Wales Rally GB]]. The first indoor special stages of the World Rally Championship were held at the Principality Stadium in September 2005 and have been an annual event since.<ref name="Rali 1">{{Cite web |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/04/15/funding-withdrawl-threatens-wales-raly-gb-91466-23393717/ |publisher=Media Wales Ltd |date=15 April 2009 |title=WalesOnline – News -Wales News – Funding withdrawal threatens Wales Rally GB |access-date=25 June 2009 |work=WalesOnline website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417072822/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/04/15/funding-withdrawl-threatens-wales-raly-gb-91466-23393717/ |archive-date=17 April 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Speedway Grand Prix of Great Britain|British Speedway Grand Prix]], one of the World Championship events, is held at the Principality Stadium.<ref name="Mileniwm 2"/> While the track—a temporary, purpose built, shale oval—is not universally loved, the venue is considered the best of the World Championship's 11 rounds.<ref name="Speedway 1">{{Cite web |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sports/motor-sport/2008/06/30/moto-stars-put-boot-into-millennium-stadium-track-91466-21172356/ |publisher=Media Wales Ltd |date=30 June 2008 |title=Moto:Stars put boot into Millennium Stadium Track |access-date=13 January 2013 |work=WalesOnline website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006230448/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sports/motor-sport/2008/06/30/moto-stars-put-boot-into-millennium-stadium-track-91466-21172356/ |archive-date=6 October 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[Cardiff International Sports Stadium]], opened 19 January 2009, replacing the [[Cardiff Athletics Stadium]], demolished to make way for the Cardiff City Stadium. It has a 4,953 capacity as a multi sport/special event venue, offering certificated international [[track and field athletics]] facilities, including an international standard external throws area.<ref name="Stadiwm 1">{{Cite web |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/01/20/jacko-back-to-his-roots-to-open-city-s-new-sports-arena-91466-22731611/ |publisher=Media Wales Ltd |date=20 January 2009 |title=WalesOnline – News – Wales News – Jacko back to his roots to open city's new sports arena |access-date=27 June 2009 |work=WalesOnline website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120123043511/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/01/20/jacko-back-to-his-roots-to-open-city-s-new-sports-arena-91466-22731611/ |archive-date=23 January 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Stadiwm 2">{{Cite web |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/rugbynation/cardiff-blues/2007/11/15/end-of-an-era-for-city-landmark-91466-20112288/ |publisher=Media Wales Ltd. |date=15 November 2007 |title=WalesOnline – Rugby Nation – Blues – End of an era for city landmark |access-date=27 June 2009 |work=WalesOnline website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120123062428/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/rugbynation/cardiff-blues/2007/11/15/end-of-an-era-for-city-landmark-91466-20112288/ |archive-date=23 January 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Stadiwm 3">{{Cite web |url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?nav=2868,2967,3001,4662,4664&id=3299&Positioning_Article_ID=&Language=&parent_directory_id=2865&d1p1=1 |publisher=Cardiff Council |date=29 May 2009 |title=Cardiff – Home, Cardiff International Sports Stadium |access-date=27 June 2009 |work=Cardiff Council website |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609165947/http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?nav=2868%2C2967%2C3001%2C4662%2C4664&id=3299&Positioning_Article_ID=&Language=&parent_directory_id=2865&d1p1=1 |archive-date=9 June 2011 }}</ref> The stadium houses the Headquarters of [[Welsh Athletics]], the sport's governing body for Wales.<ref name="Stadiwm 4">{{Cite web |url=http://www.welshathletics.org/about-us/contact-us/ |publisher=Welsh Athletics Ltd. |year=2007 |title=Welsh Athletics – Contact Us |access-date=27 June 2009 |work=Welsh Athletics website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107014722/http://www.welshathletics.org/about-us/contact-us/ |archive-date=7 January 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The city's indoor track and field athletics sports venue is the [[National Indoor Athletics Centre]], an international athletics and multi sports centre at the [[University of Wales Institute, Cardiff]] Campus, [[Cyncoed]].<ref name="Stadiwm 5">{{Cite web |url=http://www3.uwic.ac.uk/english/businessservices/conferenceservices/pages/niac.aspx |publisher=University of Wales Institute, Cardiff – Athrofa Prifysgol Cymru, Caerdydd |year=2009 |title=National Indoor Athletics Centre |access-date=27 June 2009 |work=Uwic website |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090420063902/http://www3.uwic.ac.uk/english/businessservices/conferenceservices/pages/niac.aspx |archive-date=20 April 2009 }}</ref>

The [[Cardiff Half Marathon]] takes place each October and is one of the largest road races in the United Kingdom, attracting over 20,000 participants and many overseas visitors annually. The event is organised by the not-for-profit social enterprise Run 4 Wales, and has grown considerably since its establishment in 2003. It has hosted the World (2016) Commonwealth (2018) British (2014/2015) and Welsh (Annually) Half Marathon Championships and has held a [[World Athletics]] Elite Road Race Label since 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 June 2024 |title=About The Race |url=https://www.cardiffhalfmarathon.co.uk/event-info/about-the-race/ |access-date=29 January 2024 |website=Principality Cardiff Half Marathon |language=en-US }}</ref> The race is also a part of the SuperHalfs, a series of leading international half marathon races which also includes Lisbon, Prague, Berlin, Valencia and Copenhagen.

==Notable people==
{{Main|List of people from Cardiff}}

{{Category see also|People from Cardiff}}

Many notable people have hailed from Cardiff, ranging from historical figures such as the 12th-century Welsh leader [[Ifor Bach]] to more recent figures such as [[Roald Dahl]], [[Ken Follett]], [[Griff Rhys Jones]], [[Catrin Dafydd]], and the former Blue Peter presenter [[Gethin Jones]].

Notable actors include [[Ioan Gruffudd]] (''[[Fantastic 4 (2005 film)|Fantastic 4]]''), [[Iwan Rheon]] ([[Game of Thrones]]) and [[Matthew Rhys]] (''[[The Americans]]).''

Also notable is [[Siân Grigg]], BAFTA winner and Oscar nominated Hollywood make-up artist.

The city has been the birthplace of sports stars such as [[Tanni Grey-Thompson]] and [[Colin Jackson]], as well as many [[Premier League]], [[The Football League|Football League]] and international footballers, such as [[Craig Bellamy]], [[Gareth Bale]], [[Ryan Giggs]], [[Joe Ledley]], and former managers of the [[Wales national football team]] [[Terry Yorath]] and [[John Toshack]]. International [[rugby league]] players from Cardiff include [[Frank Whitcombe]], [[Billy Boston]], [[David Willicombe]] and [[Colin Dixon]]. International [[rugby union]] players include [[Sam Warburton]], [[Jamie Roberts]], [[Jamie Robinson (rugby union)|Jamie Robinson]], [[Nicky Robinson (rugby union)|Nicky Robinson]], [[Rhys Patchell]], and baseball internationals include [[George Whitcombe]] and [[Ted Peterson]].

[[Saint Teilo]] ({{Circa|500}} – 9 February {{Circa|560}}) is the patron saint of Cardiff. He was a British Christian monk, bishop, and founder of monasteries and churches. Reputed to be a cousin, friend, and disciple of Saint David, he was Bishop of Llandaff and founder of the first church at Llandaff Cathedral, where his tomb is. His Saint's Day is 9 February.

Cardiff is also well known for its musicians. [[Ivor Novello]] inspired the [[Ivor Novello Awards]]. [[Idloes Owen]], founder of the [[Welsh National Opera]], lived in Llandaff. Dame [[Shirley Bassey]] was born and raised in Cardiff. [[Charlotte Church]] is famous as a crossover classical/pop singer. [[Shakin' Stevens]] was one of the top-selling male artists in the UK during the 1980s. [[Tigertailz]], a popular [[glam metal]] act in the 1980s, also hailed from Cardiff. A number of Cardiff-based bands, such as [[Catatonia (band)|Catatonia]] and [[Super Furry Animals]], were popular in the 1990s. Drum and bass artist Mr. Traumatik, born and raised in Cardiff, gained popularity in the 2010s.

Taff Groves, notably born and raised in Cardiff's Ely and Cathays districts is a [[List of former Special Air Service personnel|former SAS soldier]]. He gained recognition during the 2013 [[Westgate shopping mall attack]] in [[Nairobi]], [[Kenya]], where he helped rescue hundreds of civilians while unarmed [https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/untold-story-welsh-sas-hero-27777696].

==Twinning==
Cardiff is [[sister city|twinned]] with:
*[[Luhansk]], Ukraine<ref name="Cardiff twinning"/>
*[[Hordaland|Hordaland county]], Norway<ref name="Cardiff twinning"/>
*[[Sucre]], Bolivia<ref name="Cardiff twinning"/>
*[[Nantes]], France<ref name="Cardiff twinning"/><ref name="Archant twinning">{{Cite web |url=http://www.completefrance.com/language-culture/twin-towns |title=British towns twinned with French towns |access-date=11 July 2013 |work=Archant Community Media Ltd |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705094933/http://www.completefrance.com/language-culture/twin-towns |archive-date=5 July 2013 }}</ref>
*[[Stuttgart]], Germany<ref name="Cardiff twinning"/>
*[[Xiamen]], China<ref name="Cardiff twinning"/>
*[[Lima]], Peru<ref name="Cardiff twinning">{{Cite web |url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?id=2940&d1=0 |title=Home page of Cardiff Council – Cardiff's twin cities |publisher=Cardiff Council |date=15 June 2010 |access-date=10 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609144903/http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?id=2940&d1=0 |archive-date=9 June 2011 }}</ref>

==Namesakes==
In the United States both [[Cardiff-by-the-Sea]] in Encinitas, California and [[Cardiff, Alabama]] were named after Cardiff in Wales. In [[New Zealand]] [[Cardiff, New Zealand|Cardiff]], [[Taranaki]] was also named after Cardiff in Wales. 

==Diplomatic presence==

A total of 28 countries have a diplomatic presence in Cardiff.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.consularassociationinwales.com/aboutus.htm |title=About Us |publisher=The Consular Association of Wales |access-date=7 January 2009 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313234657/http://consularassociationinwales.com/aboutus.htm |archive-date=13 March 2012 }}</ref> Many of these, such as Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Denmark, Canada, Thailand and the Czech Republic, are represented by [[consul (representative)|honorary consulates]]. The United States Embassy to the UK operates a satellite office.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=11428&Language= |title=Expanding International Links |date=1 April 2008 |publisher=Capital Times / Cardiff County Council |access-date=21 April 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609181556/http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=11428&Language= |archive-date=9 June 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cardiffontheweb.com/directory/directoryresults_768290_cat-140_type-768290 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727073347/http://www.cardiffontheweb.com/directory/directoryresults_768290_cat-140_type-768290 |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 July 2020 |title=Cardiff on the Web – German Consul |access-date=6 May 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.amblondon.um.dk/en/servicemenu/Contact/DanishConsulatesandViceConsulatesintheUK/ |title=Danish Honorary Consulates and Vice Consulates in the UK |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark |access-date=6 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080421145115/http://www.amblondon.um.dk/en/servicemenu/Contact/DanishConsulatesandViceConsulatesintheUK/ |archive-date=21 April 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cardiffontheweb.com/directory/directoryresults_984756_cat-140_type-984756 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727081813/http://www.cardiffontheweb.com/directory/directoryresults_984756_cat-140_type-984756 |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 July 2020 |title=Cardiff on the Web – Italian Vice-Consulate |access-date=6 May 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home/reps/eur/vgbr/ukcons.html |title=Swiss UK Consulates |publisher=Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs |access-date=6 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501121206/http://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home/reps/eur/vgbr/ukcons.html |archive-date=1 May 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/canada-europa/united_kingdom/honcons-cardiff-en.asp |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20081219234443/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/missions/unitedkingdom-royaumeuni/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 December 2008 |title=Honorary Consulate, Cardiff |publisher=Government of Canada |access-date=6 May 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mzv.cz/wwwo/default.asp?id=50466&ido=15692&idj=2&amb=153&ParentIDO= |title=New Czech Honorary Consulate in Cardiff |publisher=Embassy of the Czech Republic in the United Kingdom |access-date=6 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903214305/http://www.mzv.cz/wwwo/default.asp?id=50466&ido=15692&idj=2&amb=153&ParentIDO= |archive-date=3 September 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.assemblywales.org/N0000000000000000000000000046311.pdf |title=Wales in the World |date=12 June 2006 |publisher=European and External Affairs Committee, Welsh Assembly |access-date=6 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528025511/http://www.assemblywales.org/N0000000000000000000000000046311.pdf |archive-date=28 May 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Freedom of the City==
The following people and military units have received the [[Freedom of the City]] of Cardiff; they are listed with the date that they received the honour.<ref>{{cite web |title=HONORARY FREEMAN OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF CARDIFF |url=https://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ENG/Your-Council/Lord-Mayor/honorary-freedom/Documents/freedom%20roll%20list%20June%202014.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221010/https://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ENG/Your-Council/Lord-Mayor/honorary-freedom/Documents/freedom%20roll%20list%20June%202014.pdf |archive-date=10 October 2022 |url-status=live |website=Cardiff City Council |access-date=1 November 2021 }}</ref>

===Individuals===
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
*[[List of mayors of Cardiff|Andrew Fulton]]: 31 March 1886
*[[Alfred Thomas, 1st Baron Pontypridd]]: 13 August 1888
*[[William Ewart Gladstone|William Gladstone]]: 6 July 1889
*[[Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale]]: 17 September 1890
*[[Henry Morton Stanley|Sir Henry Morton Stanley]]: 27 March 1891
*[[List of lord mayors of London|Sir David Evans]]: 1 July 1892
*[[Field marshal (United Kingdom)|Field Marshal]] [[Frederick Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts|Lord Roberts of Kandahar]]: 26 January 1894
*[[Edward Reed (naval architect)|Sir Edward Reed]]: 28 September 1895
*[[Edward VII|Prince of Wales]] (later King Edward VII): 27 June 1896
*[[Robert Windsor-Clive, 1st Earl of Plymouth]]: 3 June 1897
*[[List of mayors of Cardiff|David Jones]]: 18 April 1898
*[[Field marshal (United Kingdom)|Field Marshal]] [[Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener]]: 2 December 1897
*[[Lieutenant-general (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant General]] [[Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell|Lord Baden-Powell]]: 29 May 1903
*[[William Lewis, 1st Baron Merthyr]] : 10 March 1905
*[[George V|Prince of Wales]] (later King George V): 29 June 1905
*[[David Lloyd George]]: 24 June 1908
*[[Godfrey Morgan, 1st Viscount Tredegar]]: 25 October 1909
*[[List of mayors of Cardiff|Francis John Beavan]]: 10 October 1910
*[[Thomas baronets|Sir William James Thomas]]: 12 April 1915
*[[Billy Hughes|William Morris Hughes]]: 24 March 1916
*[[D. A. Thomas|Lord Rhondda]]: 27 October 1916
*[[William Massey]]: 8 May 1917
*[[Field Marshal]] [[Jan Smuts]]: 27 October 1917
*[[Robert Borden|Sir Robert Borden]]: 24 July 1918
*[[Maharaja]] [[Bhupinder Singh of Patiala|Sir Bhupinder Singh of Patiala]]: 24 July 1918
*[[Edward VIII|Prince of Wales]] (later King Edward VIII): 26 June 1919
*[[List of mayors of Cardiff|Sir Charles Hayward Bird]]: 5 July 1923
*[[George VI|Duke of York]]: 22 October 1926
*[[William Tatem, 1st Baron Glanely]]: 26 March 1928
*[[William Reardon Smith|Sir William Reardon Smith]]: 26 March 1928
*[[David Davies, 1st Baron Davies|Lord Davies of Llandinam]]: 26 October 1931
*[[List of mayors of Cardiff|Sir Illtyd Thomas]]: 26 October 1931
*[[Prince George, Duke of Kent]]: 25 October 1932
*[[John Sankey, 1st Viscount Sankey]]: 5 March 1934
*[[Goscombe John|Sir Goscombe John]]: 26 October 1936
*[[Ivor Windsor-Clive, 2nd Earl of Plymouth]]: 26 October 1936
*[[William Morris, 1st Viscount Nuffield]]: 15 October 1937
*[[Wyndham Portal, 1st Viscount Portal]]: 15 October 1937
*[[Elizabeth II|Duchess of Edinburgh]] (later Queen Elizabeth II): 27 May 1948
*[[Sir Winston Churchill]]: 16 July 1948
*[[List of mayors of Cardiff|Sir William Richard Williams]]: 11 May 1954
* [[List of mayors of Cardiff|Sir Herbert Hiles]]: 11 May 1954
*[[Philip, Duke of Edinburgh]]: 1 December 1954
*[[Major (United Kingdom)|Major]] [[Gwilym Lloyd George|Lord Tenby of Bulford]]: 26 October 1956
*[[Charles III|Prince of Wales]] (Later King Charles III): 5 July 1969
*[[James Callaghan|Lord Callaghan of Cardiff]]: 16 March 1975
*[[George Thomas, 1st Viscount Tonypandy|Lord Tonypandy]]: 16 March 1975
*[[Diana, Princess of Wales]]: 29 October 1981
*[[Pope John Paul II]]: 2 June 1982
*[[Cennydd Traherne|Sir Cennydd Traherne]]: 29 January 1985
*[[Philip Dunleavy]]: 25 January 1993
*[[Nelson Mandela]]: 16 June 1998
*[[Cledwyn Hughes, Baron Cledwyn of Penrhos]]: 4 December 2000
*[[Tanni Grey-Thompson|Baroness Grey-Thompson]]: 27 November 2003
*[[Colin Jackson]]: 27 November 2003
*[[Major (United Kingdom)|Major]] [[Tasker Watkins|Sir Tasker Watkins]]: 12 April 2006
*[[Shirley Bassey|Dame Shirley Bassey]]: 23 February 2012
}}

===Military units===
*The [[Welch Regiment]]: 10 June 1944
*The [[Welsh Guards]]: 27 April 1957
*The [[Royal Regiment of Wales]]: 11 June 1969
*The [[Royal Welch Fusiliers]]: 7 November 1973
*The [[1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards]]: 29 July 1985
*[[HMS Cardiff (D108)|HMS ''Cardiff'']], [[Royal Navy|RN]]: 3 February 1988
*The [[Merchant Navy (United Kingdom)|Merchant Navy]] Association (Wales): 3 September 2001
*[[203 (Welsh) Field Hospital]] [[Army Reserve (United Kingdom)|(Volunteers)]] [[Royal Army Medical Corps|RAMC]]: 21 April 2014
*[[HMS Dragon (D35)|HMS ''Dragon'']], [[Royal Navy|RN]]: 18 May 2014


{{Geographic location
|title=Destinations from Cardiff
|Northwest=[[Llantrisant]], [[Rhondda]]
|North=[[Pontypridd]], [[Brecon]], [[Merthyr Tydfil]], [[Caerphilly]]
|Northeast=[[Newport, Wales|Newport]], [[Chepstow]]
|West=[[Maesteg]], [[Neath]], [[Bridgend]]
|Centre=CARDIFF
|East=[[Bristol Channel]]
|Southwest=[[Llantwit Major]], [[Cardiff Airport]]
|South=[[Penarth]], [[Dinas Powys]], [[Barry, Vale of Glamorgan|Barry]]
|Southeast=Bristol Channel
}}

==See also==
*[[Cardiff music scene]]
*[[LGBTQ culture in Cardiff]]
*[[List of cultural venues in Cardiff]]
*[[List of parliamentary constituencies in South Glamorgan]]
*[[List of places in Cardiff]]
*[[List of places of worship in Cardiff]]
*[[List of streets and squares in Cardiff]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links|auto=1|voy=Cardiff|Cardiff}}
*[https://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ENG/Pages/default.aspx Cardiff Council] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201055624/https://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ENG/Pages/default.aspx |date=1 February 2021 }}
*[https://www.visitcardiff.com/ Visit Cardiff]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070611182621/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/catalogue.asp?gid=92 Cardiff Records]: the full text of the edition of historical records for Cardiff, edited by J. H. Matthews (1898–1905). Part of British History Online.

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{{Commonwealth Games Host Cities}}
{{European Capital of Sport}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cardiff| ]]
[[Category:Capital cities in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Cities in Wales]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Wales]]
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[[Category:County towns in Wales]]
[[Category:Rally GB]]
[[Category:50s establishments]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 1st century]]