Welcome to Cardiff, the proud capital city of Wales. When you visit Cardiff, you are not just visiting another city, you are visiting another country that has its own distinctive culture! Cardiff is the perfect gateway to exploring the Country of Wales. With its Celtic roots, many castles, and its very own language, visiting Cardiff is your chance to get submerged in a completely different culture.
Cardiff, the relatively new Capital City of Wales, began as a Roman fort. The Romans invaded Wales and built a fort there in the 1st century. There are still remains of the old Roman fort to be found, but over the years the fortifications were expanded by the Normans. The friars arrived in the 13th century and there were markets and even annual fairs in Cardiff in the 14th century. Cardiff, however, remained a small town well up until the 19th century.
Exports of coal and iron from Cardiff boomed in the 19th century, along with exports of grain. The railway reached Cardiff in 1841 and the city became a boom town, fuelled by "black gold" (coal) which fuelled the industrial revolution! Many of the beautiful Victorian arcades created during this boom still stand and boast many boutiques and independent stores, which pits Cardiff streets ahead with its rivals giving you the opportunity to discover something new.
During the Second World War Cardiff was bombed extensively, destroying much of the city and leading to a transformation of the entire city centre which is just waiting to be explored.
Today Cardiff stands as the capital of Wales, known for its shopping, Welsh culture, and Victorian arcades!
To make the most of your time in Cardiff, come along with Free Tours by Foot on the Ultimate Cardiff Walking Tour and experience everything this captivating city has to offer!