Short break in Cardiff.

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

The girlfriend and I are in Cardiff for a short break over the next couple of days. I'm looking for some tips for things to do and/or places to visit. I can't be dragging her round line-bashing up and down the valleys, but if anyone has any ideas for Cardiff itself or nearby towns (within Cheap Day/1 hour range) to visit I'd much appreciate hearing them.

Thanks,

bignosemac

[John R]

Caerphilly castle is worth a visit and involves a trip part way up the rhymney branch.

[eightf48544]

The faded seaside splendour of Barry!

[Phil]

Judging by the number of coachloads of people from South Wales shopping in Bath in the run-up to Christmas, it would be remiss of me not to suggest a day-trip back across the water since that's obviously a local preference

[chuffed]

Big Pit .. and its free.. hope g/f looks fetching in a hard hat...not to mention the trains at Blaenavon.

[IndustryInsider]

If it'd been the summer I'd have suggested a round trip by train to Penarth, followed by a return from Penarth to Cardiff Bay on the excellent waterbus, (http://cardiffwaterbus.com/about/) but sadly that doesn't run after late September.  Well worth whiling away an afternoon in the summer though as Penarth is a surprisingly nice coastal town (unlike Barry!) and the return into Cardiff Bay and all the masses of development that has gone on there provided me with some nice memories.

[matt473]

All National Museums in Wales are free allowing visits to Cardiff Musuem, St Fagans musuem of Welsh life and Big Pit as previously mentioned with all being worth a look. If you're in Cardiff Saturday there is the annual fireworks display which is not that cheap but worth seeing if you fancy it. Cardiff Bay may be worth a visit, especially if either yourself or other half like doctor who with the doctor who experience being located down that way.

[basset44]

Hi Bignosemac,

Any of the above

You should vist The Great Western Wetherspoon by the train station to see the Stair Case,

if you go down the bay then vist the Samuel Smiths public house The Waterguard

Basset

[trainer]

The open top tourist bus is very informative and introduces the place well.  I have done it in November in a sleet shower and still enjoyed it, but then, I'm sad!  If you can't get under the canopy at the front, you can always sit downstairs or just cuddle up.

[BerkshireBugsy]

Judging by the number of coachloads of people from South Wales shopping in Bath in the run-up to Christmas, it would be remiss of me not to suggest a day-trip back across the water since that's obviously a local preference

Having lived within 30minutes of Cardiff I can recommend it for shopping in the city center and dining in the  bay area. If I was back down there I would love to take the re-opened line up to (I think) Ebbw Vale

[LiskeardRich]

Depending on transport options for yourself there is a decent outlet shopping village on the M4 junction near Bridgend, My mrs insists going everytime we travel along the M4

[JayMac]

Thanks for all those suggestions, folks. I failed to check what was posted yesterday, so we've ended up winging it.

Last evening we went down to Cardiff Bay for a meal. Sadly the bubble car wasn't out to play so we had to make do with a Class 150.

Today, it's either the castle or the Doctor Who Experience. The second of those is indoors, so may just win out!