Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Head towards the classical facade of the
National Museum Cardiff
(
Click here
) and then turn the corner
into Park Place. Next is the imposing main building of
Cardiff University
. Head through its black gates and
enter via the central door into the short corridor which leads to the foyer (if it's after hours you'll need to circle
around the building). In the centre is a white marble statue of John Viriamu Jones, the first principal of the uni-
versity college.
Head through the door on the other side, curve to the left, cross the road and enter
Alexandra Gardens
.
Amid the formal lawns and colourful flowerbeds is an interesting set of war memorials. The standing stone
mounted on a pedestal to your left was taken from the battlefield at Mt Harriet in the Falkland Islands, and re-
members the Britons killed in the 1982 war. A little further, another standing stone is dedicated to the Welsh vo-
lunteers who fought against fascism in the Spanish Civil War. In the centre of the park is the Welsh National War
Memorial, erected in 1928 in memory of WWI's dead. A circular colonnade of white Corinthian columns sur-
rounds a statue of a naked angel with a sword, flanked by three servicemen (representing the army, navy and air
force) holding aloft wreathes.
Exit the gardens onto King Edward VII Ave. Straight ahead is the old
Glamorgan County Council Build-
ing
(now part of Cardiff University), fronted with more Corinthian columns and elaborate statuary (Minerva, to
the left, represents mining; Neptune, on the right, navigation). The
Bute Building
, to the right, also belongs
to the university and features Doric columns and a red dragon on its roof.
When you turn left onto College Rd you'll see, straight ahead of you, the very impressive new home of the
Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
(
Click here
). Cross towards it, turn right and then left past the curved
timber-clad end of the building and enter
Bute Park
(
Click here
). Cross the little bridge, turn left and follow
the canal towards the rear of
Cardiff Castle
(
Click here
). At the next bridge take the path to the right; you'll
shortly come to the remains of
Blackfriars Priory
(
Click here
) and another circle of
gorsedd stones
(
Click here
)
.
Veer left and exit through the West Lodge gate. On Castle St, take a look at the creatures perched on top of the
Animal Wall
(
Click here
). Originally positioned by the castle's main gate, the animals were moved here after
WWI. Turn right on Womanby St, which is lined with warehouses, many of which have been converted into bars.
Its unusual name is either derived from Old German meaning 'the strangers' quarter' or a Viking word meaning
'quarter of the houndsman'. As you head down the street you will see the
Millennium Stadium
(
Click here
)
on your right.
Take a left on Quay St; Cardiff's original quay stood here before the River Taff was realigned to make way for
the railway in 1860. Turn right on High St and then left to enter
Cardiff Central Market
(
Click here
). This
cast-iron market hall has been selling fresh produce and hardware since 1891. There's an old market office and a
clock tower in the centre. Exit on the far side on Trinity St and you'll see
St John the Baptist Church
(
Click
here
). Next up is the beautiful sandstone
Old Library
, which houses the tourist office and the Cardiff Story
museum.
Continue down the street and into the heart of the Hayes. The name is derived from a Norman-French word re-
lating to the small garden enclosures that would have once stood here. It's now Cardiff's main shopping strip, and
deliciously car-free.
St David's
(
Click here
) mall occupies the entire left-hand flank, but duck into the
Victorian-era
Morgan Arcade
(
Click here
) on your right. Finish back on the Hayes under the giant hoop and
arrow of the sculpture
Alliance
.
TOP OF CHAPTER
