Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
blocks from Blaenau Ffestiniog, thoughtfully provided as a place for protesters to rest
their legs.
When they're not on recess, the National Assembly for Wales usually meets in a plen-
ary session from 1.30pm on Tuesday and Wednesday. Seats in the public gallery may be
prebooked, although there's usually space if you turn up on the day. Free tours take place
at 11am, 2pm and 3pm, except for sitting days when only the 11am tour is held.
Pierhead
OFFLINE MAP
MUSEUM
GOOGLE MAP
(
www.pierhead.org
;
10.30am-4.30pm)
One of the waterfront's few Victorian remnants,
Pierhead is a red-brick and glazed-terracotta French Gothic confection, built in 1897 with
Bute family money in order to impress the maritime traffic. Its ornate clocktower earned it
the nickname 'Wales' Big Ben'. Inside there's an interesting little display on the history of
the bay (including a short film and a slideshow), some important historical documents and
a gallery.
Roald Dahl Plass
The unusual shape of this large public space is due to its past life as the basin of the West
Bute Dock. A large rectangular dock once extended from here all the way up what is now
Lloyd George Ave, right to the foot of the city centre, berthing up to 300 ships at a time.
Reborn as a square, it was renamed in honour of the Cardiff-born writer. The bowl shape
lends it to open-air performances, but it more often serves as a space for kids to run
around. The whole thing is overseen by a soaring, stainless-steel water sculpture, which
fans of the
Doctor Who
spin-off series will recognise as the location of the secret entrance
to
Torchwood
's underground headquarters.
SQUARE
Norwegian Church
Arts Centre
OFFLINE MAP
ARTS CENTRE
GOOGLE MAP
(
029-2087 7959;
www.norwegianchurchcardiff.com
;
Harbour Dr;
9.30am-6pm Easter-Oct, 10am-4pm Nov-
Easter)
Looking like it's popped out of the pages of a story book, this white-slatted
wooden church with a black witch's-hat spire was modelled on a traditional Norwegian
village church. It was built in 1868 to minister to Norwegian sailors and remained a place
of worship until 1974. Roald Dahl, whose parents were from Norway, was christened here
