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The local’s guide to the city for Cardiff Met students

Mel
Mel

At the moment Cardiff is a city in bloom, proudly displaying its beauty amongst the rose gardens of Bute Park and the grounds of the city’s castle.

But natural beauty is just one reason why Cardiff is such a cool place to study – there are many more, and as a local, I get to enjoy it all year round. So I’ve done my best to compile a list of my favourite things to do throughout the year in this awesome city.

Lighthouse

Roath Park lake lighthouse

Cardiff is really lucky to have an abundance of parks to enjoy, whether you prefer sitting around chilling with friends or throwing a Frisbee around. My favourite is Roath park. Located between the two Cardiff Met campuses, it’s got a huge lake containing a lighthouse and you can choose to sail on the pleasure boats or just wander around the lake – popular amongst duck feeders and runners alike!

Rugby

Judgement Day at the Principality Stadium

If competitive sport is more your thing then Cardiff is the place to be. This autumn I enjoyed going to some of the home rugby international games, watching Wales take on some of the biggest and best teams in the world – and of course it’s traditional to dress up for the occasion! Local matches like the annual Judgement Day event are really good value for money too. I also went to my very first ice hockey game when I went to see the Cardiff Devils in a league match at the Cardiff Ice House, where students can even receive a discounted rate on tickets.

Ice Hockey

Cardiff Devils vs Sheffield Steelers at the Ice House, Cardiff Bay

For those who prefer a more chilled pace to the high energy of rugby internationals, the beach at Barry Island is only 20 minutes away. Made famous by the TV show Gavin and Stacey, I love sitting on the sand, playing in the arcades and enjoying an ice cream at Barry Island. Throughout the Summer, Cardiff also plays host to a number of festivals from the International Food and Drink Festival in Cardiff Bay, to The Big Cheese in Caerphilly. These are a great way to get together with friends and sample different foods from all around Wales and beyond.

Barry

Barry Island!

Finally, one of my absolute favourite things to do in Cardiff is to go and see a show with the girls. We’ve got three theatres located in the city – the Sherman, The New Theatre and the Wales Millennium Centre, which play host to production including big West-End shows and musicals. We’ve enjoyed so many nights out watching everything from modern dance, to ballet and musicals. Along with enjoying a meal before the show, this has been our ultimate exam de-stresser!

New Theatre

The New Theatre is right in the City Centre


Want to know more about what the city has to offer? Check out more blogs about Cardiff, or check out the video below: