• Cardiff Castle - Cardiff Castle began as a Roman Fort, remnants of which are still visible today. The city of Cardiff derives its name from this ancient fort, as Cardiff or the Welsh “Caerdydd” translates to “Fort on the river Taff” in English. The Normans developed the castle, which has undergone numerous transformations and once served as a royal prison. Further developed by various English marcher Lords, the castle fell into disrepair in the 16th century. It was taken over by the Marquis of Bute in the 17th century, but it wasn’t until the 3rd Marquis that the current version of Cardiff Castle was realized. Described as a Victorian escapist dream, it is a magnificent former stately home and a Welsh national treasure.

During your visit, a guide will show you around the castle, highlighting its fascinating historical features such as a million-pound ceiling, the Second World War Tunnels, and the Museum of Welsh Soldiering. Finally, you can climb the castle’s keep to enjoy breathtaking views of Cardiff.

• Saint Mary Street - St Mary’s Street has historically been the heart of Cardiff’s shopping district. It is home to Cardiff’s famous market and Victorian arcades, filled with charming boutiques, cozy cafes, and the world’s oldest record shop. This is your opportunity to explore a part of Cardiff that is not typically included in tours.

Thanks to the nature of this private tour, you can stop and explore any shops that catch your interest. You will also learn how these shopping gems are an integral part of life in Cardiff, from a local guide who has spent many hours exploring these beautiful arcades with friends and family.

• Tiny Rebel Cardiff - The Urban Tap House, owned by the renowned Tiny Rebel brewing company, is one of the best pubs in Cardiff (please let us know if you are over 18 and would like to stop here for a drink as part of the tour). From outside the pub, you can see The Principality Stadium, formerly the Millennium Stadium, which is home to Welsh Rugby and several episodes of Doctor Who.

While here, we will explain how Rugby, a sport developed in an English Public School, became the national sport of Wales, how the Millennium Stadium became the first sports stadium in Europe to have a closable roof, why the north stand of the old Cardiff Arms Park was included in the building, and why for several years the home to Welsh Rugby became the home of the Football Association’s Cup Final.

Finally, we will explain how the stadium, with its multi-purpose use, has welcomed some of the biggest names in the music business to Wales for the first time.

• Spillers Records - Spillers Records is the oldest record shop in the world and a South Wales institution. Everyone who lives in or near Cardiff has purchased at least one record from this amazing part of local history.

Regardless of your musical tastes, Spillers will have something for you - often a record that you didn’t even know you needed in your life but which will find its way into your possessions and your heart.

• Cardiff Central Market - Cardiff’s impressive Victorian covered market is another location that you might not experience unless a local took you there. A favorite with Cardiffians for its diverse range of products on offer, ranging from second-hand books to cakes, to fresh meat and fish, the market is a center of food excellence. While walking through the market, you are free to stop and sample the local delicacies, explore the stalls, and spend, spend, spend!

Previously home to Cardiff’s Gaol (or Jail), it was outside Cardiff Market where Dic Pendryn was executed. One of Wales’ most famous historical figures (although few people outside of Wales have heard of him), your guide will tell you how Dic, a laborer from nearby Merthyr Tydfil, was charged with killing a soldier with a bayonet during the famous Merthyr Rising and hanged on the orders of Lord Melbourne - Queen Victoria’s first Prime Minister - who was Home Secretary at the time of the riots.

• St John The Baptist City Parish Church - St John The Baptist Church in Cardiff is one of the oldest buildings left in Cardiff and the only building that remains from the old medieval walled town. Built around 1180, it is one of the few pre-Norman buildings left in this part of Wales, although much of the church was redesigned in the 15th century after Owain Glwndwyr sacked the city in 1404.

Famous for its use in the TV series Doctor Who, in the episode “The Runaway Bride” starring David Tennant and Catherine Tate, St John’s Church should be known for its beautiful interior decor, which includes Victorian stained glass by leading pre-Raphaelites, including William Morris, which will be pointed out to you as part of the tour.

• Statue of Aneurin Bevan - Aneurin ‘Nye’ Bevan is the father of the UK’s National Health Service. Immortalized in a statue that many people in Cardiff walk past every day, which is used as a popular meeting place (many Cardiffians ‘meet at Nye Bevan’) and which is a preferred perch for pigeons, we will stop here to discuss how Bevan changed the UK forever. A major political opponent of Churchill during the Second World War, which brought him into the national consciousness, it was Bevan’s experiences of poverty in Wales, his time spent working in a mine, and his position in the post-war Labour government that helped shape one of the most important, well-loved, and adored institutions in the UK.

While here, we will discuss Bevan’s role in the creation of the NHS, his history, and his politics, as well as exploring part of Cardiff’s role in the coal trade.

• Cathays Park - Cathays Park is one of the finest examples of an early 20th Century Civic Centre. Built on land previously owned by the Bute family, the buildings in this part of Cardiff are constructed using Portland Stone, the same stone as St Paul’s Cathedral. Home to Cardiff’s Crown Court, Cardiff University, The National Museum Cardiff, and the Welsh National War Memorial, we will explore why this area is so important, and how it was built using the wealth brought into the city by the booming coal trade in the 18th - mid 20th century.

While exploring the civic centre, we will also discuss why Cardiff is now one of the most popular filming locations in the UK, and how this sector of the creative arts industry and the tourism it generates to the South Wales area is filling some of the gaps left by the de-industrialization of Wales.

• National Museum Cardiff - The National Museum Cardiff is home to one of the best collections of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist Art in the UK. Its collection, which is spread over 15 galleries, includes masterpieces by Monet, Cézanne, Renoir’s famous Blue Lady ‘La Parisienne’, and Rodin’s ‘The Kiss’. Also home to some of the best Welsh art, both modern and historic, it would be easy to spend a whole day in the museum exploring the world-class collection that is on permanent display. Sadly, this tour can only offer you a taster of what is on show but promises to get you ‘up close and personal’ with as many of the most famous artworks. How did the National Museum manage to collect such an impressive range of art? Your guide will explain all, including who to thank, during the tour.

Please note that the Museum is closed on Mondays. Tours booked on Monday will be unable to visit the interior of the museum, but other locations will be added to the tour by the guide on the day to compensate for this.

• Llandaff Cathedral - Llandaff is one of the most important Christian sites in Wales. Famous for its stunning cathedral that was heavily damaged by a German landmine during the Second World War, this area of Cardiff is where the author Roald Dahl grew up.

As we drive through this quaint area of Cardiff, your guide will point out the Cathedral School, where the young Roald Dahl studied, and the site of Mrs. Pratchett’s sweet shop on Llandaff’s High Street, which is said to have inspired several of Dahl’s stories, including Matilda and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

• St Fagans National Museum of History - St Fagans National Museum of History is the most popular visitor attraction in Wales. Named Art Fund Museum of the Year 2019, St Fagans is like no other museum you will have experienced before. Comprised of a collection of historic buildings that have been saved from demolition and transported to the museum, St Fagans offers you the chance to see what living in Wales has been like since the Celtic period.

Starting with lunch in the Museum’s excellent cafe, which serves a range of hot and cold food, your guide will take you to explore a selection of buildings that summarize the museum’s collection and the history of Wales. This summary includes recreations of an Iron Age roundhouse and a medieval Prince’s court, a former workmen’s institute, a row of terraces that explore the changing lives of people living in Wales, a School House, and St Fagans Castle, a Grade 1 listed building and one of the finest Elizabethan manor houses in Wales.

• Cardiff Bay - Cardiff Bay is the modern name for the old Cardiff Docks, which at their height were the largest coal exporting docks in the world. Owned by the Marquis of Bute, the Jeff Bezos of the day, the area was as multicultural then as it is today. Now the cultural heart of Cardiff and the political centre of Wales, Cardiff Bay is home to the Wales Millennium Centre, Roald Dahl Plass, The Senedd, and the new BBC Wales’ Studios. While ‘down the bay’, as the locals would say, your guide will show you around one of the most interesting and beautiful parts of Cardiff, explain its rich and vibrant history, and explain how Cardiff went from the largest coal exporting docks in the world to the beautiful waterfront you see today.

• The Coal Exchange Hotel - The Exchange Hotel is the former Coal Exchange in Cardiff. Famous for being where the first 1 Million Pound deal was agreed in 1904, this stunning hotel is not only one of the top places to stay in Cardiff but has also held concerts starring the likes of Sir Tom Jones, Beverly Knight, and Gregory Porter.

Stopping here, we will quickly explain how history was made here with the signing of the first Million-pound deal, the Coal Exchange’s history, and why coal was so important, not only to Cardiff and Wales but also to the British Empire.

• Portland House - Portland House is the former site of the Cardiff Dock branch of the National Provincial Bank, which later became National Westminster Bank. Said to be where the first Million Pound Cheque was cashed, Portland House is now a major events space and filming location. One of the many listed buildings in this area, our guide will explain why so many of these buildings are now at risk of being lost.

• Roald Dahl Plass - Roald Dahl Plass is named after the famous children’s author and son of the city of Cardiff. Educated at Llandaff Cathedral School, he is just one of the famous Welsh cultural icons whose lives are celebrated throughout the city of Cardiff.

Roald Dahl Plass’ most iconic feature is the Water Tower, a water fountain built by Nicholas Hare Architects and the sculptor William Pye, which is a favorite with locals and tourists alike.

Known for numerous events throughout the year, Roald Dahl Plass is sometimes off-limits due to the construction work required to host these events. That said, if you are lucky enough to visit when one of the many free events is taking place, such as the International Food and Drink Festival or the Cardiff Bay Beach, our guide will be more than happy to show you around these amazing events as part of the tour.

• Senedd - The Senedd is the home to the Welsh Parliament (formerly the National Assembly of Wales), and while here, we will take a few moments to explore this iconic building, which was designed by the famous architect Lord Richard Rogers. Designed to reflect the open and democratic nature of Welsh devolution, the Senedd is a masterpiece of modern architecture.

While here, we will discuss the role that Wales, its people (including the Welsh Tudor kings and David Lloyd-George), and its culture have had on UK politics. We will also discuss devolution in Wales and how the call for Welsh Independence from England is on the rise.

• Wales Millennium Centre - The Wales Millennium Centre is one of the newest and most iconic buildings in Cardiff. Home to several resident arts organizations, including the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the BBC National Chorus of Wales, and the internationally renowned Welsh National Opera. Andrew Lloyd Webber famously said that “There’s nowhere in London that comes close to the Wales Millennium Centre”, which was designed to reflect the unique character of Wales and its culture.

While at the Wales Millennium Centre, your guide will explain the international importance of the building and its resident organizations, how the building owes a lot to a very generous South African, and how everything in the building, even the door handles, were carefully considered to reflect the purpose of the building and Wales’ history.

After exploring the Millennium Centre, you are free to either stay in Cardiff Bay (where there are several amazing eateries) or ask the guide to take you back to your accommodation.

• Entry to Cardiff Castle

• Gratuities

Our Private Day Tour of Cardiff, featuring Cardiff Castle, St Fagans, and Cardiff Bay, is an ideal choice for anyone eager to quickly familiarize themselves with the Welsh Capital. Whether visiting for a holiday, a brief stopover, or any other reason, this day tour offers the best opportunity to explore as much as possible in just one day.

Guided by a local Cardiffian, this excursion showcases the highlights of Cardiff, delves into its history, and provides insights into life in the city. The greatest advantage is that our local guides are familiar with the finest places to eat, drink, and explore, often beyond the typical tourist paths.

Although this tour is generally available for groups of up to 3 people, we can accommodate larger groups of up to 30 (please contact us for more information). This ensures that whether you’re exploring with friends or a college or university group, you will enjoy the same exceptional tour experience.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.