Must-see entertainment in Wales

  • 500px Photo ID: 132609521 -

    Clwb Ifor Bach

    Cardiff

    Named for 12th-century Welsh rebel Ifor Bach, the legendary Clwb ('Club') has broken many a Welsh band since it first opened its doors as a Welsh-language…

  • Chapter Arts Centre, a beloved alternative culture hub in Cardiff

    Chapter

    Cardiff

    Established in 1972 and now Cardiff's edgiest arts venue, Chapter has a varied rota of contemporary drama, as well as art exhibitions, arthouse cinema,…

  • Professor Codman’s Punch & Judy Show

    Llandudno

    Queen Victoria herself watched this show, performed by the same family with the same puppets since 1860. Mr Punch’s iconic red-and-white-striped booth…

  • Globe at Hay

    Parc Cenedlaethol Bannau Brycheiniog

    Run by the Institute of Art and Ideas, the people behind Hay's HowTheLightGetsIn festival of philosophy and music, this converted Methodist chapel wears…

  • Aberystwyth Arts Centre

    Ceredigion

    One of the largest arts centres in Wales, this happening place stages excellent opera, drama, dance and concerts, plus it has an art gallery, a quality…

  • Pontio

    Anglesey & the North Coast

    Pontio cements Bangor's place as the cultural capital of North Wales. Within the fluid, Guggenheim-esque interior of this ambitious new multimillion-pound…

  • Clwyd Theatr Cymru

    Snowdonia & the Llŷn

    Founded in 1976, Clwyd Theatr Cymru has five performance spaces and stages a year-round program of old and new drama, mainly in English, including works…

  • Theatr Mwldan

    Ceredigion

    Located in the former slaughterhouse, Theatr Mwldan stages comedy, drama, dance, music and films, and has an art gallery and a good cafe. In summer there…

  • Chance & Counters

    Cardiff

    This is the biggest permanent board game cafe in Wales, with over 500 to choose from and an army of approachable and knowledgeable gamers at the helm…

  • Tabernacle

    Parc Cenedlaethol Bannau Brycheiniog

    What happens when Creation Records boss Alan McGee, the man who unleashed Oasis on the world, decides to renovate an 1837 Baptist chapel in your little…

  • Venue Cymru

    Llandudno

    With two auditoriums and a snooker arena, Venue Cymru is one of North Wales' leading event and performance venues. The line-up covers all bases, from big…

  • Theatr Ardudwy

    Snowdonia National Park (Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri)

    An impressive cultural asset for a town of this size, Theatr Ardudwy is a lively local arts centre that stages dance, theatre and music, and screens a…

  • Brecon & District Male Choir

    Parc Cenedlaethol Bannau Brycheiniog

    For booming harmonies, head to the practice sessions of the local male choir; visitors are most welcome. Since its formation in 1937, the choir has…

  • Aberystwyth Male Voice Choir

    Ceredigion

    Harmonising since 1962, the Aber Male Choir rehearses at the Aberystwyth Rugby Club from 7pm to 8.30pm most Thursdays. Performance dates can be found on…

  • St John’s Methodist Church

    Llandudno

    Built in 1866, this church hosts a summer season of performances (8pm, May to October) with choirs on Tuesday and Thursday and brass bands most weekends.

  • Dragon Theatre

    Snowdonia National Park (Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri)

    Since 1959 the cultural life of the town has centred on this 1890s chapel and its year-round schedule of live performances, cinema and exhibitions.

  • Galeri Caernarfon

    Anglesey & the North Coast

    This excellent multipurpose arts centre hosts exhibitions, theatre, films and events; check online for details.

  • Commodore Cinema

    Ceredigion

    This traditional single-screen shows current mainstream releases and runs a bar for a pre-flick beer.

  • Wyeside Arts Centre

    Powys

    A great little venue with a bar, exhibition space, cinema and live shows ('from Pinter to panto').

  • 500px Photo ID: 69488413 - Cardiff University main building

    Cardiff University Students' Union

    Cardiff

    The students' union hosts regular live gigs by big-name bands, usually of an alternative bent, in its four venues. It also hosts regular comedy, club and…

  • Outside St David's Hall

    St David's Hall

    Cardiff

    The National Concert Hall of Wales, this is the home of the Welsh Proms in July and a full roster of classical music performances and comedy throughout…

  • Cardiff City Stadium

    Cardiff

    This 33,300-seater is home to Cardiff City Football Club, a team that's back in the Championship League after a brief stint in the English Premier League…

  • Coliseum Cinema

    Parc Cenedlaethol Bannau Brycheiniog

    Dating from 1925, the two-screen Coliseum is a wonderful combination of high-tech comfort – digital screening and Italian chairs – and glamorous vintage…

  • Cardiff Arms Park

    Cardiff

    Home to both the Cardiff Rugby Football Club, aka the Blue & Blacks, founded in 1876, and the Cardiff Blues (www.cardiffblues.com), the professional…

  • Other Room

    Cardiff

    Inside the popular Porter's Bar this tiny one-room theatre houses less than 50 audience members per performance. Its groundbreaking, risk-taking shows…

  • Chepstow Racecourse

    Southeast Wales

    Set in rolling parkland alongside the River Wye, north of the town centre, Chepstow Racecourse is one of Britain's most famous horse-racing venues. It's…

  • Ffwrn

    North Pembrokeshire

    Call into this very cool converted church hall during the day for the delicious pastries and crêpes, but keep a look out for the posters advertising an…

  • Queen's Hall

    South Pembrokeshire

    Narberth's artsy image is given full expression in this vibrant venue, which incorporates a gallery and a cafe. If it's music you love, any given month's…

  • Theatr Brycheiniog

    Parc Cenedlaethol Bannau Brycheiniog

    This attractive canalside theatre complex is the town's main venue for drama, dance, comedy and music. It's worth checking what's on, as it sometimes…

  • Builth Male Voice Choir

    Powys

    You can catch a rehearsal from 8pm on Monday nights in the upper room of the Greyhound Hotel on Garth Rd, which is also one of the town's better pubs…

  • Chepstow Male Voice Choir

    Southeast Wales

    Chepstow's equivalent of the cast of Glee (albeit a considerably older, exclusively male, much more Welsh version) rehearses twice a week at a local…

  • Dylan Thomas Theatre

    Swansea (Abertawe)

    Home to Swansea Little Theatre, an amateur dramatic group of which Dylan Thomas was once a member, this company stages a wide repertoire of plays,…

  • Cafe Jazz

    Cardiff

    It's not exactly your traditional smoky basement, but this cafe-bar is the city's main jazz venue, with live music every night and disco kicking off after…

  • Borough Theatre

    Southeast Wales

    It's strange now to think that the Beatles played this small theatre in the Abergavenny Town Hall in 1963. It stages a varied roster of drama, opera,…

  • The Gate

    Cardiff

    This big old stone chapel has been converted into an eclectic arts centre, staging everything from theatre and classical music concerts to pop acts and…

  • SWALEC Stadium

    Cardiff

    This is the home of the Glamorgan Cricket Club (www.glamorgancricket.com), the only Welsh club playing in the England and Wales Cricket Board's county…

  • Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama

    Cardiff

    All manner of performances are staged in this impressive building's state-of-the-art venues, including theatre from the college's inhouse Richard Burton…

  • Sherman Cymru

    Cardiff

    South Wales’ leading theatre company, Sherman stages a wide range of material, from classics and children’s theatre to works by new playwrights.

  • Motorpoint Arena

    Cardiff

    A 7500-capacity indoor arena staging concerts, big-time comedians, Disney on Ice and the Champions League of Darts.

  • Taliesin Arts Centre

    Swansea (Abertawe)

    Part of Swansea University, this vibrant arts centre named after a 6th-century bard stages live music, theatre, dance and film. 

More destinations you need to see