Things to do in Wales
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Cardiff Castle
The grafting of Victorian mock-Gothic extravagance onto Cardiff's most important historical relics makes Cardiff Castle the city's leading attraction. It's far from a traditional Welsh castle, more a collection of disparate castles scattered around a central green, encompassing practically the whole history of Cardiff. The most conventional castle-y bits are the 12th-century motte-and-bailey Norman keep at its centre and the 13th-century Black Tower, which forms the entrance gate.
In the 19th century it was discovered that the Normans had built their fortifications on top of the original 1st-century Roman fort. The high walls that surround the castle now are largely a…
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National Museum Cardiff
Set around the green lawns and colourful flowerbeds of Alexandra Gardens is the Civic Centre, an early-20th-century complex of neo-Baroque buildings in gleaming white Portland stone. They include the City Hall, police headquarters, law courts, crown offices, Cardiff University and this excellent museum, one of Britain's best, covering natural history, archaeology and art.
The Evolution of Wales exhibit takes you through 4600 million years of geological history, with a rollicking multimedia display that places Wales into a global context. Films of volcanic eruptions and aerial footage of the Welsh landscape explain how its scenery was formed, while model dinosaurs and…
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Millennium Stadium
The spectacular Millennium Stadium squats like a stranded spaceship on the River Taff's east bank. Attendance at international rugby and football matches has increased dramatically since this 72,500-seat, three-tiered stadium with sliding roof was completed in time to host the 1999 Rugby World Cup. The famous Cardiff Arms Park , its predecessor, lies literally in its shadow.
Not everyone is happy with it: one critic called it 'an absurdly overexcited structure…that rears over the surrounding streets like a sumo wrestler'. The stadium cost £110 million to build and big matches paralyse the city centre, but when the crowd begins to sing, the whole city resonates and all is…
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Chepstow Castle
Magnificent Chepstow Castle perches atop a limestone cliff overhanging the river, guarding the main river crossing from England into South Wales. It is one of the oldest castles in Britain (building began in 1067) and the impressive Great Tower retains its original Norman architecture.
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Wales Millennium Centre
The centrepiece and symbol of Cardiff Bay's regeneration, the Millennium Centre is an architectural masterpiece of stacked Welsh slate in shades of purple, green and grey topped with an overarching bronzed steel shell. Designed by Welsh architect Jonathan Adams, it opened in 2004 as Wales' premier arts complex, housing the Welsh National Opera, National Dance Company, National Orchestra, Academi (Welsh National Literature Promotion Agency), HiJinx Theatre and Ty Cerdd (Music Centre of Wales).
The roof above the main entrance is pierced by 2m-high, letter-shaped windows, spectacularly backlit at night, that spell out phrases from poet Gwyneth Lewis: 'Creu Gwir fel Gwydr o…
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Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
The real masterpiece of civil engineer Thomas Telford (1757-1834) is the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, completed in 1805 to carry the Llangollen Canal over the Dee River. At 316m long and 38m high, it is perhaps the most spectacular piece of engineering on the entire UK canal system and the highest canal aqueduct ever built. The first stone of the aqueduct, which connected the rivers Severn, Mersey and Dee at the height of the Industrial Revolution, was laid in 1795.
More recently it was nominated by the government as a World Heritage site. If accepted by Unesco, the aqueduct will join Stonehenge and the Tower of London on the list of World Heritage sites in Britain.
The aqueduct…
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Norwegian Church
On the east side of the harbour, looking like it's popped out of the pages of a storybook, is the Norwegian Church, a white-slatted wooden building with a black witch's-hat spire. Built in 1869 beside the long-gone Bute West Dock, it was a seamen's mission, modelled on the lines of a traditional Norwegian village church. It fell into disrepair, but remained a place of worship until 1974; the Cardiff-born writer Roald Dahl was christened here, and served as president of the preservation trust that restored and renovated the church. It has now been reincarnated as an arts centre with an excellent café, interesting exhibitions, concerts and arts courses.
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Plas Mawr
Plas Mawr, one of Britain's finest surviving Elizabethan town houses, was built in 1585. The tall, whitewashed exterior is an indication of the owner's status, but gives no clue of the vivid friezes of the interior. The admission price includes a helpful audio tour; a combined ticket including entrance to the castle costs £6.85/5.85 per adult/child.
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Techniquest
The biggest and best science and technology discovery centre in Britain, Techniquest has more than 160 engrossing, fun, hands-on exhibits with absorbing explanations. You can explore whirlwinds, race bubbles, play a harp with no strings and more - equally enjoyable for under-fives, stoned students and inquisitive adults. The shop has lots of quirky stuff and is reasonably priced. There's also a planetarium which stages night-sky demonstrations and science shows.
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Cafe Minuet
It may look a bit greasy spoon from the outside, but this unassuming eatery produces excellent cheap and cheerful Italian food. The menu includes good vegetarian dishes, including lots of pasta options. Get in early at lunchtime or expect to wait for a table.
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Plantagenet House
Atmosphere-wise, this place instantly impresses; perfect for a romantic, candle-lit dinner. Tucked down an alley in Tenby's oldest house, it's dominated by an immense 12th-century Flemish hearth. The menu ranges from acclaimed seafood to organic beef.
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Chapter Arts Centre
Probably the city's most interesting arts venue, the Chapter has a varied programme of contemporary drama, as well as art exhibitions, workshops, alternative theatre and dance performances; it's also an appealing, arty place to hang out and there's a good café-bar with Cardiff's biggest range of beers.
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Market Hall
To stock up on groceries, head for the Somerfield supermarket A general produce market is held every Thursday in the Market Hall , and there's a Farmers Market in the Somerfield car park every second Saturday in summer (in the Market Hall in winter).
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Ty Gwyn Hotel
- Conwy, Wales
- Restaurants › Pub
This village pub, 5 miles southwest of Conwy in the village of Rowen, has a gorgeous riverside garden and simple pub food with homemade curries and bar meals. Try to time a visit with the practice session for the local male voice choir, held each Friday at 21:00.
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Richard Booth's Bookshop
The most famous, and still the best; has a sizeable Anglo-Welsh literature section, and a Wales travel section. Booth also runs bookshops in the castle, covering subjects from hobbies to erotica. In the castle grounds is an honesty bookshop (50p per book).
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Ocean Lab
The Ocean Lab , on the waterfront near Goodwick, houses an exhibition on marine life and the environment. Aimed mainly at kids, it has various hands-on exhibits, as well as Oscar the mammoth skeleton, a soft play area and a café.
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Bar Five
For a completely different ambience, try this hip, upmarket bar and restaurant in a cleverly renovated Georgian town house with a terrace overlooking the harbour. The bistro menu focuses on fresh local produce, especially crab and lobster hauled in from the restaurant's own boat.
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Craft in the Bay
This retail gallery showcases work by contemporary Welsh artists and craftspeople, with a wide range of ceramics, textiles, woodwork, jewellery, glassware, canvases and ironwork.
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Laston House
William Paxton built his saltwater baths above the harbour in what is now Laston House. The Greek writing on the pediment translates as the optimistic, 'The sea will wash away all the evils of man'.
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Mike Mayberry Kayaking
Offers instruction courses (one/two days £87/147) and guided kayaking tours for more experienced paddlers.
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Cardiff Antiques Centre
Spread over three floors of an Edwardian arcade, this centre has more than a dozen little stores selling Welsh porcelain and china, antique jewellery and silver, stamps, coins and collectables.
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Basilico
A stylish and intimate little place with candlelight glinting off polished wood floors, Basilico serves fresh Italian cuisine, ranging from standard pasta dishes to gourmet seafood.
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Blue Boar
This bar-cum-restaurant specialises in hearty, home-cooked fare and has an inventive range of dishes, from light bites, such as hummus and pitta bread to traditional Welsh stew.
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Maritime Museum
Next to the tourist office, the tiny Maritime Museum has a low-key pocket history of the highs and lows of topsail schooners and other sailing ships in a wharf-side slate shed.
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Misbah Tandoori
One of the best curry houses not only in Wales, but in the whole of Britain, the Misbah is an authentic Bangladeshi family restaurant with a large and loyal following.
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