If you have clients headed to Cardiff, Wales for the Olympic football (or soccer) matches at the Millennium Stadium (or any time, really), here are some sites for them to explore in and around the area. Cardiff is just two hours from London by train, and has a wealth of culture worth seeing.
1.) Millennium Stadium Tour or Match
Built in 1999 to mark the arrival of the new Millennium, Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium is one of the most impressive icons of modern Wales. Wales is a nation of rugby fans and the Millennium Stadium is home to the successful Wales National Union Rugby team. Tours are available and visitors should be sure to check the schedule to experience a home game.
2.) Victorian and Edwardian Shopping Arcades
Known as the ‘City of Arcades,’ Cardiff has the highest concentration of indoor shopping arcades of any city in Britain. These architecturally beautiful, covered shopping tunnels are famed for their mix of local and high-street products including clothing, jewelry, baked goods and local crafts.
3.) Millennium Centre and Cardiff Bay
Nicknamed ‘the Armadillo’ by locals for its rounded brown facade, this performing arts center on Cardiff Bay is a must-see for architecture buffs and art lovers alike. The center is home to national opera, dance, theatre and literature companies. The Bay is also a bustling shopping and foodie hub.
4.) St. Fagans: National History Museum
St. Fagans: National History Museum is one of Europe's leading open-air museums and Wales's most popular heritage attraction. It stands in the grounds of the magnificent St. Fagans Castle, a late 16th-century manor house donated to the people of Wales by the Earl of Plymouth. During the last fifty years, over forty original buildings from different historical periods have been re-erected in the 100-acre parkland.
5.) Cardiff Castle
Cardiff Castle is a lavish, gothic-style compound with five towers and a sprawling estate. Visitors can take the guided tour of the castle apartments to truly appreciate the historic opulence of the castle. The grounds of the castle, Bute Park, are perfect for a lazy afternoon picnic and a day of people watching.