The capital of Wales, Cardiff, is a bustling city filled with Welsh charm and bursting with things to see and do. Enjoy a pint at one of the many local pubs and bars, immerse in some retail therapy at St David’s, walk along the bay or explore Cardiff’s castle. Browse our top selection of attractions in Cardiff and plan your visit today. Learn more about booking a city break in Cardiff.
Planning a family staycation in Cardiff? You’ll be pleased to know the city boasts plenty of activities ideal for kids and adults. Some of Cardiff’s top family-friendly attractions include:
St Fagans National History Museum
Bursting with Welsh history, culture and heritage, St Fagans National History Museum offers and exciting and educational day out for the whole family. This open-air museum takes visitors on a journey through the ages from Celtic times to present day. Explore over forty original buildings from different historical periods, stroll the beautiful gardens and extensive grounds of St Fagans Castle, a late 16th century manor house, and watch craftsmen demonstrate traditional skills in their workshops (produce is usually available to buy).
St Fagans museum is also a hub of exciting events from festivals to music and dance, often celebrating Welsh traditions and lifestyles. The museum offers free entry and is open daily 10am -5pm. St Fagans National History Museum sits a twenty-minute drive from Leonardo Hotel Cardiff.
Described as ‘Cardiff’s Historic Heart’, Cardiff Castle offers a rich story spanning 2,000 years. A unique mix of its historical origins, the castle is made up of a little bit of everything with a Roman fort, a Norman castle and a ‘Victorian Gothic fantasy palace’. The castle apartment interiors are elaborate and lavishly decorated from fine art murals to intricate wood and stone carvings.
Embark on the ‘House Tour’ to discover the marble roof top garden, the opulent Lord Bute’s Bedroom, and the ornate Winter Smoking Room – this castle’s rooms offer an intriguing blend of eccentric and extravagant! You can also explore the clock tower, the Norman Keep, Battlement Walk, and the North Gate for the full historic journey.
The castle is open seven days a week, and opening times vary depending on the time of year. Tickets cost £12 for adults (an extra £3 for the house tour) and £9 for children aged 5-16 (an extra £2 for the house tour). Situated in the city centre, Cardiff Castle is a five-minute walk from our Cardiff hotel.
Cardiff City Hall
Cardiff City Hall is a magnificent example English Renaissance style architecture carved from Portland stone. The hall is mostly reserved for private events, however, the impressive and beautifully designed building is worth exploring, even if just walking around the exterior. The hall is home to collections of artwork and sculptures, and has an interesting history that you can learn more about in the visitors guide.
Cardiff City Hall is a six-minute walk from Leonardo Hotels.
Pierhead
Housed in a beautiful Grade I listed building, Pierhead offers exhibitions, interactive displays, and a collection of artefacts showcasing milestones in Welsh history. Learn about the history of the bay area in an engaging video or discover Welsh heroes who helped shape/contribute to Wales’ cultural and political identity in the informative digital display. The ‘Futures Gallery’ hosts temporary exhibitions, discussions, and storytelling offering visitors the opportunity to share their thoughts on the future of Wales.
The museum offers free admission and is situated a leisurely thirty-minute walk from our Cardiff hotel.
Cardiff International White Water
Cardiff International White Water is an exciting ‘adventure’ day out for all the family. There’s an array of challenging activities from family rafting, indoor surfing, and river boarding, to high ropes, gorge walking and wall climbing. You can enjoy some lunch at the onsite café and their website provides more information on what to bring, activity costs, and opening times.
Situated at Cardiff Bay, Cardiff international White Water is a ten-minute drive from our Leonardo Hotel.
Bute Park & Arboretum
A large urban oasis, Bute Park is described as the ‘green heart of the city’ with 56 hectares of historic landscape. There is a range of things to explore from the sculpture trail and woodland play trail (for kids) to arboretum collections and a myriad of wildlife.
The park is home to three cafés: the Pettigrew Tea Rooms offers a vintage-style tea room with a varied selection of loose leaf tea and cakes, the Secret Garden Café has a delicious menu available and terrace seating, and the Summerhouse Café provides outdoor seating, hot and cold drinks, ice cream, and BBQ food in summer.
Bute Park is a short ten-minute walk from our Cardiff hotel.
Caerphilly Castle
A large and impressive fortress dating back to the 13th century, Caerphilly Castle is a Grade I listed building bursting history and heritage for you to discover. Famous for its introduction of concentric castle defences to Britain, the medieval fortification occupies around 30 acres and is surrounded by multiple moats/artificial lakes. Caerphilly is the largest castle in Wales and is known for its grand gatehouses, while the main structure is a mix of ruins and partial restoration.
Admissioncosts £6.00 for adults and £4.20 for children between the ages of 5 and 16, and opening times change depending on the time of year. Caerphilly Castle is a brief twenty-minute drive from Leonardo Hotel Cardiff.
Dr. Who Experience
An exhilarating and immersive ‘space and time’ adventure for those of all ages, the Dr Who Experience is a Cardiff ‘must- see’. Explore fifty years of Doctor Who with the world’s largest collection artefacts, from TARDIS sets to evil monster costumes and iconic props. The experience also offers a ‘spectacular, interactive adventure’ to follow the Doctor through time and space to ‘grapple with a threat which could destroy the universe’.
Admission costs £16 for adults and £11.75 for children (5-16 years), cheaper tickets can be booked online or over the phone, however, there is a booking fee per ticket. Situated at Cardiff Bay, the Dr Who Experience is a short ten-minute drive from our Leonardo Hotel.
Castell Coch
A ‘High Gothic’ Victorian Castle, Castell Coch (Red Castle) offers impressive architecture and a lavish interior. The previous castle had a turbulent history, but using the medieval remains as a base, the Gothic Revival castle brought a new and opulent life to the site. The stone towers reflect more of a mainland European design and create a ‘dramatic silhouette’, while the interiors are elaborately decorated with bespoke designed furniture and fittings.
Opening times vary depending on the time of year, admission costs £6.00 for adults and £4.20 for children (5-16 years), children under five receive free entry. Castell Coch sits a twenty-minute drive from our Cardiff hotel.
St David’s Shopping Centre
Situated in the heart of the city centre, St David’s shopping centre is perfect for a day of retail therapy. Filled with all your favourite high street fashion brands from H&M to River Island, homeware, electronics, and jewellery stores, as well as a range of places to eat, shoppers have everything they might want under one roof.
The centre is open 9.30am-8pm Monday-Friday, closing an hour earlier on Saturdays and opening 11am -5pm on Sundays. St David’s is brief four-minute walk from Leonardo Hotel Cardiff.
Hinckley is a small historic market town filled with independent stores & boutiques, a museum, theatre, golf course, and a selection of restaurants. Situated short distances from Coventry, Leicester, and Birmingham, our Hinckley Island hotel is perfectly place for exploring both charming rural towns and bigger historical cities, as well as a myriad of surrounding attractions from Twycross Zoo to Bosworth Battlefield. For more things to see and do, peruse below our selection of top Hinckley Island attractions.
As one of the most scenic regions in Scotland, Perthshire is unsurprisingly packed with beautiful trails ideal for both a leisurely stroll or a serious hike. If you’re making a trip up to the country’s heart sometime soon to stay at our conveniently located Leonardo Boutique Hotel Huntingtower Perth, why not check out one of the following memorable walks in Perthshire?