Right in the middle of the city, Cardiff Castle is one of those places that works for absolutely everyone staying with us — whether you’ve got a free afternoon between meetings at one of our contractor houses, or the kids are itching for something more exciting than another café. Underneath the manicured grounds sit genuine Roman fort walls, and above them a Norman keep you can climb for skyline views over the whole city.
The real showstopper is the Victorian Gothic apartments built by the 3rd Marquess of Bute — gilded ceilings, murals, and rooms so ornate they don’t feel real. There are wartime tunnels underneath too, used as air-raid shelters, which the kids tend to find more interesting than the gold leaf.
Give yourself at least two hours, more if you take the guided tour of the interiors. It’s a five-minute walk from most of our Cardiff properties, so it’s an easy one to slot in before dinner or on a changeover day. Go early on weekends to beat the tour groups, and check ahead for events — the grounds regularly host concerts and Christmas markets that are worth timing a stay around.
