There’s no way around it – cities are expensive places, and cities in the UK are even more so.
Especially in the midsummer months when the crowds of tourists flock to the citizens, prices can get so high that you have to reload your house to buy a sandwich.
For the thrifty traveler, there are other options, especially if you are planning a visit to the Welsh Cital. Yes, there are free activities in Cardiff.
There are a multitude of free activities out there that will leave you and your wallet out.
Free things to do in Cardiff, Wales
Looking for free things to do in Cardiff? Check out these spots!
National Museum of Wales
Would you like a brief history of Wales starting 4.6 billion years ago? Hosts the Cardiff National Museum Development of Wales;; a permanent exhibition that takes you on a journey of The earliest beginnings of Wales til today. You’ll also see full dinosaur skeletons, woolly mammoths, and a full-size basking shark hanging from the ceiling. There is also a large art gallery upstairs that displays both classical and contemporary art. Just make sure you don’t touch Brian the Bison. He is bald because he has been petted by visitors for over twenty years.
St. Fagans Natural History Museum
If the weather is good for you, be sure to visit St. Fagans. Considered one of the best open air museums in Europe (it seems museums are some of the best free things to do in Cardiff), it combines a selection of Wales’ Celtic and industrial history with acres of beautiful Welsh countryside and parkland. Because it is a Open air museumdo the warmer months St. Fagans An excellent place to see live music and theater events, festivals and living history celebrations.
Bute Park
If history isn’t your thing, take a stroll through the gardens and woods of Bute Park (visiting parks is also one of the best free things to do in Cardiff). Originally owned by the Cardiff nobility, the park is one Joy of the naturalist and is one of the largest city parks in Wales. The park has around 2000 trees and is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including herons, woodpeckers, and otters. Bute Park hosts the Royal Horticultural Society’s annual show in spring, so you’re guaranteed to get a lively and colorful reception.
Roath Lake
Roath Lake is a unique park in that much of it has still been preserved original Victorian charm. The amusement garden leads back to a large lake that houses a lighthouse in honor of Ctain Scott, who sailed from Cardiff to Antarctica in 1910. Not only is Roath Lake home to a number of wild birds, it is also home to a number of rowing systems and pedal boats that are open to the public.
Cardiff history
The Cardiff Story Museum is a fairly new addition to the city’s amenities and an excellent addition to the main museum. Built in Cardiff’s old library, the Cardiff history gives visitors a fun and interactive look at how Cardiff has evolved over the centuries; from a sparsely populated late medieval city to the sprawling cosmopolitan metropolis of the industrial revolution. The museum also has its own gallery upstairs with the The best of Cardiff’s modern art talent, Animation, film and much more.
Bonus: Cardiff Castle
If you live or work in Cardiff you can enter Cardiff Castle for free. You can sign up for a free ‘Castle Key’ pass which gives you access to the castle grounds, the original Norman keep and parts of the manor house.
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