Did You Know?

First settled by the Romans in 55AD, Cardiff was granted city status in 1905 and in 1955 was named the capital city of Wales. It's home to an estimated 350,000 people and welcomes some 18 million visitors every year.

Cardiff is Wales largest city and it's capital with a populous of 447,287. It offers a startling range of attractions, amazing entertainment and quality shopping. The bay offers a wide range of entertainment and food for everyone.

The name Cardiff basically means 'fortified enclosure on the banks of the Taf'. It comes from the Welsh 'Caerdyf' with its two elements: Caer meaning fort, stronghold or enclosure, and Dyf, a mutation of the river name.

Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium has one of the largest sliding roofs in the world. It can seat 74,000 and has hosted the Rolling Stones and Neil Diamond, as well as rugby and football matches and other sporting events.

There are three castles still standing in the city; Cardiff Castle that was built in the 12th century, St Fagan’s Castle, built in the 16th century and Castell Coch Castle built in the 11th century.

Roald Dahl, born and raised in the city, once put a dead mouse into a jar of sweets at his local sweet shop after the owner was cruel to him.

The first ever British news film was filmed here in 1896 when the Prince & Princess of Wales opened an extension to the Central Library. This was also the first ever motion picture of the prince.

Spillers Records is the oldest record shop in the world. Dating all the way back to 1894, it’s been in business for over 125 years. Located along the historic Morgan Arcade in Cardiff.

There are a series of underground tunnels in the city, of which the purpose is unknown.

It is famous for rain, but it actually gets more sunlight than Milan in Italy. Who knew?

it has seen recent fame after episodes of Dr Who were filmed in and around the city. In 1963, a race of robotic aliens terrified Dr Who fans in The Daleks.

Cardiff is widely regarded as being the city with the most castles in the world. The most famous amongst these is the Castle, which has stood for nearly 2,000 years at the heart of the city.

In the nineties, the popular kids’ TV show Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles inspired lots of children to ask their parents for terrapins. Parents proceeded to dispose of the nuisance pets, when they got too big, into Roath Lake and the area quickly became overrun with tiny turtle-like creatures.