View source for Place:Cardiff

{{Infobox settlement
| name = Cardiff
| native_name= ''{{lang|cy|Caerdydd}}''
| official_name = City and County of Cardiff<br>''{{lang|cy|Dinas a Sir Caerdydd}}''
| other_name = 
| settlement_type = City & County
| image_skyline = Cardiffmontage3.jpg
| image_caption = Clockwise from top left: The Senedd, Principality Stadium, Norman keep, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff City Centre, City Hall clock tower, Welsh National War Memorial
| image_flag = Flag of Cardiff.svg
| flag_size = 120px
| image_shield =
| shield_size = 70px
| shield_link =
| image_blank_emblem = Coat of Arms of Cradiff.png
| blank_emblem_type = Coat of arms
| blank_emblem_size = 115px
| motto = "Y ddraig goch ddyry cychwyn"<br>("The red dragon will lead the way")
| image_map = Cardiff UK location map.svg

| map_caption = City and County of Cardiff<br>and (inset) within Wales
| pushpin_map = Wales#United Kingdom#Europe
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within Wales##Location within the United Kingdom##Location within Europe
| pushpin_relief = 1
| pushpin_mapsize =
| coordinates = {{coord|51|29|N|3|11|W|type:city(324800)_region:GB-CRF|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Sovereign state
| subdivision_name = {{wipe|United Kingdom}}
| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_type2 = [[Earth:Region|Region]]
| subdivision_type3 = Ceremonial county
| subdivision_type4 = [[Place:Historic counties of Wales|Historic County]]
| subdivision_type5 = Local government
| subdivision_type6 = City status
| subdivision_name1 = Wales
| subdivision_name2 = South Wales
| subdivision_name3 = South Glamorgan
| subdivision_name4 = Glamorgan
| subdivision_name5 = Cardiff Council
| subdivision_name6 = 1905
| leader_title = {{nowrap|Cardiff Council Leader }}
| leader_name = Huw Thomas
| leader_title1 = Welsh Assembly
| leader_name1 = {{Collapsible list
 | title =
 | frame_style = border:none; padding: 0;
 | list_style = text-align:left;display:none;
 | 1 = Cardiff West (Lab)
 | 2 = Cardiff South and Penarth (Lab)
 | 3 = Cardiff North (Lab)
 | 4 = Cardiff Central (Lab)
 }}
| area_magnitude = 1 E7
| area_total_km2 = 140.3
| area_urban_km2 = 75.72
| area_metro_km2 =
| elevation_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref>tags -->
| elevation_m =
| elevation_min_m =
| population_total= 362,756<ref name="statswales.gov.wales" />
| population_as_of = 2017 estimate
| population_footnotes =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_urban = 479,000<ref>{{cite web|url=http://worldpopulationreview.com/world-cities/cardiff-population/ |title=Cardiff Population 2018 (Demographics, Maps, Graphs) |publisher=Worldpopulationreview.com |date=2017-10-17 |accessdate=2018-09-16}}</ref>
| population_density_urban_km2 = auto
| population_metro = 1,097,000 <small>(Cardiff-South Wales Valleys)</small>
| population_demonym = Cardiffian
| postal_code_type = Post codes
| postal_code = CF
| area_code = 029
| blank_name_sec2         = GDP
| blank_info_sec2         = US$ 36.0&nbsp;billion <ref name="brookingsgdp">{{cite web |url=http://www.brookings.edu/research/interactives/global-metro-monitor-3 |title=Global city GDP 2014 |publisher=Brookings Institution |accessdate=18 November 2014 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6H7Jql2A9?url=http://www.brookings.edu/research/interactives/global-metro-monitor-3 |archivedate=4 June 2013  }}</ref>
| blank1_name_sec2        = GDP per capita
| blank1_info_sec2        = US$ 29,674<ref name="brookingsgdp" />
| website = {{url|https://www.cardiff.gov.uk/|Official Website}}
| leader_title2 = UK Parliament
| leader_name2 = {{Collapsible list
 | title =
 | frame_style = border:none; padding: 0;
 | list_style = text-align:left;display:none;
 | 1 = Cardiff West (Lab)
 | 2 = Cardiff South and Penarth (Lab)
 | 3 = Cardiff North (Lab)
 | 4 = Cardiff Central (Lab)
 }}
| leader_title3 = {{nowrap|European Parliament}}
| leader_name3 = Wales
| blank5_name = Ethnicity<br /><small>(2011 Census) <ref name=2011censusdemo>[http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/key-statistics-for-local-authorities-in-england-and-wales/rft-table-ks201ew.xls "2011 Census: Key Statistics for Local Authorities in England and Wales"]. ONS. Retrieved 25 December 2012</ref> </small>
 | blank5_info = {{Plainlist|
* 84.7% White (80.3% White British)
* 8.0% Asian
* 2.4% Black 
* 2.9% Mixed Race
* 2.0% Other
}}
| timezone = [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]]
| utc_offset = 0
| timezone_DST = BST
| utc_offset_DST = +1
| elevation_max_m =
| blank_name = Vehicle area codes
| blank_info = CA, CB, CC, CD, CE, CF, CG, CH, CJ, CK, CL, CM, CN, CO
| blank1_name = Police Force
| blank1_info = South Wales
| blank2_name = Fire Service
| blank2_info = South Wales
| blank3_name = Ambulance Service
| blank3_info = Welsh
| blank4_name = Primary Airport
| blank4_info = Cardiff Airport
}}

'''Cardiff''' ({{IPAc-en|audio=Cardiff.ogg|ˈ|k|ɑr|d|ɪ|f}}; {{lang-cy|Caerdydd}} {{IPA-cy|kairˈdiːð, kɑːɨrˈdɨːð||Caerdydd.ogg}}) is the capital of Wales, and its largest city. The eleventh-largest city in the {{wipe|United Kingdom}}, it is Wales's chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural institutions and Welsh media, and the seat of the National Assembly for Wales. The unitary authority area's 2017 population was estimated to be 362,756.<ref name="statswales.gov.wales" /> Cardiff is a significant tourist centre and the most popular visitor destination in Wales with 21.3&nbsp;million visitors in 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://businessnewswales.com/cardiff-boasts-record-visitor-numbers-during-2017/|title=Cardiff Boasts Record Visitor Numbers During 2017|date=26 March 2018|work=Business News Wales|access-date=7 July 2018|language=en-GB}}</ref> In 2011, Cardiff was ranked sixth in the world in National Geographic's alternative tourist destinations.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-13875925 |work=BBC News |title='Gem' Cardiff in world's top 10 places to visit in 2011 |date=22 June 2011}}</ref>

Cardiff is the county town of the [[Place:Historic counties of Wales|historic county]] of Glamorgan (and later South Glamorgan). Cardiff is part of the [[Engineering:Eurocities|Eurocities]] network of the largest European cities.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurocities.org/ |title=Eurocities |accessdate=20 May 2008}}</ref> A small town until the early 19th century, its prominence as a [[Engineering:Port|major port]] for the transport of coal following the arrival of industry in the region contributed to its rise as a major city. The Cardiff Built-up Area covers a slightly larger area outside the county boundary and includes the towns of Dinas Powys and Penarth. In 1905, Cardiff was made a city and proclaimed the capital of Wales in 1955.

Since the 1980s, Cardiff has seen significant development. A new waterfront area at Cardiff Bay contains the Senedd building, home to the Welsh Assembly and the Wales Millennium Centre arts complex. Current developments include the continuation of the redevelopment of the Cardiff Bay and city centre areas with projects such as the Cardiff International Sports Village, a BBC drama village,<ref>{{cite web |title=Proposed BBC Drama Village at Media Capital, Roath Basin |url=http://wales.gov.uk/publications/accessinfo/drnewhomepage/economicdrs/2010/bbcdramavillage/?lang=en |publisher=Welsh Assembly Government |accessdate=6 April 2011 |date=14 December 2009}}</ref> and a new business district in the city centre.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cardiff Business District 'needs skills and transport' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-12905961 |publisher=BBC Wales |accessdate=6 April 2011 |date=30 March 2011}}</ref>
Sporting venues in the city include the Principality Stadium{{mdash}}the national stadium and the home of the Wales national rugby union team{{mdash}}Sophia Gardens (the home of Glamorgan County Cricket Club), Cardiff City Stadium (the home of Cardiff City football team and the Wales football team), Cardiff International Sports Stadium (the home of Cardiff Amateur Athletic Club), Cardiff Arms Park (the home of Cardiff Blues and Cardiff RFC rugby union teams) and Ice Arena Wales (the home of Cardiff Devils ice hockey team). The city hosted the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games. The city was awarded the title of European City of Sport twice, due to its role in hosting major international sporting events: first in 2009 and again in 2014.<ref>{{cite news |title=City takes European sports capital title for 2014 |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/cardiffonline/cardiff-news/2011/04/01/city-takes-european-sports-capital-title-for-2014-91466-28440348/ |accessdate=6 April 2011 |newspaper=South Wales Echo |date=1 April 2011}}</ref> The Principality Stadium hosted 11 football matches as part of the 2012 Summer Olympics, including the games' opening event and the men's bronze medal match.<ref>{{cite news |title=Olympic football in Cardiff |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-12905961 |publisher=Visit Cardiff |accessdate=6 April 2011 |date=30 March 2011}}</ref>

== Etymology ==
{{lang|cy|Caerdydd}} (the [[Social:Welsh language|Welsh]] name of the city) derives from the earlier Welsh form {{lang|wlm|Caerdyf}}. The change from {{lang|wlm|-dyf}} to {{lang|cy|-dydd}} shows the colloquial alteration of Welsh ''f'' {{IPA-cy|v|}} and ''dd'' {{IPA-cy|ð|}}, and was perhaps also driven by [[Social:Folk etymology|folk etymology]] ({{lang|cy|dydd}} is Welsh for 'day' whereas *{{lang|cy|dyf}} has no obvious meaning). This sound change had probably first occurred in the [[History:Middle Ages|Middle Ages]]; both forms were current in the [[History:Tudor period|Tudor period]]. {{lang|wlm|Caerdyf}} has its origins in [[History:Sub-Roman Britain|post-Roman]] Brythonic words meaning "the fort of the Taff". The fort probably refers to that established by the Romans. {{lang|cy|Caer}} is Welsh for ''fort'' and {{lang|cy|-dyf}} is in effect a form of {{lang|cy|Taf}} (Taff), the river which flows by Cardiff Castle, with the {{angle bracket|t}} showing consonant mutation to {{angle bracket|d}} and the vowel showing affection as a result of a (lost) genitive case ending.<ref name=hwo>Hywel Wyn Owen and Richard Morgan, ''Dictionary of the Place-names of Wales''. University of Wales Press, 2007, {{ISBN|1-84323-901-9}}, p. 70.</ref>

The [[Social:Anglicisation|anglicised]] form ''Cardiff'' is derived from {{lang|wlm|Caerdyf}}, with the Welsh ''f'' {{IPA-cy|v|}} borrowed as ''ff'' {{IPAc-en|f|}}, as also happens in ''Taff'' (from Welsh {{lang|cy|Taf}}) and ''Llandaff'' (from Welsh {{lang|cy|Llandaf}}). As English does not have the vowel {{IPA-cy|ɨ|}} the final vowel has been borrowed as {{IPAc-en|ɪ|}}.

The antiquarian William Camden (1551–1623) suggested that the name Cardiff may derive from *{{lang|wlm|Caer-Didi}} ("the Fort of Didius"), a name supposedly given in honour of {{lang|la|Aulus Didius Gallus|italic=no}}, governor of a nearby province at the time when the Roman fort was established. Although some sources repeat this theory, it has been rejected on linguistic grounds by modern scholars such as Professor {{lang|cy|Gwynedd|italic=no}} Pierce.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/whatsinaname/sites/videoexplorer/pages/?jumpTo=cardiff |title=What's In A Name? – Cardiff |last=Pierce |first=Gwynedd O |publisher=BBC Wales |accessdate=17 July 2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090115122320/http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/whatsinaname/sites/videoexplorer/pages/?jumpTo=cardiff |archivedate=15 January 2009}}</ref>

== History ==

=== Origins ===
[[File:Wales.pre-Roman.jpg|thumb|Tribes of Wales at the time of the Roman invasion and showing the modern Wales-England border]]
[[Earth:Archaeology|Archaeological]] evidence from sites in and around Cardiff: the St Lythans burial chamber near Wenvoe,  approximately {{convert|4|mi}} to the west of Cardiff city centre); the Tinkinswood burial chamber, near St Nicholas (about {{convert|6|mi}} west of Cardiff city centre), the Cae'rarfau Chambered Tomb, Creigiau (about {{convert|6|mi|}} northwest of Cardiff city centre) and the Gwern y Cleppa Long Barrow, near Coedkernew, Newport (about {{convert|8|mi}} northeast of Cardiff city centre), all show that people had settled in the area by at least around 6000&nbsp;BC, during the early Neolithic; about 1,500 years before either [[Unsolved:Stonehenge|Stonehenge]] or the Great Pyramid of Giza was completed.<ref name="Coflein St L">{{cite web|title=St Lythans Chambered Long Cairn, Maesyfelin; Gwal-y-Filiast, site details |url=http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/227289/details/ST+LYTHANS+CHAMBERED+LONG+CAIRN%2C+MAESYFELIN%3B+GWAL-Y-FILIAST/ |accessdate=9 June 2009 |publisher=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales |date=26 July 2007 |work=The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales website}}</ref><ref name="Coflein Tink">{{cite web |title=TINKINSWOOD CHAMBERED CAIRN, site details |url=http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/94510/details/TINKINSWOOD+CHAMBERED+CAIRN/ |accessdate=9 June 2009 |publisher=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales |date=29 January 2003 |work=The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales website}}</ref><ref name="Coflein Cae">{{cite web |title=CAE-YR-ARFAU; CAE'RARFAU BURIAL CHAMBER, site details, Coflein |url=http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/93016/details/CAE-YR-ARFAU%3B+CAE%27RARFAU+BURIAL+CHAMBER/ |accessdate=9 June 2009 |publisher=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales |year=2009 |work=The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales website}}</ref><ref name="Coflein Gwern">{{cite web |title=GWERN-Y-CLEPPA, LONG BARROW, site details |url=http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/307811/details/GWERN-Y-CLEPPA%2C+LONG+BARROW/ |accessdate=9 June 2009 |publisher=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales |date=10 February 2003 |work=The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales website}}</ref><ref name="Stonehenge">{{cite web |title=Your guide to Stonehenge, the World's Favourite Megalithic Stone Circle |url=http://www.stonehenge.co.uk/history.htm |accessdate=9 June 2009 |publisher=Longplayer SRS Ltd (trading as http://www.stonehenge.co.uk) |year=2009 |work=Stonehenge.co.uk website}}</ref> A group of five Bronze Age [[Earth:Tumulus|tumuli]] is at the summit of the Garth ({{lang-cy|Mynydd y Garth}}), within the county's northern boundary.<ref name="Coflein Garth">{{cite web|title=GARTH HILL, BARROW I |url=http://www.coflein.gov.uk/pls/portal/coflein.w_details?inumlink=6060351 |archive-url=https://archive.is/20121223142900/http://www.coflein.gov.uk/pls/portal/coflein.w_details?inumlink=6060351 |dead-url=yes |archive-date=23 December 2012 |accessdate=30 September 2008 |publisher=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales |year=2008 |work=The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales website}}</ref> Four Iron Age hill fort and enclosure sites have been identified within Cardiff's present-day county boundaries, including Caerau Hillfort, an enclosed area of {{convert|5.1|ha|acre}}.<ref name="Coflein Graig">{{cite web|title=CASTLE FIELD CAMP E OF CRAIG-LLYWN, site details |url=http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/301309/details/CASTLE+FIELD+CAMP+E+OF+CRAIG-LLYWN/ |accessdate=9 June 2009 |publisher=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales |date=22 October 2004 |work=The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales website}}</ref><ref name="Coflein Craigyparc">{{cite web |title=CRAIG-Y-PARC, ENCLOSURE, site details |url=http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/91922/details/CRAIG-Y-PARC%2C+ENCLOSURE/ |accessdate=9 June 2009 |publisher=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales |year=1990 |work=The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales website}}</ref><ref name="Coflein Llwynda">{{cite web |title=LLWYNDA-DDU, HILLFORT, site details |url=http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/94599/details/LLWYNDA-DDU%2C+HILLFORT/ |accessdate=9 June 2009 |publisher=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales |date=14 June 1989 |work=The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales website}}</ref><ref name="Coflein Caerau">{{cite web |title=CAERAU HILLFORT, site details |url=http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/94517/details/CAERAU+HILLFORT/ |accessdate=9 June 2009 |publisher=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales |date=5 February 2003 |work=The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales website}}</ref>

Until the Roman conquest of Britain, Cardiff was part of the territory of the Silures – a Celtic British tribe that flourished in the [[History:Iron Age|Iron Age]] – whose territory included the areas that would become known as Breconshire, Monmouthshire and Glamorgan.<ref name="Wales Hist 1">{{cite book |last=Davies |first=John |title=A History of Wales |publisher=Penguin |year=1994 |location=London |pages=17–18 |isbn=0-14-014581-8}}</ref> The {{convert|3.2|ha|acre|0|adj=on}} fort established by the Romans near the mouth of the River Taff in AD&nbsp;75, in what would become the north western boundary of the centre of Cardiff, was built over an extensive settlement that had been established by the Romans in the 50s&nbsp;AD.<ref name="Coflein 2">{{cite web|title=CARDIFF ROMAN SETTLEMENT – Site details – coflein |url=http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/301346/details/CARDIFF+ROMAN+SETTLEMENT/ |accessdate=10 June 2009 |publisher=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales |date=30 August 2007 |work=RCAHMW website}}</ref> The fort was one of a series of military outposts associated with ''Isca Augusta'' (Caerleon) that acted as border defences. The fort may have been abandoned in the early 2nd century as the area had been subdued. However, by this time a civilian settlement, or ''vicus'', was established. It was likely made up of traders who made a living from the fort, ex-soldiers and their families. A Roman villa has been discovered at Ely.<ref>{{cite book |last=Rees |first=William |title=Cardiff: A History of the City |publisher=The Corporation of the City of Cardiff |year=1969 |page=1}}</ref> Contemporary with the Saxon Shore Forts of the 3rd and 4th centuries, a stone fortress was established at Cardiff. Similar to the shore forts, the fortress was built to protect Britannia from raiders.<ref>{{cite book |last=Rees |first=William |title=Cardiff: A History of the City |publisher=The Corporation of the City of Cardiff |year=1969 |page=2}}</ref> Coins from the reign of Gratian indicate that Cardiff was inhabited until at least the 4th century; the fort was abandoned towards the end of the 4th century, as the last Roman legions left the province of Britannia with Magnus Maximus.<ref>{{cite book |last=Rees |first=William |title=Cardiff: A History of the City |publisher=The Corporation of the City of Cardiff |year=1969 |page=3}}</ref><ref name="Visit 1">{{cite web |title=About Cardiff >> Cardiff History >> Cardiff History |url=http://www.visitcardiff.com/About-Cardiff/Cardiff-History.html |accessdate=8 June 2009 |publisher=Cardiff & Co |year=2009 |work=The official website for Cardiff |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511141305/http://www.visitcardiff.com/About-Cardiff/Cardiff-History.html |archivedate=11 May 2008}}</ref>

Little is known about the fort and civilian settlement in the period between the Roman departure from Britain and the Norman Conquest. The settlement probably shrank in size and may even have been abandoned. In the absence of Roman rule, Wales was divided into small kingdoms; early on, Meurig ap Tewdrig emerged as the local king in Glywysing (which later became Glamorgan). The area passed through his family until the advent of the Normans in the 11th century.<ref>{{cite book |last=Rees |first=William |title=Cardiff: A History of the City |publisher=The Corporation of the City of Cardiff |year=1969 |pages=4–5}}</ref>

=== Norman occupation to the Middle Ages ===
[[File:Cardiff-Castle.jpg|thumb|View of Caerdiffe Castle]]
[[File:Cardiff Castle keep 2018.jpg|thumb|The Norman keep]]
[[File:Cardiff Castle (Roman wall).jpg|thumb|Front wall of Cardiff Castle<br />part of the original Roman fort]]
In 1081 William I, King of England, began work on the castle keep within the walls of the old Roman fort.<ref name="Coflein 1">{{cite web |title=Cardiff Castle – Site details – coflein |url=http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/33/details/CARDIFF+CASTLE/ |accessdate=8 June 2009 |publisher=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales |date=3 December 2007 |work=RCAHMW website}}</ref> Cardiff Castle has been at the heart of the city ever since.<ref name="Cardiff Visitors">{{cite web |url=http://www.visitcardiff.com/About-Cardiff/Cardiff-History.html |publisher=Visit Cardiff |title=Cardiff history |accessdate=29 February 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080208165613/http://www.visitcardiff.com/About-Cardiff/Cardiff-History.html |archivedate=8 February 2008}}</ref> The castle was substantially altered and extended during the Victorian period by John Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute, and the architect William Burges. Original Roman work can, however, still be distinguished in the wall facings.

A town grew up in the shadow of the castle, made up primarily of settlers from England.<ref name="Cardiffians">{{cite web |url=http://www.cardiffians.co.uk/timeline.html |publisher=Cardiffians |title=Cardiff Timeline |accessdate=29 February 2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080219053249/http://www.cardiffians.co.uk/timeline.html |archivedate=19 February 2008}}</ref> Cardiff had a population of between 1,500 and 2,000 in the Middle Ages; a relatively normal size for a Welsh town in this period.<ref name="Tim Lambert-short history of Cardiff">{{cite web |url=http://www.localhistories.org/Cardiff.html |publisher=Tim Lambert |title=A short history of Cardiff |accessdate=29 February 2008}}</ref> It was the centre of the Norman Marcher Lordship of Glamorgan and by the end of the 13th century, Cardiff was the only town in Wales with a population exceeding 2,000, although it remained relatively small compared with most notable towns in the England and continued to be very much contained within its walls, which has begun as a wooden palisade in the early 12th century.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.helsinki.fi/iehc2006/papers3/Campbell122.pdf |title=Benchmarking medieval economic development: England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, circa 1290 |first=Bruce M S |last=Campbell |date=25 August 2006 |accessdate=20 May 2008 |format=PDF}}</ref><ref name="Bob Sanders-period up to 1699">{{cite web |url=http://www.angelfire.com/ga/BobSanders/CDFF1.html |publisher=Bob Sanders |title=A Cardiff & Vale of Glamorgan Chronology up to 1699 |accessdate=29 February 2008}}</ref> It was of sufficient size and importance to be awarded a series of charters, notably in 1331 by William La Zouche, Lord of Glamorgan through marriage with the de Clare family,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://calmview.cardiff.gov.uk/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=BC%2f1%2f1&pos=2 |archive-url=https://archive.is/20160426230208/http://calmview.cardiff.gov.uk/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=BC/1/1&pos=2 |dead-url=yes |archive-date=26 April 2016 |title=Cardiff Borough Council Records: Charter 1 |accessdate=23 March 2016 }}</ref> Edward III in 1359,<ref name="calmview.cardiff.gov.uk">{{cite web|url=http://calmview.cardiff.gov.uk/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=BC%2f1%2f4&pos=5 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227060330/http://calmview.cardiff.gov.uk/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=BC%2F1%2F4&pos=5 |dead-url=yes |archive-date=27 December 2016 |title=Cardiff Borough Council Records: Charter 4 |accessdate=23 March 2016 }}</ref> then Henry IV in 1400,<ref name="calmview.cardiff.gov.uk"/> and later Henry VI.

In 1404, Owain Glyndŵr burned Cardiff and took possession of the Castle.<ref name="Bob Sanders-period up to 1699"/> As many buildings in the town were made of timber, and tightly packed together within the town walls, much of Cardiff was destroyed. Ironically given the treatment of Cardiff by Glyndwr, whose statue was erected in Cardiff Town Hall in the early twentieth century, reflecting the complex and often conflicting cultural identity Cardiff has as the capital of Wales, the town was soon rebuilt on the same street plan and began to flourish once again.<ref name="Tim Lambert-short history of Cardiff"/> In addition to serving an important political role in the governance of the fertile south Glamorgan coastal plain, Cardiff was a busy port in the Middle Ages and was declared a staple port in 1327.

=== County town of Glamorganshire ===
[[File:John Speed's map of Cardiff 1610.jpg|thumb|left|John Speed's map of Cardiff from 1610]]
[[File:Cardiff old town hall, Glamorganshire.jpeg|thumb|upright|left|Cardiff old town hall (1860)]]
[[File:A view of the jubilee dock, Cardiff, from the eastern side.jpeg|thumb|Jubilee dock, Cardiff, from the eastern side (1849)]]
In 1536, the Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542 between England and Wales led to the creation of the shire of Glamorgan, and Cardiff was made the county town. It also became part of Kibbor hundred.{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}} Around this same time the Herbert family became the most powerful family in the area.<ref name="Cardiffians"/> In 1538, [[Biography:Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII]] closed the Dominican and Franciscan friaries in Cardiff, the remains of which were used as building materials.<ref name="Tim Lambert-short history of Cardiff"/> A writer around this period described Cardiff: "The River Taff runs under the walls of his honours castle and from the north part of the town to the south part where there is a fair quay and a safe harbour for shipping."<ref name="Tim Lambert-short history of Cardiff"/>

Cardiff had become a Free Borough in 1542<ref name="Bob Sanders-period up to 1699"/> and further Royal Charters were granted to the town by Elizabeth I in 1600<ref>{{cite web|url=http://calmview.cardiff.gov.uk/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=BC%2f1%2f10&pos=11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620153437/http://calmview.cardiff.gov.uk/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=BC%2f1%2f10&pos=11 |dead-url=yes |archive-date=20 June 2018 |title=Cardiff Borough Council Records: Charter 12 – Exemplifications of Confirmation |accessdate=23 March 2016 }}</ref> and James I in 1608.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://calmview.cardiff.gov.uk/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=BC%2f1%2f11&pos=12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227060342/http://calmview.cardiff.gov.uk/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=BC%2F1%2F11&pos=12 |dead-url=yes |archive-date=27 December 2016 |title=Cardiff Borough Council Records: Charter 13 – Charter of Liberties |accessdate=23 March 2016 }}</ref> In 1573, it was made a head port for collection of customs duties.<ref name="Cardiffians"/> Pembrokeshire historian George Owen described Cardiff in 1602 as "the fayrest towne in Wales yett not the welthiest.",<ref name="Cardiffians"/> and the town gained a second Royal Charter in 1608.<ref name="GoogoBits">{{cite web |url=http://www.googobits.com/articles/2181-a-history-lovers-guide-to-cardiff.html |publisher=GoogoBits.com |title=A History Lovers Guide to Cardiff |accessdate=31 December 2007 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080117091733/http://www.googobits.com/articles/2181-a-history-lovers-guide-to-cardiff.html |archivedate=17 January 2008  }}</ref>

A disastrous flood of the Bristol Channel on 30 January 1607 (now believed to be a [[Tsunami|tsunami]])<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/6311527.stm |title=Anniversary of 1607 killer wave |publisher=BBC News |date=30 January 2007 |accessdate=8 May 2013}}</ref> led to a change in the course of the River Taff and the ruining of St Mary's Parish Church, which was replaced by its chapel of ease, St John the Baptist.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-QUIAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA31&dq=cardiff+1607&hl=en&sa=X&ei=lkOKUc7rD-qm0QXz8IHACw&ved=0CDcQuwUwAQ#v=onepage&q=cardiff%201607&f=false|title=A History of the Town and Castle of Cardiff|last=Jenkins|first=William L.|publisher=Charles Wakeford|year=1854|isbn=|location=|pages=31-33|access-date=1 October 2018}}</ref>

During the Second English Civil War, St Fagans just to the west of the town, played host to the Battle of St Fagans. The battle, between a Royalist rebellion and a New Model Army detachment, was a decisive victory for the Parliamentarians and allowed Oliver Cromwell to conquer Wales.<ref name="Bob Sanders-period up to 1699"/> It is the last major battle to occur in Wales, with about 200 (mostly Royalist) soldiers killed.<ref name="Cardiffians"/>

In the ensuing century Cardiff was at peace. In 1766, John Stuart, 1st Marquess of Bute married into the Herbert family and was later created Baron Cardiff,<ref name="Cardiffians"/> and in 1778 he began renovations on Cardiff Castle.<ref name="Bob Sanders 2">{{cite web |url=http://www.angelfire.com/ga/BobSanders/CDFF2.html |publisher=Bob Sanders |title=A Cardiff & Vale of Glamorgan Chronology 1700–1849 |accessdate=4 March 2008}}</ref> In the 1790s a racecourse, printing press, bank and coffee house all opened, and Cardiff gained a stagecoach service to London. Despite these improvements, Cardiff's position in the Welsh [[Engineering:Urban hierarchy|urban hierarchy]] had declined over the 18th century. Iolo Morganwg called it "an obscure and inconsiderable place", and the 1801 census found the population to be only 1,870, making Cardiff only the 25th largest town in Wales, well behind Merthyr and Swansea.<ref name="Encyclopedia of Wales">{{cite book |first1=John |last1=Davies |first2=Nigel |last2=Jenkins |first3=Menna |last3=Baines |first4=Peredur I. |last4=Lynch |title=The Welsh Academy Encyclopedia of Wales |publisher=University of Wales Press |location=Cardiff |date=17 April 2008 |isbn=978-0-7083-1953-6|editor-first=John |editor-last=Davies}}</ref>

=== Building of the docks ===
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Cardiff Docks.jpg|thumb|Cardiff Docks—from where coal was shipped throughout the world]] -->
In 1793, John Crichton-Stuart, 2nd Marquess of Bute was born. He would spend his life building the Cardiff docks and would later be called "the creator of modern Cardiff".<ref name="Cardiffians"/> A twice-weekly boat service between Cardiff and Bristol was established in 1815,<ref name="Bob Sanders 2"/> and in 1821, the Cardiff Gas Works was established.<ref name="Bob Sanders 2"/>

After the Napoleonic Wars Cardiff entered a period of social and industrial unrest, starting with the trial and hanging of Dic Penderyn in 1831.{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}}

The town grew rapidly from the 1830s onwards, when the Marquess of Bute built a [[Engineering:Dock (maritime)|dock]], which eventually linked to the Taff Vale Railway. Cardiff became the main port for exports of coal from the Cynon, Rhondda, and Rhymney valleys, and grew at a rate of nearly 80% per decade between 1840 and 1870. Much of the growth was due to [[Biology:Human migration|migration]] from within and outside Wales: in 1841, a quarter of Cardiff's population were English-born and more than 10% had been born in Ireland.<ref>{{cite book |last=O'Leary |first=Paul |title=Irish Migrants in Modern Wales |publisher=Liverpool University Press |year=2004 |page=14 |isbn=978-0-85323-858-4 |url=https://books.google.com/?id=qkCmYNMVMxwC&printsec=frontcover#PPA14,M1 |accessdate=2 October 2008}}</ref> By the 1881 census, Cardiff had overtaken both Merthyr and Swansea to become the largest town in Wales.<ref>{{cite book |last=Thompson |first=Francis Michael Longstreth |title=The Cambridge Social History of Britain, 1750–1950 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |page=311 |isbn=978-0-521-43816-2 |year=1993 |url=https://books.google.com/?id=eozO2RzSAVUC&pg=PA311&lpg=PA311}}</ref> Cardiff's new status as the premier town in South Wales was confirmed when it was chosen as the site of the University College South Wales and Monmouthshire in 1893.<ref name="Encyclopedia of Wales"/>

A permanent military presence was established in the town with the completion of Maindy Barracks in 1877.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/wa-25831-detroit-st-vincent-block-at-maindy-barrac |title=Detroit & St Vincent block at Maindy Barracks, Cathays |publisher=British Listed buildings |accessdate=23 April 2014}}</ref>

Cardiff faced a challenge in the 1880s when David Davies of Llandinam and the Barry Railway Company promoted the development of rival docks at Barry. Barry docks had the advantage of being accessible in all [[Astronomy:Tide|tide]]s, and David Davies claimed that his venture would cause "grass to grow in the streets of Cardiff". From 1901 coal exports from Barry surpassed those from Cardiff, but the administration of the coal trade remained centred on Cardiff, in particular its Coal Exchange, where the price of coal on the British market was determined and the first million-pound deal was struck in 1907.<ref name="Encyclopedia of Wales"/> The city also strengthened its industrial base with the decision of the owners of the Dowlais Ironworks in Merthyr (who would later form part of Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds) to build a new [[Engineering:Steel mill|steelworks]] close to the docks at East Moors, which Lord Bute opened on 4 February 1891.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.archivesnetworkwales.info/cgi-bin/anw/fulldesc_nofr?inst_id=33&coll_id=77663&expand= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090104023150/http://www.archivesnetworkwales.info/cgi-bin/anw/fulldesc_nofr?inst_id=33&coll_id=77663&expand= |dead-url=yes |archive-date=4 January 2009 |title=East Moors Steelworks, Cardiff collection (record of information achival) |date=1 February 2006 |publisher=Glamorgan Records Office |accessdate=2 October 2008}}</ref>

=== City and capital city status ===
[[File:Welsh National War Memorial - geograph.org.uk - 904583.jpg|thumb|upright|Welsh National War Memorial]]
King Edward VII granted Cardiff city status on 28 October 1905,<ref>{{cite book |last=Beckett |first=J.V. |title=City Status in the British Isles, 1830–2002 |publisher=Ashgate Publishing Ltd |year=2005 |page=2 |isbn=978-0-7546-5067-6 |url=https://books.google.com/?id=jqqSSOyjBEoC&pg=PP8&lpg=PP1 |accessdate=2 October 2008}}</ref> and the city acquired a Roman Catholic Cathedral in 1916. In subsequent years an increasing number of national institutions were located in the city, including the National Museum of Wales, Welsh National War Memorial, and the University of Wales Registry Building – however, it was denied the National Library of Wales, partly because the library's founder, Sir John Williams, considered Cardiff to have "a non-Welsh population".<ref name="Encyclopedia of Wales"/>

After a brief post-war boom, Cardiff docks entered a prolonged decline in the [[History:Interwar period|interwar period]]. By 1936, their trade was less than half its value in 1913, reflecting the slump in demand for Welsh coal.<ref name="Encyclopedia of Wales"/> Bomb damage during the Cardiff Blitz in World War II included the devastation of Llandaff Cathedral, and in the immediate postwar years the city's link with the Bute family came to an end.

[[File:Amgueddfa Genedlaethol Caerdydd.JPG|thumb|left|National Museum of Wales, Cardiff]]
The city was recognised as the capital city of Wales on 20 December 1955, by a written reply by the Home Secretary Gwilym Lloyd George.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/written_answers/1955/dec/20/capital-of-principality-cardiff|title=Capital of Principality (Cardiff) (Hansard, 20 December 1955)|website=hansard.millbanksystems.com}}</ref> Caernarfon had also vied for this title.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cardiff as Capital of Wales: Formal Recognition by Government |publisher=The Times |date=21 December 1955}}</ref> Cardiff therefore celebrated two important anniversaries in 2005. The Encyclopedia of Wales notes that the decision to recognise the city as the capital of Wales "had more to do with the fact that it contained marginal [[Finance:Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] constituencies than any reasoned view of what functions a Welsh capital should have". Although the city hosted the Commonwealth Games in 1958, Cardiff only became a centre of national administration with the establishment of the Welsh Office in 1964, which later prompted the creation of various other public bodies such as the Arts Council of Wales and the Welsh Development Agency, most of which were based in Cardiff.

[[File:Cardiff Bay at night.jpg|thumb|right|Redevelopment in the city's historic Cardiff Bay area]]

The East Moors Steelworks closed in 1978 and Cardiff lost population during the 1980s,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_table_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_TPop&u_id=10150530&c_id=10001043&add=N |title=Cardiff Wales Through Time – Population Statistics |accessdate=20 May 2008}}</ref> consistent with a wider pattern of counter urbanisation in Britain. However, it recovered and was one of the few cities (outside London) where population grew during the 1990s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sticerd.lse.ac.uk/dps/case/cbcb/census1.pdf |title=The Growth and Decline of Cities and Regions |date=1 July 2004 |accessdate=20 May 2008 |format=PDF}}</ref> During this period the Cardiff Bay Development Corporation was promoting the redevelopment of south Cardiff; an evaluation of the regeneration of Cardiff Bay published in 2004 concluded that the project had "reinforced the competitive position of Cardiff" and "contributed to a massive improvement in the quality of the built environment", although it had failed "to attract the major inward investors originally anticipated".<ref>Esys Consulting Ltd, Evaluation of Regeneration in Cardiff Bay. A report for the Welsh Assembly Government, December 2004</ref>

In the Welsh devolution referendum, 1997, Cardiff voters rejected the establishment of the National Assembly for Wales by 55.4% to 44.2% on a 47% turnout, which Denis Balsom partly ascribed to a general preference in Cardiff and some other parts of Wales for a 'British' rather than exclusively 'Welsh' [[Social:National identity|identity]].<ref>Balsom, Denis. 'The referendum result'. In Jones, James Barry; Balsom, Denis (ed.), ''The road to the National Assembly for Wales''. Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 2000.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.swansea.ac.uk/history/research/Wales%20the%20Postnation.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080408201247/http://www.swansea.ac.uk/history/research/Wales%20the%20Postnation.pdf |dead-url=yes |archive-date=8 April 2008 |title=Wales: The Post-Nation |accessdate=20 May 2008 |format=PDF }}</ref> The relative lack of support for the Assembly locally, and difficulties between the Welsh Office and Cardiff Council in acquiring the original preferred venue, Cardiff City Hall, encouraged other local authorities to bid to house the Assembly.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/34653.stm |title=Where To Now for the Welsh Assembly? |date=25 November 1997 |publisher=BBC Wales |accessdate=20 May 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ossw.wales.gov.uk/2006/foi/foi_20060920_15.pdf |title=Welsh Assembly Accommodation |date=2 October 1997 |accessdate=20 May 2008 |format=PDF |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528025511/http://ossw.wales.gov.uk/2006/foi/foi_20060920_15.pdf |archivedate=28 May 2008  }}</ref> However, the Assembly eventually located at Tŷ Hywel in Cardiff Bay in 1999; in 2005, a new debating chamber on an adjacent site, designed by Richard Rogers, was opened.

== Government ==
[[File:Cardiff City Hall cropped.jpg|thumb|Cardiff City Hall in Cathays Park]]
[[File:Senedd, Welsh parliament, Cardiff Bay.jpg|thumb|The Senedd, seat of the Welsh Assembly]]
Since local government reorganisation in 1996, Cardiff has been governed by the City and County Council of Cardiff, which is based at County Hall in Atlantic Wharf, Cardiff Bay. Voters elect 75 councillors every four years.

Between the 2004 and 2012 local elections, no individual political party held a majority on Cardiff County Council. The Liberal Democrats held the largest number of seats and Cllr Rodney Berman was Leader of the Council.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?nav=2872%2C4274%2C4956&parent_directory_id=2865 |title=Council Composition |date=14 May 2008 |publisher=Cardiff County Council |accessdate=22 October 2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060927042410/http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?Parent_Directory_id=2865&nav=2872%2C4274%2C4956 |archivedate=27 September 2006  }}</ref> The Liberal Democrats and Plaid Cymru formed a partnership administration.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics-news/2008/05/13/lib-dems-and-plaid-set-for-a-coalition-in-cardiff-91466-20899896/ |title=Lib Dems and Plaid set for a coalition in Cardiff |last=Shipton |first=Martin |date=13 May 2008 |publisher=WalesOnline |accessdate=22 October 2008}}</ref> In the 2012 elections the Labour Party achieved an outright majority, after gaining an additional 33 seats across the city.

The National Assembly for Wales has been based in Cardiff Bay since its formation in 1999. The building, known as the ''Senedd'' (which translates into English as Legislature, Parliament or Senate) was opened on 1 March 2006, by The Queen.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/tm_objectid=16757822&method=full&siteid=50082&headline=queen-to-open-wales--senedd-name_page.html |title=Queen to open Wales' Senedd |date=1 March 2006 |publisher=WalesOnline.co.uk |accessdate=22 October 2008}}</ref> The Assembly Members (AMs), the Assembly Commission and Ministerial support staff are based in Cardiff Bay. Cardiff elects four constituency Assembly Members (AMs) to the Assembly, with the individual constituencies for the Assembly being the same as for the UK Parliament. All of the city's residents have an extra vote for the South Wales Central region which increases proportionality to the Assembly. The most recent Welsh Assembly general election were held on 5 May 2016.

[[File:Cardiff 13741 Crown Buildings 01.JPG|thumb|Crown Buildings are the Welsh Government's main offices in Cardiff]]

In the Assembly Cardiff is represented by Jenny Rathbone (Labour) in Cardiff Central, Julie Morgan (Labour) in Cardiff North, Vaughan Gething (Labour) in Cardiff South and Penarth and Mark Drakeford (Labour) in Cardiff West.

In Westminster, Cardiff is represented by Jo Stevens (Labour) in Cardiff Central, Anna McMorrin(Labour) in Cardiff North, Stephen Doughty (Labour) in Cardiff South and Penarth and Kevin Brennan (Labour) in Cardiff West.

The Welsh Government has its headquarters in Cardiff's Cathays Park where most of its civil servants are based, with smaller numbers in other locations in the city centre, Cathays, Canton, and Cardiff Bay.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wales.gov.uk/contact_us/officelocations/southeastwalesoffices/cardiff/?lang=en |title=Offices in Cardiff |publisher=Welsh Government |date=15 October 2012 |accessdate=2 April 2013}}</ref> There are other Welsh Government offices in other parts of Wales such as Llandudno and Aberystwyth and international offices throughout the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wales.gov.uk/contact_us/officelocations/?lang=en |title=Office locations |publisher=Welsh Government |date=23 May 2011 |accessdate=2 April 2013}}</ref>

===Local government ===
[[File:Cardiff UK community councils.svg|thumb|Communities of Cardiff that have their own community council]]
For local government purposes, Cardiff is divided into communities. Several of these have their own community council, while the rest are governed solely by Cardiff City Council. They are:
*  Lisvane
* Old St Mellons
* Pentyrch 
* Radyr and Morganstown 
* St Fagans
* Tongwynlais

== Geography ==
[[File:View over Cardiff.jpg|thumb|left|Looking south towards Cardiff city centre]]
The centre of Cardiff is relatively flat and is bounded by hills on the outskirts to the east, north and west. Its geographic features were influential in its development as the world's largest coal port, most notably its proximity and easy access to the coal fields of the south Wales valleys. The highest point in the authority is Garth Hill {{convert|307|m|0|abbr=off}} above sea level.

Cardiff is built on reclaimed marshland on a bed of [[Earth:Triassic|Triassic]] stones; this reclaimed marshland stretches from Chepstow to the Ely Estuary,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=7004 |title=Cardiff Supplementary Planning Guidance: Archaeologically Sensitive Areas |date=20 July 2006 |publisher=Cardiff County Council |accessdate=1 October 2008 |format=PDF |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609181416/http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=7004 |archivedate=9 June 2011}}</ref> which is the natural boundary of Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. Triassic landscapes of this part of the world are usually shallow and low-lying which accounts and explains the flatness of the centre of Cardiff.<ref>{{cite journal |year=2008 |title=Discussion on palaeoecology of the Late Triassic extinction event in the SW UK |journal=Journal of the Geological Society |publisher=Geological Society of London |volume=165 |issue=5 |pages=988–992 |url=http://jgs.lyellcollection.org/cgi/content/full/165/5/988 |accessdate=1 October 2008 |doi=10.1144/0016-76492008-014 |last1=Radley |first1=J. D. |last2=Twitchett |first2=R. J. |last3=Mander |first3=L. |last4=Cope |first4=J.C.W}}</ref> The classic Triassic [[Earth:Marl|marl]], sand and [[Earth:Conglomerate (geology)|conglomerate]] rocks are used predominantly throughout Cardiff as building materials. Many of these Triassic rocks have a purple complexion, especially the coastal [[Earth:Marl|marl]] found near Penarth. One of the Triassic rocks used in Cardiff is "Radyr Stone", a freestone which as its name suggests is quarried in the Radyr district.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.englishstone.org.uk/documents/dimension%20stone%208.html |title=Triassic building sandstone resources |accessdate=7 July 2008}}</ref> Cardiff has also imported some materials for buildings: [[Earth:Devonian|Devonian]] sandstones (the [[Earth:Old Red Sandstone|Old Red Sandstone]]) from the Brecon Beacons has been used. Most famously, the buildings of Cathays Park, the civic centre in the centre of the city, are built of [[Earth:Portland stone|Portland stone]] which was imported from Dorset.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.swga.org.uk/pdf/CathaysPark.pdf |format=PDF |title=Geological Walks in Wales: Cathays Park |publisher=Geologists Association South Wales |accessdate=22 October 2008}}</ref> A widely used building stone in Cardiff is the yellow-grey Liassic [[Earth:Limestone|limestone]] rock of the Vale of Glamorgan, including the very rare "Sutton Stone", a conglomerate of lias limestone and [[Earth:Carboniferous|carboniferous]] limestone.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.castlewales.com/morgraig.html |title=Castell Morgraig |last=Iowerth |first=Dylan  | journal = Castle Studies Group Newsletter
|year=1998 |accessdate=22 October 2008}}</ref>

Cardiff is bordered to the west by the rural district of the Vale of Glamorgan – also known as The Garden of Cardiff – <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gardenofcardiff.com/ |title=The Garden of Cardiff |accessdate=20 May 2008}}</ref> to the east by the city of Newport, to the north by the South Wales Valleys and to the south by the Severn Estuary and Bristol Channel. The River Taff winds through the centre of the city and together with the River Ely flows into the freshwater lake of Cardiff Bay. A third river, the Rhymney flows through the east of the city entering directly into the Severn Estuary.

Cardiff is situated near the Glamorgan Heritage Coast, stretching westward from Penarth and Barry – commuter towns of Cardiff – with striped yellow-blue Jurassic limestone cliffs. The Glamorgan coast is the only part of the Celtic Sea that has exposed [[Earth:Jurassic|Jurassic]] (blue lias) geology. This stretch of coast, which has reefs, sandbanks and serrated cliffs, was a ship graveyard; ships sailing up to Cardiff during the industrial era often never made it as far as Cardiff as many were wrecked around this hostile coastline during west/south-westerly gales. Consequently, smuggling, deliberate shipwrecking and attacks on ships were common.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kenfig.org.uk/smuggling.html |title=Smuggling Around Kenfig |publisher=Kenfig.org |accessdate=19 April 2008}}</ref>

{{Geographic location
| title = '''Destinations from CARDIFF'''
| Northwest = Llantrisant, Rhondda
| North = Pontypridd, Brecon, Merthyr Tydfil, Caerphilly
| Northeast = Newport, Chepstow
| West = Maesteg, Neath, Bridgend
| Centre = CARDIFF
| East = Bristol Channel
| Southwest = Llantwit Major, Cardiff International Airport
| South = Penarth, Dinas Powys, Barry
| Southeast = Bristol Channel
}}

=== Cityscape ===
[[File:Cardiff Bay from Penarth.jpg|thumb|left|Overlooking Cardiff Bay, viewed from Penarth]]
[[File:Cathays Library (2010), Cardiff.jpg|thumb|Cathays Library]]
"Inner Cardiff" consists of the following wards: Plasnewydd, Gabalfa, Roath, Cathays, Adamsdown and Splott ward on the north and east of the city centre, and Butetown, Grangetown, Riverside and Canton to the south and west.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cardifflife.net/cardiffwheretolive.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929094036/http://www.cardifflife.net/cardiffwheretolive.html |dead-url=yes |archive-date=29 September 2007 |title=Places to live in Cardiff |publisher=cardifflife.net |accessdate=1 June 2009 }}</ref> The inner-city areas to the south of the A4161 road (known as the "Southern Arc") are, with the exception of Cardiff Bay, some of the poorest districts of Wales with low levels of economic activity.<ref>{{cite book |author1=Alan Hooper |author2=John Punter |title=Capital Cardiff 1975–2020: Regeneration, Competitiveness and the Urban Environment |publisher=University of Wales Press |location=Cardiff |year=2006 |page=63 |isbn=0-7083-2063-5 |url=https://books.google.com/?id=Hvud9bNwTisC&pg=PT81&lpg=PT81&dq=%22southern+arc%22+cardiff}}</ref> On the other hand, Gabalfa, Plasnewydd and Cathays north of the 'arc' have very large student populations,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/for/prospective/pg/life/accommodation/areasofcardiff/index.html |title=Areas of Cardiff |publisher=Cardiff University |accessdate=18 April 2008}}</ref> and Pontcanna (situated north of Riverside and alongside Canton) is a favourite for students and young professionals. Penylan, which lies to the north east side of Roath Park, is an affluent area popular with those with older children and the retired.

To the west lie Ely, Caerau and Fairwater which contain some of the largest housing estates in the United Kingdom. With the exception of some of the outlying privately built estates at Michaelston Super Ely and 1930s developments near Waun-Gron Road, this is an economically disadvantaged area with high numbers of unemployed households. Culverhouse Cross is a more affluent western area of the city. Heath, Birchgrove, Gabalfa, Mynachdy, Llandaff North, Llandaff,  Llanishen, Radyr, Whitchurch & Tongwynlais, Rhiwbina, Thornhill, Lisvane and Cyncoed lie in an arc from the north west to the north east of the centre. In particular, Lisvane, Cyncoed, Radyr and Rhiwbina contain some of the most expensive housing in Wales.

Further to the east lie the wards of Pontprennau & Old St Mellons, Rumney, Pentwyn, Llanrumney and Trowbridge. The last three are again largely of public housing stock, although new private housing is being built in Trowbridge in considerable number. Pontprennau is the newest 'suburb' of Cardiff, whilst Old St Mellons has a history going back to the Norman Conquest in the 11th century.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oldstmellons.co.uk/history/ |title=Old St Mellons History |accessdate=18 April 2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071213150548/http://www.oldstmellons.co.uk/history/ |archivedate=13 December 2007}}</ref>
To the north west of the city lies a region that may be called "Rural Cardiff" containing the villages of St. Fagans, Creigiau, Pentyrch, Tongwynlais and Gwaelod-y-garth.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?nav=2870%2C3139%2C3158%2C3965&parent_directory_id=2865 |title=Landscape Study of Cardiff |date=17 October 2008 |publisher=Cardiff County Council |accessdate=22 October 2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060927160311/http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?Parent_Directory_id=2865&nav=2870%2C3139%2C3158%2C3965 |archivedate=27 September 2006  }}</ref> St. Fagans, home to the Museum of Welsh Life, is protected from further development.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=9569 |title=St Fagans Conservation Area Appraisal |year=2007 |publisher=Cardiff County Council |accessdate=18 April 2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609185142/http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=9569 |archivedate=9 June 2011}}</ref>

Since 2000, there has been a significant change of scale and building height in Cardiff, with the development of the city centre's first purpose-built high-rise apartments.<ref>{{cite book |last=Hooper |first=Alan |author2=Hunter, John |title=Capital Cardiff 1975–2020. Regeneration, Competitiveness and the Urban Environment |editor=Alan Hooper, John Punter |publisher=University of Wales Press |location=Cardiff |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-7083-2063-1 |url=https://books.google.com/?id=Hvud9bNwTisC&dq=%22Regeneration,+Competitiveness+and+the+Urban+Environment%22&printsec=frontcover&q=}}</ref> Tall buildings have been built in the city centre and Cardiff Bay, and more are planned.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.skyscrapernews.com/bdbsearch.php?city=Cardiff |title=Skyscrapernews.com search results: Cardiff |accessdate=23 October 2009}}</ref>

In 2017, plans were approved to create a new suburb of 7000 homes to the northwest of the city. Known as Plasdŵr, it is to be built between Radyr and the village of St Fagans.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-40342706 |title=Bus interchange future for Cardiff to be revealed |work=BBC News |date=27 June 2017 |accessdate=29 October 2017 }}</ref>

=== Climate ===

{{climate chart
| Cardiff
| 2.3|8.3|121.6
| 2.1|8.6|85.2
| 4.0|11.1|89.8
| 5.2|13.8|68.6
| 8.3|17.1|72.3
| 11|19.8|66.6
| 13.1|21.7|78.4
| 12.8|21.5|93.4
| 10.5|18.8|94.0
| 7.7|14.9|133.5
| 4.6|11.3|123.4
| 2.6|8.7|125.3
| source = [http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19812010/sites/cardiff.html Met Office], 1981–2010 averages
| float = right
}}
Cardiff lies within the north temperate zone and has an essentially maritime climate ([[Earth:Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: Cfb), characterised by mild weather that is often cloudy, wet and windy.<ref name="Met Off 1">{{cite web |url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/wl/ |publisher=Met Office |year=2009 |title=Met Office: Regional Climate: Wales |accessdate=29 June 2009 |work=Met Office website |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113130422/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/wl/ |archivedate=13 January 2012  }}</ref> Summers tend to be warm and sunny, with average maximum temperatures between {{convert|19|and|22|°C|°F}}. Winters tend to be fairly wet, but rainfall is rarely excessive and the temperature usually stays above freezing. Spring and autumn feel quite similar and the temperatures tend to stay above {{convert|14|°C|°F}} – also the average annual daytime temperature. Rain is unpredictable at any time of year, although the showers tend to be shorter in summer.<ref name="Airport guide">{{cite web|url=http://www.cardiff-cwl.airports-guides.com/cwl_climate.html |publisher=TravelSmart Ltd |year=2009 |title=Weather at Cardiff Airport (CWL):Weather and Climate in Cardiff Area, Wales, U |accessdate=1 July 2009 |work=Airports guides website}}</ref>

[[File:Dock feeder canal in Atlantic Wharf - geograph.org.uk - 1654966.jpg|thumb|left|Dock feeder canal in Atlantic Wharf in Winter]]

The northern part of the county, being higher and inland – for example, the Garth ({{lang-cy|Mynydd y Garth}}), about {{convert|7|mi|km}} north west of Cardiff city centre, (elevation {{convert|1007|ft|m|0}}) – tends to be cooler and wetter than the city centre.{{Citation needed|date=July 2009}}<ref name="OS 171">{{cite map|publisher=Ordnance Survey |title=Landranger Map sheet 171 |isbn=0-319-22771-5 |cartography=Ordnance Survey |edition=2002 C1 |section=ST083 990}}</ref>

=== Temperature ===
Cardiff's maximum and minimum monthly temperatures average {{convert|21.5|°C|°F}} (July) and {{convert|2.1|°C|°F}} (February).<br />For Wales, the temperatures average {{convert|19.1|°C|°F}} (July) and {{convert|1.1|°C|°F}} (February).<ref name="Met Off 2">{{cite web|url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19712000/sites/cardiff.html |publisher=Met Office |year=2009 |title=Met Office: averages 1971–2000 |accessdate=29 June 2009 |work=Met Office website}}</ref><ref name="Met Off 3">{{cite web |url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19712000/areal/wales.html |publisher=Met Office |year=2009 |title=Met Office: averages 1971–2000 |accessdate=29 June 2009 |work=Met Office website |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929102646/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19712000/areal/wales.html |archivedate=29 September 2007 }}</ref>

=== Sunshine hours ===
Cardiff has 1518&nbsp;hours of sunshine during an average year (Wales 1388.7&nbsp;hours). Cardiff is sunniest during July, with an average 203.4&nbsp;hours during the month (Wales 183.3&nbsp;hours), and least sunny during December with 44.6&nbsp;hours (Wales 38.5&nbsp;hours).<ref name="Met Off 2"/><ref name="Met Off 3"/>

=== Rainfall ===
Cardiff experiences less rainfall than the average for Wales. Rain falls in Cardiff on 146&nbsp;days during an average year, with total annual rainfall of {{convert|1151.9|mm|in}}. Monthly rainfall pattern shows that from October to January average monthly rainfall in Cardiff exceeded {{convert|100|mm|in}} each month, the wettest month being December with {{convert|125.3|mm|in}}. Cardiff's driest months are from April to June, with average monthly rainfall fairly consistent, at between {{convert|65|and|75|mm|in}}.<ref name="Met Off 2"/><ref name="Met Off 3"/>

{{Weather box
| location = Cardiff (1981–2010) Extremes (1960–present)
| metric first = Yes
| single line = Yes
| Jan record high C = 13.8
| Feb record high C = 15.0
| Mar record high C = 19.5
| Apr record high C = 24.0
| May record high C = 26.6
| Jun record high C = 32.1
| Jul record high C = 32.0
| Aug record high C = 33.5
| Sep record high C = 27.0
| Oct record high C = 24.6
| Nov record high C = 17.1
| Dec record high C = 16.7
| year record high C = 33.5
| Jan high C = 8.3
| Feb high C = 8.6
| Mar high C = 11.1
| Apr high C = 13.8
| May high C = 17.1
| Jun high C = 19.8
| Jul high C = 21.7
| Aug high C = 21.5
| Sep high C = 18.8
| Oct high C = 14.9
| Nov high C = 11.3
| Dec high C = 8.7
| year high C = 14.7
| Jan mean C = 5.3
| Feb mean C = 5.4
| Mar mean C = 7.6
| Apr mean C = 9.5
| May mean C = 12.7
| Jun mean C = 15.4
| Jul mean C = 17.4
| Aug mean C = 17.2
| Sep mean C = 14.7
| Oct mean C = 11.3
| Nov mean C = 8.0
| Dec mean C = 5.7
| year mean C = 10.9
| Jan low C = 2.3
| Feb low C = 2.1
| Mar low C = 4.0
| Apr low C = 5.2
| May low C = 8.3
| Jun low C = 11.0
| Jul low C = 13.1
| Aug low C = 12.8
| Sep low C = 10.5
| Oct low C = 7.7
| Nov low C = 4.6
| Dec low C = 2.6
| year low C = 7.0
| Jan record low C = -10.3
| Feb record low C = -8.8
| Mar record low C = -8.1
| Apr record low C = -4.8
| May record low C = -2.0
| Jun record low C = 1.0
| Jul record low C = 5.3
| Aug record low C = 3.6
| Sep record low C = 2.4
| Oct record low C = -2.7
| Nov record low C = -8.4
| Dec record low C = -8.8
| year record low C = -10.3
| Jan precipitation mm = 121.6
| Feb precipitation mm = 85.2
| Mar precipitation mm = 89.8
| Apr precipitation mm = 68.6
| May precipitation mm = 72.3
| Jun precipitation mm = 66.6
| Jul precipitation mm = 78.4
| Aug precipitation mm = 93.4
| Sep precipitation mm = 94.0
| Oct precipitation mm = 133.5
| Nov precipitation mm = 123.4
| Dec precipitation mm = 125.3
| year precipitation mm = 1151.9
| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 15.7
| Feb precipitation days = 11.1
| Mar precipitation days = 13.0
| Apr precipitation days = 11.1
| May precipitation days = 11.2
| Jun precipitation days = 10.1
| Jul precipitation days = 10.7
| Aug precipitation days = 11.0
| Sep precipitation days = 11.0
| Oct precipitation days = 15.5
| Nov precipitation days = 14.5
| Dec precipitation days = 13.9
| year precipitation days = 148.6
| Jan sun = 54.4
| Feb sun = 75.9
| Mar sun = 111.9
| Apr sun = 169.6
| May sun = 190.6
| Jun sun = 190.0
| Jul sun = 199.0
| Aug sun = 190.7
| Sep sun = 149.6
| Oct sun = 103.0
| Nov sun = 65.8
| Dec sun = 48.9
| year sun = 1549.4
| source 1 = [[Company:Met Office|Met Office]]<ref name="Met office">{{cite web |url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/climate/gcjszmp44|title=Cardiff 1981–2010 Averages |publisher=Met Office |accessdate=13 September 2012}}</ref>
| source 2 = [[Organization:Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute|KNMI]]<ref name="KNMI">{{cite web |url=http://eca.knmi.nl/indicesextremes/customquerytimeseriesplots.php?|title=Cardiff Extreme Values|accessdate=19 February 2012 |publisher=KNMI}}</ref>
| date = February 2012}}

== Demography ==

{{Historical populations
| 1801| 6342
| 1851| 26630
| 1861| 48965
| 1871| 71301
| 1881| 93637
| 1891| 142114
| 1901| 172629
| 1911| 209804
| 1921| 227753
| 1931| 247270
| 1941| 257112
| 1951| 267356
| 1961| 278552
| 1971| 290227
| 1981| 274500
| 1991| 272557
| 2001| 292150
| 2011| 346100
| footnote = <span style="font-size: smaller">Source: [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_table_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_TPop&u_id=10150530&c_id=10001043&add=N Vision of Britain] except 2011, which is the 2011 census data from the [http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/population-and-household-estimates-for-wales/stb-2011-census-wales.html Office for National Statistics]. Historical populations are calculated with the modern boundaries</span>
|2016|361468}}

Following a period of decline during the 1970s and 1980s, Cardiff's population is growing. The local authority area had a population of 346,100 at the 2011 census,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/population-and-household-estimates-for-wales/stb-2011-census-wales.html |title=2011 Census – Population and Household Estimates for Wales, March 2011 |publisher=Office for National Statistics |date=16 July 2012 |accessdate=17 July 2012 |work=ONS website}}</ref> compared to a 2001 Census figure of 305,353.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=276879&c=Cardiff&d=13&e=16&g=421924&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1204063245714&enc=1&dsFamilyId=75 |title=Neighbourhood Statistics |publisher=Office for National Statistics |date=1 April 2001 |accessdate=20 May 2008}}</ref> Between mid −2007 and mid–2008, Cardiff was the fastest-growing local authority in Wales with population growth rate of 1.2%.<ref name="2008 population">{{cite web |url=http://wales.gov.uk/docs/statistics/2009/090827sb492009en.pdf?lang=en |format=PDF |title=2008 Mid-year Estimates of Population |publisher=National Office of Statistics for Wales |date=27 August 2009 |accessdate=28 August 2009}}</ref> According to Census 2001 data, Cardiff was the 21st largest urban area.<ref>Pointer, Graham, [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_compendia/fom2005/03_FOPM_UrbanAreas.pdf The UK's major urban areas], ''Focus on People and Migration'', 2005. Retrieved 12 June 2008. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110804232006/http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_compendia/fom2005/03_FOPM_UrbanAreas.pdf |date=4 August 2011 }}</ref> The Cardiff Larger Urban Zone (a Eurostat definition including the Vale of Glamorgan and a number of local authorities in the Valleys) has 841,600 people, the 10th largest LUZ in the UK.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.staedtestatistik.de/fileadmin/urban-audit/pdf/EU_stateofcities_2007.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719085823/http://www.staedtestatistik.de/fileadmin/urban-audit/pdf/EU_stateofcities_2007.pdf |dead-url=yes |archive-date=19 July 2011 |title=REG 7 1300_cover2.indd |format=PDF |accessdate=2 January 2010 }}</ref> The Cardiff and South Wales Valleys metropolitan area has a population of nearly 1.1&nbsp;million people.<ref name="espon.eu">{{cite web|url=http://www.espon.eu/export/sites/default/Documents/Projects/ESPON2006Projects/StudiesScientificSupportProjects/UrbanFunctions/fr-1.4.3_April2007-final.pdf#page=119|title=ESPON Project 1.4.3 Study on Urban Functions|accessdate=23 March 2016|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924002318/http://www.espon.eu/export/sites/default/Documents/Projects/ESPON2006Projects/StudiesScientificSupportProjects/UrbanFunctions/fr-1.4.3_April2007-final.pdf#page=119|archivedate=24 September 2015}}</ref>

[[File:Cardiff northern residential.jpg|left|thumb|Residential areas of northern Cardiff]]

Official estimates derived from the census regarding the city's total population have been disputed. The city council has published two articles that argue the 2001 census seriously under reports the population of Cardiff and, in particular, the ethnic minority population of some inner city areas.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=3418&Language= |title=Cardiff Council Representations to ONS on the 2001 Census: Section 1 |format=PDF |accessdate=28 December 2007 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926220923/http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=3418&Language= |archivedate=26 September 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=3419&Language= |title=Cardiff Council Representations to ONS on the 2001 Census: Section 2 |format=PDF |accessdate=28 December 2007 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926221139/http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=3419&Language= |archivedate=26 September 2007}}</ref>

The Welsh Government's official mid year estimate of the population of the Cardiff local authority area in 2017 was 362,756.<ref name="statswales.gov.wales">{{cite web | url=https://statswales.gov.wales/Catalogue/Population-and-Migration/Population/Estimates/Local-Authority/populationestimates-by-localauthority-year |title= Welsh Government Official Data – Stats Wales}}</ref> At the time of the 2011 census the official population of the Cardiff Built Up Area was estimated to be 447,287. <ref>https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/articles/ref/builtupareas_userguidance.pdf</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/census/2011/ks101ew |title=KS101EW (Usual resident population) - Nomis - Official Labour Market Statistics |publisher=Nomisweb.co.uk |date=2011-03-27 |accessdate=2018-09-16}}</ref> The BUA is not contiguous with the local authority boundary and aggregates data at a lower level; for Cardiff this includes: urban part of Cardiff, Penarth/Dinas Powys, Caerphilly and Pontypridd.

Cardiff has an ethnically diverse population due to its past trading connections, post-war immigration and the large numbers of foreign students who attend university in the city. The ethnic make-up of Cardiff's population at the time of the 2011 census was: 84.7% White, 1.6% mixed White and Black African/Caribbean, 0.7% mixed White and Asian, 0.6% mixed other, 8.1% Asian, 2.4% Black, 1.4% Arab and 0.6% other ethnic groups.<ref>{{NOMIS2011|id=1946157397|title=Cardiff Local Authority|accessdate=9 February 2018}}</ref>  This means that almost 53,000 people from a non-white ethnic group reside in the city. This diversity, and especially that of the city's long-established{{citation needed|date=July 2014}} African and Arab communities, has been celebrated in a number of cultural exhibitions and events, along with a number of books which have been published on this subject.<ref>{{cite book |last=Lee |first=Brian |title=Butetown and Cardiff Docks |publisher=The History Press |date=15 April 1999 |isbn=978-0-7524-1582-6}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bhac.org/black_history.html |title=Black History in Butetown |publisher=Butetown History & Arts Centre |accessdate=18 April 2008 |deadurl=yes |archivedate=6 August 2007 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070806155310/http://www.bhac.org/black_history.html}}</ref>

=== Health ===
[[File:University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park - Cardiff - geograph.org.uk - 1736088.jpg|thumb|University Hospital of Wales]]
There are seven NHS hospitals in the city, the largest of which is the University Hospital of Wales. The University Hospital of Wales is the third largest hospital in the UK and deals with most accidents and emergencies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/about/community/healthofnation/allwalesrole/index.html |title=About Cardiff University – All-Wales Role |publisher=[[Organization:Cardiff University|Cardiff University]] |accessdate=7 January 2009 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110117174955/http://cardiff.ac.uk/about/community/healthofnation/allwalesrole/index.html |archivedate=17 January 2011}}</ref> The University Dental Hospital, which provides emergency dental treatment, is also located on this site. Llandough Hospital is located in the south of the city.

The city's newest hospital, St. David's Hospital (built behind the former building) is located in the Canton area and provides services for the elderly and children. Cardiff Royal Infirmary is located on Newport Road, near the city centre. The majority of this hospital was closed in 1999 but with the West Wing remaining open for clinic services, genitourinary medicine and rehabilitation treatment. Rookwood Hospital and Whitchurch Hospital are also located within the city, along with Rookwood Hospital and Velindre Cancer Centre. All hospitals in Cardiff are administered by the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cardiffandvale.wales.nhs.uk/portal/page?_pageid=33,482279,33_482283&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL |title=Cardiff & Vale NHS Trust – Our Hospitals |publisher=Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust |accessdate=7 January 2009 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080803025901/http://www.cardiffandvale.wales.nhs.uk/portal/page?_pageid=33%2C482279%2C33_482283&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL |archivedate=3 August 2008  }}</ref> with the exception of the Velindre site which is run by a separate trust.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sites3/home.cfm?orgid=357&redirect=yes |title=Velindre Cancer Centre |publisher=Velindre NHS Trust |accessdate=7 January 2009 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081025051622/http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sites3/home.cfm?orgid=357&redirect=yes |archivedate=25 October 2008}}</ref> In addition Spire Healthcare has a private hospital in the city which is located in Pentwyn.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.spirehealthcare.com/cardiff/?pathname=cardiff |title=Spire Cardiff Hospital |publisher=Spire Healthcare |accessdate=7 January 2009}}</ref>

=== Language ===

[[File:Bilingual railway sign - geograph.org.uk - 33133.jpg|thumb|Bilingual signs are commonplace in Cardiff.]]
Cardiff has a chequered linguistic history with [[Social:Welsh language|Welsh]], English, [[Social:Latin|Latin]], [[Social:Old Norse|Norse]] and Norman French preponderant at different times. Welsh was the majority language in Cardiff from the 13th century until the city's explosive growth in the [[History:Victorian era|Victorian era]].<ref name="welsh">{{cite book |last=Jenkins |first=Geraint H. |title=The Welsh Language before the Industrial Revolution |location=Cardiff |year=1997 |isbn=978-0-7083-1418-0}}</ref> As late as 1850, five of the 12 Anglican churches within the current city boundaries conducted their services exclusively in the [[Social:Welsh language|Welsh language]], while only two worshipped exclusively in English.<ref name="welsh"/> By 1891, the percentage of Welsh speakers had dropped to 27.9% and only Lisvane, Llanedeyrn and Creigiau remained as majority Welsh-speaking communities.<ref>{{cite book |title=Language and Community in the Nineteenth Century |first=Geraint H. |last=Jenkins |isbn=0-7083-1467-8 |year=1998 |publisher=Univ. of Wales Press |location=Cardiff}}</ref> The Welsh language became grouped around a small cluster of chapels and churches, the most notable of which is Tabernacl in the city centre, one of four UK churches chosen to hold official services to commemorate the new millennium.

Following the establishment of the city's first Welsh School (Ysgol Gymraeg Bryntaf) in the 1950s, Welsh has regained ground.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/2755217.stm |title=Census shows Welsh language rise |date=14 February 2003 |publisher=BBC Wales |accessdate=19 April 2008}}</ref> Aided by Welsh-medium education and migration from other parts of Wales, there has been a significant increase in the number and percentage of Welsh speakers, with numbers doubling in the 20 years between the 1991 and 2011 censuses, from 18,071 (6.6%) to 36,735 (11.1%) residents aged three years and above.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ENG/Your-Council/Strategies-plans-and-policies/Bilingual-Cardiff/Pages/default.aspx|title=Bilingual Cardiff   – Cardiff.gov.uk|website=www.cardiff.gov.uk|language=en-gb|access-date=13 July 2017}}</ref> Cardiff City Council adopted a 5-year Welsh language strategy in 2017 in order to increase the number of Welsh speakers (aged 3+) in Cardiff by 15.9%, from 36,735 in 2011 to 42,584 residents by the 2021 Census.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://businessnewswales.com/improving-bilingual-services-welsh-language-standards/|title=Improving Bilingual Services with the Welsh Language Standards|date=28 June 2017|work=Business News Wales|access-date=13 July 2017|language=en-GB}}</ref> The LSOA (Lower Layer Super Output Area) with the highest percentage of Welsh speakers in the city-centre is found in Canton, at 25.5%.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://statiaith.com/blog/cyfrifiad-2011/mapiau-am-y-gymraeg-o-gyfrifiad-2011/|title=Mapiau Cyfrifiad 2011 {{!}} Statiaith|website=statiaith.com|access-date=5 October 2016}}</ref> The LSOA with the highest percentage of Welsh speakers in the entirety of Cardiff is found in Whitchurch at 26%.<ref name="auto" />

In addition to English and Welsh, the diversity of Cardiff's population (including foreign students) means that a large number of languages are spoken within the city. One study has found that Cardiff has speakers of at least 94 languages, with [[Social:Somali language|Somali]], [[Social:Urdu|Urdu]], [[Social:Bengali language|Bengali]] and [[Social:Arabic language|Arabic]] being the most commonly spoken foreign languages.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cilt.org.uk/pdf/pubs/positively_plurilingual.pdf |title=Positively Plurilingual |format=PDF |accessdate=3 January 2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071128094815/http://www.cilt.org.uk/pdf/pubs/positively_plurilingual.pdf |archivedate=28 November 2007  }}</ref>

The modern Cardiff accent is distinct from that of the nearby South Wales Valleys. It is marked primarily by:
* The substitution of {{angle bracket|iə}} by {{angle bracket|jøː}}<ref name="Phonetics">{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tPwYt3gVbu4C&pg=PA87&lpg=PA87&dq=cardiff%20accent&source=bl&ots=G0VLcC5XKi&sig=PQ-dMr1AN-fnS86oZt6fLqBb8bU&hl=en&ei=TMeOS_3BKI6A4Qaq6YitDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CA8Q6AEwBDgy#v=onepage&q=cardiff%20accent&f=false|title=English in Wales: Diversity, Conflict, and Change|first1=Nikolas|last1=Coupland|first2=Alan Richard|last2=Thomas|date=1 January 1990|publisher=Multilingual Matters|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref name="Cardiff accent">[http://www.bl.uk/learning/langlit/sounds/text-only/wales/cardiff/ Accents and dialects of the UK: Cardiff ''Accessed 2 March 2010'']</ref>
* ''here'' [hiːə] pronounced as [(h)jøː] in the broader form
* The vowel of ''start'' may be realised as {{IPA|[æː]}} or even {{IPA|[ɛː]}}, so that ''Cardiff'' is pronounced {{IPA|[ˈkæːdɪf]}}.

==== Language schools ====
Due to its diversity, large student population, and convenient size and location, Cardiff has seen a rise in the number of people coming to the city to learn English. Foreign students coming from Arab states and other European countries are a common sight on the streets of Cardiff.<ref name="2008 population" /> The British Council has an office in the city centre and there are six accredited schools in the area.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishcouncil.org/accreditation-az-list.htm |title=A-Z list of accredited centres |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100601085533/http://www.britishcouncil.org/accreditation-az-list.htm |archivedate=1 June 2010  }}</ref>

=== Religion ===
{{multiple image
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 | image1    = Eglwys Gadeiriol Llandaf 01.JPG
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 | caption1  = Llandaff Cathedral, an Anglican cathedral, the parish church of Llandaff, the seat of the Bishop of Llandaff, the head of the Church in Wales
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Since 1922, Cardiff has included Llandaff within its boundary, and therefore Llandaff Cathedral, an Anglican cathedral, the parish church of Llandaff and the seat of the Bishop of Llandaff, the head of the Church in Wales Diocese of Llandaff.

There is a Roman Catholic cathedral in the city. Since 1916, Cardiff has been the seat of a Catholic archbishop, but there appears to have been a fall in the estimated Catholic population, with estimated numbers in 2006 being around 25,000 fewer than in 1980.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dcard.html#stats |title=Archdiocese of Cardiff – Statistics |accessdate=18 April 2008}}</ref> Likewise, the Jewish population of the city also appears to have fallen – there are two synagogues in Cardiff, one in Cyncoed and one in Moira Terrace, as opposed to seven at the turn of the 20th century.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jewishgen.org/jcr-uk/Community/Cardiff.htm |title=JCR-UK – Cardiff Community |date=14 October 2005 |accessdate=23 January 2008}}</ref> There are a significant number of nonconformist chapels, an early 20th century Greek Orthodox church and 11 mosques.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/GLA/Roath/Chapels.html |title=Cardiff, Llandaff & Roath chapels database |accessdate=23 January 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nostos.com/church/ |title=The Greek Orthodox Church in Great Britain |accessdate=23 January 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.muslimdirectory.co.uk/displayresults.php?PHPSESSID=f0fb8b41d8758983e7d43cddb556b9df&businesstype=1&orgtype=&country=UK&city=Cardiff |title=Muslim Directory – Mosques in Cardiff |accessdate=23 January 2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://timetravel.mementoweb.org/memento/2010/http://www.muslimdirectory.co.uk/displayresults.php?PHPSESSID=f0fb8b41d8758983e7d43cddb556b9df&businesstype=1&orgtype=&country=UK&city=Cardiff |archivedate=2 July 2016  }}</ref> In the 2001 census 66.9% of Cardiff's population described itself as Christian, a percentage point below the Welsh and UK averages.
{{multiple image
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 | image1    = Shree Swaminarayan Temple - Cardiff - geograph.org.uk - 1605788.jpg
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 | alt1      =
 | caption1  = Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Riverside was the first Hindu temple in Wales. It is also the largest in Wales.
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 | caption2  = Sri Dasmais Singh Sabha Gurdwara, Bhatra Sikh Centre in Riverside.
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The oldest of the non-Christian communities in Wales is Judaism. Jews were not permitted to live in England and Wales between the 1290 Edict of Expulsion – given by Edward I of England – and the 17th century. A Welsh Jewish community was re-established in the 18th century.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/religion/sites/timeline/pages/religion_in_wales_15.shtml |title=Multicultural Wales |accessdate=6 December 2007 |publisher=British Broadcasting Company}}</ref> There was once a fairly substantial Jewish population in South Wales, most of which has disappeared. The Cardiff Jewish community congregations are consolidated in the present, modern building in Cyncoed Gardens, dedicated by Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks in 2003.<ref>[http://www.somethingjewish.co.uk/articles/717_chief_visits_bristol.htm Chief visits Bristol and Cardiff]. Somethingjewish.co.uk (16 December 2003). Retrieved on 17 July 2013.</ref>  Educational options for Jewish adults are expanding in Cardiff via courses offered by Rabbi Michoel Rose and The Rohr Jewish Learning Institute.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Holt |first1=Faygie Levy |title=Cardiff Rabbi Builds Sukkah Awareness Through BBC Radio Show in Wales |url=http://www.chabad.org/news/article_cdo/aid/3066412/jewish/Cardiff-Rabbi-Builds-Sukkah-Awareness-Through-BBC-Radio-Show-in-Wales.htm |publisher=Chabad.org Jewish News |date=17 September 2015 |quote=Educational options for adults are also expanding, says Rabbi Rose, noting that the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute's (JLI) "Journey of the Soul" course}}</ref>

In the 2001 census Cardiff's Muslim population stood at 3.7%, above the UK average (2.7%) and significantly above the Welsh average. Cardiff has one of the longest-established Muslim populations in the UK, started by Yemeni sailors who settled in the city during the 19th century.<ref>{{cite book |last=Ansari |first=Humayun |title=The Infidel Within: Muslims in Britain Since 1800 |publisher=C. Hurst & Co |year=2004 |location=London |page=429 |url=https://books.google.com/?id=43G472v4KMUC&pg=PA156&lpg=PA156&dq=cardiff+yemeni+sailors |isbn=978-1-85065-686-9}}</ref>  Cardiff is now home to over 11,000 Muslims from many different nationalities and backgrounds,<ref name="cityprofile">{{cite web |url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/profiles/00pt.asp |title=Census 2001 – Profiles – Cardiff. |accessdate=12 July 2007}}</ref> nearly 52% of the Welsh Muslim population.<ref>[http://gov.wales/docs/statistics/2007/070509socialmuslimen.pdf A Social Audit of the Muslim Community in Wales]{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

The proportion of Cardiff residents declaring themselves to be Hindu, Sikh and Jewish were all considerably higher than the Welsh averages, but less than the UK figures. The city has been home to a sizable Hindu community since Indian immigrants settled there during the 1950s and 1960s. The first Hindu temple in the city was opened in Grangetown on 6 April 1979 on the site of an abandoned printing press (which itself was the former site of a synagogue).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.swaminarayanwales.org.uk/History/history.asp |title=History of Shree Swaminarayan Temple Cardiff |accessdate=21 May 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420155606/http://www.swaminarayanwales.org.uk/History/history.asp |archivedate=20 April 2008}}</ref> The 25th anniversary of the temple's founding was celebrated in September 2007 with a parade of over 3000 people through the city centre, including Hindus from across the United Kingdom and members of Cardiff's other religious communities.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/7006249.stm |title=Worshippers celebrate with parade |date=22 September 2007 |publisher=BBC Wales |accessdate=21 May 2008}}</ref> Today, there are over 2000 Hindus in Cardiff, worshiping at three temples across the city.<ref name="cityprofile"/>

In the 2001 census 18.8% of the city's population stated they had no religion, while 8.6% did not state a religion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/profiles/00PT-A.asp#ethnic |title=Census 2001 – Profiles – Cardiff – Ethnicity & Religion |date=19 February 2003 |accessdate=23 January 2008}}</ref>

== Economy ==
[[File:Callaghan Square Cardiff.jpg|thumb|right|Callaghan Square is a major commercial development in central Cardiff]]
As the capital city of Wales, Cardiff is the main engine of growth in the Welsh economy. Though the population of Cardiff is about 10% of the Welsh population, the economy of Cardiff makes up nearly 20% of Welsh GDP and 40% of the city's workforce are daily in-commuters from the surrounding south Wales area.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/articles/economic_trends/Sub-regional_&_Local_Area_GDP.pdf |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/5mTfkz3PC?url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/articles/economic_trends/Sub-regional_%26_Local_Area_GDP.pdf |archivedate=2 January 2010 |title=Sub-regional and local area gross domestic product |last=Clifton-Fearnside |first=Alex |author2=Adam Douglas |date=14 May 2002 |publisher=Office for National Statistics |accessdate=18 April 2008 |format=PDF}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statswales.wales.gov.uk/TableViewer/document.aspx?ReportId=4903&IF_Language=isl |title=Statistics on Commuting in Wales |date=5 December 2007 |publisher=Statistics for Wales |accessdate=18 April 2008}}</ref>

Industry has played a major part in Cardiff's development for many centuries. The main catalyst for its transformation from a small town into a big city was the demand for coal required in making iron and later steel, brought to the sea by packhorse from Merthyr Tydfil. This was first achieved by the construction of a {{convert|25|mi|km|adj=on}} long canal from Merthyr (510 feet above sea-level) to the Taff Estuary at Cardiff.<ref name="canal">{{cite web|url=http://www.alangeorge.co.uk/the_glamorganshire_canal.htm |title=The Glamorganshire Canal |accessdate=19 April 2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071227160758/http://www.alangeorge.co.uk/the_glamorganshire_canal.htm |archivedate=27 December 2007}}</ref> Eventually the Taff Vale Railway replaced the canal barges and massive marshalling yards sprang up as new docks were developed in Cardiff – all prompted by the soaring worldwide demand for coal from the South Wales valleys.

[[File:The Exchange, Mount Stuart Square.jpg|thumb|left|The Coal Exchange]]

At its peak, Cardiff's port area, known as Tiger Bay, became the busiest port in the world and – for some time – the world's most important coal port.<ref name="Grauniad Dinas">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2009/jun/09/walk-guides-cardiff-wales-architecture?page=2 |title=Cardiff's millennium makeover, Cardiff – Travel – The Guardian |accessdate=2 June 2010 |date=9 June 2009 |work=The Guardian |location=London}}</ref><ref name="BBC Dinas">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/2854567.stm |title=BBC News – Wales – Capital claims – A city's struggle |accessdate=2 June 2010 |date=22 April 2003 |publisher=BBC News}}</ref> In the years leading up to the First World War, more than 10&nbsp;million tonnes of coal was exported annually from Cardiff Docks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/rhagor/article/?article_id=50 |archive-url=https://archive.is/20120530052329/http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/rhagor/article/?article_id=50 |dead-url=yes |archive-date=30 May 2012 |title=Cardiff – Coal and Shipping Metropolis of the World |publisher=National Museum of Wales |accessdate=19 April 2008 }}</ref> In 1907, Cardiff's Coal Exchange was the first host to a business deal for a million pounds Sterling.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.glamro.gov.uk/check/Building%20of%20a%20Capital%202/A_Why.html |title=Why Did Cardiff Grow? |publisher=Glamorgan Record Office |accessdate=19 April 2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081123034747/http://www.glamro.gov.uk/check/Building%20of%20a%20Capital%202/A_Why.html |archivedate=23 November 2008  }}</ref> After a period of decline, Cardiff's port has started to grow again – over 3&nbsp;million tonnes of cargo passed through the docks in 2007.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7414502.stm |title=Ports' resurgence as imports grow |date=22 May 2008 |publisher=BBC News Wales |accessdate=28 May 2008}}</ref>

Today, Cardiff is the principal finance and business services centre in Wales, and as such there is a strong representation of finance and business services in the local economy. This sector, combined with the Public Administration, Education and Health sectors, have accounted for around 75% of Cardiff's economic growth since 1991.<ref name="employ">{{cite web |url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/objview.asp?Object_ID=3393& |title=Labour Market:An overview of Cardiff Employment and the local economy |date=9 April 2004 |publisher=Cardiff County Council |accessdate=19 April 2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609174301/http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/objview.asp?Object_ID=3393& |archivedate=9 June 2011}}</ref> The city was recently placed seventh overall in the top 50 European cities in the fDI 2008 Cities of the Future list published by the [[Finance:FDi magazine|fDi magazine]], and also ranked seventh in terms of attracting foreign investment.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fdimagazine.com/cp/10/FDI_052-055_0208-2.pdf |format=PDF |title=European Cities & Regions of the Future 2008/09 |date=1 February 2008 |accessdate=25 March 2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080408201244/http://fdimagazine.com/cp/10/FDI_052-055_0208-2.pdf |archivedate=8 April 2008}}</ref> Notable companies such as Legal & General, Admiral Insurance, HBOS, Zurich, ING Direct, The AA, Principality Building Society, 118118, British Gas, Brains, SWALEC Energy and [[Company:BT Group|BT]], all operate large national or regional headquarters and contact centres in the city, some of them based in Cardiff's office towers such as Capital Tower and Brunel House. Other major employers include NHS Wales and the National Assembly for Wales. On 1 March 2004, Cardiff was granted Fairtrade City status.

Cardiff is one of the most popular tourist destination cities in the United Kingdom, receiving 18.3&nbsp;million visitors in 2010 and generating £852&nbsp;million for the city's economy.<ref name="tourism">{{cite web|url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?nav=2874,5852&parent_directory_id=2865&id=11590&Language=|title=Tourism Boost for Cardiff Economy|date=13 May 2011|publisher=Cardiff County Council|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402175425/http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?nav=2874%2C5852&parent_directory_id=2865&id=11590&Language=|archivedate=2 April 2012|deadurl=yes|accessdate=27 May 2011}}</ref> One result of this is that one in five employees in Cardiff are based in the distribution, hotels and restaurants sector, highlighting the growing retail and tourism industries in the city.<ref name="employ"/> There are a large number of hotels of varying sizes and standards in the city, providing almost 9,000 available bed spaces.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=8719 |format=PDF |title=Cardiff Essential Facts – Tourism |publisher=Cardiff County Council |date=1 May 2007 |accessdate=25 March 2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609173534/http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=8719 |archivedate=9 June 2011}}</ref>

[[File:Broadcasting House, Cardiff.jpg|thumb|BBC Broadcasting House]]

Cardiff is home to the Welsh media and a large media sector with BBC Wales, S4C and ITV Wales all having studios in the city.<ref name="media"/> In particular, there is a large independent TV production industry sector of over 600 companies, employing around 6000 employees and with a turnover estimated at £350 m.<ref name="media">{{cite web |url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=3775 |title=The Film, TV and Multimedia Sector in Cardiff |publisher=Economic Development Division, Cardiff County Council |format=PDF |date=1 December 2003 |accessdate=11 September 2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609173256/http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=3775 |archivedate=9 June 2011}}</ref> Just to the north west of the city, in Rhondda Cynon Taff, the first completely new film studios in the UK for 30 years are being built, named Valleywood. The studios are set to be the biggest in the UK. In 2011 the BBC completed the Roath Lock studios in Cardiff Bay to film dramas such as Casualty, Doctor Who, and Pobol y Cwm.<ref>{{cite web|title=BBC Wales drama village's first phase completed|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-12231117|website=BBC Wales|publisher=BBC|accessdate=18 May 2017}}</ref>

Cardiff has several regeneration projects such as the St David's 2 Centre and surrounding areas of the city centre, and the £1.4 billion International Sports Village in Cardiff Bay which played a part in the London 2012 Olympics. It features the only Olympic-standard swimming pool in Wales, the Cardiff International Pool, which opened on 12 January 2008.

According to the Welsh Rugby Union, the Principality Stadium has contributed £1 billion to the Welsh economy in the ten years after it opened in 1999, with around 85% of that amount staying in the Cardiff area.<ref name="WRU Mileniwm 1">{{cite web |title=Stadium has boosted economy by £1bn in |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/business-in-wales/business-news/2009/06/24/stadium-has-boosted-economy-by-1bn-in-its-first-decade-91466-23959813/ |accessdate=28 June 2009 |date=24 June 2000 |work=WalesOnline website}}</ref>

=== Shopping ===
[[File:St David's Centre newly opened.jpg|thumb|St. David's is the largest shopping centre in Wales.]]
The majority of Cardiff's shopping portfolio is in the city centre around Queen Street and St. Mary Street, with large suburban retail parks located in Cardiff Bay, Culverhouse Cross, Leckwith, Newport Road and Pontprennau, together with markets in the city centre and Splott. A major £675&nbsp;million regeneration programme for Cardiff's St. David's Centre was completed in 2009, which has provided a total of {{convert|1400000|sqft|m2}} of shopping space, making it one of the largest shopping centres in the United Kingdom.<ref name="stdavids2">{{cite web|url=http://www.stdavids2.com/Template01.asp?pageid=95 |title=St Davids 2 and Cardiff |accessdate=3 January 2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070723160331/http://www.stdavids2.com/Template01.asp?pageid=95 |archivedate=23 July 2007}}</ref> The centre was named the international shopping centre of the year in 2010 by Retail Leisure International (RLI).<ref name="StDavid22">{{cite web |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2010/06/17/cardiff-s-st-david-s-is-world-s-top-retail-arcade-91466-26668936/ |title=St David 2 Worlds best shopping mall |accessdate=17 June 2010}}</ref>

[[File:Summer on Queen Street - Cardiff - geograph.org.uk - 1363923.jpg|left|thumb|Queen Street, one of Cardiff's main shopping areas]]
The Castle Quarter is a commercial area in the north of the city centre which includes some of Cardiff's Victorian and Edwardian arcades: Castle Arcade, High Street Arcade and Duke Street Arcade, and principal shopping streets: St Mary Street, High Street, Castle Street and Duke Street. Development of the area began in February 2010 and is expected to be completed by July 2011. Cardiff Council says that work to create the Castle Quarter as a pedestrian friendly environment for High Street and St Mary Street is designed to enhance the city centre.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-11647951|title=Cardiff shops seek compensation for roadworks|date=29 October 2010|publisher=|via=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref>

== Transport ==
[[File:Cardiff Central railway station, Cardiff, Wales.jpg|thumb|Cardiff Central railway station]]
Cardiff is the major transport hub in Wales and is the focus for many arterial road and rail routes that connect the city with Wales and England.

=== Rail ===
[[File:Gorsaf Heol y Frenhines, Caerdydd.JPG|thumb|left|Cardiff Queen Street railway station]]
Cardiff Central railway station is the largest railway station in Wales with nine platforms, through which over 12.5&nbsp;million passengers a year pass.<ref>[https://www.networkrail.co.uk/feeds/new-platform-at-cardiff-central-station-will-help-to-ease-congestion-as-railway-upgrade-in-south-wales-continues/ New platform at Cardiff Central will help to ease congestion as railway upgrade in South Wales continues] Network Rail 1 December 2016</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/nav.1529 |title=Station usage |publisher=Office of Rail Regulation |accessdate=13 October 2008}}</ref> It provides direct services to Bridgend and Newport; long-distance, cross-Wales services to Wrexham, Holyhead, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester and London.

Cardiff Queen Street railway station is the second-busiest in Wales and is the hub for routes via the Valley Lines services that connect the South Wales Valleys and the Cardiff suburbs with the city centre on the former site of Temperance Town. It is located at the eastern end of the city centre, and also provides services to Cardiff Bay.

Cardiff has a suburban rail system known as the Valleys & Cardiff Local Routes, which is operated by Transport for Wales. There are eight lines which serve 20 stations in the city, 26 in the wider urban area (including Taffs Well, Penarth and Dinas Powys) and more than 60 in the South Wales valleys and the Vale of Glamorgan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk/WorkArea/showcontent.aspx?id=4776 |title=Network Map – Valleys & Cardiff local routes |publisher=Arriva Trains Wales |accessdate=20 May 2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525204307/http://www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk/WorkArea/showcontent.aspx?id=4776 |archivedate=25 May 2011  }}</ref>

=== Air ===
[[File:Cardiff Airport (Oct 2010).jpg|thumb|Cardiff Airport]]
Domestic and international air links to Cardiff and South & West Wales are provided from Cardiff Airport (CWL), the only international airport in Wales. The airport is situated in the village of Rhoose, {{convert|10|mi|km}} west of the city. There are regular bus services linking the airport with the Cardiff Central bus station as well as a train service from Rhoose Cardiff International Airport railway station to Cardiff Central.

=== Road and bus ===
[[File:Cardiff Bus double decker (Central Bus Station).jpg|left|thumb|Cardiff Bus has the most bus services operating in the Cardiff area.]]
The M4 is the principal motorway in the region that connects Cardiff with Swansea to the west, and Newport and London to the east. Cardiff is served by three junctions of the M4, plus A48(M), which leads onto the M4. The A470 is another major road within the city that provides an important link to the north with the Heads of the Valleys road, mid and north Wales. The A4232 (also known as the Peripheral Distributor Road or PDR) when completed, will form part of the Cardiff ring-road system along with the M4 motorway between junctions 30 and 33.<ref name="Ring Roads">{{cite web |url=http://www.pberry.plus.com/ukroads/ring_roads/ |publisher=Paul Berry |title=Ring Roads |accessdate=8 March 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071109114828/http://www.pberry.plus.com/ukroads/ring_roads/ |archivedate=9 November 2007}}</ref>

Cardiff has a comprehensive bus network, with providers including municipal bus company Cardiff Bus (routes within the city and to Newport, Barry and Penarth), NAT Group (cross-city and to Cardiff Airport), Stagecoach South Wales (to the South Wales Valleys) and First Cymru (to Cowbridge and Bridgend). National Express and Megabus provides direct services to major cities such as Bristol, London, Newcastle upon Tyne and Manchester
{{clear}}

=== Cycle ===
[[File:Cycle lane in Excalibur Drive, Cardiff.jpg|thumb|Typical cycle lane in Cardiff]]
The Taff Trail is a [[Engineering:Walkway|walking]] and cycle path running for {{convert|55|mi|km|1}} between Cardiff Bay and Brecon in the Brecon Beacons National Park. It runs through Bute Park, Sophia Gardens and many other green areas within Cardiff. It is possible to cycle the entire distance of the Trail almost completely off-road, as it largely follows the River Taff and many of the old disused railways of the Glamorganshire valleys. On Sundays in summer the Beacons Bike Bus enables cyclists to take their bikes into the Beacons and then ride back to Cardiff along the Trail.<ref>[http://www.sustrans.org.uk/sites/default/files/images/files/wales/free%20leaflets%20and%20maps/Taff%20Trail%20Leaflet_map_Final.pdf Official Taff Trail Leaflet] Accessed 14 September 2017</ref>

Nextbike have operated a public bike hire scheme in the city since March 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/dozens-bikes-available-cardiffs-new-14444635|title=Cardiff's new bike hire scheme starts on Monday|last=Mosalski|first=Ruth|date=22 March 2018|work=walesonline|access-date=7 July 2018}}</ref> 

===Water===
[[File:Aquabushydro1.jpg|thumb|left|Aquabus]]
The Aquabus water taxi runs every hour between the city centre (Taff Mead Embankment) and Cardiff Bay (Mermaid Quay), and between Cardiff Bay and Penarth Cardiff Bay Barrage. Throughout the year, Cardiff Waterbus <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cardiffwaterbus.com/|title=The original Cardiff Waterbus|website=www.cardiffwaterbus.com}}</ref> sail between the Pierhead on The Waterfront and the Penarth end of the Cardiff Bay Barrage with short sightseeing cruises.

Between March and October boats depart from Cardiff Bay to take visitors to Flat Holm Island. The ''PS Waverley'' and ''MV Balmoral'' sail from Britannia Quay (in Roath Basin) to various destinations in the Bristol Channel.
{{clear}}

== Telecommunications ==

'''029''' is the current telephone dialling code for Cardiff, as well as for the neighbouring towns of Penarth, Dinas Powys and Caerphilly. The dialling code is optional when dialling within the area, with it being possible to dial between any two phones within the 029 code using only the eight-digit local number.

Prior to the Big Number Change on 22 April 2000 the area had shorter, six-digit local numbers with an area code of 01222 (with 0222 preceding this, prior to May 1995). There remains a common misconception that local numbers are still six digits long and that the code is 02920, despite the existence of newer Cardiff numbers in the ranges (029) 21xx xxxx and (029) 22xx xxxx.

== Education ==
[[File:Cardiff University main building.jpg|thumb|Cardiff University's main building]]

Cardiff is home to four major institutions of higher education: [[Organization:Cardiff University|Cardiff University]], [[Organization:Cardiff Metropolitan University|Cardiff Metropolitan University]], [[Organization:University of South Wales|University of South Wales]] and the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama.

Cardiff University was founded by Royal Charter in 1883 as the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/about/milestones/index.html |title=About Cardiff University – Milestones |publisher=Cardiff University |accessdate=20 May 2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926212224/http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/about/milestones/index.html |archivedate=26 September 2007}}</ref> is a member of the Russell Group of leading research led universities, having most of its campus in Cathays and the city centre. [[Organization:Cardiff Metropolitan University|Cardiff Metropolitan University]] (formerly UWIC) has campuses in the Llandaff, Cyncoed and city centre areas, and is part of the confederal University of Wales. The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama is a conservatoire established in 1949 and is based in the grounds of Cardiff Castle. The [[Organization:University of South Wales|University of South Wales]]'s Cardiff campus, Atrium, is home to the Cardiff School of Creative & Cultural Industries and is located in the city centre.

[[File:Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama.jpg|left|thumb|Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama]]

The total number of higher education students in the city is around 43,900.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hesa.ac.uk/dox/dataTables/studentsAndQualifiers/download/institution0607.xls |title=Table 0a – All students by institution, mode of study, level of study, gender and domicile 2006/07 |publisher=Higher Education Statistics Agency |format=XLS |accessdate=4 December 2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130709132444/http://www.hesa.ac.uk/dox/dataTables/studentsAndQualifiers/download/institution0607.xls |archivedate=9 July 2013  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://cci.glam.ac.uk/faqs/#numbers |title=FAQs, Cardiff School of Creative & Cultural Industries, University of Glamorgan |publisher=University of Glamorgan |accessdate=4 December 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070826194742/http://cci.glam.ac.uk/faqs/ |archivedate=26 August 2007}}</ref> The city also has two [[Social:Further education|further education]] colleges: Cardiff and Vale College and St. David's College. The former is the result of a merger, completed in August 2011, between Coleg Glan Hafren and Barry College. Further education is also offered at most high schools in the city.

Cardiff has 3 state nursery schools (one bilingual), 98 state primary schools (two bilingual, fifteen Welsh medium), and 19 state secondary schools (three Welsh medium).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://apps8.cardiff.gov.uk/schools/index.php |title=Schools Search Page |publisher=Cardiff Council. Retrieved 8 December 2016.}}</ref> There are also a number of independent schools in the city, including St John's College, Llandaff Cathedral School, Cardiff Sixth Form College, Kings Monkton and Howell's School, a single-sex girls' school (until sixth form). In 2013 Cardiff Sixth Form College came top of the independent senior schools in the UK, which were based on the percentage of A* and A at Advanced Level. Also in the top 100 were St John's College and Howell's School.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.best-schools.co.uk/league-tables/a-level-passes.aspx |title=he Top 100 Senior Schools A* and A Grade at A Level |publisher=Best-Schools.co.uk |accessdate=30 March 2014}}</ref>

Notable schools include Whitchurch High School (the largest in Wales),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.estyn.gov.uk/english/provider/6815403/ |title=Whitchurch High School: 2003 Inspection Report |last=Medhurst |first=B W |date=28 March 2003 |publisher=Estyn |accessdate=5 June 2008 |format=PDF}}</ref> Fitzalan High School (which is one of the most multi-cultural state schools in the UK),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.estyn.gov.uk/inspection_reports/Fitzalan_sec_2004.pdf |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/5mTflm11l?url=http://www.estyn.gov.uk/inspection_reports/Fitzalan_sec_2004.pdf |archivedate=2 January 2010 |title=Fitzalan High School: 2004 Inspection Report |last=Owen |first=G |date=13 December 2004 |publisher=Estyn |accessdate=5 June 2008 |format=PDF |deadurl=no  }}</ref> and Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf, which is the largest Welsh medium secondary in Wales.

As well as academic institutions, Cardiff is also home to other educational and learning organisations such as Techniquest, a hands-on science discovery centre that now has franchises throughout Wales, and is part of the Wales Gene Park in collaboration with Cardiff University, NHS Wales and the Welsh Development Agency (WDA).<ref>{{cite web |title=Wales Gene Park |url=http://www.wgp.cf.ac.uk/listWorkProgProEd.htm |accessdate=31 January 2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070625151144/http://www.wgp.cf.ac.uk/listWorkProgProEd.htm |archivedate=25 June 2007}}</ref> Cardiff is also home of the largest regional office of the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO). This office is home to the organisation's curriculum and assessment centre, which is responsible for overseeing the creation and grading of various IBDP assessments.

== Landmarks and attractions ==
[[File:Adeilad y Pierhead, Caerdydd.jpg|thumb|Pierhead Building]]
Cardiff has many landmark buildings such as the Principality Stadium, Pierhead Building the Welsh National Museum and the Senedd, the home of the National Assembly for Wales. Cardiff is also famous for Cardiff Castle, St David's Hall, Llandaff Cathedral and the Wales Millennium Centre.

Cardiff Castle is a major tourist attraction in the city and is situated in the heart of the city centre. The National History Museum at St Fagans in Cardiff is a large open-air museum housing dozens of buildings from throughout Welsh history that have been moved to the site in Cardiff. The Civic Centre in Cathays Park comprises a collection of Edwardian buildings such as the City Hall, National Museum and Gallery of Wales, Cardiff Crown Court, and buildings forming part of Cardiff University, together with more modern civic buildings. These buildings are laid out around the Queen Alexandra Gardens, a formal park which contains the Welsh National War Memorial and a number of other, smaller, memorials.

In addition to Cardiff Castle, Castell Coch (''Red Castle'') is located in Tongwynlais, in the north of the city. The current castle is an elaborately decorated Victorian [[Engineering:Folly|folly]] designed by William Burges for the Marquess and built in the 1870s, as an occasional retreat. However, the Victorian castle stands on the footings of a much older medieval castle possibly built by Ifor Bach, a regional baron with links to Cardiff Castle also. The exterior has become a popular location for film and television productions. It rarely fulfilled its intended role as a retreat for the Butes, who seldom stayed there. For the Marquess, the pleasure had been in its creation, a pleasure lost following Burges's death in 1881.

Cardiff claims to have the largest concentration of castles of any city in the world.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.skysports.com/rugbyunion/World_Cup/Story/0,21043,13092_2689478,00.html |title=2007 Rugby World Cup City Guides – Cardiff |publisher=Sky Sports |accessdate=19 April 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080405094448/http://www.skysports.com/rugbyunion/World_Cup/Story/0%2C21043%2C13092_2689478%2C00.html |archivedate=5 April 2008 |deadurl=yes  }}</ref> As well as Cardiff Castle and Castell Coch, there are the remains of two Motte and Bailey castles in Radyr and Rhiwbina (both known as the "Twmpath", a Welsh word for a small mound),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.castlewales.com/twmpath.html |title=Twmpath Castle |year=2002 |accessdate=21 March 2008}}</ref> which along with a castle at Whitchurch (known as Treoda and destroyed by housing in the 1960s) formed an arc of fortifications which divided the Norman lordship from the Welsh lordship of Senghenydd.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gatehouse-gazetteer.info/Welshsites/482.html |title=The Gatehouse: Treoda, Whitchurch |date=8 October 2007 |accessdate=28 December 2007}}</ref> Further up the Cefn Cibwr ridge on the boundary with Caerphilly there is also another ruined castle, known as Castell Morgraig. Archaeological evidence suggests this castle was never finished, and it is debated whether the fortification was of Norman or Welsh origin. The concentration of these castles is indicative of the moveable nature of the border between the Norman lordship of Glamorgan, centred at Cardiff, and its Welsh neighbours to the north.

While not strictly castles in the historic sense, there is also the ruined Llandaff Bishop's Palace, a fortified residence belonging to the Bishops of Llandaff and Saint Fagans Castle, a preserved seventeenth century manor house, once the seat of the Earls of Plymouth.

{| class="toccolours" style="margin:0.5em auto"
|-
|<gallery caption="Cardiff's castles" mode="packed">
File:Cardiff Castle - panoramio (1).jpg|Cardiff Castle
File:Castell Coch - exterior.JPG|Castell Coch 
File:St Fagans castle - Cardiff - geograph.org.uk - 1458954.jpg|St Fagans Castle
File:Bishop's Palace, Llandaff 2011 5.jpg|Bishop's Palace, Llandaff
</gallery>
|}
Other major tourist attractions are the Cardiff Bay regeneration sites which include the recently opened Wales Millennium Centre and the Senedd, and many other cultural and sites of interest including the Cardiff Bay Barrage and the famous Coal Exchange. The New Theatre was founded in 1906 and completely refurbished in the 1980s. Until the opening of the Wales Millennium Centre in 2004, it was the premier venue in Wales for touring theatre and dance companies. Other venues which are popular for concerts and sporting events include Motorpoint Arena, St David's Hall and the Principality Stadium. Cardiff Story, a museum documenting the city's history, has been open to the public since spring 2011.

Cardiff has over 1,000 listed buildings, ranging from the more prominent buildings such as the castles, to smaller buildings, houses and structures.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?Parent_Directory_id=2865&nav=2870,3139,3939,3972 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060927041924/http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?Parent_Directory_id=2865&nav=2870%2C3139%2C3939%2C3972 |archivedate=27 September 2006 |title=Listed and Locally Listed Buildings |publisher=Cardiff County Council |accessdate=28 May 2008 |deadurl=yes  }}</ref> Cathedral Road was developed by the 3rd Marquis of Bute and is lined by fine villas, some backing on to Sophia Gardens.

Cardiff has walks of special interest for tourists and ramblers alike, such as the Centenary Walk, which runs for {{convert|2.3|mi|km|1}} within Cardiff city centre. This route passes through many of Cardiff's landmarks and historic buildings.

== Culture and recreation ==

[[File:Cardiff Bay WMC.jpg|thumb|Wales Millennium Centre]]

Cardiff has many cultural sites varying from the historical Cardiff Castle and out of town Castell Coch to the more modern Wales Millennium Centre and Cardiff Bay. Cardiff was a finalist in the [[Place:European Capital of Culture|European Capital of Culture]] 2008.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/2959944.stm |title=Liverpool named as European Capital of Culture |date=4 June 2003 |publisher=BBC News |accessdate=28 May 2008}}</ref> In recent years Cardiff has grown in stature as a tourist destination, with recent accolades including Cardiff being voted the eighth favourite UK city by readers of the ''Guardian''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2007/nov/04/escape?page=all |title=Observer Travel Awards: Your holiday winners |date=4 November 2007 |accessdate=12 December 2007 |work=The Guardian |location=London}}</ref> The city was also listed as one of the top 10 destinations in the UK on the official British tourist boards website Visit Britain,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.visitbritain.co.uk/ |title=Visit Britain |accessdate=12 December 2007}}</ref> and US travel guide Frommers have listed Cardiff as one of 13 top destinations worldwide for 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.frommers.com/trip_ideas/cultural_immersion/article.cfm?ideaID=CULTURE&articleID=4811&t=Frommer%27s%20Top%20Destinations%20for%202008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080219200126/http://frommers.com/trip_ideas/cultural_immersion/article.cfm?ideaID=CULTURE&articleID=4811&t=Frommer%27s%20Top%20Destinations%20for%202008 |dead-url=yes |archive-date=19 February 2008 |title=Frommer's Top Destinations for 2008 |date=4 December 2007 |accessdate=12 December 2007  }}</ref> Annual events in Cardiff that have become regular appearances in Cardiff's calendar include Sparks in the Park, The Great British Cheese Festival, Cardiff Mardi Gras, Cardiff Winter Wonderland, Cardiff Festival and Made in Roath.

=== Music and performing arts ===
[[File:Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff.jpg|thumb|left|Motorpoint Arena Cardiff]]
A large number of concerts are held within the city, the larger ones being performed in St David's Hall, the Motorpoint Arena (previously known as the Cardiff International Arena) and occasionally the Principality Stadium. A number of festivals are also held in Cardiff—the largest of these is the Cardiff Big Weekend Festival, which is held annually in the city centre during the summer and plays host to free musical performances (from artists such as Ash, Jimmy Cliff, Cerys Matthews, the Fun Loving Criminals, Soul II Soul and the Magic Numbers), fairground rides and cultural events such as a Children's Festival that takes place in the grounds of Cardiff Castle. The annual festival claims to be the UK's largest free outdoor festival, attracting over 250,000 visitors in 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/music/sites/big_weekend/ |title=BBC Wales – Big Weekend |accessdate=23 February 2008}}</ref>

Cardiff hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1883, 1899, 1938, 1960, 1978 and 2008. Cardiff is unique in Wales in having two permanent stone circles used by the Gorsedd of Bards during Eisteddfodau. The original circle stands in Gorsedd Gardens in front of the National Museum while its 1978 replacement is situated in Bute Park. Since 1983, Cardiff has hosted the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition, a world-renowned event on the opera calendar which is held every two years. The city also hosts smaller events.

[[File:St Davids Hall Interior.jpg|thumb|St David's Hall]]

A number of performing arts venues are located within the city. The largest and most prominent of these is the Wales Millennium Centre, which hosts performances of opera, ballet, dance, comedy and musicals, and (as of autumn 2008) is home to the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. St David's Hall (which hosts the Singer of the World competition) has regular performances of classical music and ballet as well as music of other genres. The largest of Cardiff's theatres is the New Theatre, situated in the city centre just off Queen Street. Other such venues include the Sherman Theatre, Chapter Arts Centre and the Gate Arts Centre.

The Cardiff music scene is established and wide-ranging: it is home to the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Welsh National Opera, has produced several leading acts itself and, as a capital city, has acted as a springboard for numerous Welsh bands to become famous both nationally and internationally. Acts hailing from Cardiff include Charlotte Church, Shirley Bassey, Iwan Rheon, the Oppressed, Kids In Glass Houses, Los Campesinos, the Hot Puppies, the School, We're No Heroes, Budgie and Shakin' Stevens. Also, performers such as the Automatic,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://theautomatic.co.uk/band.php |title=The Automatic / Band |publisher=theautomatic.co.uk |accessdate=8 December 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080417213451/http://www.theautomatic.co.uk/band.php |archivedate=17 April 2008}}</ref> Manic Street Preachers,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.myspace.com/manics |title=Manic Street Preachers on MySpace Music – Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music |date=2 January 2010 |publisher=Manic Street Preachers |accessdate=2 January 2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100101212617/http://www.myspace.com/manics |archivedate=1 January 2010}}</ref> Lostprophets,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/music/sites/lostprophets/pages/rise.shtml |title=The rise of Lostprophets |publisher=BBC Wales |last=Pattison |first=Louis |accessdate=8 December 2008}}</ref> Super Furry Animals, Catatonia and Bullet for My Valentine have links with the city and are associated with the Cardiff music scene.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/cardiff-music-scene-the-scene-is-more-alive-than-ever-428059.html |title=Cardiff music scene: 'The scene is more alive than ever' |date=30 November 2006 |work=The Independent |last=Mugan |first=Chris |accessdate=8 December 2008 |location=London |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101113001608/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/cardiff-music-scene-the-scene-is-more-alive-than-ever-428059.html |archivedate=13 November 2010}}</ref> In 2010, Cardiff was named the UK's second 'most musical' city by PRS for Music.<ref>[https://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/2010/03/13/bristol-named-britain-s-most-musical-city-115875-22107650/ "Bristol names Britain's most musical city"] ''Daily Mirror''</ref>

=== Visual arts ===
Cardiff has held a photomarathon in the city each year since 2004, in which photographers compete to take the best 12 pictures of 12 previously unknown topics in 12 hours. An exhibition of the winners and other entries is held in June / July each year.<ref>Karen Price (21 June 2013) [http://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/new-views-city-unveiled--4695993 "Cardiff Photomarathon 2013: New views of the city unveiled"], ''WalesOnline''. Retrieved 28 July 2014</ref>

=== Recreation ===
[[File:Bute Park, Cardiff.jpg|thumb|left|Bute Park]]
Cardiff has a strong nightlife and is home to many bars, pubs and clubs. Most clubs and bars are situated in the city centre, especially St. Mary Street, and more recently Cardiff Bay has built up a strong night scene, with many modern bars & restaurants. The Brewery Quarter on St. Mary Street is a recently developed venue for bars and restaurant with a central courtyard. Charles Street is also a popular part of the city.

[[File:Scott Memorial, Roath Park - geograph.org.uk - 27200.jpg|thumb|right|The lake at Roath Park, including the lighthouse erected as a memorial to Captain Scott|left]]

Cardiff is known for its extensive parkland, with parks and other such green spaces covering around 10% of the city's total area.<ref name="trends">{{cite web |url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=4289 |format=PDF |title=Cardiff Population Trends |date=4 January 2006 |accessdate=21 January 2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609173610/http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=4289 |archivedate=9 June 2011}}</ref> Cardiff's main park, Bute Park (which was formerly the castle grounds) extends northwards from the top of one of Cardiff's main shopping street (Queen Street); when combined with the adjacent Llandaff Fields and Pontcanna Fields to the north west it produces a massive open space skirting the River Taff. Other popular parks include Roath Park in the north, donated to the city by the 3rd Marquess of Bute in 1887 and which includes a very popular boating lake; Victoria Park, Cardiff's first official park; and Thompson's Park, formerly home to an aviary removed in the 1970s. Wild open spaces include Howardian Local Nature Reserve, {{convert|32|acre|m2}} of the lower Rhymney valley in Penylan noted for its Orchids,<ref>{{cite web |title=Useful information |url=http://www.howardianlnr.org.uk/info.html |website=Howardian Local Nature Reserve |accessdate=9 August 2018}}</ref> and Forest Farm Country Park, over {{convert|150|acre|km2}} along the river Taff in Whitchurch.

Cardiff is one of the top ten retail destinations in the UK,<ref name="stdavids2"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.yellgroup.com/espanol/media-pressreleases-2007-glasgownamedtopforshopsatchristmas |title=Glasgow named top for shops at Christmas |date=6 December 2007 |accessdate=27 December 2007 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121115839/http://www.yellgroup.com/espanol/media-pressreleases-2007-glasgownamedtopforshopsatchristmas |archivedate=21 November 2008  }}</ref> with two main shopping streets (Queen Street and St. Mary Street), and three main shopping arcades; St. David's Centre, Queens Arcade and the Capitol Centre. The current expansion of St. David's Centre as part of the St. David's 2 project has seen it become one of the largest shopping centres in the United Kingdom. As well as the modern shopping arcades, the city is also home to many Victorian shopping centres, such as High Street Arcade, Castle Arcade, Wyndham Arcade, Royal Arcade and Morgan Arcade. Also of note is The Hayes, home to Spillers Records, the world's oldest record shop.<ref>{{cite news |title=World's oldest record shop (est. 1894) is threatened with closure |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/dec/12/pop.rock |publisher=guardian.co.uk |accessdate=11 September 2008 |location=London |first=Steven |last=Morris |date=12 December 2006}}</ref><ref name="spillers">{{cite news |url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/article656416.ece |title=World's oldest record shop in the death grip of a developer |publisher=The Times |quote=The owners of Spillers Records, recognised by Guinness World Records as the oldest such emporium on Earth, say that it will close unless a buyer is found. |date=1 December 2006 |accessdate=11 September 2008 |location=London |first1=Fiona |last1=Hamilton |first2=Sam |last2=Coates |first3=Michael |last3=Savage}}</ref> Cardiff has a number of markets, including the vast Victorian indoor Cardiff Central Market and the newly established Riverside Community Market, which specialises in locally produced organic produce. Several out-of-town retail parks exist, such as Newport Road, Culverhouse Cross, Cardiff Gate and Cardiff Bay.

== Media ==
[[File:Roath Lock studios in Cardiff.jpg|thumb|BBC's Roath Lock studios]]


Cardiff is the Welsh base for the main national broadcasters (BBC Cymru Wales, ITV Wales and S4C). A locally based television station, ''Made in Cardiff'', is also based in the city centre. Major filming studios in Cardiff include the BBC's Roath Lock Studios and Pinewood Studios Wales.

Several contemporary television programmes and films are filmed in and/or set in Cardiff such as Casualty, Doctor Who, Merlin, Sarah Jane Adventures, Torchwood, The Valleys, Upstairs Downstairs and Sherlock.<ref>[http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2010/08/13/remake-of-upstairs-downstairs-filming-in-wales-91466-27054006/ Remake of Upstairs Downstairs filming in Wales] Wales Online 13 August 2010. Retrieved 23 August 2010</ref>

[[File:Media Wales, Six Park Street, Cardiff 001.jpg|thumb|left|upright|The South Wales Echo and Western Mail ]]

The main local newspaper, the ''South Wales Echo'' and the national paper the ''Western Mail'' are based in Park Street in the city centre. ''Capital Times'', ''Echo Extra'' and the South Wales edition of ''Metro'' are also based and distributed in the city. There are also a number of magazines based in the city including ''Buzz magazine'', ''Primary Times'' and a monthly ''papur bro'', or Welsh-language community newsletter, called ''Y Dinesydd'' (The Citizen).

A number of radio stations serve the city and are based in Cardiff, including Capital FM (South Wales), Heart (South and West Wales), BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, Nation Radio, Radio Cardiff, Smooth Radio (Wales) and Xpress Radio.

The Principality Stadium was one of the first six British landmarks to be fully mapped on Google Street View   as a 360-degree virtual tour.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8149329.stm |title=BBC News Locations |publisher=BBC News |accessdate=21 July 2009 |date=14 July 2009}}</ref>

== Sport ==


[[File:Welsh Institute of Sport, Cardiff - entrance.JPG|thumb|Sport Wales National Centre, Cardiff, headquarters of Sport Wales, the Welsh Sports Association and the Federation of Disability Sport Wales]]

Cardiff plays host to many high-profile sporting events at local, national and international level and in recognition of the city's commitment to sport for all Cardiff has been awarded the title of European Capital of Sport 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?nav=2868%2C5924%2C5925%2C6188&parent_directory_id=2865&id=11467 |title=Cardiff is named European Capital for Sport |publisher=Cardiff Council |work=Sport Cardiff |accessdate=2 April 2013 |deadurl=yes |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028084516/http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?nav=2868%2C5924%2C5925%2C6188&parent_directory_id=2865&id=11467 |archivedate=28 October 2012  }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://yourcardiff.walesonline.co.uk/2011/04/01/cardiff-announced-as-2014-europeancapital-of-sport/ |title=Cardiff announced as 2014 European Capital of Sport |work=yourCardiff |date=1 April 2011 |accessdate=2 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aceseurope.eu/index.php/en/2012-09-01-17-17-01/european-capitals-of-sport |title=European Capitals of Sport list |publisher=European Capitals and Cities of Sport Federation |accessdate=2 April 2013 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130614130203/http://www.aceseurope.eu/index.php/en/2012-09-01-17-17-01/european-capitals-of-sport |archivedate=14 June 2013  }}</ref> Organised sports have been held in the city since the early 19th century.<ref name="Arms Park 1">{{cite web |url=http://www.cricinfo.com/glamorgan/content/story/60134.html |publisher=ESPN EMEA Ltd. |date=6 January 2005 |title=Cricinfo.com |accessdate=26 June 2009 |work=ESPN Cricinfo website}}</ref> national home sporting fixtures are nearly always played in the city. All Wales' multi-sports agencies and many of the country's sports governing bodies have their headquarters in Cardiff and the city's many top quality venues have attracted world-famous sports events, sometimes unrelated to Cardiff or to Wales. In 2008/09, 61% of Cardiff residents regularly participated in sport and active recreation, the highest percentage out of all 22 local authorities in Wales.<ref>[https://www.webcitation.org/5rpWuiiAM?url=http://wales.gov.uk/docs/statistics/2010/100517profilecardiffen.pdf Welsh Assembly Government|Local Area Summary Statistics p44]</ref>

[[File:Cardiff Arms Park - north stand.jpg|Cardiff Arms Park|thumb|left]]

Rugby union fans around the world have long been familiar with the old National Stadium, Cardiff Arms Park, and its successor the Principality Stadium, which hosted the FA Cup for six years (from 2001 to 2006) it took to rebuild Wembley Stadium. In 2009, Cardiff hosted the first Ashes cricket test, between England and Australia, to be held in Wales. Cardiff hosted eight football matches of the London 2012 Olympics.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/olympics_2012/4657779.stm|title=BBC SPORT – Other Sport... – Olympics 2012 – Cardiff to host Olympics football|publisher=}}</ref>

Cardiff City F.C. (founded 1899 as Riverside FC) played their home games at Ninian Park from 1910 until the end of the 2008–09 season. The club's new home is the Cardiff City Stadium, which until 2012, they rented to the Cardiff Blues the cities professional rugby union team, the Blues returning to the Arms Park. Cardiff City have played in the English Football League since the 1920–21 season, climbing to Division 1 after one season.<ref name="1927 1">{{cite web |url=http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/page/ClubHistory/0,,10335~61928,00.html |publisher=Cardiff City Football Club & FL Interactive |date=17 November 2004 |title=Cardiff City – Club – Club History – Club History – The Foundations and Early Y |accessdate=26 June 2009 |work=Cardiff City FC website |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090813201655/http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/page/ClubHistory/0%2C%2C10335~61928%2C00.html |archivedate=13 August 2009  }}</ref><ref name="1927 2">{{cite web |url=http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/page/ClubHistory/0,,10335~61930,00.html |publisher=Cardiff City Football Club & FL Interactive |date=17 November 2004 |title=Cardiff City – Club – Club History – Club History – The Roaring Twenties |accessdate=26 June 2009 |work=Cardiff City FC website |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090520124931/http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/page/ClubHistory/0%2C%2C10335~61930%2C00.html |archivedate=20 May 2009  }}</ref> Cardiff City are the only non-English team to have won the FA Cup, beating Arsenal in the 1927 final at Wembley Stadium.<ref name="1927 2"/> They were runners up to Portsmouth in the 2008 final, losing 1–0 at the new Wembley Stadium.<ref name="1927 3">{{cite web |url=http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/page/ClubHistory/0,,10335~61926,00.html |quote=In 2012 the Club won promotion to the Premier League, the second Welsh Club do so as Swansea City had gained the honour of being the first in the season 2010–2011. Cardiff struggled all season and returned to Division 2 having finished bottom. |publisher=Cardiff City Football Club & FL Interactive |date=17 November 2004 |title=Cardiff City – Club Honours and History |accessdate=26 June 2009 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091223061126/http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/page/ClubHistory/0%2C%2C10335~61926%2C00.html |archivedate=23 December 2009  }}</ref> Cardiff City currently play in the Football League Championship.<ref name="1927 4">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/default.stm |publisher=BBC |date=26 June 2009 |title=BBC SPORT – Football-My Club-C-Cardiff |accessdate=26 June 2009 |work=BBC News website}}</ref> Cardiff has numerous smaller clubs including Bridgend Street A.F.C., Caerau (Ely) A.F.C., Cardiff Corinthians F.C., Cardiff Grange Harlequins A.F.C., Cardiff Metropolitan University F.C., and Ely Rangers A.F.C. who all play in the Welsh football league system.<ref name="Peldroed 1">{{cite web |url=http://www.welshleague.org.uk/directory_of_clubs.htm |publisher=The Welsh Football League |year=2009 |title=Directory of Clubs |accessdate=26 June 2009 |work=Welsh League website |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218005515/http://welshleague.org.uk/directory_of_clubs.htm |archivedate=18 February 2009}}</ref>

In addition to men's football teams Cardiff City Ladies of the FA Women's Premier League Southern Division are based in the city. Teams in the Welsh Premier Women's Football League are Cardiff Met. Ladies, Cyncoed Ladies and Cardiff City.

[[File:MillenniumStadiumExterior.jpg|thumb|Principality Stadium]]

Cardiff Arms Park ({{lang-cy|Parc yr Arfau Caerdydd}}), in central Cardiff, is among the world's most famous venues—being the scene of three Welsh Grand Slams in the 1970s (1971, 1976 and 1978) and six Five Nations titles in nine years—and was the venue for Wales' games in the 1991 Rugby World Cup.<ref name="Arms Park 2">{{cite web |url=http://www.cardiff-rfc.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=68 |publisher=Cardiff Rugby Football Club |date=2 November 2007 |title=Cardiff RFC – CRFC History |accessdate=26 June 2009 |work=Cardiff RFC website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090604215745/http://www.cardiff-rfc.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=68 |archive-date=4 June 2009 |dead-url=yes |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="rwc 1">{{cite web |url=http://www.rwc2007.irb.com/destinationFrance/venues/venue=1/stadium.html |publisher=RWCL |year=2007 |title=RWC 2007 – The Millennium Stadium |accessdate=27 June 2009 |work=2007 RWCL website |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312041919/http://www.rwc2007.irb.com/destinationFrance/venues/venue%3D1/stadium.html |archivedate=12 March 2012 }}</ref><ref name="Arms Park 3">{{cite web |url=http://www.viamichelin.be/viamichelin/gbr/dyn/controller/Datasheet/4fef4a879fbee938b9416dcacea56b3b/125195/Cardiff%20or%20the%20pride%20of%20being%20Welsh! |publisher=ViaMichelin SAS |year=2009 |title=Cardiff or the pride of being Welsh! |accessdate=28 June 2009 |work=ViaMichelin website}} </ref><ref name="Arms Park 4">{{cite web|url=http://guides.travelchannel.com/cardiff/business-travel/personal-business/public-access-sports-grounds/386235.html |publisher=The Travel Channel L.L.C. |year=2009 |title=Cardiff travel guide: Cardiff vacation ideas: Travel Channel |accessdate=28 June 2009 |work=Travel Channel website }}{{dead link|date=November 2 sporting history dating back to at least the 1850s, when Cardiff Cricket Club (formed 1819) relocated to the site.<ref name="Arms Park 1"/> The ground was donated to Cardiff CC in 1867 by the Marquess of Bute. Cardiff Cricket Club shared the ground with Cardiff Rugby Football Club (founded 1876) —forming Cardiff Athletic Club between them—until 1966, when the cricket section moved to Sophia Gardens. Cardiff Athletic Club and the Welsh Rugby Union established two stadia on the site—Cardiff RFC played at their stadium at the northern end of the site, and the Wales national rugby union team played international matches at the National Stadium, Cardiff Arms Park, which opened in 1970. The National Stadium was replaced by the 74,500 capacity Millennium Stadium ({{lang-cy|Stadiwm y Mileniwm}}) in 1999—in time for the 1999 Rugby World Cup—and is home stadium to the Wales national rugby and football teams for international matches.<ref name="Arms Park 1"/><ref name="Arms Park 2"/><ref name="Mileniwm 1">{{cite web |url=http://www.millenniumstadium.com/information/facts_and_figures.php |publisher=Millennium Stadium plc |year=2009 |title=Millennium Stadium:Information:About the Venue:Facts&Figures |accessdate=25 June 2009 |work=Millennium Stadium website |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608154948/http://www.millenniumstadium.com/information/facts_and_figures.php |archivedate=8 June 2011 }}</ref><ref name="Mileniwm 2">{{cite web|url=http://www.millenniumstadium.com/history/index.php |publisher=Millennium Stadium plc |year=2009 |title=Millennium Stadium:Information:Stadium History:Stadium History |accessdate=29 June 2009 |work=Millennium Stadium website |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608155032/https://www.millenniumstadium.com/history/index.php |archivedate=8 June 2011 }}</ref> In addition to Wales' Six Nations Championship and other international games, the Principality Stadium held four matches in the 2007 Rugby World Cup and six FA Cup finals (from the 2001–02 to 2005–06 seasons) while Wembley Stadium was being rebuilt.<ref name="rwc 1"/>

[[File:The SWALEC Stadium, Cardiff.jpg|thumb|left|SWALEC Stadium]]

Cardiff Cricket Club were formed in 1819, and Glamorgan County Cricket Club have competed as a first class county since 1921. Their headquarters and ground is the SWALEC Stadium, Sophia Gardens, since moving from Cardiff Arms Park in 1966. The Sophia Gardens stadium underwent a multimillion-pound improvement since being selected to host the first ‘England’ v Australia Test Match of the 2009 Ashes series.<ref name="Arms Park 1"/><ref name="Sophia 1">{{cite web |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/06/17/what-the-ashes-could-do-for-cardiff-91466-23894940/ |publisher=Media Wales Ltd |date=17 June 2009 |title=WalesOnline – News – Wales News – What the Ashes could do for Cardiff |accessdate=26 June 2009 |work=WalesOnline website}}</ref>

Cardiff has a long association with boxing, from 'Peerless' Jim Driscoll—born in Cardiff in 1880—to more recent, high-profile fights staged in the city.<ref name="Peerless 1">{{cite web |url=http://www.newtown-cardiff.org.uk/page11.htm |publisher=Newtown Association |year=2000 |title=Untitled Normal Page |accessdate=28 June 2009 |work=Newtown Association website |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080827234551/http://www.newtown-cardiff.org.uk/page11.htm |archivedate=27 August 2008  }}</ref> These include the WBC Lennox Lewis vs. Frank Bruno heavyweight championship fight at the Arms Park in 1993, and many of Joe Calzaghe's fights, between 2003 and 2007.

Cardiff's professional ice hockey team, the Cardiff Devils, play in the 3000-seater Ice Arena Wales in the Cardiff International Sports Village. They play in the 12 team professional Elite Ice Hockey League. Founded in 1986, and one of the most successful British teams during the nineties.

Cardiff's only American flag football team are the Hurricanes. They won the British Championship in 2014 after falling short by 2 points in a quarter final to eventual winners, the London Rebels the previous year. They are based out of Roath Recreational Ground.

[[File:Cardiff International Pool '09.jpg|thumb|Cardiff International Pool at the International Sports Village, Cardiff Bay]]

The 1958 Commonwealth Games were hosted by Cardiff. The Games involved 1,130 athletes from 35 national teams competing in 94 events.<ref name="Empire 1958">{{cite web|url=http://www.commonwealthgames.org.au/Templates/Games_PastGames_1958.htm |publisher=Australian Commonwealth Games Association |year=2007 |title=ACGA Past Games 1958 |accessdate=25 June 2009 |work=Australian Commonwealth Games Association website |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090912190520/http://commonwealthgames.org.au/Templates/Games_PastGames_1958.htm |archivedate=12 September 2009 }}</ref> One of the venues for those Games—The Wales Empire Swimming Pool—was demolished in 1998 to make way for the Principality Stadium. The GBP32m Cardiff International Pool in Cardiff Bay, opened to the public on 12 January 2008—part of the GBP1bn International Sports Village (ISV)—is the only Olympic-standard swimming pool in Wales. When complete, the ISV complex will provide Olympic standard facilities for sports including boxing and fencing, gymnastics, judo, white water events (including canoeing and kayaking) and wrestling as well as a snow dome with real snow for skiing and snowboarding, an arena for public ice skating and ice hockey and an hotel.<ref name="Pool 1">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/7184798.stm |publisher=BBC |date=12 January 2008 |title=BBC NEWS – Wales – South East Wales – £32m world-class pool is opened |accessdate=26 June 2009 |work=BBC News website}}</ref><ref name="ISV 1">{{cite web |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/03/21/cardiff-new-ice-rink-to-be-complete-by-2011-says-berman-91466-23198378/ |publisher=Media Wales Ltd |date=21 March 2009 |title=Cardiff new ice rink to be complete by 2011, says Berman |accessdate=28 July 2012 |work=WalesOnline website}}</ref> Some of the sports facilities at the ISV were to be used as training venues for the London 2012 Olympics.<ref name="ISV 2">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/london_2012/7275423.stm |publisher=BBC |date=3 March 2008 |title=BBC SPORT – Olympics & Olympic sport – London 2012 – Olympic training venues – Wales |accessdate=26 June 2009 |work=BBC News website}}</ref>

[[File:GB Rally December 2006.jpg|thumb|left|A stage of Wales Rally GB, hosted inside the Principality Stadium]]
The Principality Stadium hosts motorsport events such as the World Rally Championship, as part of Wales Rally GB. The first ever indoor special stages of the World Rally Championship were held at the Principality Stadium in September 2005 and have been an annual event sincve then.<ref name="Rali 1">{{cite web |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/04/15/funding-withdrawl-threatens-wales-raly-gb-91466-23393717/ |publisher=Media Wales Ltd |date=15 April 2009 |title=WalesOnline – News -Wales News – Funding withdrawal threatens Wales Rally GB |accessdate=25 June 2009 |work=WalesOnline website}}</ref> The British Speedway Grand Prix, one of the World Championship events, is held at the Millennium Stadium.<ref name="Mileniwm 2"/> While the track—a temporary, purpose built, shale oval—is not universally loved, the venue is considered the best of the World Championship's 11 rounds.<ref name="Speedway 1">{{cite web |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sports/motor-sport/2008/06/30/moto-stars-put-boot-into-millennium-stadium-track-91466-21172356/ |publisher=Media Wales Ltd |date=30 June 2008 |title=Moto:Stars put boot into Millennium Stadium Track |accessdate=13 January 2013 |work=WalesOnline website}}</ref>

The Cardiff International Sports Stadium, opened 19 January 2009, replacing the Cardiff Athletics Stadium; demolished to make way for the Cardiff City Stadium was a 4,953 capacity, multi sport/special event venue, offering fully certificated international track and field athletics facilities, including an international standard external throws area.<ref name="Stadiwm 1">{{cite web |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/01/20/jacko-back-to-his-roots-to-open-city-s-new-sports-arena-91466-22731611/ |publisher=Media Wales Ltd. |date=20 January 2009 |title=WalesOnline – News – Wales News – Jacko back to his roots to open city's new sports arena |accessdate=27 June 2009 |work=WalesOnline website}}</ref><ref name="Stadiwm 2">{{cite web |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/rugbynation/cardiff-blues/2007/11/15/end-of-an-era-for-city-landmark-91466-20112288/ |publisher=Media Wales Ltd. |date=15 November 2007 |title=WalesOnline – Rugby Nation – Blues – End of an era for city landmark |accessdate=27 June 2009 |work=WalesOnline website}}</ref><ref name="Stadiwm 3">{{cite web |url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?nav=2868,2967,3001,4662,4664&id=3299&Positioning_Article_ID=&Language=&parent_directory_id=2865&d1p1=1 |publisher=Cardiff Council |date=29 May 2009 |title=Cardiff – Home, Cardiff International Sports Stadium |accessdate=27 June 2009 |work=Cardiff Council website |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609165947/http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?nav=2868%2C2967%2C3001%2C4662%2C4664&id=3299&Positioning_Article_ID=&Language=&parent_directory_id=2865&d1p1=1 |archivedate=9 June 2011  }}</ref> The stadium houses the Headquarters of Welsh Athletics, the sport's governing body for Wales.<ref name="Stadiwm 4">{{cite web |url=http://www.welshathletics.org/about-us/contact-us/ |publisher=Welsh Athletics Ltd. |year=2007 |title=Welsh Athletics – Contact Us |accessdate=27 June 2009 |work=Welsh Athletics website}}</ref> The city's indoor track and field athletics sports venue is the National Indoor Athletics Centre, an international athletics and multi sports centre at the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff Campus, Cyncoed.<ref name="Stadiwm 5">{{cite web |url=http://www3.uwic.ac.uk/english/businessservices/conferenceservices/pages/niac.aspx |publisher=University of Wales Institute, Cardiff – Athrofa Prifysgol Cymru, Caerdydd |year=2009 |title=National Indoor Athletics Centre |accessdate=27 June 2009 |work=Uwic website |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090420063902/http://www3.uwic.ac.uk/english/businessservices/conferenceservices/pages/niac.aspx |archivedate=20 April 2009}}</ref>

During the 1990s, London based football club Wimbledon F.C. expressed interest in relocating to the city, having been without a home of their own since exiting their own Plough Lane stadium in 1991 and ground-sharing with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. However, the relocation of the club to Cardiff never happened, and in 2003 the club moved to Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire, being rebranded as Milton Keynes Dons a year later.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wimbledon/3596377.stm |work=BBC News |first=Dan |last=Warren |title=Dons' darkest day |date=6 April 2004}}</ref>

== Notable people ==
: ''See also Freedom of the City of Cardiff recipients


Many notable people have hailed from Cardiff, ranging from historical figures such as the 12th century Welsh leader Ifor Bach and to more recent figures such as Roald Dahl, Ken Follett, Griff Rhys Jones and the former Blue Peter presenter Gethin Jones.

The notable actors of Cardiff include Ioan Gruffudd (notable performances are film roles such as Lancelot in King Arthur (2004), Mister Fantastic (Reed Richards) in Fantastic 4 (2005) and its sequel Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007)) and Iwan Rheon.

Also notable is Siân Grigg, BAFTA winner and Oscar nominated Hollywood make up artist.

In particular, the city has been the birthplace of sports stars such as Tanni Grey-Thompson and Colin Jackson as well as many Premier League, Football League and international footballers, such as Craig Bellamy, Gareth Bale, Ryan Giggs, Joe Ledley, and former managers of the Wales national football team Terry Yorath and John Toshack. International rugby league players from Cardiff include Frank Whitcombe, Billy Boston, David Willicombe and Colin Dixon. International Rugby Union Jamie Roberts, Jamie Robinson, Nicky Robinson, Rhys Patchell, and baseball internationals include George Whitcombe and Ted Peterson.

Saint Teilo (c. 500 – 9 February c. 560), is the patron saint of Cardiff. He was a British Christian monk, bishop, and founder of monasteries and churches. Reputed to be a cousin, friend, and disciple of Saint David, he was bishop of Llandaff and founder of the first church at Llandaff Cathedral, where his tomb is. His Saint's Day is ninth of February.

Cardiff is also well known for its musicians, such as Ivor Novello, after whom the Ivor Novello Awards are named. Idloes Owen, founder of the Welsh National Opera, lived in Llandaff, Shirley Bassey is familiar to many as the singer of three James Bond movie theme tunes, while Charlotte Church is famous as a crossover classical/pop singer. Shakin' Stevens was one of the top selling male artists in the UK during the 1980s. Tigertailz, a popular glam metal act in the 80s, also hailed from Cardiff. A number of Cardiff-based bands, such as Catatonia and Super Furry Animals were popular during the 1990s . [https://www.lucylost-it.co.uk/]

== Twin towns and sister cities ==
Cardiff has twinning arrangements with:<ref name="Cardiff twinning">{{cite web |url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?id=2940&d1=0 |title=Home page of Cardiff Council – Cardiff's twin cities |publisher=Cardiff Council |date=15 June 2010 |accessdate=10 August 2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609144903/http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?id=2940&d1=0 |archivedate=9 June 2011}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|UKR}} Luhansk, {{wipe|Ukraine}}<ref name="Cardiff twinning"/>
*{{flagicon|NOR}} Hordaland county, Norway<ref name="Cardiff twinning"/>
*{{flagicon|BOL}} [[Place:Sucre|Sucre]], Bolivia<ref name="Cardiff twinning"/>
*{{flagicon|FRA}} Nantes, France<ref name="Cardiff twinning"/><ref name="Archant twinning">{{cite web|url=http://www.completefrance.com/language-culture/twin-towns |title=British towns twinned with French towns |accessdate=11 July 2013 |work=Archant Community Media Ltd |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705094933/http://www.completefrance.com/language-culture/twin-towns |archivedate=5 July 2013  }}</ref>
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Place:Stuttgart|Stuttgart]], Germany<ref name="Cardiff twinning"/>
*{{flagicon|CHN}} Xiamen, China<ref name="Cardiff twinning"/>
*{{flagicon|PER}} [[Place:Lima|Lima]], Peru<ref name="Cardiff twinning"/>

A total of 28 countries have a diplomatic presence in Cardiff.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.consularassociationinwales.com/aboutus.htm |title=About Us |publisher=The Consular Association of Wales |accessdate=7 January 2009 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313234657/http://consularassociationinwales.com/aboutus.htm |archivedate=13 March 2012  }}</ref> Many of these nations, such as Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Denmark, Canada, Thailand and the Czech Republic are represented by honorary consulates. The British Embassy of the United States operates a satellite office.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=11428&Language= |title=Expanding International Links |date=1 April 2008 |publisher=Capital Times / Cardiff County Council |accessdate=21 April 2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609181556/http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=11428&Language= |archivedate=9 June 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cardiffontheweb.com/directory/directoryresults_768290_cat-140_type-768290 |title=Cardiff on the Web – German Consul |accessdate=6 May 2008 }}{{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.amblondon.um.dk/en/servicemenu/Contact/DanishConsulatesandViceConsulatesintheUK/ |title=Danish Honorary Consulates and Vice Consulates in the UK |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark |accessdate=6 May 2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080421145115/http://www.amblondon.um.dk/en/servicemenu/Contact/DanishConsulatesandViceConsulatesintheUK/ |archivedate=21 April 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cardiffontheweb.com/directory/directoryresults_984756_cat-140_type-984756 |title=Cardiff on the Web – Italian Vice-Consulate |accessdate=6 May 2008 }}{{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home/reps/eur/vgbr/ukcons.html |title=Swiss UK Consulates |publisher=Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs |accessdate=6 May 2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501121206/http://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home/reps/eur/vgbr/ukcons.html |archivedate=1 May 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/canada-europa/united_kingdom/honcons-cardiff-en.asp |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20081219234443/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/missions/unitedkingdom-royaumeuni/ |dead-url=yes |archive-date=19 December 2008 |title=Honorary Consulate, Cardiff |publisher=Government of Canada |accessdate=6 May 2008  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mzv.cz/wwwo/default.asp?id=50466&ido=15692&idj=2&amb=153&ParentIDO= |title=New Czech Honorary Consulate in Cardiff |publisher=Embassy of the Czech Republic in the United Kingdom |accessdate=6 May 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.assemblywales.org/N0000000000000000000000000046311.pdf |title=Wales in the World |date=12 June 2006 |publisher=European and External Affairs Committee, Welsh Assembly |accessdate=6 May 2008 |format=PDF}}</ref>

== See also ==
* Cardiff city centre
* Cardiff music scene
* List of cultural venues in Cardiff
* List of Parliamentary constituencies in South Glamorgan
* List of places in Cardiff
* List of places of worship in Cardiff
* List of streets and squares in Cardiff
* National Assembly for Wales
* Big Number Change
* Telephone numbers in the United Kingdom
* OPENCities
* UK telephone code misconceptions

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{dmoz|Regional/Europe/United_Kingdom/Wales/Cardiff}}
* [http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ Cardiff Council site]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070611182621/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/catalogue.asp?gid=92 Cardiff Records]: the full text of the edition of historical records for Cardiff, edited by J. H. Matthews (1898–1905.) Part of British History Online.
* [http://www.wales.com/en/content/cms/English/About_Wales/Regions/South_East/South_East.aspx Cardiff and south east Wales on Wales.com]
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