Our big city…our capital...Caerdydd

A few weeks ago, we started to spend a little more time on the ‘o Gymru’ side of ‘Jones’ and reflect on why this means so much to us.

Yes, ‘o Gymru’ means ‘from Wales’ which of course correctly states where we are from, but it means so much more. We are proud to be ‘o Gymru’ and this drives all that we do. When we think of this in terms of our surroundings, we have so much to be thankful for. 

So, we thought we’d continue on our journey to highlight some of the locations - towns, cities, coastlines and mountains - that we love and believe you will enjoy when you’re here in Wales.

This time we’d like to spend a little time in our big city….. our capital…. Caerdydd / Cardiff. 

Once again, this is by no means a comprehensive selection, purely a random sample, a brief snapshot, of what we like and makes us proud to be ‘o Gymru’.

And whilst we’re at it, we might give you an idea where to find our ‘Jones o Gymru’ products, to help make your visit that extra special!

Culture

As you’d expect in any capital city, there’s so much to see and do in Cardiff and all within easy walking distance. A city full of culture, with the National Museum housing the largest collection of Impressionist art outside Paris or the Museum of Cardiff focusing on the city’s origins to present day. If independent film, theatre and art is your thing, the Chapter Arts Centre in Canton is a must visit.

Originating from Roman times, Cardiff Castle sits right in the middle of the city - 2,000 years of history right in the middle of the city. 

Shopping

From the arcades, dating back to Victorian and Edwardian times, to the modern shopping centre at St David's, Cardiff is just great for shopping.

Cardiff Bay

Historically the waterfront used for transporting coal from South Wales to the rest of the world,The Bay is a wonderful area to explore. Now a wonderful escape from the city's bustle. The Wales Millennium Centre  is located here, hosting shows, performances and major events inside a spectacular auditorium. The Senedd, home to the Wales Government, is nearby, together with the Norwegian Church, where the legendary author Roald Dahl was baptised. 

Parks

Roath Park and Bute Park are wonderful areas to enjoy the fresh air within the City, with plenty of space to sit down, relax and have a little picnic, ideally with some JonesoGymru products from Green & Jenks or Canna Deli !

Eating

Cardiff visitors are spoilt for choice when it comes to food and drink, with a great mix of independent places to eat alongside the big restaurants.

The Grazing Shed for its burgers, a Pieminister if you’re a fan of the humble pie. All bases covered in Cardiff, whether you're looking for curries or cordon bleu!

And if all else fails, there’s always Caroline Street, known as ‘chippy lane’!

Drinking 

One of our favourite  pubs is The City Arms at the top of Womanby Street. A traditional pub with a great atmosphere in there. Opposite there’s Tiny Rebel,  to try a locally brewed craft ale. Pen & Wig and The Cricketers  are well worth a visit and Clwb Ifor Bach , widely regarded as  the  beating heart of the Welsh music scene, is another must visit to capture the essence of Cardiff

Huw Stephens, BBC radio presenter,  describes Cardiff’s uniqueness beautifully:

“There’s a lot that you can take for granted in Cardiff. You can nip out of the shopping arcades and the next minute, you’re in green parkland. Not every city has that – and not every city has a massive castle in the middle of it either” 

All we would add is that not every city has a fantastic stadium bang in the middle as well, where the Principality Stadium hosts Wales rugby internationals, and has also staged football FA Cup and Champions League Cup finals, as well as a fabulous venue for rock & pop concerts. Also a short walk away is the cricket ground at Sophia Gardens, home to Glamorgan CCC and a Test Match venue. A little further away , but still walkable, is the Cardiff City Stadium, the atmospheric home to Cardiff City and, of course, the Wales football team.

Cardiff, a wonderful capital city we’re proud of.