You can have a great time in Cardiff with kids for a day or two. There are several great museums in the capital of Wales, and families who love castles are also well catered for here. There are several direct flights to Cardiff every day from the Netherlands, making it easy to take a city break to this place in Wales. We list the best activities in Cardiff with kids.
Cardiff with kids #1: Techniquest
One of the most fun museum you can go to in Cardiff is Techniquest, the Science Museum. Kids can do experiments here and learn playfully about all kinds of parts of science. This museum can be compared to the NEMO museum in Amsterdam and the Technopolis museum in Mechelen. The museum is located fairly centrally in the city on the waterfront, and public transportation gets you there in 15 minutes from downtown.
The museum is really geared toward kids and throughout the museum you have interactive screens and experiments where you actually have to do things. Even though the museum looks a little less beautiful on the inside than NEMO, for example, and is a lot smaller, you can have a great time here with the family for several hours.
There are also shows in the museum’s science theater and the planetarium about our starry sky. Near the museum is a coffee shop, where you can have a drink with your kids. For more information on opening hours, admission prices and the various exhibits, check out Techniquest’s website.
Cardiff with kids #2: Cardiff Castle
In Wales you have several castles that you can visit with your kids, and there is also a castle in the center of Cardiff (Cardiff Castle). The ruins of the castle are located on a hill and because of this, you cannot avoid the castle in the center. You can visit the castle either independently or with a guide.
There are several tours of the castle in different rooms. There is a tour almost every hour and the most regular tour lasts about 50 minutes. There is a special audio guide for kids. For more information on opening hours, entrance fees and tour times, check out the castle’s website.
In addition to the castle you can visit in Cardiff, you also have two castles just outside Cardiff that you can visit with kids. Just outside Cardiff is Caerphilly Castle, which is one of the largest castles in the United Kingdom. This castle can be reached in half an hour by public transportation from downtown Cardiff. Another castle located in the Cardiff area that can be reached within an hour by public transportation is Castle Coch. This fairy-tale castle is located north of the city and is a lot lower in terms of entrance fee than Cardiff Castle.
Cardiff with kids #3: Cardiff Bay
Cardiff is located on the water and one of the trendier neighborhoods to visit in the city is Cardiff Bay. You have numerous bars and restaurants here in this area, where you can grab a bite to eat and a drink with your kids. There is also a large Ferris wheel on the waterfront, where, of course, you get a great view of the city of Cardiff.
In summer when the weather is warm, you can also visit the city’s Aqua Park here. You have dozens of air cushions on the water here where kids can play. You can play at this water park for an hour with an admission ticket, and on some days when it is cold, a wetsuit is required. You can rent these at the water park.
Another activity to do in Cardiff Bay with kids is to take a cruise on the Aquabus. You then take a trip on the water for about 45 minutes and you can see the city from the water. In the process, you will also visit Wetlands Nature Reserve.
Cardiff with kids #4: National Museum Cardiff
The National Museum Cardiff is a museum you have in many cities in the United Kingdom. It is a large museum with various exhibits that you can visit for free with your family. The museum is quite central and you can walk to it from downtown in 15 minutes.
The museum consists of three floors and in addition to the fact that you can admire a lot of art in the museum, there are also exhibits on dinosaurs, fossils and stuffed animals that are more interesting for kids. Even if you and your kids are not into museums, it is certainly nice to walk through them. Especially since you don’t have to pay any money for it either.
The museum has a large restaurant in the basement and a small café on the first floor for snacks and drinks. For more information on opening hours, exhibits and highlights of the museum, check out the National Museum Cardiff website.
Cardiff with kids: other activities!
In addition to the activities described above, you have a number of fun activities you can do in Cardiff with kids. We briefly describe them below.
#5 Bute Park Cardiff: This city park is in the middle of the city center and the park is located behind the Cardiff Castle. In this city park you can escape the hustle and bustle of the city for a while, and you can have a great walk among the greenery. The park is also home to Woodland Play Trail, which features a number of natural play objects that you often see in play forests in the Netherlands.
#6
St. Fagan’s National Museum of History: this is another museum that is free to visit. The museum is located west of the city of Cardiff and can be reached by public transportation in thirty minutes. It is one of the most famous open-air museums in the world. You have beautiful gardens here and get a glimpse into how people used to live in Wales.
Near the museum is also a climbing park (Coedlan), for which you pay a separate fee. This climbing park has courses for kids as young as six (with a minimum height of 110 cm) and has eighteen different obstacles.
Where to stay in Cardiff with kids?
Staying overnight with the family is no problem at all in Cardiff. You have plenty of accommodations in Cardiff that are suitable for families with kids. We list the best options in different price ranges for this city.
Budget hotel: Innkeeper’s Collection Cardiff
Mid-range hotel: Jurys Inn Cardiff
Luxury hotel: The Coal Exchange Hotel
For a list of all accommodations in Cardiff with kids, take a look here.
