Cardiff is the capital city of Wales - home to nearly 350,000 people, it’s also a popular destination with tourists - it’s estimated that more than 18 million people visit the city each year.

There was a Roman fort at Cardiff - the outlines of which can still be seen today at Cardiff Castle.

The castle itself dates back to 1081 when William I of England began to build on the site of the original Roman fort.  In the middle ages, Cardiff town grew up around the fort - consisting mainly of English settlers, it would have numbered no more than 2000 people.

In the early 18th Century the 2nd Marquess of Bute built Cardiff Docks, a development that led to significant expansion of the town.

Cardiff’s economy grew as the docks exported coal mined in the Welsh valleys, and by 1881, Cardiff had grown to become the largest town in Wales.

The town gained city status in 1905.

In recent years Cardiff has seen significant regeneration, including a new waterfront development at Cardiff Bay, The Senedd Building which is home to the devolved Welsh Assembly, The Millennium Stadium - home to the Welsh Rugby Team and lots more.

Shoppers are well catered for at Cardiff Bay’s Mermaid Quay, which offers a range of shops and restaurants to choose from.

Visitors to Cardiff should also check out the Museum of Welsh Life where many traditional Welsh buildings have been re-created to form a Celtic village.