The WhatHouse? team explores Cardiff and why it is a great choice if you’re planning to buy a brand new home.
It is remarkable that with all its history and the significant part it plays in life in Wales, Cardiff was only given the title of the capital city of Wales in 1955. Coal mining in South Wales was instrumental in its industrial success but the city today is adapting to a very different economy and culture.
With a surge in population over the last 20 years, many new homes have been built to accommodate them. There’s an ongoing major regeneration of the city which is creating thousands of new homes to suit all kinds of taste and budget, from traditional-influenced starter homes in the suburbs to luxurious, contemporary, city centre apartments.
Coast and countryside
For lovers of nature and landscape, among the most exceptional places to visit from Cardiff are Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Gower Peninsula and the Brecon Beacons.
Sport and fitness
Rugby – The Principality Stadium (previously known as the Millennium Stadium) is the home of Welsh rugby, with a capacity of 74,000. The Cardiff Blues play at Cardiff Arms Park.
Football – Cardiff City is a Championship team with 120 years of history.
There's also an indoor climbing centre; Cardiff International White Water; National Indoor Athletics Centre; ice rink and ice hockey rink; Cardiff International Pool & Gym.
Music and entertainment
The city has an impressive range of music and theatre venues including St David’s Hall for some top-class classical concerts, the New Theatre for plays, musicals comedy and more, The Motorpoint Arena which has hosted many globally famous rock and pop stars, and places such as TramShed which host well-known and up-and-coming acts across the entertainment world. Many other pubs and clubs host live bands and DJs across the music spectrum.
Food and drink
These are the Top 3 Cardiff eateries according to BBC Good Food:
Heaneys – Created by the Great British Menu finalist Tommy Heaney, this place in Pontcanna has a daily-rotating menu.
Dusty Knuckle – This specialist of Neapolitan-style pizzas, baked in their wood-fired oven, can be found in a covered outdoor courtyard at the Printhaus.
The Potted Pig – A restaurant and gin lounge based in an old bank vault which boasts seasonal British-influenced menu alongside a huge choice of gins.
Pubs
Among the best pubs in the city (via TripAdvisor):
Hophunter – Cardiff CAMRA pub of the year 2016
The Cambrian Tap – “Meat pies and beer flights”
The Packet – “Authentic pub in the Bay neighbourhood”
Road connections
Swansea, 1hr
Birmingham, 2hrs 20mins
Central London, 3hrs
Direct rail connections
Bristol, 35 mins
London Paddington, 2hrs
Birmingham, 2hrs
Southampton, 2hrs 30mins
There are numerous regional services to the likes of Merthyr Tydfil, Ebbw Vale, and Pembroke.
Education in Cardiff
The most oversubscribed primary schools:
Pontprennau Primary
Marlborough Primary
Rhydypenau Primary
Danescourt Primary
Millbank Primary
The best secondary schools:
Cardiff High School (best in Wales)
Bishop of Llandaff Church In Wales High School
Ysgol Glantaf
The best further/higher education:
Cardiff Sixth Form College
Cardiff and Vale College
Cardiff Academy
Cardiff University has 7,500 students and is undergoing a £600m campus upgrade.
Regeneration plans
The Cardiff Capital Region (CCR) City Deal will see £1.2billion invested in the area over 20 years. There’s a proposed £120m new business district and sustainable transport hub between Cardiff and Newport. Plans are in place for a new museum on what is currently the site of a Grade II* listed building in Cardiff Bay.
Award-winning new homes
The Welsh capital is celebrating a new homes development receiving Gold for Best Starter Home Scheme at the prestigious WhatHouse? Awards 2019.
Cardiff Living/Cartrefi Caerdydd is a joint venture between Cardiff Council and Wates Residential which will be delivering some 1,500 new homes to the Old St Mellons suburb of city over the next 10 years.
Captain’s Walk/Heol y Capten, and Captain’s View/Golwg-y-Mor comprise a range of three- and four-bedroom family houses.
Three new developments, all part of Phase 1 of the project, will be launching in 2020: Lavender Fields/ Meysydd Lafant in Rumney, Aspect Place/Gardd Fach in Heath, and Briardene Walk/Rhodfa Briardene in Gabalfa.
Council Tax in Old St Mellons
A three-bedroom home at Silverdale Park is in Band F – £2,150.53 per year
A four-bedroom house at Silverdale Park is in Band G – £2,481.37 per year
Other new homes in Cardiff available right now
Maes y Deri in Capel Llanilltern – three- and four-bedroom houses from £260,995.
The Mill in Canton – one- and two-bedroom apartments from £137,995.
Cwrt Sant Ioan at Plasdwr in Llandaff – three- and four-bedroom houses from £279,995.
River Walk at St Edeyrns Village in Old St Mellons – two-, three- and four-bedroom houses from £137,995.