Audio Tour of Cardiff’s Bay and Barrage

Overview

Cardiff is a city where Roman fortifications, Norman conquests, and Victorian industrialists have all left their mark. On this self-guided audio tour, you'll discover how coal and maritime trade transformed a sleepy market town into Wales' vibrant capital. The tour starts at Cardiff Castle, an extraordinary structure that began as a Roman fort before being transformed by the wealthy Bute family into a Gothic Victorian fantasy. You'll stroll past the whimsical Animal Wall with its stone creatures and continue to Westgate Street, where you'll learn how the River Taff was actually moved to make way for development. As you walk, you'll see how coal wealth shaped the city, from elaborate architectural details to the imposing Principality Stadium. The tour ends at Cardiff's magnificent Civic Centre, home to the Portland stone City Hall with its impressive dome topped by a protective dragon overlooking the Welsh capital.