Cardiff or Bristol

[swifttwist]

It's our 25 anniversary next year. I want to take DH away for a long weekend, just us. London is the pull at the moment but I wonder if anyone can recommend or give any tips or info on Cardiff and Bristol?

We've done London. Like it. Like wandering, seeing the sites, stopping for a drink etc.

We've done York, Dublin, Belfast and Manchester. Wouldn't rush back. Don't fancy Newcastle but open to any other suggestions also. We are based in Scotland so done most places here as well so not Edinburgh, Glasgow etc.

Cardiff is great, you've got the castle and the National Museum, lots of independent and chain restaurants and bars. The Arcades are lovely for a wander (covered shopping streets with lots of cute little independent shops and cafes). Also plenty of green space like Bute Park, and events.

I’d say Bristol. The top attractions are SS Great Britain, M Shed, the harbour front and St Nick’s market. There are a few pieces of Banksy art which are quite interesting to discover. It’s also possible to walk from the centre to (and over) the Clifton bridge which has some great views. Bristol has lots of quirky places to eat like Smoke and Mirrors or Chance and Counters. Trains from Bristol to Bath only take about 15 mins so you could easily spend a day there too.

If you choose Cardiff, I’d recommend making a trip over to Penarth too - it’s got a lovely pier, fish and chips etc, but it’s also got a nice little town with coffee shops, independent boutiques, charity shops etc. It’s just a lovely place to spend an afternoon! You can walk to it from Cardiff Bay (bit of a steep hill and a trek though) or just get the train from the city centre.

Source: I currently live in Penarth 😄

Quirky Cardiff - you can do Dr Who tours; eat in a prison (theclinkcharity.org/restaurants/cardiff); go to a speakeasy with fabulous cocktails (thedeadcanary.co.uk/). I don't think the rowing boats in Roath Park are operating right now, but probably will be next year.

I live in Cardiff and would absolutely not recommend it. It’s more of a small town vibe than a big city and feels run down and a bit grotty. Not got the volume or diversity of people or places to have that city buzz. Doesn’t have particularly good places to eat, mainly chains here.

It's impossible to have 'done' London. There's always something you haven't seen or done.

Otherwise, I'd say Bristol is far superior to Cardiff.

Personally I’d do Bath: beautiful town, spa, nice walks along the canal. The city is more attractive and more to do. It’s more romantic too.

@endofline where are you eating?

OP Cardiff has some amazing restaurants, the arcades are lovely for quirky shopping
Cardiff bay is great for a few drinks and a wander

I love Cardiff and Bristol tho

It depends on what you like doing really, and will tou take public transport or a car. If tou drive it makes it easier to reach places just outside the city.

I disagree with a pp whonsays cardiff is run diwn and grotty. It's a very walkable city with lots of lovely things to do and is cheap in comparison to other cities, tou go visit/do -
The museum
Cardiff Castle
Cardiff Bay
Lovely arcades with independent shops
A large shopping centre
Cardiff indoor Market
Principality stadium tours
water taxis/boat tours
Walking tours
Lots of lovely green spaces (bute park)
Catch a show at the new theatre/millennium centre
Plenty of bars and restraunts
You could even get the train down to Barry Island, drive to St Fagans, castle coch.

That being said bristol is also a nice city. They are also so close to each other tou could even spend a day or two at each.

I came on to say exactly this.

Thanks everyone for your posts. I’ll read through when I get home this evening. We will be flying down from Edinburgh. It’s too far to drive from Perthshire for 3 nights.

Bath? Norwich?

It's easy enough to fly down to Bristol airport and get the Airflyer bus to the centre of Bath.

I've not looked recently (I live here), but hotel prices were fairly steep for August. As others have mentioned, the two cities are about 15 minutes away by train.

Restaurants are much better in Bristol than Cardiff if that's important to you (it is to me!)

Any suggestions for a nice but not ridiculously expensive hotel in Bristol for two nights? Ideally one that has an option of a family room would be great.

Of those 2, definitely Bristol. More to see, and a more interesting vibe.

But you did ask for other suggestions too... so how about:
Birmingham- vastly underrated as a destination. Great options for eating/drinking, really nice buildings to see (eg library), interesting history (canal heritage, back to backs, jewellery quarter), theatres/venues (bound to be something on). I could go on...

Liverpool- great city for a weekend. Docks, Beatles, museums, cathedrals, outside spaces, day trip to the Gormley statues

Exeter - lovely small city, which is very pretty (although can't pinpoint specifics)

All have airports (although you could feasibly train to Brum/Liverpool).

The Premier Inn at Finzels Reach is fine. Quieter and cleaner than the King Street one.

Bristol every time!

clifton area for relaxed wandering, drink on the terrace by the suspension bridge or Sunday brunch with papers somewhere local.

Waterside area for buzzy night out. Great restaurants, arty cinemas, theatre etc.

And there’s great museums, a zoo, shopping etc

And plenty of Banksy spotting opportunities
Easy to pop to bath for an afternoon on the train, but I much prefer Bristol personally

People who live in Cardiff, moaning about Cardiff always makes me laugh!

Cardiff is a great city. I lived there for over a decade, moved only for work.

The old Victoria arcades are a treasure.
The grounds of Cardiff Case and Bute Park are a green oasis!

If you like parks, a trip to Roath Park in Roath is pretty special. A lovely little cafe for a spot of lunch after you have walked around the lake...

St Fagans would be worth a trip as well.

So much to do in Cardiff and there are great places to eat.

NB Bristol Zoo closes for good this Saturday, 3 September.

An alternative is the Wild Place Project, which is close to Cribbs Causeway.

wildplace.org.uk/

Cardiff is a great city to visit, far better than Bristol IMO.

If you have time would highly recommend visiting the Roath Park area - loads of nice little independent restaurants round Wellfield road and the park and lake are beautiful.

@IDK4009 totally agree!
Love Wellfield Road and Albany Road

You can do Bath and Bristol combined - it's only 11 miles and 10 minutes on train and linked. Personally I prefer Bath (lived there for 5 years) - I've lived in both but Bristol has some good things too

I like Cardiff more than Bristol too . Much nicer if you like shopping. But Bristol/bath is a better combo for variety

I live in Bristol and it's a brilliant place - can't imagine living anywhere else now. But I'd go to Cardiff or Bath (my home city, albeit haven't lived there since I was 13!) for a short trip - more places of immediate interest (Cardiff Castle, Roman Baths etc), great restaurants and far easier to navigate if you've never been than Bristol IMO. Unless you're into slightly seedy nightlife, in which case I'd recommend Turbo Island on Stokes Croft in Bristol 😆