Bristol or Cardiff for one night?

[supersun23]

I have a 10 and 13 year old and live in Dorset. Thinking of either Cardiff or Bristol for one night in the Easter hols. Which would be people recommend? Obviously Bristol is closer, but have never been to Wales! Any recommendations? TIA

I prefer Bristol, but it really depends what you want to do. Both would be good for a couple of days.

Never been to Cardiff but loads to do in Bristol, boat trip, museums, aquarium.

Bristol, and go to see Concorde.

I live closer to Bristol than Cardiff, but I've spent far more time in Cardiff as I find it a much nicer city. There's loads to see there, the high street by the castle is lovely, there's lots of shops and pibs/places to eat, and the waterfront is great - the whole thing has a great vibe. (And if your kids happen to be into rugby, the Principality Stadium is awesome!) Cardiff is also really easy to walk around, whereas Bristol is more spread out so you can't really do that.

Cardiff would be easier with those ages. Lora to do. I prefer Bristol: but with kids not so much!

Cardiff is quite compact and maybe nicer. Good easy shopping near the train station. St Fagan's outside of Cardiff is great, not sure if 13 too old to enjoy but you could look at website.

Loads to do in Bristol, Wake the Tiger and the stuff at the harbour. Both are great for a mini break - I'd do Cardiff and get a hotel with a pool.

Thank you all

Cardiff, I still like Bristol but Cardiff has so much more and is much easier to get around than Bristol.

"St Fagan's outside of Cardiff is great, not sure if 13 too old to enjoy but you could look at website."

Eh? St Fagan's is not particularly for children.

St Fagans can be great for children, there's a high ropes area, play park, farm, plenty of space to run around too, besid3s the historical buildings.

Bristol is more a party city than Cardiff

Unless, of course you're there during rugby. Either early spring for the 6 nations or autumn for the autumn Internationals.

I'm from the Cardiff area and still haven't done the Castle although if its nice a picnic in Castle park is lovely. Totally agree about St Ffagans although its a long walk to get around it.
Bristol has some great things to do, my then 7 year old grandson, chose to go to the Arnolfini Art Gallery, the M shed museum of Bristol, mainly not Totally industrial history.

If you get the right weekends there are rides on the only steam tram outside M shed. My DH and DGS favourite time is the Harbour festival, usually July with boats from around the world, live music food stalls etc

Cardiff. It's got a real Welsh flavour which is exciting if you've never been to Wales. Lovely city.

There’s a temporary Wallace and gromit exhibition in Bristol though not sure when it opens, seen advertising but “coming soon”. M shed and main museum are free (apart from special exhibitions) the harbour ferries are only a couple of pounds, my dc are older and like King Street for the pubs. My neighbours go to the surf place, the zoo has moved but I’m told it’s good. The kids always want to eat at ZaZa Bazaar (buffet) as does my dad.

Cardiff is an amazing city, so much to do, and if you've never been to Wales then it's about time you ticked it off your list!

Bristol!

The SS Great Britain is fab, pop into M Shed, St Nicholas Market for street food (better and much cheaper than the stalls by the Harbourside, we like the Lebanese ? Middle Eastern stall right by one of the exits) , the Observatory by the Suspension Bridge.

Eh?

Been taking DD since she was tiny. In fact, we went fortnightly with the NCT group when they were little till they started school!

Loads there for all ages. One of our fave places.

Yes, exactly it's for ALL ages. I wrote that it's not PARTICULARLY for children. The poster suggested 13 might be too old for it.

You are never too old for St Fagans. You need the best part of the day for it, though, so then you'd have less time to do anything else.

I come from Dorset, and have family connections to both Bristol and Cardiff. I think I prefer Cardiff, but it's a close-run thing. I was in Cardiff last weekend and then went into Bristol on the way home.

I would look at comparing accommodation costs, if that is a factor.

Then I would look at the list of things to do and see which my family might prefer. The weather could be a consideration- the camera obscure and suspension bridge will be rubbish if it's wet, and St Fagan's also involves lots of outdoor walking. Cardiff does have lots of Victorian arcades in the shopping area in the centre.

Driving round the centre of either, like most city centres, is a pain, even with sat nav. I think I slightly prefer Cardiff to Bristol for driving.

But if you have never been to Wales, then you should choose Cardiff to rectify that!

Clearly just one night is not going to be enough...

Both are great but Cardiff more compact and I would say better for your children’s age.

I live just outside Cardiff and have spent a lot of time in Bristol. Cardiff is much easier to get around. Both cities have loads to do, and as said St Fagans is brill. It’s not walking distance from town but there are buses.