Cardiff: The Welsh home of Summer Games footie

The capital city of Wales certainly gives the England equivalent a run for its money

If you haven’t visited Cardiff before your stay for the football events during the 2012 Olympics, you certainly won’t be disappointed by the Welsh experience.

The largest city in Wales, it’s the hub for culture and vibrancy if you want city life while enjoying football during the games. The city’s got a population of some 324,800 according to recent estimates, but with 15 million tourists visiting every year – and even more expected during the games – staying here is going to be a football festival like no other. Who needs the World Cup when you have got so many amazing international teams battling out in numerous matches throughout the day?

Naturally, you will have plenty of opportunities to immerse yourself in the Welsh language during your visit. Did you know that the Welsh translation of the city of Cardiff is Caerdydd? With any luck, you’ll be well-equipped with plenty of buzzwords to show your friends when you get home from the event, which will be useful for pub quizzes and for interpreting the road signs in the area should you decide to drive down.

Kicking off: Details of Cardiff’s innovative football facilities

If you haven’t gathered already through our emphasis on football in the introduction, the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff is going to be a hub for this sport during the summer 2012 Olympics.

Indeed, because of the sheer amount of nationalities that need to play, the innovative stadia scattered across the UK, and the love we have as a nation for football, other venues where football will be conducted include the Old Trafford in Manchester and St James’ Park in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. Therefore, unless you are determined to become a tourist in Cardiff, you may find that there is the opportunity to enjoy great football closer to home.

If you have a favourite team, it’s difficult to know where they will play as of yet. The Millennium Stadium has been confirmed as the venue of choice for eight matches in total. Therefore, if you want a generous ratio of mixing and matching between watching football history unfold and having a great time in an amazing city, Cardiff is for you.

Best summer 2012 holiday accommodation

A whistle-stop tour to Cardiff’s attractions

Museums to visit while in Cardiff

Wales does have a few defining differences when contrasted with England, and these are detailed vividly in the National Museum Wales (or amgueddfa cymru in Welsh). Whether you want to learn more about coal, wool, waterfronts or history – all defining parts of the make-up of this great land – you will be able to find it within this city through excellent public transport links and a reliable taxi service. Indeed, through visiting the impressive network of exhibitions, you might even be able to find some football-related events to visit that will improve your education on the sport and get you prepared for what’s ahead.

Places to eat in Cardiff

With a variety of boutique hotels boasting exquisite restaurants within, you will never be short of places for luxury three-course meals as well as some cheap grub in the local pub. We recommend the Zerodegrees Restaurant in particular, with their Italian theme and exceptional pizzas getting you in the mood for some continental sporting action.

Public transport in Cardiff doesn’t disappoint, either

You don’t necessarily have to bring the car with you when it comes to staying in Cardiff. There are timely connections through National Rail services to leading cities including Manchester and Liverpool – not forgetting London.

If you wished, you might want to go on an excursion from one capital to another, visiting London boroughs such as Newham where the bulk of the action is going on in the brand-new Olympic Park.

High-speed trains from Cardiff Central to London Paddington are every half an hour throughout the day, and it takes just two hours from stepping on the train to arriving at your destination. If you so wished, you could even do the trip in a day – catching an early train to the heart of London and coming back on the last train home. If you want to mix and match your accommodation however, don’t despair: there are plenty of London boroughs to choose from and each of them have their very own redeeming features!