Holiday in Cardiff (South East Wales) - can anyone recommend attractions worth a visit?

If you're Doctor Who fans there is a full Doctor Who Locations tour you can do in Cardiff and the surrounding areas.

I've been to a few places and absolutely adored Southerndown Bay. Doctor Who or no Doctor Who - it was beautiful. We caught it late on a sunny afternoon though, when it wasn't very busy so it was really quiet and atmospheric which probably helped.

That looks gorgeous https://www.tuskasurf.co.uk/glamcoast/southerndown_bay_photo_1.htm!! Looks like there might be fossils there as well which should keep the boys happy.

It's not far from Oggmore - where I can pretend to be Nanny Ogg (silly bonus!)

Cardiff itself is lovely - lots of fab architecture (especially around the University and castle) and lovely parks (especially Bute Park and Sophia Gardens). I wouldn't recommend Cardiff Castle necessarily because I think it's very over-priced.

The Bay area is always good for a wander (especially if you're a Torchwood fan!) and has plenty of places to eat and drink. I also love Techniquest, which is a hands-on science museum for kids. There's a cinema complex there, theatre etc.

The water bus will take you from Bute Park to the Bay with various stops along the way.

I'm sure there's more! - I'll add as I remember. Also do you want to travel further afield than Cardiff?

I remember Bosherton Lily ponds from years ago...really lovely.

http://www.mediastock.co.uk/photos/UK/Pembrokeshire/Bosherston/392/details.htm

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2009/jun/12/walk-guide-bosherton-pembrokeshire

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-stackpole-wildlife_walk.pdf

UPDATED to say that this might be a bit far round the coast from Cardiff for your hollibobs....read more carefully Soobo - sorry!

Techniquest definately sounds good - Boy1 is a mad science (and Dr Who) fan - thank you everyone (forgot to say it in the last post!

Thanks - I may force the boys to go as this is a place that gets a mention in the Chalet School books [saddo icon] (Carola Storms the Chalet School if I remember rightly!)

In that case, there's a Doctor Who exhibition in the Red Dragon Centre just over the road from Cardiff Bay.

In that case, there's a Doctor Who exhibition in the Red Dragon Centre just over the road from Cardiff Bay.

Porthcawl (heading west on the M4) will bring you to a traditional (verging on tacky) seaside town with a funfair.

Head north up the A470 to Brecon Beacons (stunning mountains) and there is a mountain centre that serves good locally-produced food. Brecon town is also good for a wander, especiall on livestock market day.

Caerphilly castle (again heading north on the A470, but only about 8 miles from cardiff city centre) is a full-on medieval castle with a moat. On the way there you would pass Castell Coch, which is a fairytale castle on the hill, but it's a folly, but very pretty and you can tour inside.

I'd avoid cardiff museum. We went there 2 years ago and it's not very interactive as you expect museums to be these days (or maybe I'm spoilt by the World Museum here in Liverpool).

Pontypridd is 12 miles from Cardiff heading north on the A470 (my home town). This has a market on a Wed/Sat (best check though) and a lovely big park.

Techniquest is a must though - also if weather is bad, there is a really good museum in Swansea that would appeal to boys (again excellent cafe). Swansea is easy to get to heading west on the M4.

Penarth is a lovely old-fashioned seaside town with an old pier. Not a lot to do on the front, but a playground at the top of the hill and a nice walk on the clifftop.

Anywhere along the Heritage Coastline is glorious if youre into walking and beaches, Dunraven Bay just off Southerndown is lovely and up the road from Nash Point. In Cardiff itself I'd deffo take a trip to Cardiff Bay, plenty of eateries and you can take the water bus over to Penarth and walk back along the Barrage (Something I did last week). Theres some nice countryside around the Vale of Glamorgan too and Cowbridge is a lovely Olde Worlde place for boutique type shopping.

Thanks again everyone - some fab suggestions.

Cowbridge sounds lovely - although boutique shopping with a 2 year old that is a combination of Taz / Mr Tickle and and angry octopus when he is confined might be best left - for the sake of my sanity!!

St Fagans is free and has a number of historical houses / school / miners institute etc that have been rebuilt there.

https://museum.wales/en/stfagans/

Just outside Cardiff.

Oh yes! Id forgotten about St Fagans. its a fab place too. If you go look out for Gwalia Stores, its the old provisions shop that used to be 2 doors up from my house. They took it apart stone by stone and rebuilt it (as they have done with all the exhibits).

Also up the road is Kenfig Nature Reserve which is lovely https://commerciallandscapingmiami.com/