Blogs > A snapshot of UK Cities
A Snapshot into.. Cardiff
- September 05, 2022
Cardiff is the capital of Wales and it’s largest City, with an estimated population of 336,000. The City is full of innovative modern architecture alongside landmarks from the city’s past, rich in ancient History.
Wales’ capital city offers a startling range of unique attractions, top quality shopping and activities for everyone – all within walking distance. Cardiff is a compact, thriving city just 2 hours by train from London, with a vibrant and beautiful waterfront bay.
Cardiff and the NHS
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is the local Trust in South wales. Their hospitals include
- University Hospital of Wales
- University Hospital Llandough
- Noah's Ark Children's Hospital for Wales
- Barry Hospital
- St David’s Hospital
- Cardiff Royal Infirmary
- Rockwood Hospital
- Lansdowne Hospital
The board provides a wide and unique range of services to the local population and wider-Wales. As they’re a teaching Health Board and a centre of excellence for many areas, they employ some of the best clinicians in their field.
Facts About Cardiff
- Cardiff was the first Fairtrade capital of the world
- There are three Castles still standing in Cardiff; Cardiff Castle built in the 12th Century, St Fagan’s Castle built in the 16th Century and Castell Coch Castle built in the 11th century.
- Famous Author Roald Dahl was born and raised in Cardiff
- Cardiff is home to the oldest record store in the world, opened in the 19th century
- The first ever Million-Pound Deal was struck in Cardiff – which happened in 1907 at Cardiff’s Coal Exchange.
- Sir Henry Captain Morgan, famous today as the face of spiced Rum, was born in an east suburb of Cardiff in 1635
- Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium is the second largest in the World
- The city is the Green Space Capital of the UK
- Other famous people born in Cardiff include Ryan Giggs, Charlotte Church, Gareth Bale and Shirley Bassey
- Cardiff Bay is the perfect place to go for all BBC filming sets, with Sherlock, Torchwood and Doctor Who all being filmed there.
Cost of Living in Cardiff
Cost of Renting Accommodation per month
|
One-Bedroom Apartment in the City Centre |
£664.00 |
|
One-Bedroom Apartment outside of the City Centre |
£512.50 |
|
Three-Bedroom Apartment in the City Centre |
£1150.00 |
|
Three-Bedroom Apartment outside of the City Centre |
£837.10 |
Transportation
|
1ltr Petrol |
£1.28 |
|
One-Way Public Transport Ticket |
£2.00 |
|
Monthly Public Transport Ticket |
£52.80 |
|
1km Taxi Journey |
£1.24 |
Entertainment
|
Meal out for two in a local pub |
£20.00 |
|
Meal out for two in a mid-range restaurant, 3 courses |
£80.00 |
|
Cinema tickets for two people |
£14.00 |
|
One-month gym membership |
£23.00 |
|
Tennis court rental for 1 hour on the weekend |
£8.29 |
|
Beer 0.5ltr bottle |
£1.90 |
|
Coke/Pepsi 0.33ltr bottle |
£1.45 |
|
Cappuccino |
£2.62 |
Time it Takes to Travel by Train from Cardiff to Cities in the UK
|
City |
Time it Takes to Travel |
|
London |
2 Hours |
|
Bristol |
58 Minutes |
|
Manchester |
3 Hours 30 Minutes |
|
Newcastle |
6 Hours |
|
Birmingham |
2 Hours |
|
Liverpool |
3 Hours 26 Minutes |
|
Edinburgh |
8 Hours 55 Minutes |
Education in Cardiff
Cardiff has a huge variety of schooling options to choose from when addressing Education for children and these differ between Welsh and English speaking. To find out more information about term dates, applications, standards, curriculum and general education, visit the Cardiff Council Education website here.
Cardiff is also home to three huge Universities, Cardiff University, Cardiff Metropolitan and the University of Wales. Cardiff University itself was ranked 5th amongst UK universities in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework and is a member of the ‘Russell Group’, a group of 21 leading UK Intensive Universities. Cardiff University alone has 33,190 students enrolled representing over 130 Countries.
Things to do in Cardiff:
Cardiff Bay
Cardiff Bay is the area of water created by the Cardiff Barrage and is bustling with shops, restaurants and attractions that make a visit worthwhile, including Cardiff International Water Sports Village. The Sports Village is an adventure facility that offers canoeing and kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, air trails and climbing. Another very popular summertime location within the Bay is ‘Mermaid Quay’ which boasts more than 30 restaurants, bars, salons and more.
Millenium Centre
The Wales Millennium Centre, situated at the heart of Cardiff Bay, is the nation's home for performing arts and world class entertainment. Visitors come to enjoy blockbuster West End musicals, opera, ballet and contemporary dance, hip hop and stand up comedy, art exhibitions, workshops, training days, free daily foyer performances, guided tours, bars and restaurants
Cardiff Castle
Cardiff Castle is one of Wales’ leading heritage attractions and a site of international significance. Located within beautiful parklands at the heart of the capital. At once a Roman fort, Norman stronghold and Victorian Gothic masterpiece, Cardiff Castle’s walls and fairy-tale towers conceal 2,000 years of history.
Cardiff Shopping
Cardiff shopping has it all: large shopping centers, high street favorites, individual stores and a thriving indoor market. The real highlight of Cardiff’s retail scene are the Victorian and Edwardian arcades, full of independent boutiques and cafes, and worth a visit as architectural gems. Located in central Cardiff, St David’s is it’s leading shopping destination, with over 180 shops, cafes and restaurants to explore.
Religion and places to worship in Cardiff
Dar Ul-Isra Mosque
Based in the heart of Cardiff, Dar Ul-Isra Muslim Welfare & Education Centre has been serving the local community for decades. Address: 21-23 Wyeverne Road, Cardiff CF24 4BG Wales.
Cardiff United Synagogue
The Cardiff United Synagogue is an Orthodox Jewish synagogue in the Cyncoed suburb of Cardiff, Wales. The synagogue maintains daily prayer services, led by Rabbi Michoel Rose. Address: Cyncoed Gardens, Cardiff CF23 5SL.
Llandaff Cathedral
Llandaff Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral and parish church in Llandaff, Cardiff, Wales. Address: Cathedral Cl, Cardiff CF5 2LA.
The Cardiff Buddhist Centre
The Cardiff Buddhist Centre is devoted to bringing Buddhist teachings alive in the modern world. Address: 12 St Peter's St, Cardiff CF24 3BA
The City Parish of St John the Baptist
The City Parish of St John the Baptist stands at the heart of Cardiff City Centre. The church which dates from the 12th Century is one of Cardiff's oldest remaining mediaeval buildings. Address: St. John Street, Cardiff CF10 1GL Wales.
All things food in Cardiff
The Balti Cuisine
On the busy Woodville Road in the middle of Cardiff, the Balti Cuisine is a popular city curry house with a good range of specialities and traditional curry house favourites.
Bay Leaf
Situated just a short walk from the historic Llandaff Cathedral, head chef Khan and his kitchen team have created a menu which offers a wide selection of classic and modern dishes, that combine the very best that Bangladesh and Indian food has to offer.
The Coconut Tree Cardiff
They deliver the great Sri Lankan street food, sweet and fiery drinks served with warm hospitality, in a stripped back ‘street style’ interior with great tunes.
Giardini di Sorrento Italian Restaurant
Stunning Italian food in a nicely themed restaurant situated in the heart of Cardiff.
Relocation to Cardiff
If you’re an international doctor looking to relocate to Cardiff, or another location in the UK, please email your CV to [email protected] and we can support you in securing an NHS post and on your journey to relocate to the UK.
Are you a member of our Facebook group? When you join IMG Advisor, you join a community of doctors all looking to relocate to the UK and join the NHS. We post a series of vlogs and blogs to the group every day. We will also be on hand to answer all of your relocation queries.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel! We have over 60 videos on everything you need to know about relocating to the UK and joining the NHS!
Listen to BDI Resourcing on the go to IMG Advisor the Podcast. You can find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and Buzzsprout. We have a number of episodes with tips and advice on relocating to the UK and the routes you can take to achieve this.
