When you visit Cardiff, most stick to the landmarks found close together in the city centre and Cardiff Bay. However, just over 3 miles (10 minutes) from town is Whitchurch. Here you can find culture, food and drink, great outdoor spaces and history. There are so many things to do in Whitchurch.
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Whitchurch in Welsh is Yr Eglwys Newydd, which translates as new church. It also draws its name from the white church which used to be here. Whether it’s a family getaway or a couple’s adventure, there are attractions, a woodland park, and a nearby castle to be discovered.
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What can you see and do in Whitchurch, Cardiff?
So, I used to go to school at Whitchurch High, and in my early 20s, I lived there. As I’m still nearby, I shop there, and it’s somewhere where I enjoy my free time – usually on a weekend pub crawl or for a romantic meal. So, with that in mind, I have put together a list of things you can see, do and enjoy in Whitchurch.
Forest Farm Country Park
A beautiful and tranquil walk for families, cyclists and dog walkers. For instance, follow the route of the old Glamorgan Canal, which linked Cardiff to the south Wales Valleys. It is actually a Whitchurch heritage site. In other words, the historic site used to be the centre of industry. Before rail, coal was transported down to Cardiff Bay to be shipped all over the world.
Forest Farm Nature Reserve allows you to take in the wildlife, including kingfishers, squirrels, various birds of prey, herons and ducks. Asides from the peaceful paths, there are picnic benches to lounge on. In addition, you can extend your walk by joining the Taff Trail towards Radyr or towards Llandaff North.
🐾 Dog friendly
Northern Meadows
Firstly, the land was donated to the people by Lady Cory. It is supposed to be a peaceful place for the people of Whitchurch. The beautiful green space can be accessed via Forest Farm or opposite the Hollybush pub in Whitchurch. The Northern Meadows are the ideal playground, with walking paths, trees to climb, and observing nature. Currently, campaigners, led by residents, are trying to save the land from development.
🐾 Dog friendly
Melingriffith Tin Plate Works
Melingriffith was the most significant working tin factory in the UK. It was built in 1749 on an old corn mill site that had operated since the 12th Century. The tin mills were powered by the water drawn from the River Taff. Even though the tin works closed in 1957, you can still see one of the locks and the water pump and wheel. It’s on the Taff Trail.
🐾 Dog friendly
Taff Trail
So, the Taff Trail is 88 miles in total, starting in Cardiff Bay and finishing at the Brecon Beacons. The Taff Trail in Whitchurch starts from Ty Mawr Road, which you join from Hayley Park in Llandaff North. You pass the Melingriffith Water Wheel before getting to Forest Farm Road, going towards Radyr. Finally, keep an eye out for The Taff Snail.
🐾 Dog friendly
St Mary’s Church
Churches aren’t always the first choice for a tourist destination. Unless you hang out with historians like I do. They love church crawling! St Mary’s Church dominates the centre of the village. The landmark building and its graveyard are at the junction of Church Road, Merthyr Road and Penlline Road. This Gothic-style church is not as old as it looks. It was built between 1882-4 by the Llandaff diocesan architect John Prichard. However, there has been a church on the site since the 12th Century. However, the graveyard dates from 1616.
Whitchurch Common
Need somewhere to stretch your legs? Above all, Whitchurch Common is a green space. It used to be in the grounds of an ancient manor, The Manor of Roath Keynsham. It belonged to the Viscount Tredegar, and in the late 18th Century, it passed to the Bute family.
Another church, the Ararat Chapel, stands on the common. It was initially built in 1793 but has been modified. Welsh was used exclusively in services until 1878, when it became bilingual. The ground is now used for recreational activities and community events.
🐾 Dog friendly
Whitchurch Library and Gardens
Whitchurch Library or Whitchurch Hub is found in the grounds of Whitchurch Gardens. It has recently undergone a refurbishment and has been extended. The Grade II listed building has been brought up to date. It now features accessible toilets and Dementia friendly internal decoration, plus new shelving and seating areas.
The Gardens are one of the smaller green spaces in Cardiff. However, there is space to stretch your legs. Children can also enjoy the play park. Whitchurch Gardens is also used for events, such as the annual Vintage for Victory festival.
Whitchurch Golf Club
Four! The 18-hole parkland course was established in 1914. Over the years, it has won various awards, including ‘Best Golf Club in Wales’. The club record is held by Ian Woosnam with a par 62. Whitchurch Golf Club has an interesting history. During World War II, part of the course was used to grow vegetables. It used to be strictly members only, but visitors and societies are now welcome.
Whitchurch Leisure Centre
Unfortunately, there aren’t leisure centres in Whitchurch. The Village Hotel has a large gym and indoor swimming pool, which offers memberships for adults. However, the closest local leisure centre is Llanishen Leisure Centre or Maindy Pool, which are adjacent areas.
Shopping in Whitchurch Cardiff
There aren’t any big high street names in the village unless you count Boots and Peacocks. However, if shopping is on the agenda, there’s a lot to choose from. There’s greeting cards, bakeries, shoes, a furniture store, trinkets and accessories, plus charity shops.
Restaurants in Whitchurch Cardiff
There’s plenty of restaurants, drink places and pubs in Whitchurch. For such a small village, there are so many quality places to eat and drink. The cafes and coffee shops are ideal during the day to grab a soft drink. Some of the very best Cardiff restaurants can be found here, with Italian, Spanish, British, Indian, Chinese and Thai.
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Events in Whitchurch Cardiff
Vintage for Victory
Inspired by the past, the annual event celebrates remarkable things from the 1940s, 50s and 60s. Attendees choose to dress up to the nines in the timeless style. There’s always live music, jive and lindy hop lessons, as well as street food, carnival games and a vintage emporium. I have been before; check out my review.
Cardiff 5k
Once a year, the roads are closed as you take to the streets. The Cardiff 5k is held in Whitchurch Village. The timed race is primarily flat and takes you through Whitchurch, Llandaff North, Gabalfa and back into the village. All runners get a t-shirt which has the names of all the runners who enter. I ran this once, and my time was a shocking 45 minutes. Afterwards there’s live music afterwards, and the pubs and restaurants also offer takeaway bites.
Reindeer Run
The family-friendly event is a one-mile fun run held in early December. You and the children won’t notice the cold winter weather as soon as you get moving. For instance, all Reindeer Run entrants get a t-shirt that has all of the names of the runners on it. The first 200 entrants also get reindeer antlers and flashing noses – so you can be seen in the dark.
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Other Points of Interest
Whitchurch High School
Whitchurch High is the largest school in Wales. The large secondary school is on two different sites, known as Lower and Upper. Famous pupils include Sam Warburton, Gareth Bale, Elliot Kear and Geraint Thomas.
Whitchurch Hospital
The hospital has an interesting history. In fact, it is included in many ghost stories from Cardiff. It opened as the Cardiff City Asylum in 1908. The grounds contained a dance hall, 800-seat church, bandstands, summer house and even a farm where the patients worked. It provided mental care services until April 2016, when it closed. Currently, however, the building is empty.
Velindre Cancer Centre
Above all, Velindre Cancer Centre provides radiotherapy treatment and radiosurgery services. It also houses a research facility and accommodation for nurses. The building was built in 1956 but is no longer fit for its purpose. Planning permission was granted for a new hospital in 2017 and is scheduled to open in 2024.
Hotels in Whitchurch Cardiff
Travelodge
The Travelodge in Whitchurch is situated on the main road to the city centre, Manor Way. In addition, Caedelyn Park is behind it, and it is next to the Toby Carvery. With doubles, twins and family rooms – all of which have shower rooms (no baths). With TripAdvisor, you can find great hotels, transportation, travel experiences and restaurants.
The Village Hotel
The most obvious choice when staying in Whitchurch, Cardiff, is The Village Hotel. The stylish hotel rooms all have everything you need for a night away. In addition, there’s free WiFi and a large car park, which costs £5 per day.
However, I highly recommend upgrading to a Club Room, which is usually £20 extra. You get free parking, access to the state-of-the-art gym, swimming pool, jacuzzi and sauna. There’s also a larger bed and a huge flat-screen TV with Sky, including Sky Movies and Sky Sports. Plus, a Tassimo coffee machine, ESPA toiletries and a Dyson fan. So, check availability at The Village Hotel Cardiff here:
How to get to Whitchurch, Cardiff
There are two train stops, Whitchurch and Coryton. The Coryton stop is the end of the line but runs from Cardiff Central. More trains stop in Llandaff North on the Valley Lines Network, which is a 15-minute walk away.
Transport for Wales, who run the trains, have made it even easier to get around. Multiflex has just been introduced, which gives you 12 journeys for the same price as 5 returns. And, who doesn’t want to save money?
Similarly, if you choose Cardiff Bus, you can get the 21, 23, 24, 25 and 35, all of which run through parts of Cardiff. The 132 Stagecoach from Maerdy and coming through Pontypridd and Nantgarw run regularly, and the 136 from Creigiau and Pentyrch.
By bike, you can get to Whitchurch via the Taff Trail. In addition, there is a Nextbike docking station.
There is also plenty of on-street parking and pay and display car parks. However, Whitchurch is a 10-minute drive from Cardiff City Centre.
Map of the locations
Not sure where the locations are? They are all on this handy map. Zoom in or expand, and plan your route when you visit Whitchurch.
A little bit of History of Whitchurch, Cardiff
For many centuries Whitchurch was made up of farms. The main road, where you’ll find shops, bars and restaurants – Church Road – is the medieval core of Whitchurch. The first building was Old St Mary’s Church, which was built in the 12th Century. In the 13th Century, Gilbert de Claire, Lord Glamorgan, developed the area as one of his manors. Until the mid-18th Century, no more than 300 people lived in the area, in 50 farms and cottages. Tenants were even allowed to graze their animals freely on Whitchurch Common.
As Cardiff developed during the industrial revolution, Whitchurch changed too. The Glamorganshire Canal linked Cardiff and Merthyr, where coal was brought down from The Valleys to Cardiff Docks. The Taff Vale Railway also opened a train station in Llandaff Yard, now known as Llandaff North – a short walk from Whitchurch. The station provided access to Cardiff for the growing middle classes in Whitchurch. This can be seen in the houses that were built were of size and style. However, you can also find terraces and cottages that were made for the working class.
Finally, in recent years it has been come a thriving cosmopolitan, with quality restaurants, bars and pubs. With exciting annual community events. In conclusion, it’s fair to say there’s plenty of things to do in Whitchurch.
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Thank you sharing with us. I am be going to Cardiff for further studies.. This blog will help me
No problem at all – glad you have found it useful! Cardiff is a brilliant city to live in