We are so lucky that Cardiff museums are some of the best in Britain. No trip to Cardiff is complete without exploring the culture and history of South Wales. You’ll be spoilt for choice whether you are looking for exhibitions, galleries or events.
This blog post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase or sign up for anything from this website, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
For some, visiting a museum or art gallery is at the top of the list. Do you picture quiet halls full of relics or dinosaur bones suspended from the ceiling? Museum features include objects, photographs, nature, animals, science and space, and history. Here’s what you can expect from the museums in Cardiff, just some of the free things to do in Cardiff.
Museums in Cardiff City Centre
National Museum Cardiff
The National Museum of Cardiff has fixed exhibitions, touring events, and free admission. It houses Wales’ national art, geology and national history collections. Alongside the Natural History Museum is the story of Wales from the Big Bang to now. It is recommended that you spend three hours here to do it justice. It is the ideal place to visit when it is raining.
Open Tuesday to Sunday between 10:00 and 17:00. Open Bank Holiday Mondays and until 21:00 on the first Thursday of the month. Free entry. Pay and display parking.
Getting around Cardiff has never been easier
Transport for Wales now offers Multiflex, which gives you 12 journeys for the same price as 5 returns. With stops in Taffs Well, Radyr, Whitchurch, Llandaff North, Cathays, two in the city centre – Queen Street and Cardiff Central – plus Cardiff Bay. And, who doesn’t want to save money?
Cardiff Story Museum
As the name suggests, The Cardiff Story Museum tells how Cardiff has grown and changed from a small market town to one of the biggest ports in the 1900s. It focuses on the people who have lived, worked and shaped it with interactive displays, photographs and film. The museum is housed in the historic Old Library building.
Open daily from 10:00 to 16:00. Free entry. Nearby multi-storey car parking.
Cardiff Castle Museum
Let’s face it; if you’re in Cardiff, you will visit Cardiff Castle. It is somewhat unavoidable, found in the heart of the city centre. The castle belonged to the de Clare family for several centuries, before the 13th Earl of Warwick and then the Herbert family. In the mid-18th Century, it passed to the Bute family. At the time the wealthiest man in the world. The mansion was remodelled in a gothic revival, and lavish money was spent on the interiors and the landscaped grounds.
Firing Line Museum celebrates Welsh soldiers over 300 years. The exhibits are from the 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards and the Royal Welsh. Two regiments of the British Army that have seen plenty of action over the years. Including taking part in battles such as Waterloo, Rorke’s Drift, and more recently in Iraq and Afghanistan. The military exhibition isn’t the only thing to visit. There is a network of underground tunnels used as air-raid shelters during World War II.
Cardiff Castle is open to visitors 7 days a week (apart from Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day). It is open from 10:00 to 17:00 daily. Entry to the grounds is free, but there is an entry fee to explore the rest of the castle. However, if you live or work in Cardiff, you can get your own Key to the Castle. This will give you three years of free admission.
City of Arcades Walking Tour with Fogo’s Free Tours
Ok, technically not a museum, however there’s no better way to get to know the city, its people and its fascinating history. Join one of Fogo’s Free Walking Tours. Even locals like myself love them, as there’s always a new nugget of information or something you are yet to notice.
Cardiff Bay Museum
Norwegian Church Arts Centre
The Norwegian Church may be one of the most recognised churches in Cardiff. The spot has sacred importance to the legions of Scandinavian sailors who ventured here after it was built in 1896. The renowned writer Roald Dahl was also baptised here. It now houses a small gallery and café.
Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 18:00. Free entry. Nearby pay and display parking.
Get 50% off food in Cardiff
We all need to refuel and rehydrate after exploring museums. If you love food and drink, do you have a Tastecard? You get 50% off the food bill or two meals for the price of one. There are over six thousand participating restaurants across the UK. Get a 60-day free trial here:
Museums elsewhere in Cardiff
St Fagans National Museum of History
St Fagans Museum is also known as the Museum of Welsh Life. You can see re-erected buildings from all over Wales. A school, tollgate, workshops, a working bakery, woollen mill, chapel, barns and even a pub. A visit is incomplete without a trip to the farm to see the pigs, lambs and cows. Plus, fish and chips or a Welsh cake. St Fagans Castle is another of the castles in Cardiff.
I think St Fagans Cardiff should be top of the list when exploring or visiting Cardiff.
Not only is St Fagans dog-friendly, but it also has free entry. Open daily from 10:00 to 17:00. The car park is £6 per day and is free for disabled bad holders and motorbikes.
Nantgarw China Works
The site is much larger than you would think, with the original pottery site, bottle kilns, three separate buildings and various floors of Nantgarw House. Still fully functioning, the Nantgarw China Works has an onsite museum, tea rooms and a shop selling the porcelain made here. Here you can learn how the perfect plates and delicate dishes are made.
Entry is free to Nantgarw China Works Friends, or there is a £2.50 admission charge. However, you will be given a one-hour guided tour. Welsh language tours are available on Saturdays. Under 16s are free. Open Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 16:00. It is highly recommended to combine the tour with a Welsh cream tea, for £11 per person. Just one of the afternoon teas in Cardiff.
Museums on the outskirts of Cardiff
Cosmeston Lakes and Medieval Village
With over 100 hectares of land to explore, Cosmeston Lakes is a fantastic day trip. There is woodland, a vast lake, an adventure playground, picnic areas and a museum. The Medieval Village is set in the year 1350. A fascinating time in history, a turbulent time between the Welsh and English. See excavated buildings, gardens and authentic “villagers” in costume.
Free entry. Parking is £1 for 2 hours or £2 for 4 hours. Opening hours are between 10:00 and 17:00. Cosmeston Lakes is open 24 hours daily.
Dyffryn House and Gardens
When the National Trust took over Dyffryn Gardens, it had no original belongings, art or furniture. A few rooms have been furnished, but with a twist. There are several interactive elements; you can play the piano, have a billiards game, or browse the book exchange. The estate can be traced back to the 7th Century.
There are many sights to see; just off the Great Lawn are the garden walks and courts. All have great names, such as The South Garden, Vine Walk, Croquet Lawn, West Garden, Paved Court, Rose Garden, and Walled Garden, to name only a few. There’s even a children’s play area called The Log Stack.
Dyffryn Gardens entry fee is £8 per adult, £4 per child and £20 for a family. Parking is also free. However, National Trust members get free entry.
National Trust Vs English Heritage
I’ve done the leg work for you if you are considering a National Trust Membership or English Heritage Membership. If you want to explore more historical sites, you might wonder which is better. Here’s all you need to know.
Tredegar House
The 17th Century mansion is on the edge of Cardiff and Newport. The Grade I listed building is managed by the National Trust. There are over 500 years of history at Tredegar House and the Morgan family – including the world-famous decedent, the pirate Captain Morgan. Currently, it is telling the story of the Newport Rising. The last large-scale rebellion against the authority in Great Britain.
National Trust members get free entry and free parking. The entry fee is £11 per adult, £5.50 per child and £27.50 for a family. Parking costs £1 for 1 hour, £2 for 4 hours and £5 for all day.
Stay the night
Want to see all of the museums in Cardiff? If you know when you’d like to travel, try to book in advance, and as soon as possible. Prices tend to rise the closer you get to the travel date. However, there is a vast array to accommodate all budgets.
National Trust Cottages
There are camping and glamping sites, caravan parks, guest houses, inns, homestays and bed and breakfasts throughout Wrexham. There are National Trust Holiday cottages in South Wales. Sleeping 2-15 guests, they have everything you could possibly need, including gardens to relax in during warmer evenings.
National Trust Holiday Promo Code
Get 15% off selected cottages for bookings made and taken by 31 May 2024. Use discount code NTAF.
easyHotel Cardiff
The easyHotel Cardiff has double rooms (with or without a window), accessible bedrooms and twin rooms. Found a short walk behind Cardiff Queen Street train station, the budget hotel has en-suite bathrooms, heated rooms in the winter and air conditioning in the summer. WiFi is free; pay and display and multi-storey car parks are nearby.
Dog friendly hotels in Cardiff
Your perfect dog-friendly escape in Cardiff awaits! Before I had my rescue dog, Ivan, I didn’t think Cardiff was very dog friendly. How wrong was I? The dog friendly hotels in Cardiff include national chain hotels, budget brands, pubs and country houses. Dogs are welcome in some of the museums in Cardiff too, including St Fagans, Cosmeston, Tredegar House and Dyffryn Gardens.
The Copthorne
The Copthorne, part of Millennium Hotels and Resorts, is a traditional 4-star hotel in Cardiff that is ideally located between the city centre and the coast of Barry Island. Ideal for business travellers, couples or families, it is a perfect base. You can expect free Wi-Fi, an indoor pool and modern in-room amenities. Book early and save up to 20% off:
The Hilton Cardiff
For a luxurious stay, The Hilton Cardiff, in the heart of the city centre, has beautiful amenities, including a pool and health club. With Hilton Honors, you get exclusive perks when you stay at more than 6,700 hotels around the world. Members receive Points on every stay, which can be turned into free nights.
Plan a Trip with Expedia
Booking a hotel via Expedia is a seamless experience that offers convenience and choice at your fingertips. With just a few clicks, you can browse through a wide array of cosy boutique hotels to luxurious resorts, tailored to your preferences and budget. Compare prices, read reviews from fellow travellers, and explore amenities, ensuring you find the perfect place to stay for your trip.
Create your Itinerary
Using TripAdvisor when booking a hotel allows you to access a wealth of reviews and ratings from fellow travellers, helping you make an informed decision on where to stay, while also providing recommendations and insights on planning things to do during your trip.
The surrounding areas
Don’t be afraid of staying out of central Cardiff either. Penarth, Barry, Caerphilly, Pontypridd, and Merthyr Tydfil are the surrounding areas connected by regular buses and trains. You can also plan with LastMinute.com. Stay at great hotels at a fraction of the price.
Cottages and Houses
The award-winning business, Sykes Cottages, has properties across the UK, and the ones near Cardiff are beautiful. From cosy lodges with traditional woodburning stoves to contemporary accommodation with a hot tub. With all the amenities you could need, including parking, WiFi and many dog-friendly places, check out Sykes Holiday Cottages.
FREE Visit Cardiff Checklist & Guide
Get your FREE Visting Cardiff Checklist and Guide with over 25 pages full of travel tips, how to get around, places to visit, food and drink, shopping, parks and green spaces, some Welsh phrases and a travel itinerary.
Want to be the first to read my latest blog posts? If you have enjoyed reading about the museums in Cardiff, you can stay updated with my other Cardiff, South Wales and travel features by signing up:
By submitting your information, you’re giving me permission to email you. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Follow me on social media: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Related Articles
Ghost hunting at Llancaiach Fawr
Wales’ only thermal spring in Taffs Well
