Cardiff
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2008-07-15T19:20:47Z
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Reverting possible vandalism by [[Special:Contributions/90.208.216.20|90.208.216.20]] to version by Ghmyrtle. False positive? [[User:ClueBot/FalsePositives|Report it]]. Thanks, [[User:ClueBot]]. (440924) (Bot)
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{{Infobox Settlement
|official_name = City and County of Cardiff
|native_name = ''Dinas a Sir Caerdydd''
|established_title =
|nickname =
|motto = Y ddraig goch ddyry cychwyn<br>''(The red dragon will lead the way)''
|image_skyline = Roald Dahl Plass - Cardiff.jpg
|skyline_size = 300px
|image_caption = [[Roald Dahl Plass]], [[Cardiff Bay]]
|website = http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/
|image_flag = Bandera de Cardiff.png|centre
|flag_size = 125px
|image_shield = Escudo de Cardiff.png
|shield_link =
|shield_size = 85px
|image_map = WalesCardiff.png
|mapsize = 200 * 225
|map_caption = Location of the city of Cardiff (Light Green) within [[Wales]] (Dark Green)
|subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Sovereign state]]
|subdivision_name = [[United Kingdom]]
|subdivision_type1 = [[Constituent country]]
|subdivision_name1 = [[Wales]]
|subdivision_type2 = Region
|subdivision_name2 = [[South Wales]]
|subdivision_type3 = [[Historic counties of Wales|Historic county]]
|subdivision_name3 = [[Glamorgan]]
|subdivision_name4 =
|leader_title = Leader of<br> [[Cardiff Council]]
|leader_name = [[Rodney Berman]]
|leader_title1 = [[Welsh Assembly]] and [[UK Parliament constituency|UK Parliament Constituencies]]
|leader_name1 = [[Cardiff West]],
[[Cardiff South and Penarth]],
[[Cardiff North]],
[[Cardiff Central]]
|leader_title2 = [[European Parliament]]
|leader_name2 = [[Wales]]
|leader_title3 =
|leader_name3 =
|city area_total_km2 = 6.652
|area_magnitude = 1 E7
|area_urban_km2 = 140
|area metro =
|population_as_of = 2006 local government estimates
|population_total = 317,500
|population_urban = 327,706 (2001)
|popluation city =
|population_density_km2 = 4392
|population_blank1_title = [[Demonym]]
|population_blank1 = Cardiffian
|population_blank2_title = [[Ethnicity]]
|population_blank2 = 91.57% White
1.99% Mixed
3.96% S. Asian
1.28% Black
1.20% Chinese or other.
|timezone = [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]]
|utc_offset = 0
|timezone_DST = [[British Summer Time|BST]]
|utc_offset_DST = +1
|latd= |latm= |lats= |latNS= |longd= |longm= |longs= |longEW=
|elevation_m =
|postal_code_type = Post codes
|postal_code = CF3, CF5, CF10, CF11, CF14, CF15, CF23, CF24
|area_code = [[List of Wales dialling codes|029]]
|dialling_code = [[List of Wales dialling codes|029]]
|vehicle_code = CA-CO
|footnotes_blank1_title = Police Force
|footnotes_blank1 = South Wales Police
|footnotes_blank2_title = Fire Service
|footnotes_blank2 = South Wales Fire and Rescue Service
|footnotes_blank3_title = Ambulance Serivce
|footnotes_blank3 = Welsh Ambulance Service
}}
'''Cardiff''' ({{lang-en|{{Audio|Cardiff.ogg|Cardiff}}}} {{IPAEng|'kɑːdɪf}}, {{lang-cy|{{Audio-nohelp|Caerdydd.ogg|''Caerdydd''}}}}) is the [[capital]] and the largest [[Unitary authority#Wales|city and county]] in [[Wales]]. As well as being the political capital, it is Wales's capital of business, education, sport, tourism, culture, media and government. According to recent local government estimates, the population of the [[unitary authority area]] is 317,500.<ref name="census">{{cite web | url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?Parent_Directory_id=2865&nav=2872,3256,3302| title=Cardiff Council 2006 Official Estimate | accessdate=2007-12-14}}</ref>
The city of Cardiff is the [[county town]] of the [[Historic counties of Wales|historic county]] of [[Glamorgan]] (and later [[South Glamorgan]]). Cardiff is part of the [[Eurocities]] network of the largest [[Europe]]an cities.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.eurocities.org/ | title=Eurocities | accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref> [[Cardiff Urban Area]] covers a slightly larger area, including [[Dinas Powys]], [[Penarth]] and [[Radyr]]. It was a small town until the early 19th century and came to prominence as a major port for the transport of coal following the arrival of industry in the region. Cardiff was made a [[City status in the United Kingdom|city]] in 1905, and proclaimed [[capital of Wales]] in 1955. Since the 1990s Cardiff has seen significant development with a new waterfront area at [[Cardiff Bay]] which contains the new [[National Assembly for Wales|Welsh Assembly]] Building, and the [[Cardiff city centre|city centre]] is currently undergoing a major redevelopment. International sporting venues in the city include the Millennium Stadium (Rugby and Football) and Sophia Gardens (Cricket). Cardiff is a significant tourist centre with 11.7m visitors in 2006.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=9200 | title=Steam report | accessdate=2008-05-31}}</ref>
Cardiff is home to the biggest media sector in the [[United Kingdom]] outside [[London]], being home to a number of television studios and radio stations, such as the [[BBC]], [[ITV]], [[HTV]], [[S4C]] as well as independent broadcasters. <ref name="media">{{cite web | url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=3775 | title=The Film, TV and Multimedia Sector in Cardiff | publisher=Economic Development Division, Cardiff County Council | format=PDF | date=2003-12-01 | accessdate=2008-01-17}}</ref>
== History ==
{{main|History of Cardiff|Timeline of Cardiff history}}
=== Origins of the name ===
[[Image:Cardiff Castle (Roman wall).jpg|thumb|left|The front wall of [[Cardiff Castle]], showing part of the original Roman fort from which the city probably derives its name]]
The name Cardiff and its [[Welsh language|Welsh]] equivalent ''Caerdydd'' are both believed by most modern experts to derive from post-Roman [[Brythonic languages|Brythonic]] words meaning "the fort on the [[River Taff|Taff]]". "Dydd" or "Diff" are both modifications of "[[River Taff|Taff]]", the river on which [[Cardiff Castle]] stands, with the ''T'' [[lenition|mutating]] to ''D'' in Welsh. According to a leading modern authority<ref>[http://placenames.bangor.ac.uk//English/html/hywel_wyn_owen.html Prof. Hywel Wyn Owen, University of Wales]</ref> on [[toponymy]], the Welsh pronunciation of "Caerdyff" as "Caerdydd" shows the colloquial alternation of Welsh ''"-f"'' and ''"-dd"''.<ref name=hwo>Hywel Wyn Owen, ''The Place-names of Wales'', 1998, ISBN 0-7083-1458-9</ref>
Some have also suggested a possible link with [[Aulus Didius Gallus]], as it is known that the [[Roman Britain|Romans]] established a fort in Cardiff when he was governor of the nearby province, in which case Cardiff might mean "the Fort of Didius". The 19th century "Slaters Commercial Directory" stated that the town was first named Caerdidi (after Didius), then became corrupted into Caer-Taffe (meaning Fort on the Taff), then Caerdaff, then Cardiff.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/GLA/Cardiff/slaters.1880.html | title="GENUKI: UK & ireland Genealogy - Cardiff | accessdate=2007-12-06}}</ref>
=== Roman period to the Middle Ages ===
The history of what is now Cardiff began with a [[Roman Empire|Roman]] fort on the site, built in 75 CE.<ref name="Bob Sanders-period up to 1699">{{cite web |url= http://www.angelfire.com/ga/BobSanders/CDFF1.html |publisher=Bob Sanders |title=A Cardiff & Vale of Glamorgan Chronology up to 1699 |accessdate=2008-02-29}}</ref> As Roman rule in [[Britannia]] ended near the start of the 5th century the fort was abandoned. <ref name="Bob Sanders-period up to 1699" />
[[Image:John Speed's map of Cardiff 1610.jpg|thumb|right|[[John Speed]]'s map of Cardiff from 1610]]
In 1091 [[Robert Fitzhamon]] began work on the castle keep within the walls of the old Roman fort. [[Cardiff Castle]] has been at the heart of the city ever since. <ref name="Cardiff Visitors">{{cite web |url= http://www.visitcardiff.com/About-Cardiff/Cardiff-History.html |publisher=Visit Cardiff |title= Cardiff history|accessdate=2008-02-29}}</ref> The castle was substantially altered and extended during the Victorian period by [[John Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute]], and the [[architect]] [[William Burges (architect)|William Burges]]. Original Roman work can, however, still be distinguished in the wall facings.
Soon a little town grew up in the shadow of the castle, made up primarily of settlers from England.<ref name="Cardiffians">{{cite web |url= http://www.cardiffians.co.uk/timeline.html |publisher= Cardiffians |title=Cardiff Timeline |accessdate=2008-02-29}}</ref> Cardiff had a population of between 1,500 and 2,000 in the Middle Ages, a relatively normal size for a Welsh town in this period.<ref name="Tim Lambert-short history of Cardiff">{{cite web |url= http://www.localhistories.org/Cardiff.html |publisher=Tim Lambert |title=A SHORT HISTORY OF CARDIFF |accessdate=2008-02-29}}</ref> By the end of the 13th century, Cardiff was the only town in Wales with a population exceeding 2,000, but it was relatively small compared to most other notable towns in the [[Kingdom of England]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.helsinki.fi/iehc2006/papers3/Campbell122.pdf | title=Benchmarking medieval economic development: England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, circa 1290 | first=Bruce M S | last=Campbell | date=2006-08-25 | accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref>
[[Image:Cardiff-Castle.jpg|left|thumb|300px|View of Caerdiffe (Cardiff) Castle]]
Cardiff was a busy port in the Middle Ages, in 1327, it was declared a [[Staple port]]<ref name="Bob Sanders-period up to 1699" />. In the early 12th century a wooden palisade was erected around the city to protect it.
In 1404 [[Owain Glyndwr]] burned Cardiff and took Cardiff Castle.<ref name="Bob Sanders-period up to 1699" /> As the town was still very small, most of the buildings were made of wood and the town was reduced to ashes. However, the town was rebuilt not long after and began to flourish once again.<ref name="Tim Lambert-short history of Cardiff" />
=== County town of Glamorganshire ===
In 1536, the [[Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542|Act of Union]] between England and Wales led to the creation of the [[shire]] of Glamorgan. Cardiff was made the [[county town]]. Around this same time the Herbert family became the most powerful family in the area.<ref name="Cardiffians" /> In 1538, [[Henry VIII of England|Henry VIII]] closed the [[Dominican]] and [[Franciscan]] friaries in Cardiff, the remains of which were used as building materials. <ref name="Tim Lambert-short history of Cardiff" /> A writer around this period described Cardiff: "The River Taff runs under the walls of his honours castle and from the north part of the town to the south part where there is a fair quay and a safe harbour for shipping." <ref name="Tim Lambert-short history of Cardiff" />
Cardiff had become a Free Borough in 1542.<ref name="Bob Sanders-period up to 1699" /> In 1573, it was made a head port for collection of customs duties. In 1581, [[Elizabeth I of England|Elizabeth I]] granted Cardiff its first [[royal charter]]<ref name="Cardiffians" />. By 1602 [[Pembrokeshire]] historian [[George Owen of Henllys|George Owen]] described Cardiff as "the fayrest towne in Wales yett not the welthiest. <ref name="Cardiffians" /> The town gained a second [[Royal Charter]] in 1608.<ref name="GoogoBits">{{cite web |url= http://www.googobits.com/articles/2181-a-history-lovers-guide-to-cardiff.html|publisher=GoogoBits.com |title= A History Lovers Guide to Cardiff|accessdate=2007-12-31}}</ref> During the [[Second English Civil War]], [[St. Fagans]] just to the west of the town, played host to the [[Battle of St. Fagans]]. The battle, between a [[Cavalier|Royalist]] rebellion and a [[New Model Army]] detachment, was a decisive victory for the [[Parliamentarians]] and allowed [[Oliver Cromwell]] to conquer Wales.<ref name="Bob Sanders-period up to 1699" /> It is the last major battle to occur in Wales, with a total death toll of about 200 (mostly Royalist) soldiers killed. <ref name="Cardiffians" />
In the ensuing century Cardiff was at peace. In 1766, [[John Stuart, 1st Marquess of Bute]] married into the Herbert family and was later created [[Baron Cardiff]].<ref name="Cardiffians" /> In 1778, he began renovations on Cardiff Castle.<ref name="Bob Sanders 2">{{cite web |url= http://www.angelfire.com/ga/BobSanders/CDFF2.html |publisher=Bob Sanders |title=A Cardiff & Vale of Glamorgan Chronology 1700 - 1849 |accessdate=2008-03-04}}</ref> In the 1790s a [[racecourse]], [[printing press]], [[bank]] and [[coffee room]] all opened, and Cardiff gained a [[stagecoach]] service to London. Despite these improvements, Cardiff's position in the Welsh [[urban hierarchy]] had declined over the 18th century. [[Iolo Morgannwg]] called it "an obscure and inconsiderable place", and the [[Census Act 1800|1801 census]] found the population to be only 1,870, making Cardiff only the twenty-fifth largest town in Wales, well behind [[Merthyr]] and [[Swansea]].<ref name="Encyclopedia of Wales">The Welsh Academy Encyclopedia of Wales. Cardiff: University of Wales Press 2008.</ref>
=== Building of the docks ===
In 1793, [[John Crichton-Stuart, 2nd Marquess of Bute]] was born. He would spend his life building the Cardiff docks and would later be called "the creator of modern Cardiff".<ref name="Cardiffians" /> In 1815, a twice-weekly boat service between Cardiff and [[Bristol]] was established.<ref name="Bob Sanders 2" /> In 1821, the Cardiff Gas Works was established.<ref name="Bob Sanders 2" />
The town grew rapidly from the 1830s onwards, when the [[Marquess of Bute]] built a [[dock (maritime)|dock]] which eventually linked to the [[Taff Vale Railway]]. Cardiff became the main port for exports of coal from the [[Cynon Valley|Cynon]], [[Rhondda Valley|Rhondda]], and [[Rhymney Valley|Rhymney]] valleys, and grew at a rate of nearly 80% per decade between 1840 and 1870. Much of the growth was due to [[migration]] from within and outside Wales: in 1851, a quarter of Cardiff's population were English-born and more than 10% had been born in Ireland. By the 1881 census, Cardiff had overtaken both Merthyr and Swansea to become the largest town in Wales. Cardiff's new status as the premier town in South Wales was confirmed when it was chosen as the site of the [[University of Wales|University College South Wales and Monmouthshire]] in 1893.<ref name="Encyclopedia of Wales"/>
Cardiff faced a challenge in the 1880s when [[David Davies (industrialist)|David Davies of Llandinam]] and the [[Barry Railway Company]] promoted the development of rival docks at [[Barry]]. Barry docks had the advantage of being accessible in all [[tide]]s, and David Davies claimed that his venture would cause "grass to grow in the streets of Cardiff". From 1901 coal exports from Barry surpassed those from Cardiff, but the administration of the coal trade remained centred on Cardiff, in particular its [[Coal Exchange]], where the price of coal on the British market was determined and the first million-pound deal was struck in 1907.<ref name="Encyclopedia of Wales"/> The city also strengthened its industrial base with the decision of [[GKN|Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds]], owners of the [[Dowlais Ironworks]] in Merthyr, to build a new [[steel mill|steelworks]] close to the docks at East Moors in 1890.
=== City and capital city status ===
[[Edward VII of the United Kingdom|King Edward VII]] granted Cardiff [[City status in the United Kingdom|city status]] on [[28 October]] [[1905]], and the city acquired a [[Roman Catholic]] [[Cathedral]] in 1916. In subsequent years an increasing number of national institutions were located in the city, including the [[National Museum Cardiff|National Museum of Wales]], Welsh national [[war memorial]], and the [[University of Wales]] registry - although it was denied the [[National Library of Wales]], partly because the library's founder, Sir John Williams, considered Cardiff to have "a non-Welsh population".<ref name="Encyclopedia of Wales"/>
After a brief post-war boom, Cardiff docks entered a prolonged decline in the [[interwar period]]. By 1936, their trade was less than half its value in 1913, reflecting the slump in demand for [[South Wales coalfield|Welsh coal]].<ref name="Encyclopedia of Wales"/> Bomb damage during the [[Cardiff Blitz]] in [[World War II]] included the devastation of [[Llandaff Cathedral]], and in the immediate postwar years the city's link with the Bute family came to an end.
The city was proclaimed [[capital]] city of Wales on [[20 December]] [[1955]], by a written reply by the [[Home Secretary]] [[Gwilym Lloyd George, 1st Viscount Tenby|Gwilym Lloyd George]]. [[Caernarfon]] had also vied for this title.<ref>{{cite news | title=Cardiff as Capital of Wales: Formal Recognition by Government | publisher=The Times | date=1955-12-21}}</ref> Cardiff therefore celebrated two important [[anniversary|anniversaries]] in 2005. The Encyclopedia of Wales notes that the decision to recognise the city as the capital of Wales "had more to do with the fact that it contained marginal [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] constituencies than any reasoned view of what functions a Welsh capital should have". Although the city hosted the [[Commonwealth Games]] in 1958, Cardiff only became a centre of national administration with the establishment of the [[Welsh Office]] in 1964, which later prompted the creation of various other public bodies such as the [[Arts Council of Wales]] and the [[Welsh Development Agency]], most of which were based in Cardiff.
The East Moors Steelworks closed in 1978 and Cardiff lost population during the 1980s,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_table_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_TPop&u_id=10150530&c_id=10001043&add=N | title=Cardiff Wales Through Time - Population Statistics | accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref> consistent with a wider pattern of [[counter urbanisation]] in Britain. However, it recovered and was one of the few cities (outside [[London]]) where population grew during the 1990s.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://sticerd.lse.ac.uk/dps/case/cbcb/census1.pdf | title=The Growth and Decline of Cities and Regions | date=2004-07-01 | accessdate-2008-05-20}}</ref> During this period the [[Cardiff Bay Development Corporation]] was promoting the [[Urban renewal|redevelopment]] of south Cardiff; an evaluation of the regeneration of Cardiff Bay published in 2004 concluded that the project had "reinforced the competitive position of Cardiff" and "contributed to a massive improvement in the quality of the built environment", although it had failed "to attract the major inward investors originally anticipated".<ref>Esys Consulting Ltd, Evaluation of Regeneration in Cardiff Bay. A report for the Welsh Assembly Government, December 2004</ref>
In the 1999 [[devolution]] [[referendum]], Cardiff voters rejected the establishment of the [[National Assembly for Wales]] by 55.4% to 44.2% on a 47% turnout, which Denis Balsom partly ascribed to a general preference in Cardiff and some other parts of Wales for a [[British people|'British']] rather than exclusively [[Welsh people|'Welsh']] [[national identity|identity]].<ref>Balsom, Denis. 'The referendum result'. In Jones, James Barry; Balsom, Denis (ed.), ''The road to the National Assembly for Wales''. Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 2000.</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.swansea.ac.uk/history/research/Wales%20the%20Postnation.pdf | title=Wales: The Post-Nation | accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref> The relative lack of support for the Assembly locally, and difficulties between the Welsh Office and Cardiff Council in acquiring the original preferred venue, [[Cardiff City Hall]], encouraged other local authorities to bid to house the Assembly.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/34653.stm|title=Where To Now for the Welsh Assembly?|date=1997-11-25|publisher=BBC Wales|accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://ossw.wales.gov.uk/2006/foi/foi_20060920_15.pdf | title=Welsh Assembly Accommodation | date=1997-10-02 | accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref> However, the Assembly eventually located at Crickhowell House in Cardiff Bay in 1999; in 2005, a new [[Senedd|debating chamber]] on an adjacent site, designed by [[Richard Rogers]], was opened.
The city was [[county town]] of [[Glamorgan]] until the council reorganisation in 1974 paired Cardiff and the now [[Vale of Glamorgan]] together as the new county of [[South Glamorgan]]. Further local government restructuring in 1996 resulted in Cardiff city's [[Districts of Wales|district]] council becoming a [[unitary authority]], the [[City and County of Cardiff]], with the addition of [[Creigiau]] and [[Pentyrch]].
== Governance ==
=== Local government ===
{{main|Cardiff Council}}
[[Image:Cardiff City Hall 01.jpg|left|thumb|[[City Hall, Cardiff|Cardiff's City Hall]]]]
Since local government reorganisation in 1996, Cardiff has been governed by [[Cardiff Council|The City and County Council of Cardiff]], which is based at [[County Hall, Cardiff|County Hall]] in Atlantic Wharf, Cardiff Bay. Voters elect 75 councillors every four years, with the next elections due to be held in 2012.
Since the 2004 local elections, no individual political party has held a majority on Cardiff County Council. The [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] have 35 councillors and have formed a minority administration, the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservatives]] have 17, [[The Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] have 13, [[Plaid Cymru]] have 7 and three councillors sit as Independents. The Leader of the Council, Cllr [[Rodney Berman]], is from the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]].
=== National Assembly for Wales ===
{{main|National Assembly for Wales}}
[[Image:Senedd.JPG|right|thumb|The [[Senedd]] building.]]
The [[National Assembly for Wales]] has been based in [[Cardiff Bay]] since its formation in 1999. The building which is now known as the ''[[Senedd]]'' (Welsh for Legislature, Parliament or Senate) was opened on [[1 March]] [[2006]], by [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|The Queen]]. The executive and civil servants of the [[Welsh Assembly Government]] are based in Cardiff's [[Cathays Park]] while the Assembly Members, the Assembly Parliamentary Service and Ministerial support staff are based in Cardiff Bay. Cardiff elects four constituency Assembly Members (AMs) to the Assembly, with the individual constituencies for the Assembly being the same as for the UK Parliament. All of the city's residents have an extra vote for the [[South Wales Central]] region which increases proportionality to the Assembly. The most recent Welsh Assembly [[elections]] were held on [[3 May]] [[2007]].
=== Political representation ===
Cardiff is presently split into four parliamentary constituencies which form the electoral basis for elections to the [[United Kingdom Parliament]] and the [[National Assembly for Wales]].
The constituencies and their representatives are:
* [[Cardiff Central (UK Parliament constituency)|Cardiff Central]]: MP [[Jenny Willott]], AM [[Jenny Randerson]] (Both Liberal Democrat)
* [[Cardiff North]]: MP [[Julie Morgan]] (Labour), AM [[Jonathan Morgan (Welsh politician)|Jonathan Morgan]] (Conservative)
* [[Cardiff South and Penarth]]: MP [[Alun Michael]], AM [[Lorraine Barrett]] (Both Labour)
* [[Cardiff West]]: MP [[Kevin Brennan (politician)|Kevin Brennan]], AM [[Rhodri Morgan]] (Both Labour)
The [[South Wales Central|South Wales Central Assembly Region]] elects four Assembly Members to serve the area covered by Cardiff, [[Rhondda Cynon Taff|Rhondda-Cynon-Taf]] and the [[Vale of glamorgan|Vale of Glamorgan]] local authority areas. These are currently:
* [[David Melding]] (Conservative)
* [[Andrew R. T. Davies]] (Conservative)
* [[Leanne Wood]] (Plaid Cymru)
* [[Christopher Franks]] (Plaid Cymru)
Famous politicians who have represented Cardiff constituencies include:
* [[Lord Callaghan]]
* [[George Thomas, 1st Viscount Tonypandy]]
Cardiff is part of the Wales constituency in [[European Parliament]] elections - the current [[Member of the European Parliament|MEP]] is [[Glenys Kinnock]], who has represented the constituency since 1999.
== Geography ==
Cardiff is a relatively flat city bounded by hills on the outskirts to the east, north and west. Its geographic features were influential in its development as the world's largest coal port,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cardiffbay.co.uk | title=Cardiff Bay Official Website | accessdate=2008-01-24}}</ref> most notably its proximity and easy access to the coal fields of the south Wales valleys.
[[Image:Cardiff from space.jpg|thumb|left|Satellite image of Cardiff, showing vegetation and land cover. [[Barry, Vale of Glamorgan|Barry]] is shown bottom left]]
Cardiff is built on reclaimed marshland on a bed of [[Triassic]] stones; this reclaimed marshland stretches from [[Chepstow]] to the Ely Estuary, which is the natural boundary of Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. {{Fact|date=July 2008}} Triassic landscapes are usually shallow and low-lying which accounts and explains Cardiff's flatness. {{Fact|date=July 2008}} The classic Triassic [[marl]], [[sand]] and [[Conglomerate (geology)|conglomerate]] rocks are used predominantly throughout Cardiff as building materials. Many of these Triassic rocks have a purple complexion, especially the coastal [[marl]] found near Penarth. One of the Triassic rocks used in Cardiff is "Radyr Stone", a [[freestone]] which as it name suggests is quarried in the Radyr district. Cardiff has also imported some materials for buildings: [[Devonian]] sandstones (the [[Old Red Sandstone]]) from the [[Brecon Beacons]] has been used. Most famously, the buildings of [[Cathays Park]], the civic centre in the centre of the city, are built of [[Portland stone]] which was imported from Dorset. A widely used building stone in Cardiff is the surreal yellow-grey [[Early Jurassic|Liassic]] [[limestone]] rock of the [[Vale of Glamorgan]], including the very rare "Sutton Stone", a conglomerate of lias limestone and [[carboniferous]] limestone that is, apart from Radyr Stone, the only free-stone in south-east Wales (freestones can be cut to a perfectly smooth surface).
Cardiff is bordered to the west by the rural district of the [[Vale of Glamorgan]], which is also known as The Garden of Cardiff,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.gardenofcardiff.com/ | title=The Garden of Cardiff | accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref> to the east by the city of [[Newport]], to the north by the [[South Wales Valleys]] and to the south by the [[River Severn|Severn Estuary]] and [[Bristol Channel]]. The [[River Taff]] winds through the centre of the city and together with the [[River Ely]] flows into the freshwater lake of [[Cardiff Bay]]. A third river, the [[River Rhymney|Rhymney]] flows through the east of the city entering directly into the Severn Estuary.
Cardiff is situated near the [[Glamorgan]] [[Heritage Coast]], stretching westward from Penarth and [[Barry, Vale of Glamorgan|Barry]] (which are commuter towns of Cardiff), with its striped yellow-blue Jurassic "lias" limestone cliffs that thrust outwards towards the Bristol Channel. The Glamorgan coast is the only part of the [[Celtic Sea]] that has exposed [[Jurassic]] ([[blue lias]]) geology. This west facing stretch of coast, which takes the brunt of brutal Atlantic westerlies and has reefs, sandbanks and serrated cliffs aplenty (like [[Cornwall]]) was a ship graveyard during the age of sail; ships sailing up to Cardiff during the industrial era often never made it as far as Cardiff as most were wrecked around this hostile coastline during brutal west/south-westerly gales. Consequently, just like its Celtic cousin in Cornwall, smuggling, deliberate shipwrecking and attacks on ships became a way of life for many people living in the small coastal villages of the Vale.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kenfig.org.uk/smuggling.html|title=Smuggling Around Kenfig|publisher=Kenfig.org|accessdate=2008-04-19}}</ref>
{{clear}}
{{geocompass
|hub = CARDIFF
|type= ex
|NW = [[Llantrisant]]
|NN = [[Pontypridd]], [[Brecon]], [[Caerphilly]], [[Aberdare]]
|NE = [[Newport]], [[Chepstow]]
|WW = [[Maesteg]], [[Neath]], [[Bridgend]]
|EE = [[Bristol Channel]]
|SW = [[Llantwit Major]], [[Cardiff International Airport]]
|SS = [[Penarth]], [[Dinas Powys]]
|SE = [[Bristol Channel]]
}}
=== Cityscape ===
{{see also|List of places in Cardiff}}
[[Image:Cardiff Bay.JPG|right|thumb|right|Modern-day [[Cardiff Bay]]]]
Roughly speaking, "Inner Cardiff" can be considered to consist of the following wards: [[Penylan]], [[Plasnewydd]], [[Gabalfa]], [[Roath]], [[Cathays (electoral ward)|Cathays]], [[Adamsdown]] and [[Splott (electoral ward)|Splott]] ward on the north and east of the city centre, and [[Butetown]], [[Grangetown, Cardiff|Grangetown]], [[Riverside, Cardiff|Riverside]] and [[Canton, Cardiff|Canton]] to the south and west. The inner-city areas to the south of the [[A4161 road]] known as the "Southern Arc" are, with the exception of affluent and trendy Cardiff Bay, some of the poorest districts of Wales with low levels of economic activity and high ethnic minority populations. On the other hand Gabalfa, Plasnewydd and Cathays north of the 'arc' have very large student populations,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/for/prospective/pg/life/accommodation/areasofcardiff/index.html|title=Areas of Cardiff|publisher=Cardiff University|accessdate=2008-04-18}}</ref> and Pontcanna north of Riverside and alongside Canton is a favourite for young professionals and media types. [[Penylan]] which lies to the north east side of Roath Park is an affluent area popular with those with older children and the retired.
[[Image:Pearl Assurance Building 2007.jpg|left|thumb|[[Capital Tower, Cardiff]]]]
"Suburban Cardiff" can be broken down into three distinct areas. To the west lie [[Ely, Cardiff|Ely]], [[Caerau, Cardiff|Caerau]] and [[Fairwater, Cardiff|Fairwater]] which contain some of the largest housing estates in the United Kingdom. With the exception of some of the outlying privately built estates at Michaelston Super Ely and 1930s developments near Waun-Gron Road, this is an economically disadvantaged area with high numbers of unemployed households. [[Culverhouse Cross]] is a more affluent western area of the city. [[Radyr]], [[Llandaff]], [[Llandaff North]], [[Whitchurch, Cardiff|Whitchurch]] & [[Tongwynlais]], [[Rhiwbina]], [[Heath, Cardiff|Heath]], [[Llanishen]], [[Lisvane]], and [[Cyncoed]] which lie in an arc from the north west to the north east of the centre can be considered the main middle class suburbs of the city. In particular, Cyncoed, [[Radyr]] and Lisvane contain some of the most expensive housing in Wales. Further to the east lie the wards of Pontprennau & Old St Mellons, Rumney, [[Pentwyn, Cardiff|Pentwyn]], [[Llanrumney]] and [[Trowbridge, Cardiff|Trowbridge]]. The latter three are again largely of public housing stock, although new private housing is being built in Trowbridge in considerable number. [[Pontprennau]] is the newest 'suburb' of Cardiff, whilst [[St Mellons|Old St Mellons]] has a history going back to the [[Norman Conquest]] in the 11th century.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oldstmellons.co.uk/history/|title=Old St Mellons History|accessdate=2008-04-18}}</ref>
To the north west of the city lies a region that may be called "Rural Cardiff" containing the villages of [[St. Fagans]], [[Creigiau]], [[Pentyrch]], [[Tongwynlais]] and [[Gwaelod-y-garth]]. St. Fagans, home to the [[Museum of Welsh Life]], is protected from further development.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=9569|title=St Fagans Conservation Area Appraisal|date=2007|publisher=Cardiff County Council|accessdate=2008-04-18}}</ref>
{{clear}}
{{climate chart
|Cardiff
|2|8|119
|2|8|91
|4|11|89
|5|13|65
|8|17|65
|11|19|66
|13|22|61
|13|21|90
|10|18|104
|8|15|117
|4|11|117
|3|9|128
|source=[http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19712000/sites/cardiff.html Met Office]
|float=right
}}
=== Climate ===
Cardiff has a [[temperate]] [[climate]] where summers and winters are generally mild. More specifically Cardiff has an [[oceanic climate]], with prevailing winds blowing in from the south-west over the [[Atlantic Ocean]].
Cardiff has a relatively dry climate compared with most of Wales,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.metoffice.com/climate/uk/averages/19712000/rr/17.gif | title=Rainfall annual average 1971-2000 | publisher=Met Office | accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref> with an average rainfall of <span style="white-space:nowrap">1,065 millimetres (41.9 in)</span>. It is also a relatively mild city,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.metoffice.com/climate/uk/averages/19712000/tmean/17.gif | title=Mean temperature annual average 1971-2000 | publisher=Met Office | accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref> with an average January temperature of {{convert|4.5|C|F}} and an average July temperature of {{convert|16|C|F}}<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cityguide.travel-guides.com/city/30/statistics/Europe/Cardiff.html | title=Cardiff Statistics | publisher=World Travel Guide}}</ref>
== Demography ==
{|align=left class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%; margin-left: 20px;"
|- align="center" bgcolor="black" style="color: white; font-size: 125%;"
|Year
|Population of Cardiff
|-
|align=center|1801||align=center|6,342
|-
|align=center|1851||align=center|26,630
|-
|align=center|1861||align=center|48,965
|-
|align=center|1871||align=center|71,301
|-
|align=center|1881||align=center|93,637
|-
|align=center|1891||align=center|142,114
|-
|align=center|1901||align=center|172,629
|-
|align=center|1911||align=center|209,804
|-
|align=center|1921||align=center|227,753
|-
|align=center|1931||align=center|247,270
|-
|align=center|1941||align=center|257,112
|-
|align=center|1951||align=center|267,356
|-
|align=center|1961||align=center|278,552
|-
|align=center|1971||align=center|290,227
|-
|align=center|1981||align=center|274,500
|-
|align=center|1991||align=center|272,557
|-
|align=center|2001||align=center|292,150
|-
|align=center|2006||align=center|317,500*
|-
| colspan=2|''<center><small>source: [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_table_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_TPop&u_id=10150530&c_id=10001043&add=N Vision of Britain] except * ,<br> which refers to the local authority <br>area and is estimated by the <br />[http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=9648 Office for National Statistics]</small></center>''
|-
|}
Following a period of decline during the 1970s and 1980s, Cardiff's population is growing. The local authority area had an estimated population of more than 317,500 in 2006, compared to a [[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 Census]] figure of 305,353.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=276879&c=Cardiff&d=13&e=16&g=421924&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1204063245714&enc=1&dsFamilyId=75 | title=Neighbourhood Statistics | publisher=Office for National Statistics | date=2001-04-01 | accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref> According to Census 2001 data, Cardiff was the 14th [[List of largest United Kingdom settlements by population|largest settlement]] in the [[United Kingdom]],<ref>[http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/census2001/ks_ua_ew_part1.pdf Key Statistics for urban areas in England and Wales], ''Census 2001'', retrieved [[2008-06-12]]</ref> and the 21st largest [[List of conurbations in the United Kingdom|urban area]].<ref>Pointer, Graham, [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_compendia/fom2005/03_FOPM_UrbanAreas.pdf The UK’s major urban areas], ''Focus on People and Migration'', 2005, retrieved [[2008-06-12]]</ref>
Official estimates derived from the census regarding the city's total population have been disputed. The city council has published two articles that argue the 2001 census seriously under reports the population of Cardiff and, in particular, the ethnic minority population of some inner city areas.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=3418&Language= | title=Cardiff Council Representations to ONS on the 2001 Census: Section 1 | format=PDF | accessdate=2007-12-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=3419&Language= | title=Cardiff Council Representations to ONS on the 2001 Census: Section 2 | format=PDF | accessdate=2007-12-28}}</ref>
Cardiff has a ethnically diverse population due to its past trading connections, post-war immigration and the large numbers of foreign students who attend university in the city. The ethnic make-up of Cardiff's population at the time of the 2001 census was: 91.6% white, 2% mixed race, 4% South Asian, 1.3% Black, 1.2% Other ethnic origin. According to a report published in 2005, over 30,000 people from an ethnic minority live in Cardiff, around 8.4% of the city's total - many of these communities live in [[Butetown]], where ethnic minorities make up around a third of the total population.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=4997| format=PDF|title=Black and Minority Ethnic Communities Consultation Report, 2005|date=2005-09-01|accessdate=2008-04-18}}</ref> This diversity, and especially that of the city's long-established African and Arab communities, has been celebrated in a number of cultural exhibitions and events, along with a number of books which have been published on this subject.<ref>{{cite book|last=Lee|first=Brian|title=Butetown and Cardiff Docks |publisher=The History Press|date=1999-04-15|isbn=978-0752415826 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bhac.org/black_history.html|title=Black History in Butetown|publisher=Butetown History & Arts Centre|accessdate=2008-04-18}}</ref>
[[Image:Llandaff Cathedral.JPG|right|thumb|[[Llandaff Cathedral]]]]
[[Image:Cardiffsynagogue.jpeg|left|thumb|200px|The former Cardiff Synagogue, located on Cathedral Road. There was once a fairly substantial Jewish population in South Wales, most of which has disappeared due to various factors. This synagogue is now an office block.]]
=== Religion ===
{{see also|History of the Jews in Wales}}
Since 1922 Cardiff has included the suburban cathedral 'village' of [[Llandaff]], whose bishop is currently [[Archbishop of Wales]]. There is also a [[Cardiff Cathedral|Roman Catholic cathedral]] in the city. Since 1916 Cardiff has been the seat of a [[Catholic]] archbishop, but there appears to have been a fall in the estimated [[Catholic]] population, with estimated numbers in 2006 being around 25,000 less than in 1980.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dcard.html#stats|title=Archdiocese of Cardiff - Statistics|accessdate=2008-04-18}}</ref>. Likewise, the [[Jewish]] population of the city has also appeared to have fallen - there are currently two synagogues in Cardiff, one in Cyncoed and one in Moira Terrace, as opposed to seven at the turn of the 20th century.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.jewishgen.org/jcr-uk/Community/Cardiff.htm | title=JCR-UK - Cardiff Community | date=2005-10-14 | accessdate=2008-01-23}}</ref> There are a significant number of [[nonconformism| nonconformist]] chapels, an early-20th century Greek Orthodox church and eleven mosques.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/GLA/Roath/Chapels.html | title=Cardiff, Llandaff & Roath chapels database | accessdate=2008-01-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.nostos.com/church/ | title=The Greek Orthodox Church in Great Britain | accessdate=2008-01-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.muslimdirectory.co.uk/displayresults.php?PHPSESSID=f0fb8b41d8758983e7d43cddb556b9df&businesstype=1&orgtype=&country=UK&city=Cardiff | title=Muslim Directory - Mosques in Cardiff | accessdate=2008-01-23}}</ref>
In the 2001 census 66.9% of the city's population described themselves as Christian, below the Welsh and UK average, while 3.7% described themselves as Muslim, significantly above the Welsh average but in line with the UK average. The proportion of people declaring themselves to be Hindu, Sikh and Jewish were all considerably higher than the Welsh averages, but less than the UK figures. 18.8% stated they had no religion, while 8.6% did not state a religion.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/profiles/00PT-A.asp#ethnic | title=Census 2001 - Profiles - Cardiff - Ethnicity & Religion | date=2003-02-19 | accessdate=2008-01-23}}</ref>
Cardiff has one of the longest-established Muslim populations in the UK, started by Yemeni sailors who settled in the city during the 19th century.<ref>{{cite book | last = Ansari | first = Humayun | authorlink = Humayun Ansari | title = The Infidel Within: Muslims in Britain Since 1800 | publisher = C. Hurst & Co | date=2004 | location = London | pages = 429 | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=43G472v4KMUC&pg=PA156&lpg=PA156&dq=cardiff+yemeni+sailors&source=web&ots=Fj9DGU79Fd&sig=kcZ2YYeJqv2Z2qxa-53XQa-NJiQ#PPA429,M1 | isbn = 1-85065-685-1 (paperbound) / 1-85065-686-X (harbound)}}</ref> The first mosque in the UK (on the site of what is now known as the Al-Manar Islamic Centre) opened in 1860 in the Cathays district of Cardiff.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/religion/Story/0,,739312,00.html | title=From scholarship, sailors and sects to the mills and the mosques. | date=2002-06-18 | accessdate=2007-07-12}}</ref> Cardiff is now home to over 11,000 Muslims from many different nationalities and backgrounds.<ref name="cityprofile">{{cite web | url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/profiles/00pt.asp | title=Census 2001 - Profiles - Cardiff. | accessdate=2007-07-12}}</ref>
The city has been home to a sizable Hindu community since Indian immigrants settled there during the 1950s and 1960s. The first Hindu temple in the city was opened in [[Grangetown]] on [[April 6]] [[1979]] on the site of an abandoned printing press (which itself was the former site of a synagogue).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swaminarayanwales.org.uk/History/history.asp|title=History of Shree Swaminarayan Temple Cardiff|accessdate=2008-05-21}}</ref> The 25th anniversary of the temple's founding was celebrated in September 2007 with a parade of over 3000 people through the city centre, including Hindus from across the United Kingdom and members of Cardiff's other religious communities.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/7006249.stm|title=Worshippers celebrate with parade |date=2007-09-22|publisher=BBC Wales|accessdate=2008-05-21}}</ref> Today, there are over 2000 Hindus in Cardiff, worshiping at three temples across the city.<ref name="cityprofile" />
==Economy==
{{main|Economy and industry of Cardiff}}
As the capital city of Wales, Cardiff is the main engine of growth in the Welsh economy. The economy of Cardiff and adjacent areas makes up nearly 20% of Welsh GDP and 40% of the city’s workforce are daily in-commuters from the surrounding south Wales area.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/articles/economic_trends/Sub-regional_&_Local_Area_GDP.pdf|title=Sub-regional and local area gross domestic product|last=Clifton-Fearnside|first=Alex|coauthors=Adam Douglas|date=2002-05-14|publisher=Office of National Statistics|accessdate=2008-04-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.statswales.wales.gov.uk/TableViewer/document.aspx?ReportId=4903&IF_Language=isl|title=Statistics on Commuting in Wales|date=2007-12-05|publisher=Statistics for Wales|accessdate=2008-04-18}}</ref>
[[Image:Cardiff Barrage Entrance.jpg|thumb|right|Cardiff Barrage Entrance locks]]
Industry has played a major part in Cardiff's development for many centuries. The main catalyst for its transformation from a small town into a big city was the demand for coal required in making iron and later steel, brought to the sea by [[packhorse]] from [[Merthyr Tydfil]]. This was first achieved by the construction of a {{convert|25|mi|km|sing=on}} long canal from Merthyr (510 feet above sea-level) to the Taff Estuary at Cardiff.<ref name="canal">{{cite web|url=http://www.alangeorge.co.uk/the_glamorganshire_canal.htm|title=The Glamorganshire Canal|accessdate=2008-04-19}}</ref> Eventually the [[Taff Vale Railway]] replaced the canal barges and massive marshalling yards sprang up as new docks were developed in Cardiff - all prompted by the soaring world-wide demand for coal from the South Wales valleys.
At its peak, Cardiff's [[port]], known as [[Tiger Bay]], became the busiest port in the world and—for some time—the world's most important [[coal]] port. In the years leading up to the [[First World War]], more than 10 million tonnes of coal was exported annually from Cardiff.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/rhagor/article/?article_id=50|title=Cardiff - Coal and Shipping Metropolis of the World|publisher=National Museum of Wales|accessdate=2008-04-19}}</ref> In 1907, Cardiff's [[Coal Exchange]] was the first host to a business deal for a million [[Pound Sterling|pounds Sterling]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.glamro.gov.uk/check/Building%20of%20a%20Capital%202/A_Why.html|title=Why Did Cardiff Grow?|publisher=Glamorgan record Office|accessdate=2008-04-19}}</ref> After a period of decline, Cardiff's port has started to grow again - over 3 million tonnes of cargo passed through through the docks in 2007.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7414502.stm|title=Ports' resurgence as imports grow |date=2008-05-22|publisher=BBC News Wales|accessdate=2008-05-28}}</ref>
Today, Cardiff is the principal [[finance]] and business [[Service (economics)|services]] centre in [[Wales]], and as such there is a strong representation of finance and business services in the local economy. This sector, combined with the Public Administration, Education and Health sectors, have accounted for around 75% of Cardiff's economic growth since 1991.<ref name="employ">{{cite web | url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/objview.asp?Object_ID=3393&|title=Labour Market:An overview of Cardiff Empoyment and the local economy|date=2004-04-09|publisher=Cardiff County Council|accessdate=2008-04-19}}</ref> The city was recently placed seventh overall in the top 50 European cities in the fDI 2008 Cities of the Future list published by the Foreign Direct Invester (FDI) magazine, and also ranked seventh in terms of attracting foreign investment.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://fdimagazine.com/cp/10/FDI_052-055_0208-2.pdf | format=PDF | title=European Cities & Regions of the Future 2008/09 | date=2008-02-01 | accessdate=2008-03-25}}</ref> Notable companies such as [[Legal & General]], [[Admiral]] Insurance, [[HBOS]], [[Zurich Financial Services|Zurich]], [[ING Direct]], [[The Automobile Association|The AA]], [[Principality Building Society]], [[118118]], [[Centrica plc|British Gas]], [[SA Brain & Company Ltd|Brains]], [[SWALEC|SWALEC Energy]] and [[BT]], all operate large national or regional headquarters and contact centres in the city, some of them based in Cardiff's office towers such as [[Capital Tower, Cardiff|Capital Tower]] and Brunel House. Other major employers include [[NHS Wales]] and the [[National Assembly for Wales]]. On [[1 March]] [[2004]], Cardiff was granted [[Fairtrade City]] status.
{{clear}}
Cardiff is the one of the most popular tourist destination cities in the United Kingdom, with one survey recording just under 12 million visitors in 2006.<ref name="tourism">{{cite web | url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=8719 | format=PDF | title=Cardiff Essential Facts - Tourism | publisher=Cardiff County Council | date=2007-05-01 | accessdate=2008-03-25}}</ref> One result of this is that one in five employees in Cardiff are based in the distribution, hotels and restaurants sector, highlighting the growing retail and tourism industries in the city.<ref name="employ" /> There are a large number of hotels of varying sizes and standards in the city, providing almost 9,000 available bed spaces.<ref name="tourism" />
[[Image:Cardiff Market.JPG|thumb|right|[[Cardiff Market|Cardiff Central Market]] on St Mary Street in the city centre]]
The majority of Cardiff's shopping portfolio is in the city centre around Queen Street and St. Mary's Street, with large suburban retail parks located in Cardiff Bay, Culverhouse Cross, Newport Road and Pontprennau, together with markets in the city centre, [[Splott]] and [[Leckwith]]. Cardiff is also home to the oldest [[record shop]] in the world in [[Spillers Records]], which was established in 1894.<ref name="spillers">{{cite news | url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/article656416.ece | title=World's oldest record shop in the death grip of a developer | publisher=The Times | quote=The owners of Spillers Records, recognised by Guinness World Records as the oldest such emporium on Earth, say that it will close unless a buyer is found. | date=2006-12-01 | accessdate=2008-03-04}}</ref> A major £675 million regeneration programme for Cardiff's [[St. David's Centre]] is currently underway which, when completed in 2009, will provide a total of {{convert|1400000|sqft|m2}} of shopping space, making it one of the largest shopping centres in the United Kingdom.<ref name="stdavids2"> {{cite web | url=http://www.stdavids2.com/Template01.asp?pageid=95 | title=St Davids 2 and Cardiff | accessdate=2008-01-03}}</ref>
Cardiff is home to the Welsh media and the UK's largest film, TV & multimedia sector outside London with [[BBC Wales]], [[S4C]] and [[HTV|ITV Wales]] all having studios in the city.<ref name="media" /> In particular, there is a large independent TV production industry sector of over 600 companies, employing around 6000 employees and with a turnover estimated at £350m.<ref name="media" />
Cardiff is currently enjoying several regeneration projects such as extension to the St David's Centre and surrounding areas of the city centre, and the $1.4billion [[Cardiff International Sports Village|International Sports Village]] in Cardiff Bay which will play a part in [[2012 Summer Olympics|London 2012 Olympics]]. It features the only [[Olympic-size swimming pool]] in Wales, the [[Cardiff International Pool]], which opened on 12 January 2008.
== Landmarks and attractions==
[[Image:Wales Millennium Centre 16-08-2005.jpg|right|thumb|The [[Wales Millennium Centre]]]]
[[Image:Cardiff Castle keep.jpg|left|thumb|The Norman Keep at [[Cardiff Castle]]]]
Cardiff has many landmark buildings such as the [[Millennium Stadium]], [[Pierhead Building]] and the [[National Assembly for Wales]]. However Cardiff is also famous for [[Cardiff Castle]], [[St David's Hall]], [[Llandaff Cathedral]], the [[Wales Millennium Centre]]. A prominent future landmark in [[Cardiff Bay]], [[Bay Pointe]] which is set to include Wales' tallest building, has been granted planning permission.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7268025.stm | title=Wales' tallest building approved | publisher=BBC Wales | date=2008-02-28 | accessdate=2008-03-03}}</ref>
[[Cardiff Castle]] is a major tourist attraction in the city and is situated in the heart of the city centre, near the main shopping area of Queen Street and St. Mary's Street. The [[St Fagans National History Museum|National History Museum at St Fagans]] in Cardiff is a large open air museum housing dozens of buildings from throughout Welsh history that have been moved to the site in Cardiff.
The Civic Centre in [[Cathays Park]] comprises a collection of [[Edwardian architecture|Edwardian]] buildings such as the [[City Hall, Cardiff|City Hall]], [[National Museum Cardiff|National Museum and Gallery of Wales]], [[Cardiff Crown Court]], and buildings forming part of [[Cardiff University]], together with more modern civic buildings. These buildings surround a small green space containing the [[Welsh National War Memorial]] and a number of other smaller memorials.
Other major tourist attractions are the [[Cardiff Bay]] regeneration sites which include the recently opened Wales Millennium Centre and the [[Senedd]], and many other cultural and sites of interest including the [[Cardiff Bay Barrage]] and the famous [[Coal Exchange]]. The [[New Theatre (Cardiff)|New Theatre]] was founded in 1906 and completely refurbished in the 1980s. Until the opening of the Wales Millennium Centre in 2004, it was the premier venue in Wales for touring theatre and dance companies. Other venues which are popular for concerts and sporting events include [[Cardiff International Arena]], [[St David's Hall]] and the [[Millennium Stadium]].
In total, Cardiff has over 1,000 listed buildings. These range from the more prominent buildings such as the castles, to smaller buildings, houses and structures.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cache:v1WqH_pRIwUJ:www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp%3FParent_Directory_id%3D2865%26nav%3D2870,3139,3939,3972+cardiff+listed+buildings&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=uk|title=Listed and Locally Listed Buildings|publisher=Cardiff County Council|accessdate=2008-05-28}}</ref>
Cardiff has walks of special interest for tourists and [[Walking|ramblers]] alike, such as the [[Cardiff Centenary Walk|Centenary Walk]], which runs for {{convert|2.3|mi|km|1}} within [[Cardiff city centre]]. This route passes through many of Cardiff's landmarks and historic buildings.
{{wide image|Cardiff city hall pano.jpg|1200px|A panoramic view of Cardiff City Hall (left) and the National Museum and Gallery of Wales (right).}}
=== Castles ===
[[Image:Castell Coch frontside January midday.jpg|right|thumb|[[Castell Coch]]]]
Complementing Cardiff Castle is a second castle north of the city, called [[Castell Coch]] (Welsh: "Red Castle"). The current castle is an elaborately decorated Victorian folly designed by Burges for the Marquess and built in the 1870s. However, the Victorian castle stands on the footings of a much older medieval castle possibly built by [[Ifor Bach]], a regional baron with links to Cardiff Castle also. The exterior has become a popular location for film and television productions.
Situated on the narrowest part of the south Wales coastal plain, Cardiff had a crucial strategic importance in the wars between the Normans (who had occupied lowland Wales) and the Welsh who maintained their hold on the uplands. As a result Cardiff claims to have the largest concentration of [[castles]] of any city in the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/rugbyunion/World_Cup/Story/0,21043,13092_2689478,00.html|title=2007 Rugby World Cup City Guides - Cardiff|publisher=Sky Sports|accessdate=2008-04-19}}</ref> As well as Cardiff Castle and Castell Coch, the remains of Twmpath Castle,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.castlewales.com/twmpath.html | title= Twmpath Castle | date=2002 | accessdate=2008-03-21}}</ref> the Llandaff Bishop's Palace and [[St Fagans National History Museum|Saint Fagans Castle]] are still in existence, whilst the site of Treoda (or Whitchurch Castle) has now been built over.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://homepage.mac.com/philipdavis/Welshsites/482.html | title=The Gatehouse: Treoda, Whitchurch | date=2007-10-08 | accessdate=2007-12-28}}</ref>
== Culture and recreation==
{{see also |List of cultural venues in Cardiff}}
Cardiff many cultural sites varying from the historical [[Cardiff Castle]] and out of town [[Castell Coch]] to the more modern [[Wales Millennium Centre]] and [[Cardiff Bay]]. Cardiff was a finalist in the [[European Capital of Culture]] 2008.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/2959944.stm|title=Liverpool named as European Capital of Culture|date=2003-06-04|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=2008-05-28}}</ref> In recent years Cardiff has grown in stature as a tourist destination, with recent accolades including Cardiff being voted the eighth favourite UK city by readers of the Guardian.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2007/nov/04/escape?page=all | title=Observer Travel Awards: Your holiday winners | date=2007-11-04 | accessdate=2007-12-12}}</ref> The city was also listed as one of the top 10 destinations in the UK on the official British tourist boards website Visit Britain,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.visitbritain.co.uk/ | title=Visit Britain | accessdate=2007-12-12}}</ref> and US travel guide Frommers have listed Cardiff as one of 13 top destinations worldwide for 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.frommers.com/trip_ideas/cultural_immersion/article.cfm?ideaID=CULTURE&articleID=4811&t=Frommer%27s%20Top%20Destinations%20for%202008 | title=Frommer's Top Destinations for 2008 | date=2007-12-04 | accessdate=2007-12-12}}</ref>
=== Language ===
''See also: [[Welsh English#Cardiff|Cardiff accent]]''
Cardiff has a chequered linguistic history with [[Welsh language|Welsh]], [[English language|English]], [[Latin]] and [[Norse]] dominating at different times. Although it was the [[Romans]] who established the "castle on the Taff" it was the [[Viking]]s who began developing the maritime trade from which Cardiff was to derive its prosperity. The [[Vikings]]—who controlled the Bristol Channel—used Cardiff as a raiding base, a port and a trading post. Many street-names in Cardiff are of Viking origin including Dumballs Road and the oldest street in the city, Womanby Street (Womanby Street is a corruption of the original Norse name Humandaby Street). Welsh was the majority language in Cardiff from the [[13th century]] until the city's explosive growth in the [[Victorian era]].<ref name="welsh">{{cite book | last=Jenkins | first=H Geraint | title=The Welsh Language before the Industrial Revolution | location=Cardiff | date=1997 | isbn=070831418X 9780708314180}}</ref> As late as 1850, five of the twelve [[Anglican]] churches within the current city boundaries conducted their services exclusively in the [[Welsh language]], while only two worshipped exclusively in English.<ref name="welsh" />
A substantial [[Irish people|Irish]] population settled in Cardiff during the 19th century. They were drawn to Cardiff by the work available on major building and engineering projects in the docks and the city itself. The intermingling of the Irish, together with migrants from the [[West Country]], the [[Midlands]] and [[rural]] [[Mid Wales]] is credited with having formed the distinctive flat-vowelled "Cardiff accent" (Roots to Cardiff exhibition, 2007). By 1891 the percentage of Welsh speakers had dropped to 27.9% and only [[Lisvane]], [[Llanedeyrn]] and [[Creigiau]] remained as majority Welsh-speaking communities. The Welsh language became grouped around a small cluster of chapels and churches, the most notable of which is Tabernacl in the city centre, one of four UK churches chosen to hold official services to commemorate the new millennium. Following the establishment of the city's first Welsh School (Ysgol Gymraeg Bryntaf) in the 1950s, Welsh has slowly regained some ground.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/2755217.stm | title=Census shows Welsh language rise|date=2003-02-14|publisher=BBC Wales|accessdate=2008-04-19}}</ref>
Aided by Welsh-medium education and migration from other parts of Wales, the number of Welsh speakers in Cardiff rose by 14,451 between 1991 and 2001; Welsh is now spoken by 11% of Cardiffians. The highest percentage of Welsh speakers is in [[Pentyrch]], where 15.9% of the population speak the language. <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.bwrdd-yr-iaith.org.uk/download.php/pID=9986.6 | format=PDF | title=Pentyrch Community Council Welsh Language Scheme | date=2003-06-01 | accessdate=2008-01-22}}</ref>
In additional to English and Welsh, the diversity of Cardiff's population (including foreign students) means that a large number of languages are spoken within the city. One study has found that Cardiff has speakers of at least 94 languages, with [[Somali]], [[Urdu]], [[Bengali]] and [[Arabic]] being the most commonly spoken foreign languages.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cilt.org.uk/pdf/pubs/positively_plurilingual.pdf | title=Positively Plurilingual | format=PDF | accessdate=2008-01-03}}</ref>
=== Festivals ===
The [[Big Weekend]] Festival is held annually in the city centre during the summer and plays host to free musical performances (from artists such as [[Jimmy Cliff]], [[Cerys Matthews]], the [[Fun Loving Criminals]], [[Soul II Soul]] and [[The Magic Numbers]]), fairground rides and cultural events such as a Children's Festival that takes place in the grounds of [[Cardiff Castle]]. The annual Cardiff Festival claims to be the UK's largest free outdoor festival, attracting over 250,000 visitors in 2007.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/music/sites/big_weekend/ | title=BBC Wales - Big Weekend | accessdate=2008-02-23}}</ref>
Cardiff hosted the [[National Eisteddfod]] in 1883, 1899, 1938, 1960 and 1978, and is set to host it again in 2008. Cardiff is unique in Wales in having two permanent [[stone circles]] used by the Gorsedd of [[Bards]] during Eisteddfodau. The original circle stands in Gorsedd Gardens in front of the [[National Museum]] while its 1978 replacement is situated in [[Bute Park]].
Since 1983, Cardiff has hosted the [[BBC Cardiff Singer of the World]] competition, a world renowned event on the opera calendar which is held every two years. The city also hosts smaller events such as The [[Cardiff Design Festival]], which began showcasing the best of Welsh design during the summer of 2005, and has since grown into a diverse range of designers exhibiting their work. Cardiff also hosts the [[Sŵn]] festival, a multiple venue music festival organised by [[Radio 1]] DJ [[Huw Stevens]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.virtualfestivals.com/Swn-Festival/|title=Swn Festival|publisher=Virtual Festivals|accessdate=2008-05-28}}</ref> The Cardiff Chinese New Year Celebrations, organised by Cardiff Chinese Community Services, are held annually at the Red Dragon Centre in Cardiff Bay.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.chinesecommunityservices.co.uk/ | title=Cardiff Chinese Community Services | accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref>
=== Parks ===
[[Image:Roath Park BillySastard.jpg|thumb|right|570px|The lake at [[Roath Park]], including the lighthouse erected as a memorial to [[Robert Falcon Scott|Captain Scott]]]]
Cardiff is known for its extensive parkland, with parks and other such green spaces covering around 10% of the city's total area.<ref name="trends">{{cite web | url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=4289 | format=PDF | title=Cardiff Population Trends | date=2006-01-04 | accessdate=2008-01-21}}</ref> Cardiff's main park, [[Bute Park]] (which was formerly the castle grounds) extends northwards from the top of one of Cardiff's main shopping street (Queen Street); when combined with the adjacent Llandaff Fields and Pontcanna Fields to the north west it produces a massive open space skirting the [[River Taff]]. Other popular parks include [[Roath Park]] in the north, donated to the city by the [[John Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute|3rd Marquess of Bute]] in 1887 and which includes a very popular boating lake; [[Victoria Park, Cardiff|Victoria Park]], Cardiff's first official park; and Thompson's Park, formerly home to an [[aviary]] removed in the 1970s.
In 2006 Cardiff won the prestigious Entente Florale award for large cities due to the beauty of its parks and floral displays.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?Parent_Directory_id=2865&nav=2868,4407,4409,4422|title=Cardiff - Entente Florale|date=2007-10-12|publisher=Cardiff County Council|accessdate=2008-05-14}}</ref>
=== Music and nightlife ===
{{main|Cardiff music scene}}
The Cardiff music scene is established and wide-ranging. It is the home to the [[BBC National Orchestra of Wales]] and [[Welsh National Opera]]. It has produced several leading acts itself and, as a capital city, has acted as a springboard for numerous Welsh bands to go and become famous both nationally and internationally. Acts who hail from Cardiff include [[Charlotte Church]], [[Shirley Bassey]], [[Catatonia (band)|Catatonia]], [[Super Furry Animals]], [[The Oppressed]], [[Kids In Glass Houses]], [[Los Campesinos]], [[The Hot Puppies]], [[Pagan Wanderer Lu]], [[Budgie (band)|Budgie]], and [[Shakin' Stevens]]. Also, performers such as [[The Automatic]], [[Jem (singer)|Jem]], [[Funeral for a Friend]], [[Lostprophets]], [[Bullet for My Valentine]], [[Stereophonics]] and [[Manic Street Preachers]] all have links with the city.
Cardiff has a strong nightlife and is home to many bars, pubs and clubs. Most clubs and bars are situated in the city centre, especially St. Mary's Street, and more recently Cardiff Bay has built up a strong night scene, with many modern bars & restaurants. The Brewery Quarter on St. Mary's Street is a recently developed venue for bars and restaurant with a central courtyard. Charles Street is also a popular part of the city.
=== Shopping ===
{{see also|List of shopping arcades in Cardiff}}
Cardiff is one of the top ten retail destinations in the UK,<ref name="stdavids2" /><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.yellgroup.com/espanol/media-pressreleases-2007-glasgownamedtopforshopsatchristmas | title=Glasgow named top for shops at Christmas | date=2007-12-06 | accessdate=2007-12-27}}</ref> with three main shopping arcades; [[St. David's Centre]], [[Queens Arcade]] and the [[Capitol Centre]]. The current expansion of St. David's Centre as part of the St. David's 2 project is allowing a huge piece of land between [[The Hayes]] and Charles Street to be demolished and redeveloped, bringing around 200 shops, flats and a [[John Lewis (department store)|John Lewis]] department store to the city. As well as these modern shopping arcades, the city is also home to many Victorian shopping centres, such as High Street Arcade, Castle Arcade, Wyndham Arcade, Royal Arcade and Morgan Arcade.
There are two main shopping streets in the city centre. Queen Street is home to the main chain stores such as [[Topshop]], [[Topman]], [[Boots]], [[Gap (clothing)|Gap]], [[Dorothy Perkins]], [[Primark]], and [[Zara]] to name a few. The second main street, St. Mary Street, is home to Wales' oldest and largest department store, [[Howells (department store)| Howells]], together with smaller independent stores. Also of note is the Hayes, home to [[Spillers Records]], the world's oldest record shop.<ref name="spillers" />
Cardiff has a number of markets, including the vast Victorian indoor [[Cardiff Market|Cardiff Central Market]] and the newly-established Riverside Community Market, which specialises in locally-produced organic produce. Several out-of-town retail parks exist, such as Newport Road, Culverhouse Cross, Cardiff Gate and Cardiff Bay.
There have been a number of issues relating to city centre shopping, most recently the cost of parking in the city centre and the experimental banning of private cars on St. Mary's Street. Both have been heavily criticised by some sectors of the media, public and retailers.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/nolpda/ukfs_news/hi/newsid_6990000/6990973.stm?region=60&userimagepref=off | title=Union enters city parking debate | publisher=BBC News | date=2007-09-12 | accessdate=2007-12-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/cardiff-news/2007/11/14/road-plan-could-be-one-way-to-disaster-91466-20103047/ | title=Road plan could be one way to disaster | last=Nifield | first=Philip | publisher=South Wales Echo | date=2007-11-14}}</ref>
== Media ==
{{main|Media in Cardiff}}
{{See also|Media in Wales}}
Cardiff is the Welsh base for the national television broadcasters ([[BBC Wales|BBC]], [[HTV|ITV]] and [[S4C]]) along with [[Capital TV]], a locally-based free-to-air television station serving the city on a [[Restricted Service Licence]].
The main local newspaper, the [[South Wales Echo]] and the national paper the [[Western Mail (Wales)|Western Mail]] are based in the Western Mail and Echo building in the city centre. ''Capital Times'', ''Cardiff Post'' and the South Wales edition of [[Metro (Associated Metro Limited)|Metro]] are also based and distributed in the city. There are also a number of magazines based in the city including [[Jazz UK]], [[Buzz (magazine)|Buzz magazine]], [[Primary Times]] and a monthly Welsh language paper called ''[[Y Dinesydd]]'' (The Citizen).
[[Red Dragon FM]] (based in the Red Dragon Centre located in Cardiff Bay) is the main radio station serving South Wales. A number of other radio stations also serve the city and are based in Cardiff, including [[Real Radio]], [[BBC Radio Wales]], [[BBC Radio Cymru]], [[Rookwood Sound]], [[Radio Glamorgan]] and [[Xpress Radio]].
[[xfm South Wales|Xfm]] started broadcasting from Cardiff on 29 November 2007, making the South Wales region its fourth dedicated area.
=== Use in media ===
Cardiff, along with [[London]], is one of the most-visited locations in the new series of ''[[Doctor Who]]'', due to the programme being produced by [[BBC Wales]] there. The spin-off ''[[Torchwood]]'' is set exclusively in Wales, with all but [[Countrycide|one episode]] being mainly set in Cardiff. In both programmes, a "[[Cardiff Rift|time rift]]" transects the city, with specific focus on [[Roald Dahl Plass]] and the [[Millennium Centre]]. In "[[Boom Town (Doctor Who)|Boom Town]]" and "[[Utopia (Doctor Who)|Utopia]]", the rift's recent activity is used to fuel the TARDIS, while in ''Torchwood'', the [[Torchwood Institute|eponymous secret government agency]] is based under the paving. Parts of "[[Gavin and Stacey]]", "[[The Worst Witch (TV Series)|The Worst Witch]]", "[[Tracey Beaker]]" and other popular television series are also filmed within Cardiff.
Cardiff was referenced by [[Tom Jones (singer)|Tom Jones]] in the [[Tim Burton]] film ''[[Mars Attacks!]]'' and was the setting for several scenes in the film ''[[Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man]]''. Cardiff is also the birthplace of Dalek creator [[Terry Nation]] and popular children's author [[Roald Dahl]], for whom the plaza outside the Millennium Centre is named.
==Sport==
{{main|Sport in Cardiff}}
[[Image:Millennium Stadium North.jpg|right|thumb|The Millennium Stadium]][[Image:Llanelli Bath Powergen Cup.jpg|right|thumb|The [[Llanelli Scarlets]] playing [[Bath Rugby]] during a [[Powergen Cup]] match at the [[Millennium Stadium]].]]
The city has a regional [[rugby union]] team, the [[Cardiff Blues]], who play at their [[Cardiff Arms Park]] stadium. The city also has a [[rugby league]] team named the [[Cardiff Demons]], as well as several amateur rugby clubs.
Cardiff's main professional [[football (soccer)|football]] club, [[Cardiff City F.C.]] (nicknamed the Bluebirds), currently play in the English Coca-Cola [[Football League Championship]]. Their present stadium is [[Ninian Park]], however a [[New Cardiff City stadium|new stadium]] is currently under construction, which is due to be opened in 2009 and will be shared with the [[Cardiff Blues]]. Cardiff has numerous smaller clubs who play in the [[Welsh football league system|Welsh Football System]].
Cardiff is also home to a county cricket side, [[Glamorgan CCC]]. The team play at the city centre's [[SWALEC Stadium|Sophia Gardens]] ground, which has undergone a multi-million pound improvement in order to host a [[Test cricket|Test Match]] as part of the [[2009 Ashes series]].
Cardiff's professional ice-hockey team, the [[Cardiff Devils]], play in their temporary arena in [[Cardiff Bay]]. The capital is the one of the centres of [[British Baseball]], and hosts the annual England-Wales international game every four years, usually at [[Roath Park]].
[[Image:GB Rally December 2006.jpg|thumb|left|A stage of the Wales Rally GB, hosted inside the Millennium Stadium]]
The Wales Empire Swimming Pool was demolished in 1998 to make way for the Welsh national stadium, the [[Millennium Stadium]]. The replacement pool, the [[Cardiff International Pool]] was opened on 12 January 2008 in [[Cardiff Bay]] as part of the [[Cardiff International Sports Village|International Sports Village]], and is the only Olympic-standard swimming pool in Wales.
The city also features an international sporting venue, the 74,500 capacity Millennium Stadium, where the [[Wales national rugby union team|Welsh rugby team]] and the [[Welsh national football team]] plays. The Millennium Stadium also doubles up as a venue for other concerts and events such as motorsport's [[World Rally Championship]] as part of [[Wales Rally GB]], with the first ever indoor special stages of the World Rally Championship being held at the Millennium Stadium in September 2005. It has continued to host this annual event.
==Notable people==
{{main|List of people from Cardiff}}
Many notable people have hailed from Cardiff, ranging from historical figures such as the 12th century Welsh leader [[Ifor Bach]] and the 17th century pirate [[Henry Morgan]] to more recent figures such as [[Roald Dahl]], [[Michael Aspel]], and [[Griff Rhys Jones]]. In particular, the city has been home to many sports stars such as [[Ryan Giggs]], [[Tanni Grey-Thompson]], [[Colin Jackson]] and [[John Toshack]] (the current manager of the [[Wales national football team]]) as well as many [[Premier League]], [[The Football League|Football League]] and international footballers.
Cardiff is also well-known for its musicians such as [[Ivor Novello]], after whom the [[Ivor Novello Awards]] are named. [[Shirley Bassey]] is familiar to many as the singer of three [[James Bond]] movie theme tunes, whilst [[Charlotte Church]] is famous as both an opera and pop singer, and [[Shakin' Stevens]] was one of the top selling male artists in the UK during the 1980s. A number of Cardiff-based bands, such as [[Catatonia (band)|Catatonia]] and [[Super Furry Animals]] were popular during the 1990s.
== Transport ==
{{main|Transport in Cardiff}}
Cardiff is the major transport hub in Wales and is the focus for many arterial road and rail routes that connect the city to the rest of Wales and England.
The [[M4 motorway|M4]] is the principal motorway in the region that connects Cardiff with [[Bridgend]], [[Swansea]] and [[Carmarthen]] to the west, and [[Bristol]], [[Swindon]], [[Reading]] and [[London]] to the east. Cardiff is served by junctions 30 to 33 inclusive of the M4, plus junction 29a leading onto the [[A48(M) motorway|A48(M)]]. The [[A470 road|A470]] is another major road within the city that provides an important link with the [[A465 road|Heads of the Valleys road]], Mid and North Wales. The [[A4232 road|A4232]] (also known as the Peripheral Distributor Road or PDR) when completed, will form part of the Cardiff ring-road system along with the M4 motorway between junctions 30 and 33.<ref name="Ring Roads">{{cite web |url= http://www.pberry.plus.com/ukroads/ring_roads/ |publisher= Paul Berry|title= Ring Roads |accessdate=2008-03-08}}</ref>
As with many other cities car traffic has caused congestion problems and as such the council has designated bus lanes to improve transport into and out of the city centre. The council has also revealed plans to introduce [[Road pricing|congestion charging]], as in London, but only once there has been significant investment in the city's public transport network. <ref>{{cite news | first=David | last=Williamson | publisher=Western Mail | date=2005-08-26 | accessdate=2008-01-22 | url=http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/business-in-wales/business-news/tm_objectid=15897829&method=full&siteid=50082&headline=congestion-charge-for-cardiff--name_page.html | title=Congestion charge for Cardiff?}}</ref>
There are several road and rail bridges that cross the [[River Taff]] in Cardiff. These include the Clarence Road Bridge, a comparatively modern bridge which replaced a swing bridge. The original bridge was named after the [[Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence|Duke of Clarence]].
[[Image:Roath Park 1 12-03-04.JPG|thumb|left|[[Roath Park]] in winter]]
Much of Cardiff's central shopping zone is pedestrianised, and further pedestrianisation is planned as part of the current St David's 2 regeneration scheme.
The [[Taff Trail]] is a [[Walkway|walking]] and [[cycle path]] running for {{convert|55|mi|km|1}} between [[Cardiff Bay]] and [[Brecon]] in the [[Brecon Beacons]] National Park. It runs through [[Bute Park]], [[Sophia Gardens]] and many other green areas within Cardiff. It is possible to cycle the entire distance of the [[Trail]] almost completely off-road, as it largely follows the [[River Taff]] and many of the old disused railways of the Glamorganshire valleys. On Sundays in summer the Beacons Bike Bus enables cyclists to take their bikes into the Beacons and then ride back to Cardiff along the Trail.
[[Image:Cbus.JPG|thumb|right|One of [[Cardiff Bus]]'s new double deckers]]
Cardiff has a comprehensive [[bus]] network, with council-owned [[Cardiff Bus]] providing the vast majority of routes in the city and as well as Newport, Penarth, Barry, [[Cardiff International Airport]] and Llantwit Major. [[Veolia|Veolia Transport Cymru]] and [[Stagecoach|Stagecoach in South Wales]] also provide services in the city.
Cardiff Bus has introduced [[Articulated bus|"bendy buses"]] on the popular 17 and 18 routes to Canton, Ely and Caerau and on the Cardiff Bay route. Its hub is [[Cardiff central bus station|Cardiff Central Bus Station]].
[[National Express]] provides direct services to most cities in the UK, including high frequency services to nearby [[Swansea]] and [[Merthyr Tydfil]], as well as major [[England|English]] and [[Scotland|Scottish]] cities.
[[Megabus]] also operates frequent discounted services to [[London]].
[[Image:CardiffCentral-front-02.jpg|thumb|left|Cardiff Central railway station, through which over 8 million passengers a year pass]]
Cardiff has a [[suburban rail]] system under the name of [[Valley Lines]], which is operated by [[Arriva Trains Wales]]. There are eight lines which serve 20 stations in the city, 26 in the wider urban area (including Taffs Well, [[Penarth]] and [[Dinas Powys]]) and more than 60 in the South Wales valleys and the [[Vale of Glamorgan]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk/WorkArea/showcontent.aspx?id=4776 | title=Network Map - Valleys & Cardiff local routes | publisher=Arriva Trains Wales | accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref> The council is investigating converting the [[Cardiff City Line]], [[Coryton Line]] and [[Butetown Branch Line]] into [[light rail]] line and extending them in the near future.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=3384 | title=Local Transport Plan | publisher=Cardiff County Council | date=2000-08-01 | accessdate-2008-05-20}}</ref>
[[Cardiff Central railway station]] is the largest railway station in Wales with 7 platforms, and one of the busiest in the UK. It provides direct services to major cities such as [[Newport]], [[Bristol]], [[Birmingham]], [[London]], [[Manchester]], [[Nottingham]], [[Southampton]], [[Portsmouth]], [[Newcastle-upon-Tyne]], [[Edinburgh]] and [[Glasgow]], as well as serving as an interchange for services from West Wales. There is also a regular shuttle service to [[Holyhead]] (for ferries to Ireland) and [[Wrexham]] in [[North Wales]].
[[Cardiff Queen Street railway station]] is the second busiest in Wales and is the hub for routes via the [[Valley Lines]] services that connect the [[South Wales valleys]] and the Cardiff [[suburbs]] with the city centre. It is located at the eastern end of the city centre, and also provides services to Cardiff Bay.
[[Image:CardiffAirport1.jpg|thumb|right|Cardiff International Airport]]
Two waterbus firms operate half-hourly services from [[Bute Park]] in the city centre to Cardiff Bay and onwards to Penarth. Throughout the summer (March to October), boats also depart from Cardiff Bay to take visitors to [[Flat Holm]] Island. The [[PS Waverley|Paddle Steamer Waverley]] and [[MV Balmoral]] sail from Britannia Quay (in Roath Basin) to various destinations in the [[Bristol Channel]].
Domestic and international air links to Cardiff and South & West Wales are provided from [[Cardiff International Airport]] (CWL), the only international airport in Wales. The airport is situated in the village of [[Rhoose]], {{convert|10|mi|km}} west of the city. There are regular bus services linking the airport with the Cardiff Central Bus Station as well as a train service from [[Rhoose Cardiff International Airport railway station]] to Cardiff Central.
== Education ==
[[Image:Cardiff University main building.jpg|right|thumb|[[Cardiff University]]'s main building]]
Cardiff is home to four major institutions of higher education: [[Cardiff University]], founded
by Royal Charter in 1883 as the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/about/milestones/index.html | title=About Cardiff University - Milestones | publisher=Cardiff University | accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref> is a "[[red brick universities|red brick]]" university and member of the [[Russell Group]] of leading research led universities; [[University of Wales Institute, Cardiff]] (UWIC) gained university status in 1992; The [[Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama]] is a [[college or university school of music|conservatoire]] established in 1949 and is based in the grounds of [[Cardiff Castle]]. The [[University of Glamorgan]] has a Cardiff campus, [[Atrium (Cardiff)|Atrium]], which is home to the Cardiff School of Creative & Cultural Industries. The total number of higher education students in the city is around 30,000.<ref name="cityprofile">{{cite web | url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/profiles/00pt.asp | title=Census 2001 - Profiles - Cardiff | accessdate=2008-01-18}}</ref> The city also has two [[further education]] colleges: [[Coleg Glan Hafren]] and St. David's College, although further education is offered at most high schools in the city.
Cardiff has eighty-six state primary schools (two bilingual, ten [[Education in Wales|Welsh medium]]), eleven infant schools, ten junior schools and twenty state secondary schools, of which two are Welsh medium.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?nav=2869%2C3047%2C3062%2C3904&parent_directory_id=2865&positioning_article_id=&language=&sortkey= | title=Cardiff County Council - List of Schools | date=2007-02-27 | accessdate=2008-01-31}}</ref> There are also a number of independent schools in the city, including Llandaff Cathedral School, Kings Monkton and [[Howell's School Llandaff|Howell's School]], a single-sex girls' school (until sixth form). Notable schools include [[Whitchurch High School]] (the largest in Wales),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.estyn.gov.uk/inspection_reports/Whitchurch_sec.pdf|title=Whitchurch High School: 2003 Inspection Report|last=Medhurst|first=B W|date=2003-03-28|publisher=[[Estyn]]|accessdate=2008-06-05}}</ref> [[Fitzalan High School]] (which is one of the most multi-cultural state schools in the UK),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.estyn.gov.uk/inspection_reports/Fitzalan_sec_2004.pdf|title=Fitzalan High School: 2004 Inspection Report|last=Owen|first=G|date=2004-12-13|publisher=[[Estyn]]|accessdate=2008-06-05}}</ref> and [[Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf]], which is the largest Welsh medium secondary in the country.
As well as academic institutions, Cardiff is also home to other educational and learning organisations such as [[Techniquest]], a hands-on science discovery centre that now has franchises throughout Wales, and is part of the Wales Gene Park in collaboration with [[Cardiff University]], [[NHS Wales]] and the [[Welsh Development Agency]] (WDA).<ref>{{cite web | title=Wales Gene Park | url=http://www.wgp.cf.ac.uk/listWorkProgProEd.htm | accessdate=2008-01-31}}</ref> Cardiff is also home of the largest regional office of the [[International Baccalaureate]] Organisation (IB). This office is home to the organisation's curriculum and assessment centre, which is responsible for overseeing the creation and grading of various IB assessments.
== Health ==
{{main |Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust}}
There are seven NHS hospitals in the city, the largest of which is the [[University Hospital of Wales]], which is also known as 'The Heath' or 'UHW', is the third largest hospital in the [[UK]] and deals with most accidents and emergencies. The University Dental Hospital, which provides emergency dental treatment, is also located on this site. Llandough Hospital is located in the south of the city.
The city's newest hospital, St. David's Hospital (built behind the former building) is located in the Canton area and provides services for the elderly and children. [[Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust| Cardiff Royal Infirmary]] is located on Newport Road, near the city centre. The majority of this hospital was closed in 1999 but with the West Wing remaining open for clinic services, genitourinary medicine and rehabilitation treatment. [[Rookwood Hospital]] and [[Whitchurch Hospital]] are also located within the city, along with Llandaff and Velindre Hospital (which is run by a separate NHS trust). In addition [[BUPA]] has a hospital in the city which is located in Pentwyn.
== International relations ==
Cardiff has [[town twinning|twinning]] arrangements with:
* [[Image:Coat of Arms of Luhansk Oblast.png|20px]] '''[[Luhans'k region|Luhans'k]]''', {{flagicon|Ukraine}} [[Ukraine]]
* [[Image:Pernik-coat-of-arms.svg|20px]] '''[[Pernik]]''', [[Pernik Province]] {{flagicon|Bulgaria}} [[Bulgaria]]
* [[Image:Bergen komm.svg|20px]] '''[[Bergen]]''', [[Hordaland]], {{flagicon|Norway}} [[Norway]]
* [[Image:Blason Nantes.svg|20px]] '''[[Nantes]]''', [[Pays de la Loire]] {{flagicon|France}} [[France]]
* [[Image:Coat of arms of Stuttgart.svg|20px]]''' [[Stuttgart]]''', [[Baden-Württemberg]], {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Germany]]
* '''[[Xiamen]]''', [[Fujian]], {{flagicon|China}} [[People's Republic of China|China]]
A total of thirty countries have a diplomatic presence in Cardiff. Many of these nations, such as [[Germany]], [[Italy]], [[Switzerland]], [[Denmark]], [[Canada]], [[Thailand]] and the [[Czech Republic]] are represented by [[Consul (representative)|honourary consulates]]. The [[Republic of Ireland]] has a permanent consulate, and the British Embassy of the [[United States]] operates a satellite office.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=11428&Language=|title=Expanding International Links|date=2008-04-01|publisher=Capital Times / Cardiff County Council|accessdate=2008-04-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cardiffontheweb.com/directory/directoryresults_768290_cat-140_type-768290 | title=Cardiff on the Web - German Consul | accessdate=2008-05-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.amblondon.um.dk/en/servicemenu/Contact/DanishConsulatesandViceConsulatesintheUK/ | title=Danish Honorary Consulates and Vice Consulates in the UK | publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark | accessdate=2008-05-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cardiffontheweb.com/directory/directoryresults_984756_cat-140_type-984756 | title=Cardiff on the Web - Italian Vice-Consulate | accessdate=2008-05-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home/reps/eur/vgbr/ukcons.html | title=Swiss UK Consulates | publisher=Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs | accessdate=2008-05-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/canada-europa/united_kingdom/honcons-cardiff-en.asp | title=Honorary Consulate, Cardiff | publisher=Government of Canada | accessdate=2008-05-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.mzv.cz/wwwo/default.asp?id=50466&ido=15692&idj=2&amb=153&ParentIDO= | title=New Czech Honorary Consulate in Cardiff | publisher=Embassy of the Czech Republic in the United Kingdom | accessdate=2008-05-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.assemblywales.org/N0000000000000000000000000046311.pdf|title=Wales in the World|date=2006-06-12|publisher=European and External Affairs Committee, Welsh Assembly|accessdate=2008-05-06}}</ref>
== Telecommunications ==
{{see also|List of Wales dialling codes}}
'''029''' is the current telephone dialling code for [[Cardiff]], having previously been 0222 and then 01222. However it is vastly misconceived (in the city but on a larger scale in South Wales) to be 02920 because initially, at the time of the new dialing code system, all numbers began with 20. Currently all newly issued numbers begin with 21. The code includes the neighbouring towns of [[Penarth]], [[Dinas Powys]] and [[Caerphilly]].
The city's dialling code was changed on [[22 April]] [[2000]] from 01222 to 029 in the [[Big Number Change]] along with [[London]], [[Coventry]], [[Portsmouth]], [[Southampton]] and [[Northern Ireland]] in response to the rapid growth of telecommunications in the late 1990s and the impending exhaustion of numbers. This measure increased the numbers of digits in the subscriber telephone number from 6 to 8, therefore vastly increasing the possible telephone numbers available.
[[Ofcom]] has allocated the range of telephone numbers from (029) 2018 0000 to (029) 2018 0999 to be used for drama purposes in television and radio. These numbers will not be allocated to telephone companies in the foreseeable future.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ofcom.org.uk/telecoms/ioi/numbers/num_drama | title=Number ranges allocated by OFCOM for drama purposes | publisher=OFCOM | accessdate=2008-05-20}}</ref>
== See also ==
{{portalpar|Wales}}
* [[Cardiff Bay]]
* [[Cardiff city centre]]
* [[Cardiff music scene]]
* [[List of cultural venues in Cardiff]]
* [[List of Parliamentary constituencies in South Glamorgan]]
* [[List of places in Cardiff]]
* [[National Assembly for Wales]]
* [[Wikitravel:Cardiff]]
* [[Big Number Change]]
* [[UK telephone code misconceptions]]
* [[Telephone numbers in the United Kingdom]]
== References ==
{{reflist|2}}
== External links ==
{{sisterlinks|Cardiff}}
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southeast/sites/cardiff/ Cardiff, BBC]
* [http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ Cardiff Council site]
* [http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=51.4862&lon=-3.1827&zoom=12&layers=B0FT Cardiff in Open Street Map]
* [http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.rss.html?pid=21373 View of Cardiff from Space]
* [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/catalogue.asp?gid=92 Cardiff Records]: the full text of the edition of historical records for Cardiff, edited by J. H. Matthews (1898-1905.) Part of British History Online.
* [http://www.cardiffworld.com/ Cardiff World Site]
* [http://www.cardiffians.co.uk/ Cardiff timeline etc. at Cardiffians.co.uk]
* [http://www.gtj.org.uk/item.php?lang=en&id=413&t=1 Aerial photograph of Cathays Park, Cardiff]
{{clear}}
{{Cardiff}}
{{Cardiff electoral wards}}
{{Communities of Cardiff}}
{{Wales subdivisions}}
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{{Commonwealth Games Host Cities}}
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[[Category:British capitals]]
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[[Category:Cardiff]]
[[Category:Cities in Wales]]
[[Category:Coastal cities]]
[[Category:Glamorgan]]
[[Category:Host cities of the Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Ports and harbours of Wales]]
[[Category:Principal areas of Wales]]
[[Category:Welsh county towns]]
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[[Category:Articles including recorded pronunciations (Welsh)]]
[[af:Cardiff]]
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