Wales’s Capital City, Cardiff

Make our city your home

When it comes to choosing where to study, it’s not just about finding the right course – it’s about selecting the place where you’ll spend the next few years of your life. Although our city has a global reputation, it has a local feel – and one of the friendliest communities you could hope for. You’ll find the thriving student population mostly based in Roath and Cathays, two bustling suburbs brimming with independent cafés, bars, pubs and shops, both walking distance into the city centre.

A city for music and culture

Cardiff prides itself on its buzzing music scene. Home to smaller indie venues celebrating homegrown talent, like Clwb Ifor Bach, Jacobs Roof Garden and the Tramshed, you’ll also find internationally acclaimed bands at the Utilita Arena Cardiff and some of the world’s biggest artists performing at Principality Stadium. Stick around in the summer and watch a plethora of artists perform against the backdrop of Cardiff’s historic castle at the annual summer series of gigs.

A city for music and culture

Catch a show at the Sherman Theatre in Cathays, live comedy at The Glee Club in Cardiff Bay, or a film at one of Cardiff’s four multiplex movie theatres, Everyman Cinema and a handful of pop-up cinemas at Cardiff Castle and rooftop venues around the city.

The iconic Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay is a world-famous theatre and arts venue, ideal for musical fans, and at Chapter Arts Centre in the suburb of Canton you’ll find a cinema, contemporary theatre, bar and café all rolled into one.

A city for food and drink

When it comes to food, your first port of call is in the heart of the city centre at the historic Cardiff Market. Trading produce since the 1700s, Cardiff Market has now become the go-to venue for independent street food vendors, vintage clothing shops, traditional Welsh cuisine (warm Welsh cakes straight from the griddle!) and artisan coffee.

The city offers both big-name chains and an independent food scene with regular pop-up events and festivals around the city, such as the Street Food Circus.

A city for food and drink

You’ll find traditional pubs, cocktail bars, and craft beer bars alongside a mix of nightclubs which all host weekly student themed nights. Depending on your idea of a night out, Cardiff also has a host of social entertainment venues, such as board game cafés, retro arcade bars and competitive game bars.

Unique venues like The DEPOT – an independent, experience-led space established by Cardiff Met Marketing graduate Nick Saunders – offer a mecca for street food, live events and the notorious BINGO LINGO.

A city for sport

Spend your weekends in Cardiff soaking up the atmosphere at a host of different sports. From football at Cardiff City Stadium, international cricket at Sophia Gardens, to ice hockey with the Cardiff Devils in Cardiff Bay and international rugby at Principality Stadium, Cardiff has a wealth of events to keep you entertained.

And if you want to join in the heart of it, you could be involved in the annual Cardiff 10k and Cardiff Half Marathon. Or to ease into it gently, join one of the five weekly park runs across the city.

A city for adventure (and beyond)

For those seeking adventure, indoor climbing, white-water rafting, go-karting, ice-skating or swimming in a state-of-the-art Olympic sized pool are all at your fingertips.

You’ll also find some of the UK’s best surfing and coasteering, and biking, hiking or horse riding at the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park, all within an hour of the city. Cardiff is the perfect base for exploring everything that Wales has to offer.