Cardiff

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Cardiff Bay, once known as Tiger Bay, was one of the busiest ports in the world. It was only in 1955, though, that Cardiff was proclaimed capital of Wales, and with the death of the city’s specialist subject, the coal industry, decades of decline followed well into the 1970s. Now, those dark days are a distant memory – the slums of the Bay have been transformed into glamorous quays festooned with life and culture. Boasting its own continental-style café quarter, scenic parks and several big league attractions, Cardiff now has something to offer everyone. Several of the city’s important landmarks have sprung up since the turn of the millennium, proving to all that Cardiff is enjoying a change in fortunes – not bad for a 53-year-old.