Experience in Cardiff, United Kingdom by Hannah

What is it like to live in Cardiff? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

It's a great place to live, with so much to do. Cardiff is just like any other capital city, but unlike London, it's way smaller, and everything is in the city centre. People are extremely friendly, and no matter what time you are out in the city there are always people around. There is something for everyone, and it has a lot to offer, with restaurants, bars, cafés, the museum, the castle, the bay. There is so much to do. When there is a rugby game in the Millenium stadium the city comes alive, and it is the greatest atmosphere! Cardiff never feels unsafe, even with lots of sports fans!

I would definitely recommend it as a place to live, it's been the best 3 years of my life, and I have no intention of moving.

What is the student lifestyle like in Cardiff?

The student lifestyle is excellent. Cardiff is known for great student nightlife, with Cardiff University Union and the several student nights at the clubs in town. There is a club night on every day of the week (at least it seems that way), and there is a place for every different taste in music.

But not only does it have an excellent nightlife, but also there are a great number of cafés where you can relax during the day, or if you want to study. With 3 different universities in Cardiff, students make up most of the population, which means that the city caters for every student needs. And it also means that there are so many different people to meet. If you're looking to study here for the year, and don't want to live in student halls, I would recommend the areas of Cathays or Roath, because that is where nearly all students from all universities live. It's an extremely fun place to live, with quiet parts too, if you don't like the hustle and bustle. Both areas are close to Cardiff Uni and Cardiff Met, and also there are a lot of pubs, shops, restaurants etc. in the area, so if you don't want to walk to the centre you don't have to. Cathays and Roath are about 15-20 minutes' walk from Cardiff city centre, but it doesn't feel that long, it's a very straightforward journey. It's a great place to be a student, with lots of places to go out, and lots of things to see as well. If you like being outside there is Bute Park, which is a great place to relax with friends. The Universities here are great with their students, and offer a lot of different activities to get involved with. Overall, this is a great city to study, and to be a student.

Source

How much does it cost to live in Cardiff?

In relation to other British Cities, Cardiff is quite cheap. The average rent is about £250-£270 a month in the right areas. There are cheaper and more expensive areas. Taxis are quite cheap too, with a journey from the city centre to Cathays (for example) at about £4 (for a 10-15 minute journey). In relation to cities like Liverpool and Manchester, which are in the North of England, Cardiff is a little more expensive, but compared to London, it is very cheap. There are a lot of cheap places to buy your food, one being the Cardiff market, but there are many supermarkets which are all reasonably priced too. I have been living on a student budget (so not a lot), and I have been able to afford going to see shows, going to watch rugby games, and I even joined a local gym. Cardiff is a city so it's slightly more expensive than the surrounding towns in Wales, but it's not too expensive that you can't do anything.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Cardiff? Is there any advice you can give?

It's not difficult at all to find housing. When you visit Cardiff you'll see that there are plenty of estate agents around. I'd suggest that you take a look at some websites before you move. If you can't find anything on Erasmusu, there are some good companies like CPS Homes, Pinnacle Letting Agency, 2Let2, which focus on Cardiff. Other places to look are RightMove, and Zoopla I don't know how much you'll find. The best thing to do is to email them, to see what is available and what they can offer you. If you are looking to study, and you're not moving to student residences, the best thing to do is to contact the university you're going to study at and ask them for recommendations. I don't know about Cardiff Metropolitan University, but Cardiff University has an estate agents within the student union, and they are very accustomed to helping foreign students find accommodation. If you have any problems contact the Erasmus office, and they might be able to give you some advice, or send you to the housing office. But don't worry, because there are always places to live!

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

The food is great. There are traditional Welsh dishes, the best ones are cawl (a type of stew) and welsh cakes - which everyone has to try! The Cardiff Market is the best place to pick up traditional Welsh foods, at good prices. The Welsh also have their own type of strawberries, which are delicious.

Source

What places would you recommend visiting in Cardiff?

There is lots to see in Cardiff, and in the surrounding areas. You should definitely visit the castle, and a walk around the bay is also recommended. You can also have tours of the Millennium Stadium, which is very interesting, especially if you like sport, or rugby in particular. Barry is a town near to Cardiff, which is home to one of Britain's favourite TV shows "Gavin and Stacey", so there are tours around the area. If you like Doctor Who (another TV show) there is a centre at the Bay, which you can visit, and have one of the most amazing Dr. Who experiences. There is also a laser quest, and a sports village. Also in the Bay, you can also make some white water-raft, surf, and do other water sports. There is a lot to do in Cardiff. There is also a historic site called St. Fagans, which shows different houses throughout different periods in history. It's also worth a visit.

Source

Source

Source

Source

Is it good to eat out in Cardiff? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

There are many different restaurants for a person to try. There are the normal types, Indian, Chinese, Tapas, British, and more unusual types of restaurants, such as Moroccan, Brazilian, Portuguese. One of my favourite restaurants is "Viva Brasil". They have waiters that bring to each table all different kinds of meat, with different seasonings. It's a little expensive but definitely worth it. There is plenty of choice in the Centre of Cardiff, but if you want somewhere slightly posher, the restaurants at Cardiff Bay are lovely, with a great view over the water. There is so much choice, and with plenty of variation in price and type of food. There is a great cafe, called Coffee Barker, that has the best milkshakes and cake - it's worth a visit.

Source

Is the nightlife good in Cardiff? Where is good to go?

There are many different clubs in Cardiff. One of the most popular, and one I go to often is 'Glam'. It has many different themed nights, and different genres of music. It's a good place to go with friends, and to dance all night! There is also 'Vodka Revolution', which is a little more expensive, but a good night out - especially on a Saturday. But there are other clubs such as 'Walkabout', 'Bunker' and 'DC', especially for students. If you like retro music, from the 60's and 70's, onwards up until the early 2000's then there's 'Retros' and 'Flares', which are also a good night out, but maybe after a few drinks! There's so many different clubs and bars that after 2 years I still haven't been to all of them!

What advice would you give future students heading to Cardiff?

The advice I would give is that you should grab every opportunity coming your way to have fun in Cardiff. It's a great place to have fun with friends, and to enjoy the city. Whenever there is any event in town you should definitely go, because Cardiff has so much to offer, and it makes your experience so much more enjoyable. The universities are great, and even hold joint events such as 'Battle of the Unis'. Work, obviously, but there is so much going on, not only in the universities but also in the city. So if you're only in Cardiff for the year, try and see as much as you can. Use the easy travel access to see more of Wales, and England, with easy travel routes to Bath, Bristol, London and Manchester. You only live once!