Cardiff is one of the most popular places in the United Kingdom to live. As the capital of Wales, and by far the country’s largest city, there is a wide range of cultures throughout Cardiff, as well as things to see, do and experience.
On the south coast of Wales, between Newport and Swansea, you will struggle to find a more scenic city than Cardiff. Cardiff Castle is a beautiful place to visit, known for its gorgeous interior, long history and the mesmerising views it provides over the city.
Meanwhile, slightly further north, you can go on some very relaxing walks through Pontcanna Fields – and who knows, you may even spot some plants or wildlife native to Wales.
Whatever your ideal lifestyle, Cardiff has an ideal neighbourhood for everyone. Therefore, if you are visiting the city for a short while, or are considering moving there permanently, it is useful to have a clear understanding of the town – including its amenities, population, developments, crime rates, job opportunities and more.
Our page below provides you with a clear area guide for the capital city of Wales.
Cardiff Amenities
Leisure centres, gyms and swimming pools are dotted around Cardiff – and are accessible to anyone with a small monthly payment.
There are also several free amenities throughout the city, too. St David’s Dewi Sant is the town’s largest shopping centre, and has lots of toilet and baby changing facilities for anyone who needs them.
You will also be able to get free Wi-Fi connection at hundreds of locations around Cardiff, which is ideal if you need to do some work on the go. A few more examples of amenities in Cardiff include:
- Cardiff Central Library
- Cafés throughout the city centre
- Roath Park and Bute Park, amongst others
- Car Parking spaces – open 24 hours in many locations
- Bicycle racks dotted around town
- Several Laundromats that you can use
If you need someone to look after your pet, or one of your children, for the day, then there are plenty of organisations that provide this service. Many of the buildings throughout Cardiff are also designed to be wheelchair accessible.
Cardiff Airport is in the far south-west of the city, and provides easy driving access to the main town centre. This is a large international airport which provides flights to many destinations overseas.
If you need a lovely hotel to stay in while visiting Cardiff, then the town has no shortage of those, either. Holm House and Crofts Hotel are both highly ranked by previous customers and are just two of the dozens you can choose from.
If you’d like information about selling your house fast in Cardiff, get in touch today.
Cardiff Population
The number of people living in Cardiff has increased by several thousand over the past decade. In 2011, a census indicated that there was a population of 346,100 in the town, but this figure is well above 360,000 today.
You will find a wide range of ethnicities and backgrounds in the people living throughout Cardiff, and this contributes to the exciting atmosphere and incredible culture. The approximate split between each ethnicity is as follows:
- White – 79.2%
- Asian – 9.7%
- Black – 3.8%
- Mixed – 4%
- Other – 3.3%
There is a wide range of religions between Cardiff’s residents, too. The most popular one is Christianity (which is only slightly behind atheism in the city), followed by Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist.
Population density varies depending on the part of the city you are in. Unsurprisingly, the majority of residents live in the city centre, with a lower density in the suburbs. The average age of someone living in Cardiff is 39.8, which is slightly below the UK average.
There is also a significantly younger age demographic (mostly below 30) living in affordable central locations, with people above the age of 40 sticking to the outskirts of the city, where it is marginally more expensive.
If you’d like information about selling your house fast in Cardiff, get in touch today.
Cardiff Developments
More people are choosing to move to Cardiff every year, and the reputation of the city’s foremost University – the University of Cardiff – brings in lots of young people, too. To meet these growing needs, the city is continuing to invest in additional infrastructure, transport and housing, so there is enough to go around for everyone.
One of the major housing developments planned for the near future is Central Quay, a city centre waterfront apartment block. Another example of redevelopment is that of the Howells department store in the city centre, which is due to be significantly revamped.
John Street is expected to be home to a new office building in the coming years, and the Atlantic Wharf area of Cardiff is set to be completely transformed over the next few years with more than 1,000 new homes, plus different types of entertainment, eating and leisure facilities.
If you’d like information about selling your house fast in Cardiff, get in touch today.
Crime Rate in Cardiff
If you are wondering, ‘How safe is Cardiff?’ then you are not alone. Compared to many cities in England, Cardiff has a relatively low crime rate.
There is also significant variation depending on the neighbourhood that you are in. For example, Cathays has by far the highest crime rate in the city, while areas such as Lisvane, Cyncoed and Radyr all have very low levels of crime.
The crimes that are most common in Cardiff include violent crime, anti-social behaviour, public order, shoplifting, criminal damage, theft, and vehicle crime. This is consistent with most other cities in the UK. Furthermore, there are several types of crime which have decreased in regularity over the past year, including:
- Burglary (down by 7%)
- Drugs crime (down by 14.4%)
- Theft from the person crime (down by 5.7%)
Other types of crime, such as vehicle crime and other theft crimes, rank better than the national average in terms of the regularity with which they are committed.
Lots of people who live in Cardiff describe feeling extremely safe while there – especially when compared to major cities across the border in England. Cardiff is also often considered by many to be safer than other major towns in the country, such as Swansea.
If you’d like information about selling your house fast in Cardiff, get in touch today.
Cardiff job opportunities
If you live in Wales and want to kickstart your career at a major company, then there are very few places better to start than in Cardiff. As the country’s capital, you will find that many of the biggest organisations in Wales are headquartered there.
Furthermore, the average salary of someone living in Cardiff is currently £39,300, which is higher than the mean figure throughout the whole of Wales. Women also have higher salaries in the capital city than in almost any other town in Wales.
Some of the large organisations that have headquarters in Wales include:
- Admiral Group
- Bank of Wales
- BBC Cymru Wales
- Confused.com
- TalkCardiff
- Welsh National Opera
The excellent transport links throughout Cardiff make it convenient for residents to travel to their workplaces. Some of the more popular commuter towns surrounding the city include Caerphilly, Radyr, Barry and St. Mellons.
The industries that employ the highest quantity of people in Wales are:
- Human Health And Social Work Activities (12.6%)
- Wholesale And Retail Trade; Repair Of Motor Vehicles And Motorcycles (10.8%)
- Education (10.4%)
- Public Administration And Defence; Compulsory Social Security (9%)
- Administrative And Support Service Activities (8.6%)
Cardiff’s employment rate was higher than across Wales as a whole in the year ending September 2023, and the number of people in full-time employment is higher than the UK average. This demonstrates the great employment opportunities that exist in the city and explains why so many companies have been investing there in recent years.
If you’d like information about selling your house fast in Cardiff, get in touch today.
Cardiff broadband speed
When you are considering moving to Cardiff, looking at broadband speed across the city is an important consideration. After all, with so many more people working from home in the modern day, having excellent internet access and phone signal has become a top priority.
According to Ofcom data, the average broadband speed in Cardiff is 296.8 Mbps. Many online sources rank broadband in the city as being better than other major towns, such as London, Manchester, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Birmingham.
The largest broadband providers in Cardiff are Vodafone, Sky, BT, Plusnet, TalkTalk and Virgin Media, amongst others. You are able to get a strong phone signal in almost every part of the city, making it easy and convenient to make and receive phone calls.
If you’d like information about selling your house fast in Cardiff, get in touch today.
Cardiff transport links
Cardiff City Council has expressed a commitment to improving transport links throughout the city – and a major part of this involves a focus on cycling. A new development in Central Square includes plans for a bike hub that will provide secure bike parking for commuters and visitors.
Cardiff Bus provides services throughout the entire city, seven days a week, and also provides links to surrounding commuter towns such as Barry and Penarth. This makes it convenient for people in rural or suburban areas to get into the city for employment, thus contributing to the city’s economic strength.
Cardiff Central Train Station provides convenient links to other towns such as Swansea, Haverfordwest and Carmarthen. You can use this station to travel to major cities in England, such as London and Manchester, and Cardiff Airport is also available for transport overseas.
If you want to walk in Cardiff, then the public walkways make this completely possible – especially in the city centre. Meanwhile, the M4 motorway runs adject to the north of the city, and provides an easy way to travel by car to cities in the west of England, such as Bristol and Bath.
If you’d like information about selling your house fast in Cardiff, get in touch today.
What to do in Cardiff
When you are visiting Cardiff and looking for ways to pass the time, you will have no shortage of things to do and see. The city is steeped in history and has a huge local economy for experiences and sightseeing.
Cardiff Castle is not only an incredible place to visit and a major landmark in the city centre, but it is also sometimes used as a music venue. Meanwhile, in the same part of town is the Principality Stadium, where you will often see Rugby matches and Football matches being played. If you enjoy sports or live entertainment, this is a great place to go.
There is a range of cathedrals, museums and markets throughout the Welsh capital city, which has something for almost anyone. These include:
- National Museum Cardiff
- Wales Millenium Centre
- St Fagans National Museum of History
- Llandaff Cathedral
- The Cardiff Market
- Castell Coch
- Caerphilly Castle
On the south side of the city, Cardiff Bay Barrage is worth visiting, with beautiful views out over the water.
If you are interested in more live entertainment, then there are music venues, theatres and art galleries that may grab your interest. Utilita Arena in Cardiff regularly hosts major music artists, as well as stand-up comedy with some of the biggest names around the world. The New Theatre in Cardiff hosts some outstanding live shows and musicals, and you can see art at many of the museums listed in the bullet points above.
There are plenty of days out in Wales that you can go on as a family, using Wales as a base. WWT Llanelli Wetland Centre is not a long drive from Cardiff – just on the other side of Swansea – while on the south coast in Barry, there are plenty of things to do and see.
If you’d like information about selling your house fast in Cardiff, get in touch today.
Where to stay in Cardiff
Hotels in Cardiff are renowned for their beautiful interiors and high quality service. Voco St David’s in Cardiff (and IHG hotel) is a five-star location, while Hilton Cardiff and the Parkgate Hotel both have lots of very positive reviews from previous guests.
Meanwhile, as with any major city these days, AirBnB has lots of very affordable rooms and apartments to stay in during your visit. These range in sizes, meaning that there is something for all the family if need be.
Some neighbourhoods in Cardiff are generally considered ‘more desirable’ than others, and this may impact where you opt for when staying in the Welsh capital. Some of the most affluent areas include:
- Lisvane
- Cowbridge
- Abersoch
- Cyncoed
- Radyr
On the other hand, if you want to stay in Cardiff on a tight budget, then neighbourhoods such as Ely, Roath and Grangetown.
You can find short-term lease options from estate agents in the city, or if you already have friends or family living in Cardiff, then they may be able to help you with accommodation, too.
If you want to sell your property to Cardiff cash house buyers, get in touch with us today.
What it’s like to live in Cardiff
Cardiff is an extremely desirable city to live in. Not only does it have high employment rates and low levels of crime, but there is an endless amount to see and do.
If you enjoy various cuisines, then the Welsh capital has you covered, and there is also plenty of convenient transportation that can take you on days out to other towns across the UK.
Perhaps most importantly, Cardiff has a very strong sense of community, and this is something described by almost all people who live there. The Welsh people are extremely proud of their capital city, and you can find huge groups of strangers gathering and sharing a laugh at:
- Christmas events
- Street markets
- Festivals
- Rugby matches and other sporting events
- Other events, such as marathons and fundraisers
There is a large student population in Cardiff, due to the main University being based there. Approximately 33,000 students are enrolled there every year, giving the city a ‘young’ and ‘trendy’ atmosphere that is sometimes lacking in other major towns.
If you are looking to make an investment in property, then Cardiff is an excellent place to do that, too. The average house price in the city varies depending on the property type – for example:
- Detached: £411,000
- Semi-detached: £257,000
- Terraced: £180,000
- Flat: £166,000
A typical property in Cardiff costs £234,000, which is far more affordable than the UK average of £350,000. So, with houses being so much less expensive in Cardiff but still maintaining an extremely high quality of life, the Welsh capital is attractive to people from all incomes and walks of life.
If you’d like to sell your flat quickly in Cardiff, get in touch with us today.
Cardiff weather
One of the common questions we receive about Cardiff is whether it snows in the city. So, if you are interested in what the weather is like in the town, you are in the right place.
July is typically the hottest month in Cardiff, with an average temperature of 16°C, and the coldest is February at 4°C.
Snow cannot be guaranteed every year in Cardiff due to its close proximity to the ocean air and also because it is surrounded by hills. However, it does happen occasionally and is usually reported at least once every couple of years. Snow is more common in the inland parts of northern Wales, where it is slightly colder. The mountain range of Snowdonia, in particular, gets snow more often.
Rain levels in Cardiff are consistently higher than some of the cities further east in England. Met Office Data ranked Cardiff as the rainiest city in the UK, beating Edinburgh as its closest rival.
If you go close to Cardiff Bay on the south coast of the city, you are more likely to experience heavy wind due to the ocean air blowing north into town. However, once you go further inland, this wind should calm down.
If you have property in Cardiff that you’d like to sell as quickly as possible, contact us today.
