Cardiff Bay, South Wales, U.K.

If you're looking for a pub or restaurant in Cardiff Bay then have a look at my Cardiff Bay Restaurant and Pub guide.

Since 1990 Cardiff Bay has changed from from a run-down wasteland to an area of wonder! Honestly though, the area is much better now than it was and is especially popular with the tourists. Though you wonder what the locals think about it all!

At one time Cardiff Docks was the busiest coal exporting port in the world. Today, the docks is hardly used and the only coal seen is coming into the country rather than going out.

The area has been re-vitalised, though the promised thousands of new jobs have yet to be seen. Most "new" white collar jobs in the area have been due to re-location from within the city itself. The new office and housing development has forced the displacement of 'dirty' manufacturing jobs out of the area. Redevelopment of the area has now moved on from providing jobs to now providing extensive housing. The area is now reaching the point of over-development.

However, the area has become a thriving tourist attraction. The area around the old Pierhead Building is very popular, especially at the weekends and during the summer holiday period. The area revolves around Mermaid Quay and the waterfront - a complex of bars, restaurants and designer shops. From the bayside at Mermaid Quay several trips boats offer trips around the Bay. Nearby, are the Millennium Centre, the Welsh National Assembly, the Norwegian Church and the Lightship.

The Oval Basin (one of the old locks to the docks) is a popular venue for open air concerts and fairs.

Away from the waterside area you can find older pubs and more traditional restaurants.

The Bay area has recently become well known to fans of Doctor Who as a large part of the popular sci-fi series is filmed in Cardiff Bay.

The whole Cardiff Bay area is well worth a visit.