Welcome to Cardiff

Cardiff is a city that has something for everybody. Live life loud or take it at your own pace, Cardiff has it all to offer.

With a thriving event scene there's always something to experience. From historic sites and travel hotspots in easy reach, to rooftop cinemas, street food pop-ups, live theatre, coffee shops, global sports, music, festivals and so much more, you'll never struggle to find a way to spend your time.

Head in one direction and you'll be walking along a glorious beach. Head in another and you'll be climbing a historic mountain. Studying at USW is a great way to explore some of South Wales' biggest cities.

Our Cardiff campus is in the heart of the city centre and is very easy to access. From our Treforest and Glyntaff campus in Pontypridd, you can reach Cardiff in just 20-minutes by car or train.

From our Newport campus, it's just a quick 30-minute journey into the city.

Cardiff is a modern capital city that will surprise you. Indulge in our culture and see the historic and mesmerising sites that Cardiff has to offer. 

• Everyman Theatre
  
• Chapter Arts Centre
• Roald Dahl Plas
• Cardiff Central Library
• Cardiff Castle
• Senedd
• National Museum Wales
• Dr Who Locations Tour 

It’s the UK’s fastest growing major city and has been multicultural and cosmopolitan from the start. Here, you’ll find an amazing quality of life, more green space per person than any other UK city and lots of fantastic people.
 

From street food and pub grub to fancy cocktails and craft ales, Cardiff has it all.

We have a whole host of dining options for you to choose from in our vibrant city including popular chain restaurants and independent and local businesses. 

We have something for everyone! Not to be missed are our annual Vegan food festivals and don't forget to check out Cardiff Market for a unique shopping experience.

Feeling hungry or looking for somewhere to grab a drink? Here's our recommendations:

• The Botanist
• Grazing Shed
• Pho Cafe
• Honest Burgers
• Brass Beetle
• Bills
• Asador 44
• Vegetarian Food Studio
• Steak of the Art
• Greazy Vegan
• Mowgli Street Food
• The Philharmonic
• Pieminster
• The Alchemist
• The Flora
• Falafel Corner
• The Plan
• Annual food and drink festivals

From comedy gigs, theatres, pubs and clubs, to a thriving music scene with a solid foundation in both intimate and large-scale venues, Cardiff is a safe entertainment capital.

Some of the most popular venues in Cardiff are host to a wide range of entertainment:

• St. David's Hall
• Motorpoint Arena Cardiff
• Tramshed
• Clwb Ifor Bach
• The Glee Club
• Depot
• Wales Millennium Centre
• The Sherman Theatre

Purple Flag Accreditation

USW Popular and Commercial Music students planned and managed Immersed! Festival 2020.

Cardiff has been declared the UK's first ever music city thanks to its thriving music scene. USW contribute to this in the form of the Immersed! Festival, where students programme, promote and manage the event, as well as perform themselves alongside the best of up and coming Cardiff musical talent and established headline artists.

Headliners for USW's Immersed! Festival have included multi-platinum, award-winning artist and former Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft and co-frontman of The Libertines, Pete Doherty.

Cardiff is a sports capital with an incredible reputation having hosted many international sporting events including the Olympic Games and the 2017 UEFA Champions League Final. Whether you enjoy football, rugby or ice hockey, you can play and support local and international teams in the city.

• Cardiff Devils Hockey
• Cardiff Blues Rugby
• Cardiff City Football
• Glamorgan Cricket
• Bute and Roath Parks
• Ice Skating
• Principality Stadium

The University of South Wales has a strong sporting background and some of the best facilities in the UK.

USW has a thriving competitive sport environment, with a range of university teams competing in the BUCS (British Universities & Colleges) League. We pride ourselves on our sporting successes and it's a major part of USW student life. 

From well known high street brands to independent boutiques and quirky arcades, Cardiff's retail scene has plenty to offer.

• Queens Arcade
• St David's Shopping Centre
• Splott Market
• Castle Quarter Arcades
• Capitol Shopping Centre
• Cardiff Market
• Craft in the Bay
• The Morgan Quarter
• Dominions Arcade
• Spillers Records
• Charity Shopping 
• Vintage clothes sales 

In Cardiff, we work with private provider Unite to offer you rooms in their Halls of Residence. These en-suite rooms are right in the city centre directly opposite the ATRiuM building at USW Cardiff.

• Adam Street Gardens
• Private Accommodation

From luxury hotels to budget friendly b&b’s, you’ll never be far from all that the City has to offer. Here's our recommendations on where to stay if you're visiting Cardiff:

• Voco St. Davids Cardiff
• Premier Inn Cardiff City Centre
• Clayton Hotel 
• Radisson Blu Hotel
• Travelodge Atlantic Wharf
• Sleeperz Hotel
• Future Inn Cardiff