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Like London, Cardiff is a city with everything. Cardiff offers rich history, plentiful beauty and attractions, bustling city streets and endless amenities, some of the brightest educational facilities in the nation and all of that with a seaside view.
The city of Cardiff has turned itself into one of the best cities to live in throughout the previous few decades, modernising the train transports to perfection, fixing every possible pothole and leaving and upkeep so much nature within itself, providing residents with fresh air, unlike any other major city in the county. If you want a piece of the action but don’t know where to start, here are the best places to live in Cardiff.
Best Areas To Live In Cardiff
These are the best places to live in Cardiff.
1. Cardiff Bay
The popular and beloved Cardiff Bay is an area of Cardiff located south of the city centre, taking up parts of the city around the bay and down the River Taff, places like Atlantic Wharf, Butetown, Century Wharf, Ferry Court, International Sporting Village and many more.
The area of Cardiff Bay was created as a commercial and leisure centre to provide a focus for development away from the traditional Welsh port areas like Cardiff Docks and Penarth docks.
The Bay area of Cardiff is usually the first recommendation for people moving to Cardiff because of its amenities and well-known attractions like the Wales Millennium Centre.
Cardiff Bay is best suited for young professionals and couples, mostly due to tight housing with options of flats and small terraces as well as entertainment consisting of trendy local pubs, restaurants and hangout options meant for adults most of the time.
A place like Cardiff Bay does offer some decent educational facilities and has plenty of local green spaces, so it’s all right for young families as well.
Despite the seemingly low average property prices, Cardiff Bay is one of the more affluent areas and also one of the best places in Cardiff, so we wholeheartedly recommend it.
2. Llandaff
North-west of the Cardiff city centre, across the River Taff, sits the area of Llanndaff.
Llandaff is without a doubt one of the best places in Cardiff for families to live in. Llandaff has great parks nearby, such as Llandaff Fields and Hailey Park, and great education with outstanding schools like the Bishop of Llandaff High School and Danescourt Primary School.
Llandaff has the historical Insole Court and Llandaff Cathedral as its staples.
Llandaff is also one of the safest areas of any town in the nation, meaning that your kids can safely walk to school by themselves without you expecting them to get harmed.
The Sunday Times has Llandaff as one of the best suburbs in the UK to live in, and why wouldn’t they? Above everything mentioned so far, Llandaff has plenty of modern amenities, along with independent shops, cafes and family-friendly restaurants.
Llandaff also has well-thought-out transport links, with the train running through the area, making it easy to get anywhere within or outside the city.
Another advantage of Llandaff is its affordability. With it being just slightly above the Cardiff average, Llandaff sits firmly on our list of recommendations if you’re moving to Cardiff.
3. Cyncoed
Another one of the excellent affluent Cardiff suburbs, Cyncoed is a sought-after area due to its fabulous schools, parks and amenities.
Cyncoed is right next to the very famous Roath Park north of the city centre. Roath Park has multiple sections like the Roath Wild Gardens, Roath Playground, Roath Conservatory and the ever-present Roath Lake. Roath Park also has the Scott Memorial Lighthouse.
The area of Cyncoed also has beautiful homes with a lot of history, as well as modern terraces and mansions, and with the plentiful amount of amenities, there is no reason to step out of the area for any reason.
Residents of Cyncoed get to enjoy affordable bus fares and a transport system that links to various parts of Cardiff.
Cyncoed is an ideal location for families seeking world-class education. It boasts a wide array of excellent schools, such as Cardiff High School and Lakeside Primary School.
If you intend to move to Cardiff, Cyncoed is the place to be. This affluent suburb, with its lovely houses, affords residents plenty of amenities and access to all that Cardiff has to offer.
4. Roath
Roath is another neighbourhood that has everything you need for the perfect family lifestyle.
Roath is an exciting place to live in, especially for young families. Roath has the best educational facilities in Cardiff and some of the best in the UK, such as Marlborough Primary School, Roath Park Primary School and Howardian Primary School.
With its name, it’s quite clear that Roath is near Roath Park, a popular, large and beautiful park. You also have other great green and open spaces for all age groups, such as the Howardian Local Nature Reserve and the Waterloo Gardens.
Living near the Cardiff city centre is expensive, and while Roath isn’t as close as some other areas, it has Newport Road going through it, meaning that you’ll reach the centre in just a few minutes, making it a perfect suburb for people working in the heart of the city and who also want an affordable place. The price sits below the Cardiff average, making it a perfect place to live compared to other suburbs.
5. Penylan
Penylan is an affluent area overlapping with the aforementioned Roath.
The green spaces are what make Penylan such an attractive place to live. Many parks and open spaces offer residents a chance to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. These green spaces provide residents with an opportunity to enjoy nature and wildlife, as well as exercise and play sports.
The people are friendly in Penylan. Many shops, cafes and restaurants sit nearby that you can enjoy, all just a short walk away.
Penylan has a strong sense of life and community spirit, with plenty of opportunities for residents to get involved in local activities, namely gardening groups, shops, walking groups, pubs, art classes or coffee mornings at the library. It also has the benefit of being close to Cardiff city centre, which offers amazing access for work or leisure purposes.
Penylan has excellent transport links for commuting into the city centre or travelling around other parts of Wales by train or bus, even to Cardiff Airport, which is quite far.
Penylan, while being more expensive than other neighbourhoods, offers tremendous value for those who intend to move to Cardiff.
6. Pontcanna
Pontcanna is an up-and-coming residential hotspot located in the west of Cardiff, Wales. With its picturesque views of the River Taff and close proximity to city centre jobs, it’s no surprise that so many have sought out this charming neighbourhood as their home.
Pontcanna Fields is one of the best places this district has to offer. It has many green spaces and is within a short distance of Llandaff Fields and Bute Park.
Pontcanna is brimming with fascinating attractions, such as the majestic Cardiff Castle, Chapter Arts Centre and Cardiff Queen Street.
This place also has all the facilities one could need, and its commute to the city centre makes it even more abundant in amenities, namely the Cardiff Central Station for easy commuting all around Wales.
Pontcanna has amazing shops, cafes, pubs, restaurants and parks. There are many people living there too, which means that it’s very social and active.
If you’re moving to Cardiff, Pontcanna is the perfect place for you. This vibrant neighbourhood provides an unparalleled lifestyle. However, be mindful that the average property price in Pontcanna may require a bigger budget than most other areas.
7. Penarth
Penarth, Wales, is a beautiful coastal town brimming with possibilities. Just south of Cardiff and situated along the sweeping shoreline, it is an ideal place to experience both peace and excitement.
If you are looking for a new home in a quaint setting with great pubs and shops, Penarth should be your first choice. Penarth offers a range of amenities, which makes it a lovely place to live.
Penarth grants you access to the sea and lush countryside, which has earned it the moniker ‘Garden by the Sea’.
Penarth is a perfect retreat for families wanting the rural village life without missing out on all that Cardiff city has to offer. Families will love this idyllic spot with plenty of social groups and activities guaranteed to satisfy any interest.
Penarth also has great educational facilities, namely Victoria Primary School, Albert C.P. School, Stanwell School and many more.
Penarth has a higher average housing cost than most other parts of Cardiff, but being one of the best places to live makes it all worth it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cardiff A Good Place To Live?
Cardiff is a good place to live. Cardiff has an abundance of parks and green areas, a bustling city centre, tons of attractions and beauty to be seen and on top of all that, Cardiff is one of the safest cities in the UK, all with an affordable cost of living.
What Is Cardiff Famous For?
Cardiff is famous for many things, namely:
- St Fagans National History Museum
- Cardiff National Museum
- Cardiff Castle
- Castell Coch
- Millennium Stadium
- Principality Stadium
- Roath Park and Scott Memorial Lighthouse
- Bute Park
- Insole Court
- Tredegar House
There are many more attractions in Cardiff. Near Cardiff are also the Caerphilly Castle and the stunning Brecon Beacons.
What County Is Cardiff In?
The county Cardiff is in is Glamorgan. The county of Glamorgan is also known as Glamorganshire, and it used to be the historic administrative county of Wales prior to 1996. Glamorgan is the most populated county in Wales, mostly due to Cardiff city, which is the most populated city in Wales, with 488,000 souls in it.
What Are The Best Villages In Cardiff?
The best villages in Cardiff are:
- Barry
- Caerphilly
- Miskin
- Porthcawl
- Chepstow
- Ystradowen
- Bridgen
If you’re talking about a village-like feel within Cardiff, then those places undoubtedly would be:
- Roath
- Llandaff
- Pontcanna
- Penarth
All of the places listed above have a quaintness to them and are stunning places to live in.
What Are The Best High Schools In Cardiff?
The best high schools in Cardiff are:
- Fitzalan High School
- Cathays High School
- Cardiff High School
- Ysgol Gyfun Bro Edern
- The Bishop of Llandaff High School
- Radyr Comprehensive School
- Cantonian High School
- St Teilo’s C.I.W High School
All high schools listed above are outstanding. In case you’re thinking of living in Penarth, it has its own brilliant Stanwell School.
Conclusion
So, what are the best places to live in Cardiff? Well, if you like tranquillity, the ones we’d recommend the most are Penarth and Llandaff, and if you want more vibrant surrounding, we’d most recommend Cardiff Bay and Cardiff City Centre. Regardless, all the places on the list are brilliant choices, and one will certainly fit your needs.
