Cardiff Bay Barrage

General information

This page is run by Visit Cardiff Bay representing the Tourist Information Centre and all the major attractions, businesses and hotels in the Bay http://www.visitcardiffbay.info/
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About Cardiff Bay...

Cardiff Bay is a diverse waterfront built around a 200 hectare freshwater lake known as ‘the Bay’. Find a great mix of Cardiff attractions, entertainment and events, coupled with vibrant bars and shops that create a truly unique atmosphere worthy of any capital city!

To help plan your Cardiff visit, first check out things to do in Cardiff Bay here:

>>> http://visitcardiffbay.info/things-to-do.html <<<

and then visit the events page here:

>>> http://visitcardiffbay.info/events.html <<<

to find out whats on in Cardiff Bay, including some of the biggest events in Wales. Practical information such as a map of Cardiff Bay showing Cardiff parking can also be found on our leaflet download page.
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Cardiff Bay background...

Cardiff's docklands have always played a major role in Cardiff's development. In the late 19th century coal from the Welsh valleys was transported through the docks to destinations across the world - powering the industrial age and powering Cardiff's development.

As Cardiff exports grew, so did its population; dockworkers and sailors from across the world settled in neighbourhoods close to the docks, known as Tiger Bay, and communities from up to 45 different nationalities, including Norwegian, Somalian, Yemenese, Spanish, Italian, Caribbean and Irish, helped create the unique multi-cultural character of the area.

After the second world war the coal industry declined and the docklands fell into disuse, but in 1999 new life was given to the area with the construction of the Cardiff Bay Barrage, which transformed an area of tidal mudflats into a 200 hectare freshwater lake and sparked the development of the surrounding area.

Cardiff Bay, just a mile from the city centre, is now a popular part of any visit to Cardiff. Visitors can enjoy a wide range of restaurants, bars and shops in Mermaid Quay, cruise or sail on the water, or explore attraction such as the impressive Wales Millennium Centre, Norwegian Church, brand new Doctor Who Experience, Red Dragon Centre or Techniquest - an interactive science discovery centre.

Cardiff Bay is now a mecca for Doctor Who fans from around the world. The new Doctor Who Experience sits next door to BBC Roath Lock Studios. The series is filmed around Cardiff and South Wales and you can spot many filming locations in Cardiff Bay.

Regular free festivals and events, such as the International Food and Drink Festival and Cardiff Harbour Festival, take place during the summer.

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Download more info here:

Visit Cardiff Bay 2012/2013 (English)
http://visitcardiffbay.info/dl/WP-leaflet-2012-13-english.pdf

Visit Cardiff Bay 2012/2013 (Welsh)
http://visitcardiffbay.info/dl/WP-leaflet-2012-13-welsh.pdf