Cardiff Bay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cardiff Bay
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 Cardiff Bay
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| Principal area | |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | CARDIFF |
| Postcode district | CF10 |
| Dialling code | 029 |
| EU Parliament | Wales |
| Welsh Assembly |
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| Website | http://www.cardiffharbour.com/ Cardiff Harbour Authority http://www.visitcardiffbay.info/ Visit Cardiff Bay |
Cardiff Bay (Welsh: Bae Caerdydd) is a special area of water in south Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. It was created by building the Cardiff Barrage. People also use "Cardiff Bay" to talk about the whole area around this water.
This area is very important for Welsh politics. That's because the Senedd (the Welsh Parliament) is located here. Many people think creating Cardiff Bay was one of the best projects to improve an area in the whole United Kingdom.
The Bay gets its water from two rivers, the Taff and the Ely. This forms a large freshwater lake, about 500 acres (2 km²) big. Before the Barrage was built, the Bay was tidal. This meant boats could only get to the sea for a few hours a day. Now, three locks allow boats to access the sea 24 hours a day.
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History of Cardiff Bay
Cardiff Bay played a huge role in Cardiff becoming a major city. It was the main way to export coal from the South Wales Valleys to countries all over the world. This coal helped power the industrial age.
The coal industry made Cardiff grow into the capital city of Wales. It also helped the Third Marquis of Bute, who owned the docks, become one of the richest people in the world.
As Cardiff exported more coal, its population grew. Dockworkers and sailors from many countries settled near the docks. This area was known as Tiger Bay. People from about 45 different countries lived there, including Norwegian, Somali, Yemeni, Spanish, Italian, Caribbean, and Irish people. They helped create a unique multicultural community.
After the Second World War, most of the industries in the Bay closed down. The area became empty and run-down. But in 1999, new life came to the Bay. The Cardiff Bay Barrage was built. This was a very big and sometimes debated project, but it turned out to be very successful.
Cool Buildings in Cardiff Bay
St David's Hotel
The St David's Hotel & Spa is a fancy 5-star hotel. It has amazing views of the Bay and Penarth. It was built in 2000.
The Pierhead Building
The Pierhead was built in 1897. It was designed by William Frame. This building used to be the main office for the Bute Dock Company.
The Senedd
The Senedd is the building where the Welsh Parliament meets. It has a special room for debates and other meeting rooms.
Wales Millennium Centre
The Wales Millennium Centre is a famous arts center. It is home to the Welsh National Opera. Many shows and performances happen here.
Norwegian Church
The Norwegian Church Arts Centre is a historic wooden church. It was saved and rebuilt in 1992. It is now a place for small concerts, art shows, and meetings.
The famous children's author Roald Dahl went to this church when he was a child living in Cardiff.
Craft in the Bay
Craft in the Bay is in a renovated Victorian building by the docks. It is the home of the Makers Guild in Wales, where artists show their work.
Techniquest
Techniquest is a fun science and discovery center. It has interactive exhibits, a science theater, and even a planetarium. It's a great place to learn about science.
Roald Dahl Plass
Roald Dahl Plass is a big open area like an amphitheater. It's often used for carnivals and festivals all year round. It's named after the famous author.
Mermaid Quay
Mermaid Quay is a lively area by the water. It has many restaurants, bars, cafes, shops, and services. It's a popular spot for visitors.
The Tube (Cardiff Bay Visitor Centre)
This unique building was taken down in 2010. It was once called "The Tube" and was famous for its architecture. It used to have exhibitions and visitor information.
Fun Water Activities
- Cardiff Bay Barrage – You can get here by Water Bus or by road. It's free to explore, and you can even take guided tours.
- Cardiff Bay Wetland Reserve – This place has rare birds and a boardwalk. You can walk along it to a viewing platform.
- Cardiff Bay Yacht Club – This is one of the biggest yacht clubs in the UK. It's located at the Cardiff International Sports Village.
- Cardiff International Pool.
- Cardiff International White Water.
- Cardiff Rowing Centre – You can find this at the Channel View Centre.
- Cardiff Sailing Centre – This is run by the council. It offers watersports and sailing training on the Cardiff Bay Barrage.
- Cardiff Waterbus – This offers public transport and fun tourist boat trips around the Bay.
- Ice Arena Wales – This is an ice rink located in the Cardiff International Sports Village.
- Queen Alexandra Dock.
Shops, Food, and Entertainment
- Stylish shops, bars, and restaurants at Mermaid Quay.
- Cardiff Bay Retail Park – A place with many different stores.
- Mischief's Cafe Bar – A cafe bar that also has live music.
- The Coal Exchange – This building used to be a music venue. It is being turned into a hotel and museum.
- The Mount Stuart – A pub located in an old dock building from the 1880s.
- Cardiff International Sports Village – This area includes Ice Arena Wales and Cardiff International Pool.
- The Red Dragon Centre (also known as Atlantic Wharf Leisure Village) – A big complex with entertainment and leisure activities.
Cardiff Bay in TV Shows
Cardiff Bay has been used as a modern city setting for TV shows like Doctor Who and its spin-off, Torchwood. The show creators wanted to show Cardiff as a modern city, not just old stereotypes of Wales.
In Torchwood, there's a giant secret base called "The Hub" hidden underneath the Bay. The Torchwood team works from there. There's even a special lift from the Hub to the plaza that makes people not notice it. In one series of Torchwood, Cardiff Bay was the center of a bomb explosion that destroyed the Hub. Roald Dahl Plass is often seen in these episodes.
In a Doctor Who episode called "Utopia", the Plass is home to a special rift. The Doctor uses this rift to refuel his TARDIS. Office buildings in Cardiff Bay were also used in the Doctor Who episode "The Runaway Bride".
Getting Around Cardiff Bay
Cardiff Bay railway station is near Mermaid Quay. You can catch shuttle trains from here to Cardiff Queen Street railway station.
Cardiff Bus runs several bus services to the Bay:
- 1 – Bay Circle clockwise: This bus goes around Grangetown, Leckwith, Canton, Fairwater, Llandaff, Gabalfa, Heath, Penylan, Roath, Tremorfa, and Central Station.
- 2 – Bay Circle anticlockwise: This bus goes the same route but in reverse.
- 6 – Baycar: This bus goes from Queen Street station, through Central Station.
- 8 – This bus goes to the City Centre via Grangetown.
- 11 – This bus goes to Pengam Green via Central Station and Tremorfa.
- 35/36 – These buses go to Gabalfa via Central Station, Cathays, and Heath.
The Bay is located off the A4232 before the Butetown tunnels. It is connected to the city center by Lloyd George Avenue, Bute Street, and the Central Link Road.
The Pont y Werin bridge for walkers and cyclists opened in July 2010. This bridge completed a six-and-a-half-mile circular route around Cardiff Bay and Penarth.
A bike hire system started in September 2009. It has 70 bikes and 35 hire points around the city center and the south. You need to register to use a bike. The first half an hour is free, then you pay a small hourly fee.
Gallery
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Side view of the Norwegian Church
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Cardiff Bay at night
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Wetlands walkway in Cardiff Bay
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Cardiff Bay Barrage Control Building
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Three Bascule Bridges, Cardiff Bay Barrage
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View of Cardiff barrage at sea
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Cardiff Bay Barrage lock in use
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Sculpture by Jonathan Williams depicting Captain Scott, outside the Norwegian Church
Images for kids
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Cardiff Bay in 2008
See also
In Spanish: Bahía de Cardiff para niños
