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List of tallest buildings in Cardiff facts for kids

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Cardiff is the capital city of Wales. It has many tall buildings that make up its skyline. This article lists the tallest buildings in Cardiff that are at least 40 meters (about 131 feet) high. You'll find everything from beautiful old buildings like Cardiff Castle to modern skyscrapers.

Cardiff is growing, and so is its skyline! Like many cities in the UK, some of Cardiff's tall buildings were built in the 1960s and 1970s. These were often apartment blocks or offices. Today, new tall buildings are usually fancy apartments or modern office spaces.

Cardiff is the biggest city in Wales and has the most tall buildings in the country. The tallest building in Cardiff is Bridge Street Exchange. It stands 85 meters (279 feet) tall. It was finished in 2018. Before that, Capital Tower was the tallest for a long time, since 1970. It is 80 meters (262 feet) high.

Cardiff Council, which is like the city's government, has rules for tall buildings. They consider a building tall if it's 8 floors or more, or at least 25 meters (82 feet) high. They prefer new tall buildings to be built near other tall buildings. This creates a "cluster" or group of tall buildings that look good together.

Tallest Habitable Buildings

These are buildings where people live or work, either all the time or for a short visit.

Rank Name Height (m) Height (ft) Floors Year Built What it's Used For Image Notes
1 Bridge Street Exchange 85 279 26 2018 Homes and shops 71 Bridge Street (1), Cardiff city centre.jpg Student apartments
2 Interchange Tower, 4 Central Square 83.5 274 22 2023 Homes Cardiff Interchange April 2023 (crop).jpg Part of the new bus station area
3 Capital Tower 80 262 25 1967 Offices and shops Cardiff (25553306414) (cropped).jpg Tallest building from 1967 to 2018
4 Stadium House 78 (without spire) 256 (without spire) 17 1976 (Updated 2002) Offices Stadium House Park Street Cardiff.jpg Has a large spire on top
5 Zenith 75 246 26 2019 Homes The Zenith, Cardiff.jpg Student apartments
6 The Copper Works (Y Gwaith Copr), Capital Quarter 75 246 23 2023 Homes The Copper Works in Jan 2024.jpg
7 Altolusso 72 236 23 2005 Homes Altolusso, Cardiff - geograph-1940031-by-John-Lord (cropped).jpg
8 Tŷ Pont Haearn 63 207 21 2005 Homes Tŷ Pont Haearn, Cardiff - geograph-2106119-by-M-J-Richardson (cropped).jpg Student apartments
Meridian Gate 63 207 21 2009 Hotel Meridian Gate Cardiff.JPG
10 Tŷ Admiral 61 203 14 2015 Offices and shops Tŷ Admiral, Cardiff.JPG Designed by Glenn Howells Architects
Premier Inn (Stadium) Hotel 61 200 18 2023 Hotel and restaurants Premier Inn - Cardiff city centre, Custom House 8 December 2023.jpg
12 Holland House 60.3 198 15 1968 (Updated 2004) Hotel Mercure Holland House Cardiff.JPG Used to be an office building
13 William Morgan House 58 (about) 190 12 2020 Offices Named after William Morgan, a famous Bible translator
Helmont House 58 190 12 1984 Offices and Hotel Premier Inn, Helmont House, 10 Churchill Way, Cardiff.jpg
Brunel House 58 190 16 1974 Offices and shops Cardiff Queen St. (19540802739) (cropped).jpg Was once the main office for British Rail in the area
16 Horizon, Pendeen House 56 184 19 2014 Homes Pendeen House, Ferry Court, Prospect Place, Cardiff Bay.jpg
17 Vita Student Cardiff, 11 Park Place 55.2 181 18 2022 Student apartments Vita Student Cardiff, Park Place, Cardiff.jpg
18 Admiral House 55 180 16 2006 (Updated) Homes Admiral House Cardiff.JPG Not to be confused with Tŷ Admiral
19 Landmark Place 51 167 17 2004 Homes and shops Landmark Place Cardiff - geograph-5425051-by-Jaggery.jpg
20 Cardiff University Tower Building 50 164 12 University Tower Building, Cathays Park.JPG
21 Verse, 47-53 Charles Street 50.5 165 16 2023 Homes Verse apartments, Cardiff, 8 December 2023.jpg
22 Vega House, Celestia 48 158 2007 Homes Celestia, Cardiff Bay.jpg
Southgate House 48 157 13 1978 Offices and shops Southgate House, Cardiff - 3840761 90f48cb6.jpg Has two parts, one 13 floors, one 11 floors
24 Loudoun House 47 154 16 1964 Homes Loudoun House, Butetown.jpg Located in Butetown, a part of south Cardiff
Nelson House 47 154 16 1964 Homes Nelson House, Butetown.jpg Also in Butetown
26 ISIS 3D 46 151 15 2007 Homes ISIS 3D Cardiff.jpg
McKenzie House 46 151 12 University Old NPI Building, Newport Road, Cardiff.jpg Used to be called NPI House
Eastgate House 46 151 14 1969 Offices Eastgate House, Cardiff - 1954153 571d4531 (cropped).jpg
29 The Aspect 45 148 15 1960s (Updated 2003) Homes and shops The Aspect Cardiff.JPG Used to be an office building
Century Wharf: Strata 45 148 15 2009 Homes Century Wharf, Cardiff.jpg
The Neighbourhood 45 148 11 Homes and shops Coleg Glan Hafen City Road Cardiff (cropped).JPG Was once a college campus
32 Marriott Hotel 43 141 12 1986 Hotel and restaurant Cardiff Marriott.JPG
33 Channel View Flats 42 138 14 1965 Homes Channel View flats (Grangetown-Cardiff).JPG Located in Grangetown, a part of south Cardiff
34 2 Central Square 41 (about) 135 10 2018 Offices 2 Central Square 18 March 2020 (3).JPG

Tallest Uninhabitable Buildings

These are tall structures where people don't usually live or work. Their height often comes from things like spires, masts, or clock towers.

Rank Name Height (m) Height (ft) Year Built What it's Used For Image Notes
1 Stadium House 125 (with spire) 410 (with spire) 1976 (Updated 2002) Offices Stadium House with spire, viewed from Cardiff Central railway station - geograph.org.uk - 3080631 (cropped).jpg The spire was added in 2002. It is the highest point in Cardiff.
2 Principality Stadium 90 (masts) 295 (masts) 1999 Sports Stadium Cardiff Central railway station MMB 07.jpg Famous for rugby and concerts
3 Llandaff Cathedral 59.40 195 1290 Cathedral Llandaff Cathedral, LLandaff, Cardiff.jpg Located in Llandaff, a suburb of north Cardiff
4 Cardiff City Hall Clock Tower 59 194 1905 City Government Building Cardiff City Hall Tower.jpg
5 St Andrews United Reformed Church 46 150 1900 Church St Andrew's United Reformed Church, Cardiff - geograph.org.uk - 5857246.jpg
6 Cardiff Castle Clock Tower 40 131 1873 Historic Castle Cardiff Castle - geograph.org.uk - 1504532.jpg
St John the Baptist Church 40 131 around 1490 Church Cardiff, Church Street, St. John the Baptist.jpg

Buildings Under Construction or Planned

This list shows buildings that are currently being built, or have been approved to be built in the future (as of April 2024).

Rank Name Height (m) Height (ft) Floors Approved (Year) Being Built Now Image What it will be Used For
1 Custom House Street Tower 132 433 42 2016 No (building stopped after early work) - Student apartments and shops
2 5 Central Square 113 370 35 2023 No - Homes
3 Harlech Court, Bute Terrace 35 Proposed No Harlech Court, Bute Terrace, Cardiff geograph-4998521-by-Richard-Sutcliffe.jpg
Current building
Homes
4 John Street Tower (John Street - North) 99 2018 No - Mixed use (homes, shops, offices)
5 Hallinans House 99 32 2017 No Hallinans House, Cardiff (1).jpg
Current building
Mixed use
6 Apartment tower, 1-6 Guildford Crescent 96 30 2021 Yes Construction of Guildford Crescent tower, Jan 2024.jpg
In progress
Homes
7 Plot 1, Central Quay 90.5 296 29 2022 Yes Construction of Plot 1 tower, Central Quay, Cardiff.jpg
In progress
Mixed use
8 Friary House Up to 28 2024 No Friary House, Cardiff - geograph.org.uk - 5503444.jpg
Current building
Mixed use
9 Gramercy Tower, 6 Curran Road 84 275 27 2020 Yes Construction of Gramercy Tower, Cardiff January 2024.jpg
In progress
Homes
10 The Embankment 25 2023 No Riverside warehouses on the Taff - geograph.org.uk - 508419.jpg
Current buildings
Homes
11 Plot 2, Central Quay 76 249 24 2022 Yes Construction of Plot 2 tower, Central Quay, Cardiff Jan 2024.jpg
In progress
Mixed use
12 Plot 5, Pierhead Street 18 2023 Yes Plot 5 Pierhead Street - geograph.org.uk - 3914734.jpg
Current plot
Student apartments
13 Anchor Works, Dumballs Road 52 170 15 Yes Kingfisher Quarter, Anchor Works, December 2023.jpg
In progress
Homes

Tallest Demolished Buildings

This list shows buildings that were once among Cardiff's tallest (over 40 meters) but have now been taken down.

Name Height (m) Height (ft) Floors Completed Image Demolished During Demolition What it was Used For
Phase 2, Government Buildings, Tŷ Glas 73 239 18 1969
Phase 2, Ty Glas, Llanishen, Cardiff (cropped).jpg
February 2023
2024
Demolition of Phase 2, Ty Glas, Llanishen, Cardiff (geograph 7705970).jpg
February 2024
Offices for the tax department (HMRC)
Gleider House, Phase 1 Government Buildings, Tŷ Glas 44.50 146 11 1968
Gleider House, Llanishen.JPG
March 2020
2024
Demolition of Phase 1, Ty Glas, Llanishen 16 April 2024 (geograph 7752248).jpg
April 2024
Offices for HMRC and a cancer charity

Cancelled Developments

These are buildings that were planned and approved to be built, but the projects were later stopped.

Rank Name Height (m) Height (ft) Floors When it was Proposed What it would have been Used For
1 Bay Pointe 122.8 403 33 2008 Homes
2 Glass Needle Scheme, also known as Heritage Gateway Scheme 107 352 32 2005 Homes
3 Capitol Apartments 75 246 25 2008 Homes

See also

  • Cardiff city centre
  • Architecture of Cardiff

Images for kids

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