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Cardiff Bay Walking Tour: Journey Through History and Iconic Architecture with a Local Expert

5.0

16 Ratings

Cardiff

Discover the rich history and iconic architecture of Cardiff Bay on a walking tour led by a knowledgeable local guide. Explore the transformation from a bustling coal port to a cosmopolitan hub, and enjoy a coffee break at a famous Bay building.

Duration: 2 hours

Cancellation: 1 day learn more

Highlights

Pierhead Building - We will start and end the tour here.
Stop at the exterior and hear the history
Senedd - Senedd, Welsh Parliament - We will visit exterior and hear history.
Norwegian Church Arts Centre - View the exterior and hear the history
Cardiff Bay Barrage - Cardiff Bay barrage is one of the biggest regeneration projects in the UK. A 500 acre fresh water lake has been created by holding back the sea and 8 miles of water side land created for leisure development. We will have an orientation tour.
Mermaid Quay - We will take a waterfront walk, learn about the development of Cardiff Bay and the history of Cardiff Docks and Tiger Bay
Wales Millennium Centre - View the exterior and learn the history.

If the building is open we can go into the foyer area

Mount Stuart Square - We will take a walk around the historic quarter of Cardiff Bay and learn more about Tiger Bay and Canal Park.
The Coal Exchange Hotel - Visit the exterior and learn the history.
If the building is open we can go in to see the reception and the former trading floor

What's Included

All fees and taxes included

What's Not Included

Tea and coffee

Additional Information

The distinctive design of Cardiff Bay is globally renowned, painting a picture of its iconic past. It’s fascinating to recollect that a century ago, Cardiff was known as the world’s largest coal harbour. Countless tons of iron and coal were shipped to different parts of the world, laying railway tracks, powering machinery, and fuelling the globe.

Dubbed ‘Tiger Bay’, rough, and dynamic, Cardiff was among the world’s most diverse places at its time.

This guided expedition offers a journey through time, recounting tales mirrored in historic, transformed, and modern structures.

The tour features a complimentary coffee/refreshment at a legendary Bay establishment.

Images from the Tiger Bay historical archive will be showcased to demonstrate the Bay’s evolution.

The guide leading the tour is a certified local expert affiliated with the Wales Official Tourist Guides Association. These guides are the only ones officially approved by Visit Wales and the Welsh Government for guiding in Wales. They have successfully undergone rigorous practical and theoretical training courses.

Location

Pierhead Building

This is a very large red brick building, near Mermaid Quay in Cardiff Bay. Next to the Millennium Centre and the Senedd - Welsh Parliament

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings

5.0

(16 Ratings)

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1 star

Sarajosmond

Apr 24, 2023

Informative tour - Excellent walking tour with Lucy. There were only 2 of us so we had an exclusive tour which was great. Lucy is very knowledgeable and delivers the information in an interesting and approachable way. We even saw some Daleks and a local celebrity! I would definitely recommend this tour.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Johngr8701dk

Feb 13, 2023

A great morning exploring Cardiff Bay - Lucy took four of us on her Cardiff Bay Walking tour, it was great. Lots of history and detail with out being too dry, and all delivered by Lucy in a friendly and good natured way. It ticked all the boxes for us and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend you book this tour with lucy if you wish to understand more of Cardiff Bay, it's history and the redevelopment of the area.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Ashwin_a

Jul 13, 2022

Great - The tour guide was great at her job and showed me the other tourists a lot about the history of Cardiff and the bay. I would certainly recommend this tour should you visit Cardiff

Review provided by Viator

B3399bavictoriae

Jun 21, 2022

A tour to remember and not to be missed ! - We had an absolutely marvellous tour with Lucy around Cardiff Bay. It was a tour full of history, architecture, socio-economics, all delivered by Lucy in a very light and deft way, and well illustrated by historical photographs which she brought along. The tour was full of contrasts; from the phenomenal growth of Cardiff to become the coal capital of the world, to the city's decline as the era of coal waned, then to the redevelopment and regeneration of the Bay. I would like to say that I recently went on Lucy's tour of the city centre which dovetails with this tour, and which for me really enhanced the whole experience. I would really recommend doing both tours to get the full impact of Cardiff's history, but in any event this tour of the Cardiff Bay nails it and should not be missed. Diolch Lucy !

Review provided by Tripadvisor

1libertyh

Oct 11, 2021

Learnt so many interesting facts!! - Booked this tour for my boyfriend's Birthday as we love to do a walking tour when in a new city. I learnt so much about the history of Cardiff, the families instrumental in its developments and a few fun facts i've been regurgitating to friends and family since being back. This is great value for money, you'll be in safe hands and experience sights you would only have ever walked passed had you had this guide. Don't think about it, just book you won't be disappointed :)

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Bongstraveller

Sep 25, 2021

Great tour around the bay - We were the only 2 people of Lucy’s tour so she felt like our own private guide. Had a great tour around the bay and the tidal barrage. It was a very informative tour and is highly recommended.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Anita

Sep 22, 2021

Informative and enjoyable - We really enjoyed our tour. It was leisurely and informal, at our own pace. We learned all about the history of Cardiff and the ‘black gold rush’, as well as all the modern redevelopment. There was filming for a Netflix series ‘Havoc’, which was fun. The coal exchange was fascinating. A must-do trip when visiting Cardiff.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Adam_s

Sep 22, 2021

A Brilliantly Bespoke Cardiff Bay Walk - This guided tour was absolutely wonderful, helped also by the weather being very pleasant on our journey around Cardiff Bay. Lucy, our guide, spoke wonderfully about the bay and surrounding area. We were delighted by the story of Cardiff's past and the transformation over the recent decades. There were only two of us on the walking tour so the guide was tailored to be a more casual conversation with a (very knowledgable) local friend.

Review provided by Viator

Jane642017

Sep 20, 2021

A Glimpse into the Secrets of Cardiff Bay - This was an excellent tour - I learnt so much. Lucy has the knowledge and ability to pass on her inspiring nuggets of information in a fun, but meaningful way. Theses are the sort of tours I love - thank you so much, the whole tour was a fascinating glimpse into both the past and the present, possibly even the future!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Erica

Sep 19, 2021

Lovely morning around Cardiff Bay - Lucy was lovely and very knowledgeable. Learned so much about the history of Cardiff and saw little nooks around the bay that I otherwise would have missed. Thanks Lucy!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

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up to 7 guests

1 Adult