Exploring Cardiff's Museums

With a history spanning more than two thousand years, Cardiff is a city steeped in culture. The rich and colourful past of the Welsh capital is reflected in the city's many museums. Among the most notable are Cardiff Story, National Museum Cardiff, and Techniquest, two of which are within walking distance of many hotels in Cardiff.

Through its multiple exhibitions and hands-on activities, Cardiff Story recounts the city's evolution from a small market town in the 1300s to the modern capital it is known as today. Focused on the people and cultures that have shaped the capital of Wales, it is through their eyes that Cardiff's story is told. Located in the splendid Old Library, the gallery is divided into three areas: A Port of Some Importance, Changing Cardiff, and Working Lives. The areas each tell their own unique story through photographs, interactive activities, and objects of daily life. One of the most fascinating exhibits is a spinning dollhouse, decorated to reflect its change over the years. In the City Lab, young children can explore the mysteries of Cardiff's past by dressing up, recreating historical characters, and performing various craft activities.

Cardiff's most well-known museum, National Museum Cardiff, is home to one of Europe's finest art collections. The variety of artwork is impressive, and includes paintings from Old Masters such as Amico Aspertini and Jan van de Cappelle, as well as works by Claude Monet, Vincent Van Gogh, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. More than simply an art museum, National Museum Cardiff also features important collections of archaeology, natural history, geology, and zoology. A must-see, the Evolution of Wales exhibit is a multimedia experience tracing the history of Wales over the course of 3.5 billion years. It includes a breath-taking array of fossils, ancient creatures, and even mounted skeletons of dinosaurs. Covering over a thousand square meters of floor space, The Evolution of Wales is the museum's largest ever single exhibition.

Located in Cardiff Bay, Techniquest is the UK's oldest Science Centre. Techniquest has the unique distinction of creating nearly all its own exhibits. The Centre is dedicated to presenting science in an accessible way, and has a variety of hands-on activities to suit a wide range of interests. With over 160 interactive exhibits, Techniquest is a perfect family outing. Parents and children alike will take pleasure in exploring the Planetarium, Science Theatre, and Laboratory. Once a month, pre-school children can take their first steps in science by participating in Toddler Days, where parents are encouraged to join their children as they enjoy story-telling and crafts.

Whether learning about Cardiff's amazing history, studying works of art by Old Masters and French Impressionists, or spending an exciting day exploring science, visitors to the Welsh capital are certain to be entertained.