Looking to relocate to Cardiff but unsure of what the capital city has to offer?

10/09/12

Cardiff is a modern, lively, multicultural city that caters for all hobbies, interests and tastes. Along with a variety of social activities the city has to offer, it also boasts a wealth of employment opportunities. Take a look at this quick city guide to give you an idea of what is on offer.

Employment Opportunities

Looking for your dream job role?Cardiff is home to many big and lucrative companies which are looking to recruit top talent. Major players include companies and organisations such as; Admiral, Confused, The International Baccalaureate Organisation and the Welsh Assembly Government.

The redevelopment of the Cardiff Bay area has attracted numerous up and coming companies looking to recruit anyone from creative graphic designers to savvy sales executives looking to earn generous commission. Large institutions such as Blackhorse, Principality and Hugh James mean there are ample opportunities for HR professionals, accountants, directors from various disciplines.Cardiff is also recognised as area of excellence for call centres with First Source, British Gas, 118 and kgb Deals all choosing the Cardiff area as their base of operation.

Cardiff is also ideally situated to commute to Newport, Cwmbran, Caerphilly, Swansea and the Valleys which makes it a great location for employment opportunities.

Getting Around

Getting around the city is a breeze as there are plenty of reliable public transport services. It is worth mentioning that the city centre is easily covered on foot as many of the shopping centres are undercover and interlinked.

For all journey planning and information be sure to visit www.traveline-cymru.info

Travel Services

Buses

Cardiff has many bus services that travel in and out of the city. All the services are frequent with most buses arriving every 6 minutes (during week days). The bus is not only a greener way to get around the city, but also cheaper. There are also park and ride services available at selected locations and train stations.

Cardiff Bus being the main local bus operator runs a variety of buses to & from the city centre and Cardiff Bay. Prices are reasonable with a week’s unlimited travel costing around £15.00.

If you looking to travel from Cardiff central to Cardiff Bay all you have to do is jump on the “Bendy Bus” (No6) which will take you into the heart of the Bay. Alternatively if you fancy a stroll you can walk to the Bay from Cardiff city centre in around 30 minutes.

Stagecoach as with Cardiff Bus, frequently runs a range of buses to & from the city centre. A ‘Cardiff Megarider’ ticket for 4 weeks is £41.80 for unlimited travel within selected zones.

FirstGroup offer a range of buses around Cardiff city centre and around South Wales via their First Local Bus Network. FirstGroup’s services consist of the Greyhound, Ftrmetro and First Local Bus Service.

There are luxury coaches with WIFI and toilets all on board that allow commuters to travel between local cities in around an hour, e.g.Cardiff to Swansea,Cardiff to Bristol. Prices are reasonable with pre booked travel tickets at reduced rates.

Trains

Regular trains run from Cardiff’s Queen Street station to Cardiff Bay in addition to city stops. Regular trains from Cardiff Central Station make travelling across South Wales easy and accessible. If you’re planning on travelling further afield there are ample train linking Cardiff To London, Bristol, Manchester and various other cities in the rest of the UK. To access timetables, trains and ticket prices simply visit www.nationalrail.co.uk.

Taxis

Located around the city centre you find a number of black and white taxi cabs. Major taxi ranks are located in Cardiff Central Station, St. Mary Street (Opposite Cardiff Castle) and Greyfriars Road(next to Oceana). For Cardiff Bay you will find taxis located in Mermaid Quay (alongside Tesco). Well Known taxi rank companies are Dragon Taxis, Premiere Taxis and Capital Cabs

For a quirky mode of transport you can take a ride from Cardiff Castle to Cardiff Bay on the Aquabus – an hourly water taxi which leisurely cruises into the bay.

If that wasn't enough bikes are available to hire across the city! You can then take a cycle down the Taff Trail for a scenic route in & out of the city. www.cardiffpedalpower.org

Your New Home

If you decide to relocate to Cardiff, you will be need a place to stay! For rented accommodation within the city, check out the links below. Many of the agents also offer sale properties should you be wishing to make a more permanent commitment. Two bedroom rented accommodation within the city centre starts from around £600 PCM. You may wish to consider a larger house share property or find accommodation where the bills are included within the rental price.

Cardiff Homes

Property to rent & buy around Cardiff
www.cardiffhomes.co.uk

The Umbrella Homes

Property to rent around Cardiff
www.theumbrellahomes.co.uk

Pinnacle Letting Agency

Property management agents with flats and apartments for rent in Cardiff
www.pinnacle-group.com

Keylet

Letting agents specialising in professional accommodation within Cardiff Bay & City Centre
www.keylet.co.uk

Moginie James

Award winning estate agent with offices across Cardiff.
www.moginiejames.co.uk

Thing to see & do

Cardiff has lots to offer but where should you begin? Well, you won’t have to travel too far as there is plenty to see and do right in the heart of the city. You could catch a game in the iconic Millennium Stadium, cheer for the boys at Cardiff City or enjoy a live show in either the New Theatre, St David’s Hall, Sherman Theatre, Motorpoint Arena or the beautifully crafted Wales Millennium Centre. If you would rather a more active pass time, head of to Cardiff Bay and take a dip in the International Swimming Pool.

For an educational or historical day out Cardiff has many spots that you will want to visit such as the National Museum Cardiff (which is constantly offering new and exciting exhibitions) and Cardiff Castle.Cardiff residents are entitled to visit the castle and grounds admission free. Be sure to look out for events throughout the year in the castle such as the Cardiff Cheese Festival and bonfire night fireworks display (subject to admission fees).

If you are looking for a family day out venture over to St Fagans:National History Museum. Here you will learn the history and heritage of Welsh life. Whilst at the open air heritage site you can discover the cottages, mill, manor house and picturesque gardens. There is a bakery, period dress photography studio on site along with sheep, pigs, horses and cows around the farmyard. Best of all entry is free!

After so much adventure there is plenty of time to relax within this hub of activity, luxurious health spas dotted all around the city offer the perfect sanctuary away from busy city life. Many of the spas offer competitive discounts throughout the year on a range of treatments and you can even indulge in a spot of afternoon tea after your relaxing session.

If you prefer to keep your pulse racing gym lovers can train anytime of the day or night (literally), as Cardiff has a 24hour gym! Pure Gym also offers lots of classes at discounted rates to members. You can try a new class each week!

At night the city doesn't sleep, sip a cocktail in one of many bars on Mill Lane or make the most of the happy hour in Fat Cat’s cocktail bar before heading into Tiger Tiger or Oceana. Catch a live band in Live Lounge and then head over to Mill Lane and party until the small hours. The centre offers a variety of venues, so whether you’re into rock, pop or live music you will find your favourite watering hole.

Fill your tum

As with all cities Cardiff is no exception offering a huge selection of places to grab a quick bite or to indulge in a slap up meal with all the trimmings. From well know chains such as Pizza Express, Bella Italia and TGI Fridays to quirky restaurants such as The Potted Pig, The Meating Place & Madeira you will be spoilt for choice any may find yourself wanting to eat out every night. You could meet for a social gathering at The Social which has been awarded 2 AA rosettes located in Parc Thistle, where will have the option to order a few cocktails and nibbles at the bar or book a table to get a real flavour of what the menu has to offer. For somewhere different and to sample some top quality wines, pop into the nearby area of Pontcanna and visit the famous “Bully’s” restaurant. The decoration alone is worth the visit!

Education

Along with the fun and exciting leisure activities Cardiff has to offer, it also is home to some first class educational institutions. If you’re thinking of studying in Cardiff there are many locations you could choose from with a variety of courses to pick. There is also plenty of university accommodation located nearby and dedicated buses that shuttle to and from the universities at regular intervals during term time. Along with universities,Cardiff is the base for many of the regional branches of professional bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Marketing if you are looking to gain additional professional qualifications.

Universities

Cardiff University

Cardiff Metropolitan University

Cardiff and Vale College

University of Glamorgan

Professional institutions

Open University Wales

Chartered Institute of Marketing

Institute of Civil Engineers

Institute of Chartered Accountants

Student Accommodation Useful Links

www.cardiffstudentletting.com