Student’s guide to living in Cardiff in Uk

Cardiff is a multicultural, vibrant city, stuffed with stunning structure stretching all the way from Roman, to Norman, to Medieval, to present day.

Cardiff manages to strike a great stability of city life and nature retreat and even has the most important inner-city park space per person within the UK.

Throughout your time here be sure to go to Cardiff’s castle, which sits on the heart of town and is a superb reminder of its historical past dating back 2,000 years.

The most student-friendly suburbs

Our top tips about the place to live in Cardiff.

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The place your halls of residence are

Cardiff is a city that’s extremely student-friendly. Cardiffians are welcoming, up for a chat and always happy to offer directions – the perfect combination for a newcomer.

Whether you wish to go into halls of residence (most undergraduates do this in their first 12 months), or find a home, there may be actually something for everybody.

As a city, Cardiff is kind of compact. You’re always within walking distance of the local store, pub, hairdressers, fitness center and so on.

City centre

By residing within the centre, you’ve got instant access to the shopping centre, arcades, markets and nightlife.

Among the universities have their lecture theatres based right here also, for instance, the University of South Wales and Cardiff University.

To decide the place to live, find out the situation(s) of the course(s) you might be applying to, after which decide what sort of area you want to reside in. Lastly, weigh up which factors are most important to you.

Even if you aren’t living proper next to your college, Cardiff’s transport system is nice for getting around quickly.

Navigating Cardiff’s transport system

Cardiff’s transport system makes the city easy to navigate, with buses, trains and bikes (if you wish to keep fit while you’re getting from place to place!).

Buses

Buses around Cardiff are referred to as “Cardiff Bus”, and are very recognisable with their orange and green design. You can buy both single tickets, weekly tickets, or, in case you are between the ages of 16 and 21, it is possible for you to to get a travel pass card which provides 30% off all fares.

The Met Rider buses operate from Cardiff city centre to both Cardiff metropolitan campuses, and also to halls of residence.

Trains

Typically it’s easier and quicker getting trains around Cardiff, especially because they run so frequently.

Cardiff is serviced by 4 main stations that make navigating the city easy and give you the option to get out of Cardiff to explore further afield. Train fares are very moderately priced, particularly when you’ve got what’s known as a ‘young persons’ railcard’.

You’re able to apply for considered one of these in case you are between the ages of 16 and 25, getting you a 3rd off your fares.

This railcard is especially great if you’re travelling lengthy distance journeys.

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How to spend your first week in Cardiff

It’s your first week living in Cardiff and also you want to see what town has to offer.

Getting a feel for town, discovering your way round, and getting set up in your new city is probably going to be on the agenda for week one.

Monday

It’s the beginning of a brand new week, and a good time to get to know your new flatmates. You can always grab a coffee, get a chew to eat, and even go dancing if the mood strikes you.

Mill Lane in Cardiff City Centre is ideal for this. It’s a highway of restaurants, bars and clubs in the night, so that you won’t need to stroll far.

If you’re more of a day-time explorer, there’s Bute Park, situated within the city centre, or Roath Park in Roath, that are both great spots to chill out, take a picnic and have a good old-fashioned chat. Roath Park also has a big lake, and when it’s sunny, you may hire rowing boats and kayaks.

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Tuesday

It’s possible you’ll need to go out and get a number of things: toaster, kettle and cutlery by any chance?

Now that you have met your flatmates, you may all decide what you want, who’s shopping for what and the place you’re going to get issues from.

There’s an Ikea a short bus journey away from the city centre, or there are also plenty of student budget-friendly shops within the centre itself to get everything you want.

Wednesday

Wednesday is student sports night the place all three universities in Cardiff have their sports crew social nights.

It’s an opportunity to bond with your team, meet students from different sports activities groups and from other universities. Most of the nightclubs, pubs and bars will supply scholar discounts on meals, drink and entry.

Read: A student’s guide to living in Newcastle

Thursday

The National Museum is right by Cardiff University, and lots of the exhibitions are free.

Try to visit on a weekday (so it’s not as busy), and it’ll be a extra peaceful experience. There are constantly new things on here, so preserve an eye out on-line for upcoming events and shows.

Friday

Thinking of becoming a member of a sports club, or simply looking to keep fit? Cardiff presents swimming pools, ice rinks, rock climbing centres, trampoline parks and more.

Have a think about what you’d wish to try and see if any places are taking up club members. Most clubs will have taster sessions, so that you’ll never need to commit to something if you happen to just want to give something a go.

Saturday

The weekend is here! Saturday is a great day to go down to Cardiff Bay, both by train, foot or boat.

The boat runs from Bute Park to the Bay every half hour, taking not more than 30 minutes. There are plenty of restaurants to choose from, and most have a beautiful view over the docks. The Bay can be home to the Millennium Stadium, where many musicals and shows happen.

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Sunday

Sundays are nice for mooching around the many outdoor markets that Cardiff has to offer.

They often run within the mornings, so that you’ll probably be capable to match two in, possibly three, if you’re fast on your feet. Markets run throughout Cardiff, so wherever you’re living, there’ll most likely be one near you.

The Riverside Market, situated right by the Principality Stadium, has an incredible vibe and many different stands, from spices, to vegan cakes, to freshly made breads and local organic produce.

Check out the official UK Site here.

 

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