Things to do & places to visit in South Wales, United Kingdom

South Wales #20 destination in United Kingdom 2023. The average rating score is 4.56 based on 59.0k traveler reviews, of 30 attractions. Timezone: Europe/London, current date and time: Monday, May 06, 2024, 5:11.

Top things to do (23)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Big Pit National Coal Museum (2.804 reviews)
- Humbling
Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums • Historic Sites

Take a unique underground tour of a real coalmine, where hundreds of men, women and children once worked to extract the precious mineral that stoked furnaces and lit the household fires of the world. See more..
5.0 Gower Peninsula (2.084 reviews)
- Beautiful Mumbles
Points of Interest & Landmarks • Geologic Formations

Stayed in the beautiful Mumbles on the Gower in Wales. Fantastic beaches, outstanding countryside, glorious food and really friendly people. Maybe it did help that we had the hottest week of the year (94 one day) when all of our friends said it always rains in Wales do not believe everything you hear. If you are into walking you can walk all the way from Mumbles into Swansea along the beach if you time the tides right and get a little steam train part way back if you need it. Will definitely go back. See more..
5.0 Rhossili Bay (1.920 reviews)
- Beautiful beach, fab walks and plenty to eat and drink. Great day out.
Monday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent More than 3 hours Beaches

Rhossili Bay lies at the western end of the beautiful Gower peninsula. 3 miles of golden sands, iconic landscapes including Worms Head and Rhossili Down and history everywhere- from neolithic through to the more recent, including home to Edgar Evans. Its a walker's dream with routes in all directions, including the Welsh coastal path. The beach is dog friendly all year round and the whole area is beautiful whatever the weather. Today, the National Trust cares for 2 of the 3 miles of the beach, Rhossili Down, and most of the coastline between Rhossili and Port Eynon. (26 miles of Gower coastline in total). The landscape is free. The village of Rhossili also contains other private businesses. The car park is free to NT members during the day. Non members are currently charged £5 per day (car). There is no overnight parking/camping. All profits from the car park go towards keeping the area beautiful. Please note that the toilets are owned and operated by Swansea Council. See more..
5.0 Three Cliffs Bay (727 reviews)
- Paradise
Spent 1-2 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas

Love love LOVED this beautiful place. Was well worth the work to get to it ❤️ paid a small parking fee if £4 at the top of the hill and walked down. Was literally the only People on the beach for a short while. See more..
5.0 Llangennith Beach (539 reviews)
- Great outlook and beach walk
Beaches

Great walk along the length, and great views from Worms Head. Visited on two consecutive days; 1 sunny, 1 cloudy. The beach walk reminded me of some of the best Sydney beaches (having lived on the Northern Beaches for eight years, I’ve visited them all!). Not at all crowded, and great for walking the dog off the lead. See more..
5.0 Baked Bean Museum of Excellence (259 reviews)
- Captain Beany Superstar
Temporarily closed - Closed until further notice Spent < 1 hour Speciality Museums

PRIVATE MUSEUM & IMPERATIVE TO CONTACT PRIOR TO VISIT - As viewed on the Channel 4 recent heart warming and real life documentary entitled - 'BRITAIN'S WEIRDEST COUNCIL HOUSES', also featured on Vice & Ladbible websites, newspaper, travel magazines, newspapers & social media outlets. The 'Baked Bean Museum Of Excellence' based in Port Talbot, south Wales, is the only world's haricot museum displaying those heavenly delights dedicated to all baked bean devotees on the planet! The museum was opened in January 2009 by television, radio presenter and writer, Danny Wallace who is also Patron of the BBMofE! You shall be enthralled to view the various baked bean memorabilia containing a collection of global baked bean brands and adorned by orange inflatable seating arrangements! Not forgetting his unique Heinz kitchen and Branston Bean toilet facility. Many half-baked visitors from around the world duly testify that this is indeed ranked as number one tourist star attraction on Tripadvisor! See more..
5.0 Three Cliffs Bay (727 reviews)
- Paradise
Spent 1-2 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas

Love love LOVED this beautiful place. Was well worth the work to get to it ❤️ paid a small parking fee if £4 at the top of the hill and walked down. Was literally the only People on the beach for a short while. See more..
5.0 Llangennith Beach (539 reviews)
- Great outlook and beach walk
Beaches

Great walk along the length, and great views from Worms Head. Visited on two consecutive days; 1 sunny, 1 cloudy. The beach walk reminded me of some of the best Sydney beaches (having lived on the Northern Beaches for eight years, I’ve visited them all!). Not at all crowded, and great for walking the dog off the lead. See more..
5.0 Baked Bean Museum of Excellence (259 reviews)
- Captain Beany Superstar
Temporarily closed - Closed until further notice Spent < 1 hour Speciality Museums

PRIVATE MUSEUM & IMPERATIVE TO CONTACT PRIOR TO VISIT - As viewed on the Channel 4 recent heart warming and real life documentary entitled - 'BRITAIN'S WEIRDEST COUNCIL HOUSES', also featured on Vice & Ladbible websites, newspaper, travel magazines, newspapers & social media outlets. The 'Baked Bean Museum Of Excellence' based in Port Talbot, south Wales, is the only world's haricot museum displaying those heavenly delights dedicated to all baked bean devotees on the planet! The museum was opened in January 2009 by television, radio presenter and writer, Danny Wallace who is also Patron of the BBMofE! You shall be enthralled to view the various baked bean memorabilia containing a collection of global baked bean brands and adorned by orange inflatable seating arrangements! Not forgetting his unique Heinz kitchen and Branston Bean toilet facility. Many half-baked visitors from around the world duly testify that this is indeed ranked as number one tourist star attraction on Tripadvisor! See more..
4.5 St Fagans National Museum of History (7.381 reviews)
- Entertaining and informative
Monday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Speciality Museums

A walk around Wales – from Celtic times to the present day. St Fagans is one of Europe's leading open–air museums and Wales's most popular heritage attraction. See more..
4.5 Cardiff Castle (6.681 reviews)
- Cardiff Castle Tour
Monday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Castles

Beautifully ornate pleasure palace built by the Victorian architect William Burges. See more..
4.5 Cardiff Bay (6.184 reviews)
- Buzzing! Full of character and history
Monday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Piers & Boardwalks

Picturesque wharf lined with shops, boutiques and cafes. See more..
4.5 Principality Stadium (4.120 reviews)
- Our best experience in Cardiff
Monday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 AM Spent 1-2 hours Arenas & Stadiums

Principality Stadium is the home of the Welsh Rugby Team and one of the most iconic stadiums in the world. Sporting the first fully-retractable roof in the UK, the venue is at the leading edge as a multi-purpose, multi-faceted event venue. The Stadium is established as a world class must play, must visit venue and has played home to major sporting bodies and music artists over the years. From Madonna and U2 to David Beckham and Joe Calzaghe, Rugby World Cups & Olympics events, some of the world's greatest stars have set the stage alight here. Tours of the Principality Stadium are available through out the week. Experience the inner workings of the 74,000 seater stadium and see where the Welsh Rugby Team battle against opponents from across the globe and where the football titans of Europe fought for the 2017 Champions League Trophy. Principality Stadium Tours run 7 days a week and are £12.50 for adults & £9.00 for 5-16 year olds. See more..
4.5 Wales Millennium Centre (2.717 reviews)
- Beautiful theatre with an all-round great view!
Monday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Theaters

We’re so much more than a theatre. Our visitors enjoy blockbuster West End musicals, opera, ballet and contemporary dance, hip hop and stand up comedy, art exhibitions, workshops, training days, free daily foyer performances, guided tours, bars and restaurants... there is something for everyone. See more..
4.5 National Museum Cardiff (2.691 reviews)
- Loved the Natural History galleries
Monday: Spent 2-3 hours Art Galleries • Natural History Museums • Art Museums

Witness one of Europe's finest art collections. Five hundred years of magnificent paintings, drawings, sculpture, silver and ceramics from Wales and across the world, including one of Europe's best collections of Impressionist art. The building also has galleries showing the diverse natural history of Wales, as well as a journey taking you through the Evolution of Wales (with dinosaur displays) from the very beginnings of time to the present day. See more..
4.5 Caerphilly Castle (1.936 reviews)
- Largest castle in Wales
Monday: 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Castles

The fortress sprawls over a huge area making it the largest castle in Wales. Like the famous cheese, the castle has long been synonymous with Caerphilly. It dominates. Hogs the limelight. Think slumbering giant awaiting a call to arms. It's also a great backdrop for TV and film. It secured a starring role recently in the popular BBC TV series Merlin. The displayed opening times are our general pattern. Please check the Cadw website for specific times and days, including closures. See more..
4.5 Bute Park (1.863 reviews)
- Stunning park
Spent 2-3 hours Parks

Bute Park & Arboretum is an extensive area of mature parkland that forms the 'green heart' of Cardiff. Equivalent to 80 football pitches in size, Bute Park is one of the largest urban parks in Wales. As well as beautiful flowers and an abundance of paths and tracks to explore, visitor facilities include an Education Centre & Visitor Centre (open daily 12 - 3pm), 3 cafes, toilets, a woodland play trail, wooden sculptures and fitness equipment. There is a varied events programme, see Bute-park.com for current listings. A Grade 1 listed landscape, it contains designed views and interesting built heritage such as the remains of a medieval friary and the ever-popular Animal Wall. The magnificent arboretum contains “champion” (tallest or widest of their species in UK) and many rare and beautiful trees. The site is managed by Cardiff Council and benefitted from a £5.6M restoration project between 2010 - 2014, supported by a £3.1M grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. See more..
4.5 The Royal Mint Experience (1.803 reviews)
- Great Christmas Experience
Monday: 9:15 AM - 4:30 PM Spent 2-3 hours History Museums

The Royal Mint Experience is the only place in the world where you can watch the United Kingdom's coins being made. Go behind the scenes to follow the journey of a coin from a blank to a bank in our 45-minute Guided Factory Experience. After your Factory Experience, wander at your own pace through the Interactive Exhibition, discovering the incredible processes needed to make a coin. Come face to face with British monarchs over the past 1,000 years. Get up close to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic medals, and listen to the stories of those whose bravery has been rewarded with the UK's gallantry and service medals. Touch and hold a 400oz Gold Bar- worth approximately £400,000! See more..
4.5 Castell Coch (1.736 reviews)
- Brilliant
Monday: 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Castles

The beautiful fabled home of a very wealthy man. While resting on ancient foundations, Castell Coch (Red Castle) is relatively modern, the by-product of a vivid Victorian imagination, assisted by untold wealth. The Middle Ages fascinated the Victorians as much as the Victorians fascinate us today. High Gothic was the order of the day. The ‘eccentric genius’ William Burges was given free rein by his paymaster, John Patrick Crichton-Stuart, the 3rd marquess of Bute, to create a rural retreat to complement the opulence of his main residence, Cardiff Castle. He didn’t hold back. Dazzling ceilings, over-the-top furnishings and furniture were liberally applied. The displayed opening times are our general pattern. Please check the Cadw website for specific times and days, including closures. See more..
4.5 Tintern Abbey (1.697 reviews)
- Lovely & educational few hours all told.
Monday: 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Religious Sites • Churches & Cathedrals

The appeal of this exceptional Cistercian abbey remains as enduring as ever An area of outstanding beauty complemented by this outstanding beauty in stone. If only the walls could talk! The chants of countless monks echo through the masonry here. Despite the shell of this grand structure being open to the skies, it remains the best-preserved medieval abbey in Wales. The displayed opening times are our general pattern. Please check the Cadw website for specific times and days, including closures. See more..
4.5 Tredegar House (1.296 reviews)
- All rooms have been refreshed
Monday: 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Historic Sites

Tredegar House is one of the architectural wonders of Wales and one of the most significant late 17th-century houses in the whole of the British Isles. Situated within 90 acres of beautiful gardens and parkland, this delightful red brick house provides an ideal setting for a fantastic day out. ***Booking is recommended to guarantee entry. Please visit our website to see what's open*** See more..
4.5 Chepstow Castle (1.169 reviews)
- A step back in real history
Monday: 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Castles

Beautifully preserved Chepstow Castle stretches out along a limestone cliff above the River Wye like a history lesson in stone. There’s no better place in Britain to see how castles gradually evolved to cope with ever more destructive weaponry – and the grandiose ambitions of their owners. For more than six centuries Chepstow was home to some of the wealthiest and most powerful men of the medieval and Tudor ages. The displayed opening times are our general pattern. Please check the Cadw website for specific times and days, including closures. See more..
4.5 Techniquest (1.124 reviews)
- Fantastic science museum and the talks were fantastic - well worth a visit!
Monday: Spent 2-3 hours Science Museums • Observatories & Planetariums

Interactive, hands-on exhibits make this science discovery centre the perfect destination for visitors of all ages. See more..
4.5 Oxwich Bay (1.094 reviews)
- Better than the others
Beaches

Very dog friendly, unlike some of the other local beaches where there are restrictions. The beach is enormous so plenty of space, also the sand is hard and easy to walk on, there is soft sand by the dunes which will be ideal for excavating by small people. The tide goes out a long way so the place is safe. The car-park is large and very near the beach, a full day costs £6. The cafe does light bites and there is a rather posh restaurant on the beach too (which looks a bit pricey) but the view is brill. There are other shops and chip related eateries nearby. The well marked coast path goes along the beach. See more..
4.5 Roath Park (1.076 reviews)
- Picturesque beauty spot
Parks

Absolutely stunning in all weathers! Wether it’s cold and damp, or sunny and dry; it’s such a beautiful spot, that doesn’t feel like an inner city area! There’s a gorgeous little tea room over looking the lakes, an amazing park for the children to play - which I’ve played in many times over the years. There’s also an ice cream van near the entrance gates (possibly the best ice cream I’ve ever had) a gorgeous walk around the lake and then of course the flower gardens. There’s honestly something for everyone here! See more..
4.5 Raglan Castle (915 reviews)
- Fantastic castle
Monday: 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM Castles

The unmistakable silhouette of Raglan crowning a ridge amid glorious countryside is the grandest castle ever built by Welshmen. We can thank Sir William ap Thomas, the ‘blue knight of Gwent’, for the moated Great Tower of 1435 that still dominates this mighty fortress-palace. His son Sir William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke, created the gatehouse with its flared ‘machicolations’. These stone arches allowed missiles to be rained down on attackers. But Raglan came 150 years later than the turbulent heyday of castle-building. It was designed to impress as much as to intimidate. The displayed opening times are our general pattern. Please check the Cadw website for specific times and days, including closures. See more..
4.5 Caswell Bay (802 reviews)
- Best beach we found.
Bodies of Water

Although most of the beaches in this area are beautiful, Caswell bay was the best beach we found during our holiday. We arrived early, secured our spot and spent the next 6 hours exploring, playing on the sand and in the sea. The sea felt unseasonably warm which was a real bonus! The sand was golden and clean. Parking is just over the road, at £6 for all day it's great value. I would suggest getting there early though as it's not a huge car park. There are a couple of cafes there, and a kiosk/shop selling beach goods, hot and cold drinks, snacks, ice creams etc. See more..
4.5 Cardiff Bay Barrage (699 reviews)
- PROFESSIONAL
Dams

This dam transformed Cardiff's landscape from unsightly, marshy mudflats to dry, fertile land surrounding a pretty lake. See more..
4.5 Clyne Gardens (550 reviews)
- Incredible that you get all this for free!
Monday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Gardens

Beautiful park with amazing colours everywhere. We spent 3 hours here just taking it all in, exploring the different paths the kept throwing up surprises. Incredible collection of very well maintained plants with so many different colours - a photographer’s delight! Also great for dog walking, kids, picnics, gentle exercise - and all for free! Car park is a bit tight, but that’s free too, so can’t complain. Definitely worth a visit! See more..
4.5 Llancaiach Fawr (541 reviews)
- A great, interesting and live character experience!
Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks • Castles

This superbly restored gentry manor house is no ordinary heritage attraction. History here is tangible. The costumed servants of the house are living and working in 1645 and allow you to share and engage in their world. Fires crackle, candles flicker and the sounds and smells of domestic life make your visit a memorable experience of the past. It takes a moment to attune your ear to the unfamiliar speech within the Manor itself, but within seconds of your warm welcome you become immersed in the time of the Civil Wars and the cares and concerns of ordinary people living in extraordinary times. See more..