Cardiff

For other uses, see Cardiff (disambiguation). "Caerdydd" redirects here. For the TV sitcom, see Caerdydd (TV series).

Cardiff
Caerdydd (Welsh)
Capital city and county
Skyline of Cardiff
Senedd building
Wales Millennium Centre
Llandaff Cathedral
Cardiff Castle
City Hall
National Museum
Central Library
Principality Stadium
Flag of Cardiff
Flag
Coat of arms of Cardiff
Coat of arms
Mottoes: 
  • Welsh: Y ddraig goch ddyry cychwyn, lit. 'the red dragon will lead the way'
  • Welsh: Deffro mae'n ddydd!, lit. 'awake, it is day!'
Cardiff shown within Wales
Cardiff shown within Wales
Coordinates: 51°29′N 03°11′W / 51.483°N 3.183°W / 51.483; -3.183
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
CountryWales
Preserved countySouth Glamorgan
City status1905
Capital city1955
Administrative HQCity Hall
Government
[1]
 • TypePrincipal council
 • BodyCardiff Council
 • ControlLabour
 • MPs
4 MPs
 • MSs
4 MSs
Area
[2]
 • Total54 sq mi (141 km2)
 • Rank19th
Population
 (2022)[2]
 • Total372,089
 • Rank1st
 • Density6,840/sq mi (2,641/km2)
Ethnicity (2021)
[3]
 • Ethnic groups
List
Religion (2021)
[3]
 • Religion
List
Time zoneUTC+0 (GMT)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (BST)
Postcode areas
CF
Dialling codes029
ISO 3166 codeGB-CRF
GSS codeW06000015
Websitecardiff.gov.uk

Cardiff (/ˈkɑːrdɪf/; Welsh: Caerdydd [kairˈdiːð, kaːɨrˈdɨːð] ⓘ) is the capital and largest city of Wales. Cardiff had a population of 372,089 in 2022[2] and forms a principal area officially known as the City and County of Cardiff (Welsh: Dinas a Sir Caerdydd). The city is the eleventh largest in the United Kingdom. Located in the southeast of Wales and in the Cardiff Capital Region, Cardiff is the county town of the historic county of Glamorgan and in 1974–1996 of South Glamorgan. It belongs to the Eurocities network of the largest European cities.[4] A small town until the early 19th century, its prominence as a port for coal when mining began in the region helped its expansion. In 1905, it was ranked as a city and in 1955 proclaimed capital of Wales. Cardiff Built-up Area covers a larger area outside the county boundary, including the towns of Dinas Powys and Penarth.

Cardiff is the main commercial centre of Wales as well as the base for the Senedd, the Welsh Parliament. At the 2021 census, the unitary authority area population was put at 362,400.[5] The population of the wider urban area in 2011 was 479,000.[6] In 2011, it ranked sixth in the world in a National Geographic magazine list of alternative tourist destinations.[7] It is the most popular destination in Wales with 21.3 million visitors in 2017.[8]

Cardiff is a major centre for television and film production (such as the 2005 revival of Doctor Who,[9] Torchwood and Sherlock) and is the Welsh base for the main national broadcasters.

Cardiff Bay contains the Senedd building and the Wales Millennium Centre arts complex. Work continues at Cardiff Bay and in the centre on projects such as Cardiff International Sports Village, BBC drama village,[10] and a new business district.[11]

  1. ^ "Your Council". Cardiff Council. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Mid-Year Population Estimates, UK, June 2022". Office for National Statistics. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  3. ^ a b UK Census (2021). "2021 Census Area Profile – Cardiff Local Authority (W06000015)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  4. ^ "Eurocities". Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 20 May 2008.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "Welsh Government Official Data – Stats Wales". Archived from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  7. ^ "'Gem' Cardiff in world's top 10 places to visit in 2011". BBC News. 22 June 2011. Archived from the original on 17 September 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  8. ^ "Cardiff Boasts Record Visitor Numbers During 2017". Business News Wales. 26 March 2018. Archived from the original on 7 July 2018. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  9. ^ "Doctor Who filming location in South Wales". VisitWales. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  10. ^ "Proposed BBC Drama Village at Media Capital, Roath Basin". Welsh Assembly Government. 14 December 2009. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
  11. ^ "Cardiff Business District 'needs skills and transport'". BBC Wales. 30 March 2011. Archived from the original on 2 April 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2011.