My United Kingdom: CARDIFF
Reader's Digest UK|September 2020
"IN CARDIFF, WITH THE ROOF CLOSED AGAINST A GOOD WELSH TEAM, THE NOISE IS IMPOSSIBLE TO IGNORE. THE WELSH UNDOUBTEDLY POSSESS SOME OF THE MOST PASSIONATE FANS IN THE WORLD" England rugby player, James Haskell
My United Kingdom: CARDIFF

The Welsh capital city, Cardiff, is renowned the world over for its rugby, castle and miles of traditional shopping arcades. It also has a reputation as an extremely friendly city, the centre point of the renowned Welsh hospitality. Incredibly, Cardiff was just a small town up until the early 19th century, when its role as a port for the Welsh coal industry propelled its rise to major city status—it was officially declared as such in 1905, becoming the capital of Wales in 1955. Since the 1980s, the city has undergone major developments, resulting in the huge Principality Stadium, BBC Drama Village and Wales Millennium Centre.

Despite these continual shifts in the appearance of Cardiff, at its core it remains a cosmopolitan, sociable city which deeply honours its roots and traditions. And its residents are always ready to welcome an outsider— especially if they have the opportunity to thrash them on the rugby pitch.

Stuart: I was born and bred in Cardiff and I could never leave. As a young man, you dream of travelling the world and living your life in a tropical paradise, but as you get older you realise that roots run deep and love binds you.

I love the people of Cardiff. I always feel proud when visitors comment on how warm Cardiffians are. It’s true that the whole of Wales is a very friendly place, but Cardiff is so cosmopolitan that it brings the best of people to one place. The spirit of Cardiff lives through its people—warm and welcoming and always offering a friendly word and a cup of tea to anyone who may need it.

This story is from the September 2020 edition of Reader's Digest UK.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the September 2020 edition of Reader's Digest UK.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM READER'S DIGEST UKView All
EVERY SECOND COUNTS: TIPS TO WIN THE RACE AGAINST TIME
Reader's Digest UK

EVERY SECOND COUNTS: TIPS TO WIN THE RACE AGAINST TIME

Do you want to save 1.5 seconds every day of your life? According to the dishwasher expert at the consumer organisation Choice, there’s no need to insert the dishwashing tablet into the compartment inside the door.

time-read
3 mins  |
Reader's Digest May 2024
May Fiction
Reader's Digest UK

May Fiction

An escaped slave's perspective renews Huckleberry Finn and the seconds tick down to nuclear Armageddon in Miriam Sallon’s top literary picks this month

time-read
1 min  |
Reader's Digest May 2024
Wine Not
Reader's Digest UK

Wine Not

In a time of warning studies about alcohol consumption, Paola Westbeek looks at non-alcoholic wines, how they taste and if they pair with food

time-read
3 mins  |
Reader's Digest May 2024
Train Booking Hacks
Reader's Digest UK

Train Booking Hacks

With the cost of train travel seemingly always rising, Andy Webb gives some tips to save on ticket prices

time-read
4 mins  |
Reader's Digest May 2024
JOURNEY TO SALTEN, NORWAY, UNDER THE MIDNIGHT SUN
Reader's Digest UK

JOURNEY TO SALTEN, NORWAY, UNDER THE MIDNIGHT SUN

Here, far from the crowds, in opal clarity, from May to September, the sun knows no rest. As soon as it’s about to set, it rises again

time-read
8 mins  |
Reader's Digest May 2024
My Britain: Cheltenham
Reader's Digest UK

My Britain: Cheltenham

A YEAR IN CHELTENHAM sees a jazz festival, a science festival, a classical music festival and a literature festival. Few towns with 120,000 residents can boast such a huge cultural output!

time-read
6 mins  |
Reader's Digest May 2024
GET A GREEN(ER) THUMB
Reader's Digest UK

GET A GREEN(ER) THUMB

Whether you love digging in the dirt, planting seeds and reaping the bounty that bursts forth, or find the whole idea of gardening intimidating, this spring offers the promise of a fresh start.

time-read
6 mins  |
Reader's Digest May 2024
Under The GRANDFLUENCE Suzi Grant
Reader's Digest UK

Under The GRANDFLUENCE Suzi Grant

After working in TV and radio as an author and nutritionist, Suzi Grant started a blog alternativeageing.net) and an Instagram account alternativeageing). She talks to Ian Chaddock about positive ageing”

time-read
3 mins  |
Reader's Digest May 2024
Sam Quek: If I Ruled The World
Reader's Digest UK

Sam Quek: If I Ruled The World

Sam Quek MBE is an Olympic gold medalwinning hockey player, team captain on A Question of Sport and host of podcast series Amazing Starts Here

time-read
3 mins  |
Reader's Digest May 2024
Stand Tall, Ladies
Reader's Digest UK

Stand Tall, Ladies

Shorter men may be having their moment, but where are the tall women?

time-read
3 mins  |
Reader's Digest May 2024