Top Things to do in South Wales
Top Hotels in South Wales
- 1. The Royal Hotel Cardiff
- 2. The Coal Exchange Hotel Cardiff
- 3. voco St. David's Cardiff, an IHG Hotel
- 4. Future Inn Cardiff Bay
- 5. Hotel Indigo Cardiff, an IHG Hotel
- 6. Park Plaza Cardiff
- 7. Coldra Court Hotel
- 8. easyHotel Cardiff City Centre
- 9. Hilton Cardiff
- 10. Mercure Cardiff Holland House Hotel and Spa
10 Historic Sites in South Wales That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in South Wales, United Kingdom including Big Pit National Coal Museum, Caerleon Lodge Hill Fort, Dylan Thomas Birthplace, Patricio Church, Rhondda Heritage Park, The Welsh Mining Experience, Llancaiach Fawr, Neath Abbey, Tredegar House, Tintern, Insole Court.
Restaurants in South Wales
1. Big Pit National Coal Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2,618 reviews
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.
Reviewed By CJonsey83
This would be my third visit to Big Pit and I loved as much this time as the first. The underground tour really gives you a sense of how hard it was and the tour guides are always great. (dress warmly for going underground) There is also an above ground video / Live tour that showcases some of the machines used underground, again brilliant. Plenty of parking very near the main entrance. Single tariff of £3.00 all day. I'd recommend this to anyone whose in the area. You will not be disappointed at what you find. Note: be sure to check the website / call if the weather is poor/has been poor for a few days as it may effect the tour availability.
2. Caerleon Lodge Hill Fort
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 8 reviews
3. Dylan Thomas Birthplace
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 243 reviews
The house in which the late Welsh poet Dylan Thomas was born and lived with his family for the first 23 years of his life. Enter Dylan Thomas Birthplace and you go back in time to when the Thomas family bought No 5 as a new house in 1914 just a few months before Dylan was born in the front bedroom. Soak up the atmosphere of the house in which he lived for 23 years and wrote two thirds of his published work The Dylan Thomas Birthplace is unique in that it allows you to stay in the house as a visitor. When you book the house you have exclusive use during your stay. The house has a growing reputation for introducing new literary and musical talent from both Wales and the rest of the world. The house is open for visiting every day from 10:30am to 4:30pm and the relaxed journey takes you through the beautifully restored rooms to give you an insight into life in the Edwardian era and a perfect starting point to discover just how Dylan was inspired by "...this sea-town..." Phoning or emailing ahead is advisable, as on occasion the house is utilised for overnight stays, dining experiences and other events which will mean the inability to carry out house visits at times where advertised. We do of course, apologise for any inconvenience which may be caused in these instances.
Reviewed By 634michaeljc
I was nervous on the front stoop, knowing where I was and how much change one boy would make on the world from upstairs in a tiny room. I will never be the same after seeing it.
4. Patricio Church
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 14 reviews
Reviewed By Kingpolo14
We discovered this lovely little church and its history when walking in the area and staying at Celyn Farm. It was surprising to us that such a gem of art history is tucked away at the back of beyond - when driving there you really don't want to meet any oncoming vehicle...well worth a visit, especially if you have been exploring the lonely surrounding fells anwyay
5. Rhondda Heritage Park, The Welsh Mining Experience
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 258 reviews
Rhondda Heritage Park is situated on the former Lewis Merthyr Colliery, once a thriving coal mine now preserved as a tourist attraction. With a brand new museum and Italian themed cafe for 2017, plus added experiences on the Black Gold Experience guided tour. Rhondda Heritage Park also hosts an array of events from Santa’s Toy Mine & X Scream to Classic Car shows & Family History Days. Located just outside Pontypridd in Rhondda Cynon Taf
Reviewed By annewK3036OE - Caerphilly County, United Kingdom
Magical. The mine is full of wrapped parcels, wonderful Christmas decorations & fairy lights. Father Christmas was brilliant, funny & full of information about his reindeer & the North Pole. The miner guide led the children & many adults through the tunnels sharing jokes & singing songs whilst they searched for Father Christmas. Excellent gifts for the children & a hot drink with a mince pie for the grown ups, this is the best Santa experience I have ever been to.
6. Llancaiach Fawr
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 498 reviews
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.
Reviewed By Countrylover29 - London, United Kingdom
Went there on a very wet day, and, coincidentally, it was end of term, so no School parties. We were the only visitors when we were there, but the staff still went the extra mile to give us the full experience. They do re enactments, so the staff dress as servants and speak in a kind of old English that was still perfectly understandable. It is set at the time of the Civil War and the house is furnished/displayed accordingly. So it was a double delight, the house was lovely, but the role playing added an extra dimension. Really appreciated the lengths the 'servants' went to in order to enrich the experience. Also, we ate a meal in the cafe that was very nice. A great day out!
7. Neath Abbey
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 128 reviews
Reviewed By magdalenamokrogulska - Carmarthen, United Kingdom
Hidden away beautiful and well preserved ruins of once amazing Neath Abbey ???? free to access, plenty of written and audio description what you are seeing and still impressive regardless long term damage ????
8. Tredegar House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,240 reviews
Reviewed By adela83 - Guildford, United Kingdom
So glad we chose to visit this place on our way back from South Wales, it is right iff M4 so worked for us, Beautiful grounds, lake, house. We had a nice walk along the lake, enjoyed picnic, visited the play area and also the house. They had many activities for children there, including art and craft. Good facilities and parking.
9. Tintern
10. Insole Court
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 81 reviews
A cultural and community destination with a 160-year history. Beautiful mansion and gardens, the Potting Shed Café, plus room hire, events, and weddings. Open every day. 'This House is a Stage' is a new permanent immersive exhibition on the first floor of the mansion. Visitors can follow the voices through the abandoned rooms to hear their stories come to life through a mix of audio technology and drama, sharing the story of the Insole family, their triumphs and their tragedies.
Reviewed By Lexxx82 - Cardiff, United Kingdom
Just 5 years ago, Insole Court was mostly derelict and now it has been completed (and sympathetically) restored to become a hub for Llandaff, and greater Cardiff alike. Entrance is free and for those who are able to donate there are collection points which directly fund the managing trust. As well as the gorgeous restored areas of the main mansion house (which are available for hire), there are also extensive landscaped gardens, The Potting Shed cafe (which serves amazing cakes) and several multipurpose dance studios and meeting facilities. There is ample parking and the site is widely accessible with a lift in the main house. They run numerous events and classes over the course of the year, one of the highlights is the food festival in summer.
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