Cardiff Travel Forum

I am staying in the Cardiff bay area for a couple of nights next month, I have heard that the area between Cardiff bay and the city centre is a bit rough and not safe at night, is this true? How long does it take to walk? If not which is the best method of transport to take? I will be having a short brak with my girlfriend, which pubs or restaurants can anyone recommend?

Cardiff city centre is compact and can easily be explored on foot. The Bay is about a mile away and can be reached on foot, or by train from the central train station, or by bus - the bus station opposite the railway station
The 'BayCar' service (used to be a bendy-bus but I am not sure that is still in use) runs from the city centre every 10 minutes or so.
For trains see -
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/cdb/details.html

For general information about the City see -
http://www.visitcardiff.com/

At weekends Cardiff and the Bay tend to get very busy and excessive amounts of alcohol can create a rowdy atmosphere which sometimes erupts in to loud quarrels. We - being much older - do not enjoy that atmosphere but frequently visit theatres and cinemas in the centre and the Bay without encountering any problems.
Most of the activity is youthful high spirits and harmless. We just stay clear of rowdy pubs and restaurants after we leave the show!

I like Bellinis restaurant in Cardiff Bay though it was very popular last time I looked - you may need to book. The restaurant next door on the left (can't remember the name - but we were there in November) was also good.

You do see quite a few hen parties around Cardiff (it seems to have the highest concentration of stretched limos I have seen in the UK) but they are generally harmless.

Do not even think about walking from the Bay to the centre at night (or for that matter even in early evening!). You are right about it being a no-go area. There is a strong ethnic minority community there and they don't take kindly to people walking through it. Even some taxis wont drive through there at night so you may find problems getting back to the Bay at night.

Follow this link for the Cardiff Bus map and timetable - http://www.cardiffbus.com/pdfs/baycar.pdf

The Bay itself and the centre are both safe at night but try and avoid the centre on a Friday night as this is when the younger generation from outside Cardiff (ie the valleys) visit and it can get a little boistrous.

Any other night is fine and I'd recommend the Bay if the weather is good, especially around Mermaid Quay and the Waterfront.

I've never had a problem walking from the Bay to the city centre. There have been myths about the Butetown area circulating for many decades! If you know where you are going and walk confidently you are unlikely to have a problem. However, like any out of the way area of a strange city, you need to be aware of what's going on around you if you're walking after dark.

All that being said, it is not a pretty route and there's a mile of straight road. It will be far more sensible (and quick) to catch the excellent bus service or share a taxi.

You have been lucky. Not everyone can walk 'with confidence' and many of us will be classed as easy pickings for the street gangs that DO hang around this area.
I worked for several years in the Grangetown area and know several teenagers/early twenties guys and girls who would never walk along Bute Street, Lloyd George Avenue or the Central Link road at night.
People go to dangerous places the world over, every day, but only a handful come to harm - I would not want to take the chance.
In your case, aaaarhh, it is only a matter of time and is a case of when, not if.
Place safe and go by bus or taxi.