Wales is not just the country of stag dos, Gavin and Stacey, Nicole Samuel and Ciaran Davies AKA the winners of Love Island 2024— who fans think recently called it quits. It is also the perfect destination for a little pre-Christmas getaway, whether it’s with friends, a loved one, a partner, or even a solo trip to get all your Christmas shopping done in peace. When choosing where in Wales to visit, why not start with the capital city—Cardiff.
Here's everything you’ll need to know for your perfect pre-Christmas trip.
Where to stay
You cannot get better accommodation in Cardiff than the 5-star Parkgate Hotel. Located conveniently in the city centre, the Parkgate Hotel offers beautiful interiors, exceptionally friendly staff, and lovely views of the city. You can grab a bite for dinner in The Sorting Room—which even has live music every Saturday night— or a nightcap in The Cwrt Lounge. After you’ve had a long sleep in their luxurious beds, be sure to pop down for breakfast, where the hotel provides all the food—both sweet or savoury, whatever you fancy— you could want along with teas, coffees, juices, the works.
It also has an impressive spa with a long list of services on offer including a Detox and Destress Body Ritual and a head to toe Glow Enzyme Treatment. If you’re not sure whether you want to give it a try or not, try sampling some of the Elemis products left in your hotel bathroom and let that be the deciding vote.
If you'd rather head out and explore the capital, the hotel is conveniently located just a short walk from the Cardiff Market— also known as Cardiff Central Market or simply as the Market Building. If you grow full from sampling flavourful fish tacos from The Bearded Taco or Dirty Gnocchi’s cheese wheel pasta inside the market, head outside to the Cardiff Christmas Market to mark your trip with a festive memento. For a quick break, you can also head to the arcades, where you can park up with a cocktail or hot chocolate and people watch.
Where to eat
When it comes to food, you’ll have no shortage of dinner options in Cardiff. However, if you’re looking for great food at a reasonable price in a cosy setting, you can’t go wrong with the Daffodil. Located on Windsor Place, this unassuming gastropub offers superb food and service. Catering for carnivores, pescatarians, veggies or vegans, this menu has something for everyone, but I can personally recommend the scallops to start followed by either the hake or the hearty lentil cottage pie.
If you have a spare hour or two on your trip— and somehow, you’re not full after your dinner or the multiple market stalls— be sure to drop by Christmas at Bute Park. This dazzling light trail features 13 incredible installations and boasts multiple street food traders— including Alpine Pizza Co., German Sausage, or Daddy Macs for the macaroni cheese lovers. Grab yourself a hot Christmassy drink—ideally something chocolate or cinnamon flavoured— and stroll around this exhibition at your leisure. This is the perfect place— and city– to put you in the festive mood.
Christmas at Bute Park is open from November 22nd through to December 31st 2024. For more information or to book tickets visit []{href='https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.christmasatbutepark.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7Csarah.obyrne%40bauermedia.co.uk%7Cea83beb607a84f39bc0e08dcfe62bf14%7C0e79f3f34eeb48ed815e2876c379e863%7C0%7C0%7C638664947312064979%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=WduVSExkUAu%2Bm06eX0sp2DNRkl22qv4hEZsyhMcKW30%3D&reserved=0' }www.christmasatbutepark.com.
Sarah O'Byrne is a News and Entertainment writer for Closer, heat, Grazia, Crime Monthly, Yours and Bella. She frequently writes reviews and articles for travel, books and podcasts.