Travel Advice for Bristol Bears vs Harlequins at Cardiff's Principality Stadium

Wednesday, 25 March 2026

 

Road closures will be put in place for the Big Day Out – a double header event between Bristol Bears vs Harlequins on Saturday March 28th.

With the kick off for the women’s taking place at 12:30pm, and the men’s team at 3:30pm, roads will close between 11am and 8pm.

The M4 motorway is expected to be very busy– so please plan ahead – and avoid the congestion in Cardiff by using the park & ride at the car park by the Vindico Arena on International Drive in the Sports Village – CF11 0JS.

For up to date traffic information on the motorway and trunk roads go to the Traffic Wales website, or @TrafficWalesS on X and Facebook.

Those attending this rugby match are strongly advised to plan their journey and get in early.  Please pay attention to the prohibited items listed at principalitystadium.wales, in particular the bag policy (no large bags permitted) before travelling into the city.

Transport for Wales will be using a new system using both Cardiff Central and Cardiff Queen Street railway stations. Fans heading home on Valleys and Vale services will be directed to Cardiff Queen Street station instead of Cardiff Central, but mainline train services will continue to use Cardiff Central, including services to Ebbw Vale.

Additional services are also being provided by the Bristol Bears for supporters traveling from Bristol – Getting to the Principality Stadium – Bristol Bears Rugby

 

Road closures

From 7am, Scott Road and Park Street will be closed because of the need to prepare Gate 5 and protect queuing fans.

The following roads will be closed as part of the full city centre road closure for each event:

  • Kingsway from its junction with North Road to its junction with Duke Street.
  • Cowbridge Road East from its junction with Cathedral Road to its junction with Westgate Street.
  • Tudor Street from its junction with Clare Road to its junction with Wood Street (access for residents and traders will be permitted via Fitzhammon Embankment).
  • Plantagenet Street and Beauchamp Street from their junctions with Despenser Place to their junctions with Tudor Street (access for residents and traders will be permitted).
  • The following roads will be closed in their entirety: Duke Street, Castle Street, High Street, Saint Mary Street, Caroline Street, Wood Street, Central Square, Westgate Street, Quay Street, Guildhall Place, Golate, Park Street, Havelock Street and Scott Road.
  • Station Terrace and Guildford Street from the junction with Newport Road to the junction with Churchill Way will be access for buses only during the times of the road closures. This is to ensure that there is reliable access for buses to the satellite points in Churchill Way. Station Terrace will be closed at 5.00pm and reopened by 6.30pm.

Additionally, Penarth Road will be closed 30 minutes before the game finishes and up to hour after the final whistle on safety grounds for train passengers arriving and departing from the train station.

Civic Centre: Access to part of the Civic Centre will be controlled throughout the day, with access allowed only for event parking, limited commuter parking, loading and access to private car parks. Roads affected include King Edward VII Avenue, Museum Avenue, City Hall Road, College Road and Gorsedd Gardens Road.

 

Trains

Transport for Wales (TfW) will trial a new post-match crowd management approach again for Bristol Bears vs Harlequins on March 28th aimed at improving the match day experience for fans and prepare for major works at Cardiff Central. Fans heading home on Valleys and Vale services will be directed to Cardiff Queen Street station instead of Cardiff Central. Mainline queues will remain on Cardiff Central Square, with Valley and the Vale queues now at Cardiff Queen Street Station.

  • Platform 2 – Cardiff Bay, Barry Island, Penarth, Bridgend
  • Platform 3 – Aberdare
  • Platform 4 – Pontypridd, Treherbert, Merthyr Tydfil
  • Platform 5 – Bargoed, Caerphilly, Rhymney, Coryton, Ystrad Mynach

To save time at the station, fans are reminded to have a valid ticket before travelling and are encouraged to use the contactless pay as you go system across the South Wales Metro network or use the TfW app.

Passengers using pay as you go payment method should tap in at their departure station and then tap out using same payment method via the dedicated pay as you go revenue lanes when exiting at Cardiff Central. Transport for Wales staff will be available to assist with tapping in and out.

Pay as you go is currently available on the TfW and Cross Country services across the South Wales Metro network (not available on GWR services).

Cardiff Bus Interchange will close at 11am and re-open at 8pm.

 

Park & Ride facilities

The event park & ride facilities will be using the car park by Vindico Arena on International Drive in the Sports Village, Cardiff Bay – CF11 0JS.

The drop of point in the city centre is Tresillian Way

The car park opens at 9.30am and first bus is at 10am and last bus from City Centre is at 6.30pm.

The cost is £15. Cash only.

 

Civic Centre Event Day Parking (Cars and Coaches)

Getting there: Exit Junction 32 of the M4, head south on the A470 towards the city centre and follow signage to the civic centre.

Cost: £20 payable on the day for cars and £30 for coaches – card payments are also now available.

Parking time: The car park will open at 8am and closes at 12 Midnight.

 

Event Day Parking at Sophia Gardens

Getting there: Exit junction 32 off the M4

Cost: £20 for cars and £30 for coaches – card payments are now available.

Parking time: Car park opens at 8am and closes at 12 midnight.

Please note: Sophia Gardens car park will be staffed until 7pm all vehicles are left on site at the owner’s risk. Cardiff Council will not be held responsible for any theft or damage to motor vehicles or personal possessions. Any vehicles left in the car park after closing time will be fined.

 

Bus

Local buses:

Bus services will be diverted while the city centre road closures are in place

Please visit the relevant bus operator’s website for more information about your specific bus routes.

For Stagecoach services, please visit: Welcome to Stagecoach (stagecoachbus.com)

For Cardiff Bus services, please visit: https://www.cardiffbus.com/principality-stadium

For Adventure Travel services, please visit: https://www.adventuretravel.cymru

Coaches:
 
National Express coaches will use Sophia Gardens as usual. FlixBus will use Friary Gardens on North Road as usual.

 

Can you cycle or walk?

The cycleways and the pop-up cycleways within the road closure area will remain open for cyclists to use during the event, but due to the number of people expected to attend the rugby match, we ask all cyclists to take due care and attention.

The road closures apply to all motor vehicles of any kind, but not to bicycles with pedals.

Those who live locally in Cardiff may want to travel by bicycle or walk. Research shows us that 52% of car trips made in the Welsh capital are less than 5km. This is a distance that can be comfortably cycled in 20 minutes.

We also know that 28% of Cardiff residents who currently do not cycle would like to do so.

When the roads are congested this makes cycling an even more attractive option as travel by bicycle would be quicker than a car during rush hours or during big events.

 

Shopping Parking

City centre car parks are also available: North Road, St David’s Cardiff, John Lewis & Partners, The Capitol, NCP Adam Street, NCP Dumfries Place and NCP Greyfriars.

 

Disabled Parking

Disabled drivers are advised to use Sophia Gardens. Disabled parking is also available at various private car parks. Please check individual websites for availability.

 

Taxis

Saint Mary Street taxi rank will close at 11am and re-open at 8pm.