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What's On in Cardiff during the Summer Holidays?

18 July 2023


 

School’s officially out for Summer and here at Visit Cardiff we think both the adults and little ones alike deserve lots of fun, quality days out together!

We have put together this guide featuring a host of 17 exciting activities for you to enjoy as a family. Scroll for ticketed attractions and events you must book in advance, fun & free activities you can be more spontaneous with, a list of family-friendly hotels in case you want to extend your stay a little longer and some practical advice that you may need to know.

1. GOLFING WITH DINOSAURS

Cardiff Golf Centre plays host of exciting activities for families of all ages and abilities. As well as soft play, there’s an 18-hole dinosaur crazy golf course, 9-hole footgolf and a driving range with Top Tracer in every bay.

Take on the Jurassic World on the 18-hole outdoor adventure golf course, with huge T-Rex’s, volcanos, caves, and rafts. The 18-hole course is for everyone from ages 3 to 103, and any ability.

2. BLACK TOWER TALES

Discover the Black Tower Tales at Cardiff Castle, an exciting new experience re-telling the story of Llywelyn Bren, a forgotten hero of medieval Welsh history.

Meet the ghosts of long ago as this immersive attraction bringing history to life in a way you won’t soon forget. Book at the Cardiff Castle office.

3. RED DRAGON CENTRE

Red Dragon Centre

Summer staycations have never looked so good at The Red Dragon Centre in Cardiff Bay. From cheeky lunches and big screen movies to bowling bonanzas and great amusements, they’ve got you covered this summer with great entertainment and dining all under one roof. Customers can also enjoy hassle-free parking and stay up 6 hours FREE with ANPR validation.

Whatever the weather, memories are always guaranteed at this home of fun! Sound good? Find out more here.

4. FAMILY FUN PARK CARDIFF BAY

Cardiff Bay Family Fun Park is heading to Roald Dahl Plass, just in time for the Summer holidays! An exciting line up of outdoor Funfair attractions will fill the Plass, located in the heart of Cardiff Bay – between Mermaid Quay and the Wales Millennium Centre.

Enjoy favourites such as ‘The Dodgems’ and ‘Pirate Party Fun House’, as well as various children’s rides to enjoy and family game stalls giving you the chance to win massive cuddly toy prizes.

There will also be a selection of sweet and savoury takeaway treats on offer. View the event here.

 

5. EXCITING EVENTS AT FONMON CASTLE

Pirates Weekend | 5 – 6 August

Don’t miss out on a weekend of swashbuckling with the Pirates of Fonmon Castle. Shiver your timbers and test your skills with ropes and knots, walk the plank and engage in a super soaking battle with our live action pirates!

Pantoland 2023 | 12 – 13 August
Enjoy Fonmon Castle as it is transformed into a Summer Panto Meet and Greet! From Mother Twanky to Cinderella, live music and games on the lawn, this will be a weekend of fun and panto giggles.

Discover more here.

6. FAMILY RAFTING AT CARDIFF INTERNATIONAL WHITE WATER

Cardiff International White Water

Give white water rafting a go. More relaxed than the traditional course, white water rafting family sessions at CIWW are great fun for adults and little ones, giving everyone the opportunity to experience unforgettable family adventure days on the water.

Ride the rapids together and book your session here.

7. TECHNIQUEST

Experience a day out like no other this summer, right in the heart of Cardiff Bay! Techniquest has over 100 hands-on exhibits just waiting to be discovered and will be open every day throughout the summer holidays for you to come and explore.

Whatever age you are, there’s plenty for everyone to get stuck in to – including a virtual operating table, a hurricane wall and even an earthquake simulator. And if that wasn’t enough, there’s also a brand-new Ocean Extravaganza live science show to see too. Book your tickets here.

8. AQUA PARK

Slip, slide, splash and share laugh out moments this summer holidays at Wales’ largest aqua park! Enjoy a full season of thrills and spills with the all new season pass!

There are climbing walls, trampolines, balance bars, slides, blast bags and monkey bars making it the ultimate day out for groups, families, adults, children age 8+ and adrenaline junkies alike! Book your session ahead here. 

9. BBC STUDIO TOURS

Looking for something different to entertain the kids over the summer holidays?Step into the future of broadcasting at BBC’s newest and most advanced studios at Central Square, Cardiff.

Join friendly guides for an exclusive award-winning behind-the-scenes tour of the television and radio studios with cutting-edge technology including augmented reality, virtual reality and robotic cameras.

BBC Cymru Wales has received a TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice award, and a coveted Visit Wales gold award for the quality of its tours. Check availability and book your tickets now at bbc.co.uk/tours.

 

10. CARDIFF BOAT TOURS

Cardiff Boat Tours

This summer Cardiff Boat Tours are offering our popular water taxi service on board Princess Katharine – ideal for travelling to and from Cardiff Bay or Bute Park or a relaxing hour long cruise from either boarding point. They also have available a 7 seat vintage open boat Singfly – the perfect family treat.

Princess Katharine departs Cardiff Bay on the hour every day from 10am to 4pm and Singfly can be booked by phone to 07445440874 or e mail to cardiff.boat.tours@gmail.com. The booth on the lower boardwalk is manned daily from 9.30am to 4pm for information on both boats.

11. FOOTBALL FIESTA

Football Fiesta are open and looking forward to welcoming all ages and abilities to our indoor Football Fan Park. It doesn’t matter what your skill level is there is something for everyone and they are open every day of the holidays for family fun, team challenges and more.

There are also Bambino Ballers sessions for pre-school age on Thursday Mornings; “Here Come the Girls” female-only sessions on Thursday Afternoons and Quiet Sessions on Thursday Evenings. Everyone is welcome to come down, blow off some steam and have loads of fun! Book here now or call 0330 055 3263.

12. FUN & FREE EVENTS AT IKEA

IKEA has a number of free events to keep the kids occupied this Summer Holiday. Head to the store in various dates from July to September to create your own fabulous picture frame, design a dreamcatcher, compete against others on a virtual racing game and a treasure hunt to find 12 Bjorn bears around the store!

And that’s not all – view the full list of events here. Don’t forget, you need to secure your timeslot to take part – book your spaces today!

13. BUTE PARK

Bute Park is the green heart of the city. Discover natural play features and trails, a visitor centre, three cafes as well as a wealth of horticultural and wildlife interest.

Explore a superb tree collection within an extensive area of mature parkland. Bute Park is a Green Flag site and CADW Grade I listed historic park and garden. Discover more here.

14. CARDIFF BAY BARRAGE

Perfect for a relaxing stroll or bike ride, the Barrage embankment is situated in a stunning maritime setting and offers spectacular views over Cardiff Bay and the Severn Estuary.

Thanks to its flat gradient and lack of steps, it’s accessible for all visitors. Look out for the Croc in the Dock! More information is available here.

15. ROXY LANES

More than just a bowling alley, Roxy Lanes also has American pool, shuffleboard, beer pong, batting cage, duck pin bowling plus loads more games and an unbelievable bar and mouth-watering food.

Unlike their sister bars, Roxy Ball Room, at Roxy Lanes will allow under 18s until 5pm when supervised with an adult. Let the fun begin! Book online here.

16. ST FAGANS NATIONAL MUSEUM OF HISTORY

One of the world’s best open-air museums, explore  over fifty original buildings from different locations in Wales and from different historical periods have been re-built in the 100-acre parkland. Each building is frozen in time and opens a door into Welsh history offering a fascinating glimpse into the past.

This museum holds a special place in the hearts of the people of Wales because it is a people’s museum, where you can explore history together through people’s everyday lives. Discover more here.

17. PRINCIPALITY STADIUM TOURS

Step behind the scenes of Principality Stadium and follow in the footsteps of your rugby heroes.

Our expert tour guides will take you on a journey, sharing fun facts and insights from the stadiums’ history of events from rugby, world class boxing, football and motorsport to concerts by titans of rock & roll such as the Rolling Stones, U2, BeyoncĂ© and Jay-Z. An experience not to be missed! Book your tickets here.


Don’t forget, this is just a small taste of everything on offer in Cardiff this summer, check out our See & Do and Events pages for more!


 

FAMILY ACCOMMODATION

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS CARDIFF BAY

Why not treat the family to a Summer Staycation package? (2 adults, 2 children sharing). Includes breakfast daily and a main course each night per person with a bottle of wine to share for the grown ups and unlimited soft drinks for the kids.

Situated on the waterfront area of the old East Dock of Cardiff Bay and only 15 minutes’ walk from Cardiff city centre, it’s the ideal base to explore the local area! Discover more & book here.

VOCO ST DAVID’S CARDIFF

The Admiral at voco¼ St David’s Cardiff is our eclectic restaurant and bar. The bold flavours draw inspiration from world food cultures and blend perfectly with the best seasonal produce Wales has to offer.

They are also family friendly and offer interconnecting rooms or a family room, consisting of two double beds. Discover more and book your stay here.


Did you know most Cardiff hotels offer dedicated family rooms across the City? Head to our Stay page for more options.


 

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

BUSES

Cardiff Bus are running special summer services so you can enjoy your staycation including reduced family tickets during the school holidays. Find out more here.

TRAINS

Remember to check the train Capacity Checker on the Transport for Wales website before you purchase your tickets, this helps indicate the often full trains and the ones with plenty of seats available.

For further information on getting around, parking, mobility buggies & maps, check out our Visitor Information page.