There is no denying that Cardiff is a fantastic city to call home; with so much to offer in terms of shopping, culture, work and living experience, it's no wonder that it was voted the best city to live in the UK last year! If you too are drawn to the shining lights of the Welsh capital, here are our recommendations for the best places to live in Cardiff, the city that sometimes sleeps!
What way to better understand a city than by living in its heart? Surrounded by an almost uncountable number of shops, restaurants and club, the city centre is perfect for people who love being in the centre of the action, and don’t mind a bit of noise at night.
Living in the city centre means that you’re never too far from, well, just about everything. With most things accessible by foot, and everything easily reachable by numerous and regular transport links, the city centre is great if you want to be in the middle of all the excitement.
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Home of the Millennium Centre, Red Dragon Centre and the Roath Lock BBC studios, Cardiff Bay is quickly becoming the city’s cultural hub. The Bay is also home to a wide range of restaurants and small boutiques, making it a perfect area for those who want to enjoy a relaxing night on the waterfront. And if you’re a fan of Doctor Who and Torchwood, don’t look any further you’re next door to the Doctor Who Experience and Ianto’s shrine!
Cardiff Bay apartments in luxurious developments such as Century Wharf and Ferry Court (which both boast a leisure centre with swimming pool and gym) are perfect for young professionals and buy-to-let investment; Cardiff Bay is becoming an even more desirable location with the construction of Cardiff Pointe - a range of houses and apartments fronting the bay with views across Penarth Marina - which is now open to viewings and signings.
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This up-and-coming district has recently been described as one of the UK’s most fashionable places to live; with tree-lined streets and a strong community spirit, Pontcanna can be best described as a village in the middle of the city. It is home to a few rugby players, and one of Pontcanna’s former residents is none other than former Wales and Lions rugby star Jamie Roberts.
Pontcanna is also right next door to Bute Park and Cooper’s Field, has a large quantity of independent stores and boasts 25% of residents who speak Welsh; Pontcanna is definitely one of the coolest places to live in Cardiff!
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Probably the most affluent areas in Cardiff, Lisvane and Thornhill are scenic locations at Cardiff’s northernmost point. These areas are a far cry from the bustle of the city centre, with a much larger focus on local community, but are still only a short 10 minute train ride from the city centre. Lisvane & Thornhill house various sports clubs, a Cabin Library and a wide-variety of country pubs selling cask and seasonal ales.
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A piece of suburbia in Cardiff, Pontprennau is a commuter belt that is home to thousands of Cardiffians. Located on the edge of the city, Pontprennau is a series of cul-de-sacs, but don’t let that deter you; the roads were designed to limit traffic, making it a great place for families.
With large green spaces, the beauty of Pontprennau will distract you from the fact that this area is largely residential; if you can forego having shops outside your front door then Pontprennau could be just the place for you to settle down.
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We hope you've enjoyed reading about our thoughts on the best places to live in Cardiff. For more information on any of these Cardiff neighbourhoods and other areas, see our area guides which discuss the history of the areas mentioned above; there are also a few facts for those of you who enjoy trivia! If you decide that Cardiff is the city for you, visit our property lists where we have a wide range of houses for sale Cardiff and property to rent in Cardiff.
The information contained within this article was correct at the date of publishing and is not guaranteed to remain correct in the present day.