Hit the small screen, find your perfect gin and be queen of the castle in the Welsh capital
“That’s it for now but Wales Today is back at 6.30pm with the latest news. Until then.”
I look at the camera and giggle nervously. I’m glad my efforts aren’t really publicized.
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In fact, I’m taking a tour of the BBC building in Cardiff – just a highlight of a weekend in the Welsh capital.
park life
Former Post Office The Parkgate Hotel is centrally located in the city centre.
Rooms have chic forest-green paneling, parquet floors, and Elemis goodies, while the spa offers views across the city and almost to Principality Stadium, home of the Welsh rugby team.
Treat yourself to an Elemis Nourish And Renew Face & Body Treatment (£78) and you’ll not only be glowing but smelling of heavenly frangipani.
There’s also a pool, sauna and steam room, and there’s no shortage of food either.
Michelin-rated restaurant The Sorting Room at Parkgate serves delicious dishes such as cauliflower soup with rarebit croquettes for £8.50, followed by rack of Welsh lamb with a miniature shepherd’s pie for £38.
headline maker
Take a group tour of the BBC’s Cymru Wales in Central Square and within minutes you’ll be reconsidering your career.
It’s the only BBC building in the UK where you can go behind the scenes as journalists work live on TV and radio.
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We said hello to BBC Radio Wales legend Owen Money during his show and also chatted to one of BBC2’s continuity announcers.
You can even sit at the desk in the Wales Today studio, which has a 70m² wraparound TV screen where you can read an autocue.
The video will then be emailed to you as a reminder. A 90 minute tour costs £13 per person (Bbc.co.uk/showsandtours).
If you drink G&T, toast your camaraderie at Gin & Juice in the Castle District.
There are over 300 bottles to choose from, but sweet tooths like me will love the No.1 Salted Caramel Gin with Fever-Tree Light Tonic (£10.25), topped with honeycomb chips and a whole bar of chocolate (Ginandjuice.com)!
castle on the hill
You can’t visit Cardiff without climbing to the top of the castle.
Although the site was built after the Norman conquest, it dates back to when the Romans built four strategic forts.
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Entry is £14.50 (Cardiffcastle.com).
Once there, stroll through beautiful Bute Park and look out for the stone animals that line the top of the walls.
In the Bay area, about a 30-minute walk away, stop for a latte at the Norwegian Church Arts Center and maybe even listen to musicians practicing in the performance rooms.
Then head to the Techniquest Science Discovery Center for fun experiments and puzzles – drive an underwater submersible or even try a giant slide in the interactive halls.
The planetarium is also worth a visit – guide Paul inspired us with his astronomical facts. Entry is £13 (Techniquest.org).
You will find unique shopping opportunities in the beautiful arcades right on the main street.
The Royal Arcade is filled with stationery gems, independent jewelers and the Cardiff Antiques Center and Wally’s Deli selling food and drink from around the world (Wallysdeli.co.uk).
A little further down the road, The Ivy is the only restaurant in Wales for a relaxed lunch.
Enjoy feather light tempura squid for £10.50 followed by delicious monkfish and shrimp curry for £20.95. Save space for the black honey and white chocolate cheesecake, £9.50, topped off with a summery non-alcoholic blood orange spritz, £8 (Ivycollection.com). Yaki there!