Queer Cardiff Travel Guide
Pack your bags because we’re heading to the UK’s Welsh capital – Cardiff! Well, this compact travel destination offers so much for a city of its size: from the culture and heritage of its historical center to the cutting-edge architecture of the Cardiff Bay waterfront and its lively LGBTQ+ scene. We’re letting you know now – expect to fall in love with the city’s infectious buzz and welcoming charm. So, with help from Visit Britain, this is an LGBTQ+ guide to Cardiff for insider details about the best neighborhoods, hotels, and events in the city.
Daytime Diversions
For queer-positive books and zines, head to Cardiff’s Shelflife Bookshop. Full of rare DIY-zines from independent creators and books raising the voices of the underrepresented, this is a thought-provoking shop full of undiscovered gems.
Fancy some serene scenes? Take a relaxing trip to Cardiff Bay, home to the tranquil Penarth Marina and waterside dining spot, Mermaid Quay. If you’re longing for a day of retail therapy, you might prefer to explore the Victorian and Edwardian arcades and the vast St. David’s shopping center.
Out and About
Like the city itself, Cardiff’s gay scene is small and compact – but with something for everyone. The main venues are located around Charles Street and Churchill Way in the city center, all within walking distance of each other.
A historic pub with a traditional glazed tile exterior, The Golden Cross is popular with a predominantly male, 30s crowd that likes to kick back with karaoke and cabaret. Lab 22 is a stylish little place for post-work or pre-club cocktails, The Main Stage Cabaret Bar brings live music, cabaret, and drag acts to this lively venue.
Spread across two floors and a roof terrace, The Kings is a large, modern bar attracting a young gay/lesbian/mixed crowd – it’s the official pre-bar to gay dance club Pulse, which attracts a similarly young, mixed crowd of party people and university students. Drag aficionados need look no further than Mary’s, a favorite for karaoke and killer performances.
Stylish Stays
Coco St. David’s Cardiff
Voco St David’s luxurious interiors and spectacular setting on Cardiff Bay were voted one of the top UK’s top 10 hotels by Conde Nast Traveller. Its renowned Marine Spa is great for celeb spotting, while its central location is within easy walking distance of the heart of the gay scene.
Maison Galles
Located a fifteen-minute walk west of Cardiff city center, Maison Galles is a self-catering townhouse with stylish Welsh-French fusion décor. Close to the green spaces of Llandaff Fields and Bute Park, it houses up to eight guests and boasts quirky details like bespoke wall coverings, king-size French beds, and a mix of antique and contemporary furniture.
Ty Rosa
Welsh for “pink house”, Ty Rosa has earned accolades from TripAdvisor and Britain’s The Times newspaper for its friendly, openly-gay attitude. There are five homely guestrooms in the main house, all stylishly decorated. It’s located a fifteen-minute walk south of Cardiff city center – but hosts Paul and Stuart will point you in the right direction.
LGBTQ+ Events
Pride Cymru (Last weekend in August)
Showing its pride for all things LGBTQI+, in addition to all things Welsh, Pride Cymru (the Welsh language word for Wales) is usually a massive event, where over 50,000 people come together to celebrate in the capital. Each year sees big-name Welsh and international pop acts performing live on the main stage, along with a cabaret garden, funfair rides, a cultural market with arts and crafts, and a family zone.
Iris Prize Festival (Second week in October)
Held every October, the annual Iris Prize Festival is Cardiff’s LGBTQI+ alternative to Cannes. During four days of international film screenings, panel sessions, and parties, thirty short films by or about the LGBTQI+ community compete to win the top accolade, valued at £30,000.
Getting There
Cardiff is situated on the south coast of Wales, 132 miles west of London. Regular trains connect Cardiff to London in just over two hours, while Cardiff Airport is served by numerous international airlines.
Check out Visit Britain’s website for more information about Cardiff. And don’t forget to check out travel guides for other UK cities, including London, Edinburgh, Manchester, Birmingham, and Glasgow!
