Shopping
The arcades, criss crossing through the city centre, are home to some truly unique stores. If you thought kilts were just for the Scottish, for instance, then check out the Welsh Tartan Centre in High Street Arcade.
The latest fashions can be found in stores such as Chessman or Floyds in Castle Arcade, or head over to Queen Street and the Capitol Shopping Centre for Benetton and Zara amongst dozens of other stores.
Unique gifts can be found in stores such as Nice in High Street Arcade – which sells everything from Alessi goods to Jesus action figures, or for something uniquely Welsh the Cardiff Visitor Centre in the Hayes, or Melin Tregwynt in the Royal Arcade are great options.
St David’s Centre
Right in the heart of Cardiff, St David’s Centre have over 40 stores offering fashion, shoes, toys, jewellery, furniture, books, computers and lots of exciting places to eat or enjoy a coffee.
Queens Arcade
Queens Arcade has over 40 stores offering fashion, shoes, toys, jewellery, furniture, books, computers and lots of exciting places to eat or enjoy a coffee.
Capitol Shopping Centre
The Capitol Centre is a modern, well-designed and managed shopping centre, the experience is of a young and bustling atmosphere with a variety of shops.
Melin Tregwynt (www.melintregwynt.co.uk)
Specialising in blankets, all of which are made at the family mill near Haverfordwest, the store sells a wide range of contemporary and unique designs available in dozens of colours and styles. Ponchos, pyjamas, coasters, greetings cards and other gifts are available too. 26 Royal Arcade Tel: +44 (0)2920 224997.
Welsh Tartan Centre
(www.welsh-tartan.com)Reviving the tradition of regional Welsh tartans, this is the only store in Cardiff where you can buy the national tartan of Wales, the 'brithwe Dewi Sant' (St. David's Speckled cloth/plaid). Scarves, ties and kilts are all on sale, and you can also pick up traditional Welsh love spoons and other gifts. Castle arcade, Tel: +44 29 2022 8272
Jonathan Davies Jewellers
For a truly Welsh gift pick up some Clogau (pronounced clog-eye) Welsh gold. Extracted from a small mine in the Welsh hillsides, the gold is some of the rarest in the world. The Queens wedding ring was even crafted using gold from the mine, but as most of the pieces available at this jewellers only contain a small proportion of Clogau gold, many of the rings, pendants and earrings are easily affordable. 33 St. Mary Street Tel: +44 2920 226875