The beach town of Penarth draws thousands of visitors a year to its beaches and marina. Get a feel for the town by taking part in a guided walking tour and learn about its former history as a major coal exporting port. You can also take a boat ride along the bay from the marina. The recently refurbished art-deco pier makes a great place to stroll at sunset; the pavilion on the pier houses a cinema with regular movie showings, gallery space, a café, and a restaurant.
Penarth is ideal for anyone looking for a lovely seaside escape from busy Cardiff.
Don’t leave Penarth without trying an ice-cream sundae—the town has several popular ice cream parlors.
The pier is accessible to wheelchairs and strollers.
Penarth is just 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) southwest of Cardiff city center. If driving, take the M4 to the A4232. Local trains connect Penarth station to Cardiff Central, and the number 92 bus also travels between the two.
Penarth is most popular in the summer months, when the weather is best and the beaches and ice cream shops fill up. If visiting off-season some stores may be closed, but a walk along the beach is pleasant at any time of year.
Within Cardiff city limits, the small town of Llandaff is also a city in its own right, thanks to its impressive 12th-century cathedral. Tour the cathedral to see the beautiful triptych painted by pre-Raphaelite artist Dante Gabriel Rossetti and the sculpture of Christ by Jacob Epstein.
