The Best Things to Do With Kids in Cardiff, Wales

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A relatively new addition to Cardiff, Treetop Adventure Golf is a jungle amidst the cityscape. The mini-golf attraction features two indoor 18-hole adventure golf courses, set within a South-American-inspired rainforest, together with a clubhouse bar and café. Put your putting skills to the test in the middle of an array of vines, trees and tropical plants. There is even a one-off hole that gives you the chance to win a free game.

Located in Cardiff Bay, Techniquest is a Welsh science centre that offers visitors a hands-on approach to science, and includes a science theatre, a planetarium and a discovery centre. It’s a brilliant way to get the kids to engage with science, while offering them a fun and interactive day out.

This trampoline park is a multifaceted entertainment emporium. Alongside its 90 trampolines, it includes a main court with vaults, obstacles and trampoline walls, as well as basketball hoops, a foam pit and a dodgeball court. Pre-book, interact with the friendly staff and enjoy this whirlwind experience.

Get your splash on at the Cardiff International Pool. With its 50m (164ft) Olympic swimming pool, the little ones can take to the water and become Olympic champions in no time. There is also a plethora of slides reaching down from the roof, providing hours of slippery fun. Parents can relax and unwind in the health suite – which includes a sauna, spa and steam room – while the kids enjoy themselves in the pool.

Visit this 100-acre (40.5ha) open-air museum and learn about Wales’s historical past. There are re-erected buildings from various ages to explore – including old schools, butchers, bakers, ironsmiths and workmen’s institutes – while on the grounds you’ll also see native breeds of livestock. There are also festivals and seasonal celebrations of traditional music and dance, making a trip to St Fagans a wonderfully engaging day out for the whole family. You have to travel to the fringes of Cardiff to get there, but it’s well worth it.

Boulders Indoor Climbing Centre is a fantastic outing that’s guaranteed to pack your day with adrenaline and adventure. Located just five minutes from Cardiff’s city centre, it has easy access to the M4 motorway, free parking and bike racks. Under the guidance of qualified instructors, you’ll step outside your comfort zone and into a safe and controlled environment. All equipment is provided – just bring an adventurous spirit and a willingness to challenge yourself. Boulders specialises in introducing people of all abilities to the vertical world in a fun, safe and inclusive way. For children, there are classes and holiday activities that will soon have them scaling new heights.

Fforest Fawr is the stunning backdrop to Castell Coch, a castle nestled in the woodland above the village of Tongwynlais. Amidst the trees lies a charming sculpture trail for children. It provides a wonderful opportunity to get outdoorsy and experience some of Cardiff’s wonderful nature. This beautiful forest is frequently used as a filming location for productions ranging from Welsh period dramas to children’s TV programmes. Part of the Taff Trail – a long-distance route for walkers and cyclists from Cardiff Bay to Brecon – also passes through Fforest Fawr.

Sporting a combination of art and natural history, the National Museum is the largest and most expansive in Cardiff, and has plenty on offer to keep kids entertained. Aside from the numerous dinosaur skeletons, there are interactive workshops and special temporary exhibitions.

The Barrage was built in the ’90s as part of a large-scale urban restoration project in the Cardiff Bay area. Today you can walk almost the entire length of it, tracing the shore as you go. That might not sound like much fun for kids, but there’s plenty to keep them occupied. Aside from the pirate-ship-themed playground and skatepark that sit on the northerly end of the Barrage, there are various spots nearby where you can rent kayaks and other water-sport gear to actually get out onto the water.

It’s hard to find a more comprehensive approach to tiring lively kids out than the one taken at Parc Play. A huge indoor and outdoor playcentre just south of Bute Park, it has something for kids of all ages, from sand pits and a water play area for toddlers to zip wires, table tennis and air hockey for the older ones. As far as adults are concerned, there’s a pleasant café area with deck chairs for days with better outdoor conditions, ideal to kick back and relax while the little ones work themselves into a frenzy.

Additional reporting by Callum Davies