Half of Wales' population live in the cities of Cardiff and Newport, and major towns like Barry and Bridgend. And the lure of major sporting events, quality universities and a new and growing cultural edge mean Cardiff is a wonderful place to consider calling home if Wales is on your list.

From historic Cardiff Castle, to the regular international rugby matches and major gigs at the Millennium Stadium, on to ​​the Edwardian and Victorian shopping arcades, which are still the best places to find one-off boutiques, Cardiff has a lot to keep you busy. Including the £675m extension to the St David's Dewi Sant Shopping Centre with its flagship John Lewis holding center stage with many other major brand stores nearby.

Looking for a night out? While not as famous as the food scene in Bristol across the river, Cardiff has a growing gastronomic scene with wonderful places to eat like The Potted Pig, which is located in a former bank vault. Shaam Nights for amazing Persian food and awesome interiors. And Pasture, a second site from a popular Bristol restaurant, which focuses on steak sourced from farms in Wales and the West Country which rear native cattle and where cows are fed on the region’s famously lush pastures.

Like many cities, Cardiff has a variety of neighbourhoods offering different types of housing and community. Some of the best include Penylan, which is located just six minutes east of the city centre by car. The neighbourhood is known for its Edwardian architecture and a number of parks, including Roath Park Lake. Cyncoed can be found ten minutes northeast of Cardiff’s city centre, and is best known to be affluent with some of the highest property prices in Wales. Located up the hill from Roath Park, it has beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. Penarth is 13 minutes just outside of Cardiff’s city centre to the southeast. During the Victorian era it was a popular destination for summer holidays and they referred to it as “The Garden by the Sea.” 

And if the delights of the city do get boring (unlikely), then some of the best areas of outstanding natural beauty are on your doorstep. From the moody, rolling landscape of the Brecon Beacons National Park, to the stunning and serene Wye Valley, you really are spoiled for choice. And that’s before we even start speaking about the coastline near to Bridgend. Move to this part of the world and prepare to be treated like a holiday home by your friends and family.

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