Global Shopper Sarah Lahey heads to Cardiff to see how the city is gearing up for their Olympic debut. With new shops as well as historic markets, Wales is turning into the smart shopper’s country getaway.
Hi Peter,
My buddies in London have been dashing to Wales for long weekends and raving about what a trendy destination it’s become. The English countryside, they say, is old news; Wales is the new getaway.
With the Olympic torch relay due to trot through Cardiff next year, the capital city is gearing up to host the first event of the 2012 Games. All Olympic football games will be played at the Cardiff Millennium Stadium.
When I heard about all the new shops popping up around town, I decided it was time to visit…
Millenium Stadium
Getting There
Cardiff is an easy drive from London via the M4 motorway, but I chose to take the train from London Paddington to Cardiff Central Station. I bought a return off-peak (leaving after 9:00am) day ticket for $85 and the journey took less than two hours each way. Trains depart about every 30 minutes from both Cardiff and London and will run more frequently during the Olympic Games.
Round About Town
As I walked out of the Cardiff train station, I saw the stadium about a block away, perfectly located in the city center and a five minute walk from the shops. Football fans will be able to attend an Olympic event and then spend a couple of hours on retail therapy before boarding a train back to London. In fact, it’s easy to walk around the whole city center in a couple of hours.
