Museums & heritage in Cardiff

A Welsh Coal Mining Experience

Tonypandy

A trip underground-style, with a simulated dram ride, interactive displays and a coal owner's parlour to poke around.

CaféGroup bookings

Albany Gallery

Cardiff

A free art gallery in Cardiff with changing exhibitions, open Wednesday to Sunday with no need to book.

Art Central Gallery

Barry

Free rotating exhibitions of paintings, photography, textiles and sculpture, plus the odd artist talk thrown in.

Ashton Court Mansion

Bristol

A grand old mansion hosting antique and car shows, markets and fairs, with under 16s free at the shows.

Bay Island Voyages

Cardiff · ages 1-15

Boat trips out of Cardiff Bay to the islands of Flat Holm and Steep Holm, with proper lighthouse and wildlife exploring at the other end.

Birthday parties

Beacon Park Boats

Crickhowell

Hire a canal boat for a few days or a week and cruise the water yourself, dogs welcome aboard for free.

Booking requiredDog friendlyFood on sitePicnic area+1 more

Being Brunel

Bristol

Step into Brunel's own head, wander a recreated Victorian dining room, then draw on a moving train inside a broad-gauge carriage.

Big Pit Station (P&B Railway)

Pontypool · ages 0+

A heritage steam and diesel train ride out to Blaenavon High Level and back, with a stop to watch the locomotive run round the carriages.

Accessible toiletBlue badge parkingCaféCard only+3 more

Brecon Mountain Railway

Merthyr Tydfil

Steam train ride into the Brecon Beacons with a lakeside stop long enough for a picnic and a play.

Accessible toiletBaby changeCaféDog friendly+7 more

Bristol Packet Boat Trips

Bristol

A slow boat round the docks past the SS Great Britain, with pub lunches and cream teas laid on if you fancy making a proper afternoon of it.

Food on sitePublic transport nearbyToilets

Bute Park

Cardiff

A free, sprawling park with a story trail, a champion tree hunt and a carved animal wall to spot along the way.

Baby changeBike parkingCaféDog friendly+3 more

Caerleon Roman Fortress Baths

Newport · ages 5-17

A covered Roman swimming pool you can walk right up to, plus a film that brings the old baths back to life.

Dog friendlyGift shopHearing loopParking+2 more

Cardiff beer bike

Cardiff

An 18+ pedal-powered party bike that tours Cardiff with your own crowd and cold drinks on board.

Booking required

Cardiff Boat Tours, Ltd

Cardiff · ages 3+

A boat trip round Cardiff Bay and the city centre, either a one-way hop or a full hour staying on board.

Cardiff Castle

Cardiff

City-centre Norman keep and apartments - battlements, house tours and under-5s free.

Gift shopFood on siteParkingWheelchair accessible+4 more

Cardiff Indoor Flea Market

Cardiff

Free to browse over 70 vintage, antique and retro stalls across three halls, with two cafés for a break between finds.

Accessible toiletBaby changeCaféDog friendly+3 more

Cardiff Students' Union

Cardiff

Live gigs, sports taster sessions and society events at Cardiff University's student union, with a café and accessible lifts throughout.

Accessible toiletBaby changeCaféGift shop+3 more

Cathays Picture Framing & Gallery

Cardiff

A small Cardiff gallery and framing shop where you can browse original Welsh and international art up close.

Free parking

Celf Gallery

Cardiff

A contemporary art space in Cardiff, open Wednesday to Saturday and Sunday afternoons, with buggy access throughout.

Clifton Suspension Bridge

Bristol

Free walk across a famous bridge, plus a museum with hidden vaults, a film and a children's trail to hunt down.

Bike parkingCaféGift shopGroup bookings+5 more

Cyfarthfa Castle Museum and Art Gallery

Merthyr Tydfil

A castle museum with parkland to explore, a model railway tearoom and free entry for under-16s.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBlue badge parkingCafé+6 more

Ffotogallery

Cardiff

Free photography exhibitions in Cardiff, though the gallery is shut until October 2026 for its next big show.

Fourteen Locks Canal Centre

Newport

Hop on a real working boat through the locks, then eat your way round an activity trail for a couple of quid.

Dog friendlyGift shopParkingSchool visits+1 more

G39

Cardiff

A free contemporary art gallery in a converted warehouse, with changing exhibitions, a zine and artist-book library, and talks to drop into.

Dog friendlyFree parkingStep-free accessWheelchair accessible

Giant's Cave

Bristol · ages 4+

A steep 130-step descent through a 200-foot tunnel to a cliff-side platform looking straight at the Avon Gorge and Clifton Suspension Bridge.

CaféIndoor seatingFood on siteVegetarian options

Hopewell Colliery

Coleford · ages 4-16

A real ex-miner takes you underground to see actual coal being dug and hauled up in carts.

Booking requiredCaféFree parkingGift shop+1 more

Insole Court

Cardiff

A Victorian mansion with ornate gardens to wander, a walk-through audio drama exhibition, and a café for cake afterwards.

Accessible toiletAllergy awareBaby changeCafé+8 more

Kings Weston House

Bristol

Free grounds to wander with views over the Bristol Channel, plus a café for cake when the legs give out.

Accessible toiletCaféDog friendlyFree parking+3 more

Llantarnam Grange

Cwmbran

Free contemporary art and craft exhibitions to wander round, with a craft shop and café to round off the visit.

Allergy awareBlue badge parkingCaféFree parking+4 more

Llys a Chastell Tre-tŵr / Tretower Court and Castle

Crickhowell · ages 5+

A fortified medieval court next to a ruined castle tower, with dressed rooms to explore and a real "step back in time" feel.

Baby changeBike parkingDog friendlyGift shop+5 more

Makers Guild Wales (Craft in the Bay)

Cardiff · ages 7+

Free craft gallery by Cardiff Bay showing work from Wales's makers, best for browsing with a curious seven-year-old plus.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBike parkingBirthday parties+4 more

Mendip Hills National Landscape

Bristol

Guided walks through limestone gorges, ancient woodland and hidden caves across the Mendip Hills.

Dog friendlyOutdoor playPicnic areaPicnics allowed+2 more

Nantgarw China Works & Museum

Cardiff

A guided tour round a real 19th century porcelain works, with a craft corner for younger kids while older ones do the trail.

Accessible toiletBlue badge parkingCaféFree parking+4 more

National Museum Cardiff

Cardiff

Free Cathays Park museum with dinosaurs and art - Soft Play N never.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBlue badge parkingBreastfeeding friendly+14 more

National Roman Legion Museum

Caerleon, Newport

Free Caerleon Roman museum with barracks and garden - Soft Play N never.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBike parkingDog friendly+13 more

Norwegian Church Arts Centre

Cardiff

A small white timber church by the water where you wander the art on show and hear how it once served Norwegian sailors, then grab cake in the café.

Accessible toiletAllergy awareBaby changeBlue badge parking+8 more

Oakham Treasures

Bristol · ages 6-16

A wander through old shop fronts, vintage tractors and thousands of everyday bygones under one roof.

CaféFree parkingWheelchair accessible

Ogmore Castle

Bridgend

Free ruined stone walls to clamber over by a river, open daily from 10am to 4pm.

Dog friendlyParking

Old Beaupre Castle

Cowbridge

Free ruins to poke around after a walk across a couple of farmers' fields near Cowbridge.

Toilets

Penarth Marina

Penarth

A working marina you can wander round for free, with waterside cafés and restaurants and boats to watch coming and going.

CaféParkingPublic transport nearbyRestaurant+2 more

Pierhead Building

Cardiff

Free entry to Cardiff Bay's landmark building, with a giant floor map of Wales, a trail for 5 to 7 year olds and free tours of the Senedd.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBike parkingBottle warming+13 more

PurplePie Gallery

Cardiff

A small gallery space among plants where you can browse original artwork and try a creative workshop on a Saturday afternoon.

River Cruises

Cardiff

A one-hour round trip along the River Taff, passing right by Principality Stadium.

Bike parkingDog friendlyPushchair friendlyWheelchair accessible

South Wales Miners Museum

Port Talbot · ages 0+

A retired coal miner leads you underground to see the pit face, then it's a blacksmith's forge and steam engines above ground.

Accessible toiletBooking requiredCaféGroup bookings+3 more

St Fagans National Museum of History

Cardiff

Free Wales open-air history museum near Cardiff - buildings, farm and craft demos.

Accessible toiletCaféGift shopParking+2 more

St Fagans National Museum of History Car Park

Cardiff

Free entry to 50 rebuilt historic buildings, woodland and parkland to wander, though parking will cost you £7.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBike parkingCafé+9 more

St John's House Trust

Bridgend

Free entry to a historic house that opens just twice a month, with forest school activities laid on for children.

St Quentin’s Castle (Llanblethian Castle)

Cowbridge

Free ruins to clamber round on the edge of Cowbridge, with steep old steps that make it feel like a proper explore.

Bike parkingDog friendly

Techniquest

Cardiff

Cardiff Bay science centre with planetarium - Soft Play N never.

Birthday partiesCaféGift shopGroup bookings+3 more

TEN.

Cardiff

A small Cardiff gallery space open Wednesday to Saturday for a quiet look round.

The Giant Wheel

Cardiff · ages 0+

A ride on an observation wheel lit up with over 20,000 colour-changing LED lights.

Card only

The Helicopter Museum

Weston-super-Mare · ages 3-15

Over a hundred rotary wing aircraft to climb through, plus a chance to try a pilot's helmet on for size.

Baby changeBlue badge parkingCaféFree parking+7 more

The Senedd

Cardiff · ages 5-7

Free entry to watch Welsh democracy in action, with a trail and play area built for 5 to 7 year olds.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBike parkingBlue badge parking+14 more

The Turner House

Penarth

A free gallery behind Penarth station, small enough for a quick look on the way to the train.

Free parking

The Workers Gallery

Porth

A free community gallery in Porth open Saturdays, showing exhibitions and hosting local cultural events and groups.

Accessible toiletBike parkingGift shopIndoor seating+1 more

Underfall Yard

Bristol

Free look round a working dock engineering yard, with hydraulic pumps and a drum you can climb into.

CaféToilets

University of Bristol Botanic Garden

Bristol

Wander through zones from Mediterranean to tropical plants, with free entry for under-18s and a Wednesday guided tour thrown in.

Accessible toiletBike parkingBlue badge parkingFood on site+4 more

Wales Millennium Centre

Cardiff

A working theatre in Cardiff Bay where kids catch big touring musicals, opera or family shows, with a buggy park laid on for children's performances.

Accessible toiletBaby changeGift shopFood on site+2 more