Ten things to do in Cardiff for under £10 pounds!

The University experience shouldn’t just revolve around Lectures and essay deadlines. Rather, this is a time to spread your wings! Go out and explore the city.

In such a busy and commercial area as Cardiff, with clubs and events everywhere you look, it’s hard as a fresher to find the best deals. It is now more important than ever to spend money effectively, but this shouldn’t mean that you have to sacrifice your social life.After speaking to students who are finishing their first year across the city,  here is a guide to Cardiff’s top ten activities for students to enjoy, for under ten pounds!

1. Cardiff Market 

A staple of Cardiff’s food scene, it’s no surprise that Cardiff Market is a quick favourite among students. In my first week as a fresher, it’s safe to say that most of my lunchtime was spent choosing something delicious from the range of international foods available (great for me, not so great for my bank account). For savoury lovers, ‘The Dirty Gnocchi’ restaurant does an excellent cheese wheel pasta for £7. If you’re interested in the desert, a favourite among my friends is ‘Cardiff Bakestones’. For under £5, you can pick 3 or 4 welsh cakes, with flavours like Nutella, strawberry and fruit.

 2. Yolo 

Open to all students in Cardiff, this is the ultimate club night rite of passage. Running from the beginning of the academic year, Yolo is on every Wednesday night up until the early hours of Thursday morning. Situated within Cardiff University’s Student Union, this event covers 3 rooms split across 2 floors, each catering to a different theme. Between the music of Classic Yolo in the main room, and party house anthems in the balcony bar, there is much to be explored. It’s essential to head down early for the best deal, as entry before 10pm is completely free, with tickets between 10pm-12pm costing £5. With hundreds of students flocking in, be prepared for what is probably the wildest clubbing experience you will find in Cardiff. As the event guide accurately suggests, anything goes at Yolo. 

3. Golf Fang 

‘Have you been to Golf Fang yet?’ is a question you are guaranteed to be faced with constantly as a Cardiff student. And, yes, you will inevitably go to Golf Fang. There is simply no way to avoid a mini golf experience this good.  For just £7,50 (if you show proof of student identity) you have access to 15 holes, each with its own crazy theme. Personal favourite themes include the claw machine, the haunted mansion, and a blockbuster store with a very rude selection of films. Be warned, this experience is definitely adult, with a ban on under 18’s entering.

4. Boom Battle Bar 

Located in Cardiff’s Brewery quarter, this bar is perfect for nights out. Whilst this venue hosts other experiences (namely axe throwing), its most popular and cost effective activity is its private karaoke service.   At only £8-9 per person for an hour, this is the perfect opportunity for you to show off those vocals that usually never leave the shower. With over 100,000 songs available, even the pickiest music critics can be appeased. These sessions can be enhanced through the bar’s app, which allows you to order drinks straight to your booth. Whether you’re out for a party, or looking for something to jazz up your night, this place is for you.

5. Cardiff Waterstones events

Feeling in the mood for a change of scenery ? The traditional uni night out has almost always consisted of some fun clubbing and then a vaguely dodgy takeaway, so why not do something different? Cardiff Waterstones, alongside many of the store’s other locations, often hosts evening events in which featured authors give talks. These events are largely informal, with refreshments provided. Tickets are usually very cheap, with the entry to Julia Armfeild’s latest talk capped at £5 per person. This is an intriguing and calm alternative to most university nightlife, perfect for any humanities student. 

6. Parks

Cardiff’s lush green spaces offer students a break from the chaos of the inner city, a cheap and easy way to find some calmness in day to day life. As per council commitments to public wellbeing, entry to these parks is completely free. Bute park comes highly recommended, with sprawling pathways that run directly alongside Cardiff castle. The perfect place for a group picnic. If you’re up for something more adventurous, Roath park runs a service which allows you to hire out a 2 seater pedalo on its large boating lake, with a 30 minute season costing £10.30 (bring a friend so you can split the price). This is not only a romantic place to bring a partner, but also somewhere to be silly with friends. I don’t recommend being overly silly though, that water is a lot deeper than it looks. 

7. Caroline Street 

A visit here is the perfect way to end a trip to the city centre. This Street has been famous since the 19th century for its food, and it still upholds these same traditions today. Whilst there are a range of kebab shops and commercial food chains present, for example ‘wingstop’, we suggest that it’s important to visit the renowned locally owned ‘’Chippy Lane’.  Yes it’s just a chip shop,  but Chippy Lane deserves its reputation. This place has been in business since the 80’s, consistently serving Cardiff’s student population with some of the best chips in Wales. For just £4, you can have a portion of chips with cheese. Or the same plain portion for £3. The pineapple fritters are also highly recommended.

 8. The Museum

Cardiff Museum is an ideal setting for a chill day out, and entry is completely free! The museum is host to a wide array of objects and art from across history, with specific attention being paid to artefacts of welsh cultural significance. If you’re a student from beyond Wales, a visit here is sure to help you learn more about your new home away from home. Fully charge your phone beforehand as you will be tempted to take lots of pics in the museum’s expansive art galleries; the perfect photo opportunity for any student. Famous painters include Monet with his stunning set of  ’water lilies’ paintings, and five oil paintings by Turner. After you’ve finished your sightseeing, you can refuel at the museum cafe, located on the bottom floor. We also highly recommend a trip to the gift shop.

9. Pub Quiz

A fun way to cap off a stressful week of lectures, participating in a pub quiz is a sure fire way to have a good time. Whilst every pub in Cardiff (and the country) has their own little twist on the classic quiz, here is the pub  we enjoyed most over our first year. If you like tricky questions on astrology, the history of the welsh coal mining industry and rupaul’s drag race, then’ Bonnie and Rogues’ is the bar for you! Happy hour is the best time to go, between 3pm and 8pm, with £3 drinks and £15 bottles of wine. The pub quiz at ‘The Taf’ within Cardiff University’s student union building is in close second place, with its fantastic bonus round that requires drawing a random object in under 60 seconds.Though some of these quizzes are welsh themed, so it’s worth befriending a welsh person.

10. Pontcanna Markets 

Pontcanna is well worth a stroll around in your free time, for its scenic streets and wide array of cafes and shops. This area is generally considered to be the Cardiff equivalent of London’s Kensington borough, with its affluence marking it as a unique section of the city. A number of markets are hosted each month in King’s Yard. There is a Farmer’s market each Saturday with a lovely, if slightly expensive, range of fresh locally grown produce. The Vintage Market however, on every first Sunday of the month, is an essential visit for any student who loves their thrifting. This market attracts second hand fashion sellers, vintage art stalls and a great selection of food pop ups. It’s worth setting aside a few hours to properly look through the market, as there’s lots of goodies and trinkets to be discovered.

Interested in making the most of Cardiff during your degree? Here’s all you need to know about Cardiff’s waterfalls for more free fun.