Shopping Arcades Tour (Self Guided), Cardiff

A city of castles and culture, Cardiff has plenty to entertain those who travel with the shopping bags in tow. The Welsh capital has long been reputed as the "City of Arcades", due to the highest concentration of Victorian, Edwardian and contemporary indoor shopping arcades in the UK. Back in the day, these fascinating, covered pedestrian thoroughfares were designed to enable locals and guests to enjoy indoor shopping without any concern for the weather.

Housed in the walls of Cardiff’s arcades is a maze of independent stores, boutiques and vintage clothes emporiums, as well as hundreds of cafes, bars and restaurants. Nowadays modernized to reflect the vibrancy of life in the city, these independent businesses are at the heart of Cardiff. Here are some of the most notable local arcades not to miss:

Castle Arcade – constructed between 1882 and 1889, particularly famous for its balconies and two large arches mirroring each other; home to an eclectic mix of independent stores like Portuguese bakery Nata and Co, bar Gin and Juice, and Barker’s Tea Rooms sister café Coffee Barker’s;

High Street Arcade – an outdoor shopping plaza, completed in 1885; today has a more contemporary feel with sophisticated cafés and restaurants, as well as barbers and vintage clothing stores;

Duke Street Arcade – one of three shopping plazas in Castle Quarter and the newest of them, finished in 1902; designed in an iconic Gothic style, the building retains many quirky details, including a stunning painted floor;

If you wish to delve deeper into the 150 years of Welsh retail history brought together under the roof of classic Victorian and Edwardian architecture, and to make your shopping experience like no other, take this self-guided walk!