Cardiff Central station

Overview 

As one of the major stations on the South Wales Main Line, Cardiff Central station carries a lot of responsibility, and with its grand halls reflecting the golden age of train travel, the glorious Art Deco architecture feels more than capable. However, it nearly didn’t happen. 

The site of Cardiff Central was part of the River Taff’s floodplain, and it was up to the great man himself, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, to come up with a workable solution. His idea was to re-route the River, creating a safe and stable location for the station, and thus, in 1850 the original station was opened for business. With several rebuilds and additions throughout the ensuing years, the glamourous Art Deco style was incorporated in the early 1930s, and today the Grade II listed Cardiff Central is the busiest station in Wales.

It’s just a short ten-minute walk to the home of Welsh rugby - the Principality Stadium, the Millennium Centre, and everything the city has to offer. 

If you'd like to find out more fascinating facts about this wonderful city, as well as reveal a couple of new places to visit while you're there, take a look at this great list of things to do in Cardiff City Centre prepared by the Transport for Wales team.

• How long does it take to get from Cardiff Central station to Cardiff airport?

  • To travel from Cardiff Central station to Cardiff airport, you need to hop on the train to Rhoose Cardiff International Airport station, and from there catch the convenient shuttle bus service to the airport. 

• How long does it take to walk from Cardiff Central station to Cardiff city centre?

  • The walk to Cardiff city centre, via St. Mary Street, takes an easy five minutes.

• What car parking facilities are available at Cardiff Central station?

  • The 24-hour car park has 402 spaces, including Blue Badge spaces.

• What facilities are there for bike storage at Cardiff Central station?

  • With 90 available bike spaces, including sheltered storage, there’s plenty of space, and it’s all overlooked by CCTV.

• What other facilities are available at Cardiff Central station? 

  • Toilets, including baby changing facilities
  • Station buffet
  • Shops
  • Coin and card telephones
  • ATM
  • Wi-Fi
  • First-class lounge
  • Disabled access - step-free throughout the station, ramps and induction loop available

• Which popular destinations can be reached from Cardiff Central Station?

  • Cardiff to Manchester
  • Cardiff to Swansea
  • Cardiff to Liverpool
  • Cardiff to Bangor
  • Cardiff to Chester
  • For more popular routes from Cardiff Station, click here.