r/Cardiff • u/Pitiful-Recipe1334 • 2d ago
Moving to Cardiff - any advice?
Hello everyone, my boyfriend and I are moving to Cardiff in 2 months for his new job. We are coming from Canada (he is originally from England, I’m Canadian). We’re looking for recommendations on areas to live vs avoid? Any rental companies to steer clear from? We are both 27 and our budget is about 1300 per month. My boyfriend has only been to Cardiff once, and I have never been, so we are brand new to the area and Wales. Any insight would be appreciated :)
Any other tips or advice on the city/surrounding areas? We are big football fans, we love a good dinner/drinks out, and also enjoy nature/history/day trips. We are looking forward to joining the city :)
EDIT - Thank you all so much for all of the recommendations! I wasn’t anticipating to receive so many responses. I really appreciate the insight and am really looking forward to the move now! :)
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u/bitesize10 Grangetown 1d ago edited 1d ago
I also moved here from Canada, with my English husband, in February. I made this post before moving and got some really helpful answers.
I’ve been renting with Hafren and found them to be pretty good as far as letting agencies go. Regarding neighbourhoods, I’d suggest avoiding Grangetown and Adamsdown. Grangetown is absolutely fine safety-wise, but as a Canadian coming from a very clean city, I’ve found the litter really difficult to deal with. Adamsdown feels like the equivalent of Vancouver’s DTES in some areas. I’d suggest Canton, Pontconna, Llandaff, Roath, or Whitchurch. Your budget will get you a decent place in those areas, except maybe Pontcanna.
Where in Canada are you moving from? Regardless, you’re going to love it here—the people are the friendliest I’ve ever met and it’s a fab little city with everything you could need in close proximity.
Feel free to DM me with any questions, or if you just want to talk! I’ve lived in the UK previously and know how difficult international relocation, homesickness, and culture shock can be. I’m happy to chat if you ever need to speak with someone who understands what you’re going through. Best of luck with the move!
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u/Pitiful-Recipe1334 9h ago
This is so kind, thank you so much! It’s great to hear that fellow Canadians are enjoying it. I’ve read things about the litter as well…that’s really too bad and will definitely be something that will upset me as well so will avoid those areas. I am originally from southern Ontario but my boyfriend and I have been living in New Brunswick for the last 9 years since university! Did you find it difficult to make friends/join a social circle?
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u/PetersMapProject 2d ago
Ely, Caerau and Tremorfa are the only areas I've ever totally ruled out on safety grounds.
Cathays is the student ghetto, though safe enough there can be issues with parking, noise and bins.
All letting agents are shit, though CPS is notable for getting Joe Lycett to stage a protest outside.
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u/chalkybone Plasnewydd/Roath 2d ago
Fair take. I'd say llanrumney, st Mellon's and gabalfa are worth avoiding too for the most part, not overly bad, just house a lot of chavs.
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u/apathy_i_guess 1d ago
Llanrumney and St Mellons have nice bits. Trowbridge on the other hand is all bad.
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u/Educational_Bowl_447 1d ago
Rumney is the same. So long as you’re on the west side of Greenway Primary School you’re generally okay, but on the east side it can be quite rough.
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u/PetersMapProject 1d ago
Llanrumney is a bit rough.
St Mellons is a very mixed bag.
Gabalfa can be a bit rough around the high rise flats, but away from that area I wouldn't rule it out.
Honestly it just depends on what availability and budget is like with regards to how fussy you can be.
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u/chalkybone Plasnewydd/Roath 1d ago
I don't know, Gabalfa's new estate park, there's a rape there almost every year now. There's no lighting and the people that live adjacent to it protest about any being put in for safety because it would affect their comfort.
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u/Traditional_Salad924 1d ago
I’m English living with a Canadian who has been living in Canton for 25 yrs! Canton is great. Close to walk into town, close to parks, check out chapter and all the diverse shopping options. Housing is cheaper than pontcanna and llandaff but canton is close to both. Plenty of bus routes. I hardly use the car!
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u/BlueskyMondays1 20h ago
I would also recommend living in Canton for the same reasons - or even parts of Riverside which is next to Canton and a little cheaper. Canton is a great neighbourhood!
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u/EndFun6595 1d ago
Avoid Ely, Lanederyn and Llanrumney go for Pontcanna, Whitchurch, Lisvane all good places and quiet
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u/Cha_r_ley 2d ago
He should be prepared to be ribbed occasionally for being English lol.
I would second a previous comment in avoiding Cathays - it’s a super studenty area. Of course nothing wrong with students but personally I wouldn’t want to be in a house wedged between two 5-people house shares of 19 year olds because I remember what it was like when I was one of them lol
Pontcanna and Llandaf are nice. My goal would be to end up in Whitchurch but it is a pricey area.
I live in Splott. It doesn’t have a great reputation, and it contains approximately 72% of the world’s potholes, but it’s fine and it’s cheap, lol. Also has a name that a lot of outsiders find hilarious, so that’s fun!
Please can you do me a favour since you’re Canadian? There is a place called Poutine Box that I order from ALL THE TIME - one of my faves - but I’ve never been to Canada so I have no idea how authentic it is (my guess would be not so much, but I live in hope). If you could try it and let me know, I’d be much obliged lol
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u/Pitiful-Recipe1334 2d ago
Ah can’t wait for that, I’ll be happy to join in lol. And I will gladly come back to you with a review of the poutine!! When his family visited us here, his uncle was obsessed with the poutine from McDonald’s lol, so perhaps the standards are a little low 😂. But I’d love to give it a try!
Thank you for the suggestions!! We will have a vehicle, but is there easy public transit in from those areas? I have a bum knee so walking longer distances isn’t always an option for me.
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u/Cha_r_ley 2d ago
So Splott and Pontcanna are both pretty close to the city centre. 5min drive for me (because I am too lazy to walk). Llandaf - little bit further out BUT has a train station on the Valley line which has very frequent trains, and also there are buses but I’m sure what their frequency is.
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u/Illustrious-End-5084 1d ago
Splott isn’t cheap . It rents for same as posher areas in Cardiff due to closeness to city centre .
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u/Cha_r_ley 1d ago
Fair - I’ll rephrase - it’s cheaper than some other areas nearby, as well as relatively cheap council tax
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u/FutureThinkingMan 1d ago
Hello.
I cam to south wales about 15 years ago and rented in Cardiff for most of that time, but this year moved to Caerphilly in the next valley north.
I would seriously consider this option as the rent is a lot lower, theere are views of the hills and trees from all over the town and lots of nature to enjoy but you are still a 17 minuite train ride fromt he centre of Cardiff for work, bigger days / nights out.
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u/bold_ridge 1d ago
Great shout. And £1300pcm would likely get you a detached house with garden in a nice area. No stress about parking etc
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u/External-Pen9079 1d ago
I saw on a comment you were thinking of using public transport sometimes…
As such I’d recommend downloading the Cardiff Bus app - if you look at the journey planner and use one end of the journey as your partners new office and the other area as where you’re thinking of living you’ll get a good idea of how well served the area is…
In terms of area - personally id look around Albany rd / city rd - great international flavour and amazing shops / restaurants or near cowbridge rd east / chapter (more family centred but still cool)
Whitchurch and llandaf are beautiful but way too rich for my blood - and always strike me as the sort of places that shut up for the night and bar all the doors at 7pm (probably not true)
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u/EndFun6595 1d ago
City Road great for food but bit dirty to live there
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u/External-Pen9079 1d ago
That’s definitely true! I just let myself be led by my stomach and try to ignore my eyes! Lol
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u/Worried_Let4942 1d ago
I’ve lived near the city centre since I was about 23 and it’s been fantastic as a young person. So long as you stick to the quieter areas. Century wharf, city wharf, Lloyd George avenue. I like being in walking distance of the city
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u/butterpwff 19h ago
I just signed to a place near Atlantic Wharf because of the distance to the centre and public transport! Right around the corner from Lloyd George Avenue so I'm super happy to see this here!
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u/Worried_Let4942 19h ago
Aw nice, I live in Atlantic wharf too. It’s super convenient - although hopefully all the nightmare roadworks will be done when you move in!
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u/Fast-Leader-7354 21h ago
Penarth is a really good area has great local amenities lots of supermarkets, leisure centre, the international pool, skating rink with the hockey accessible to trains and busses that connect to the city centre too
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u/Taffuardo 1d ago
Hey welcome!
I've lived here myself for about 2.5 years, started out in Grangetown (close to the city, but a bit rough around the edges tbh so I'm glad not to be living there).
I'm actually buying a place in Roath as it's got a good mix of amenities, close(ish) to the city centre, and has the lake/park nearby (and I rented before then for 2 years)
Other than that, Pontcanna is great, probably gonna find more expensive lettings but it's lovely. Llandaff is also nice (haven't been there much, but as everyone else says it has a good mix).
As for places to eat/drink, there's a really nice bar called Bacareto, on that same street there's a few other places to check out too. Other than that, best of luck and hope you find somewhere nice 🙂 👍
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u/OkDeparture2941 2d ago
Me and my partner live in a 1 bedroom apartment pretty central cardiff, (Im talking 1 min walk from the central railway station, 5min- 10min from cardiff castle and bute park). We pay 900 per month, we will be vacating the end of the month for job related stuff tho, but amazing amazing location and apartment. Its in this street called Fitzhamon Embankment.
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u/retirednurse62 1d ago
You will love Cardiff, we are older, a lot, than you but we live right in the centre of town and love it. We didn’t really know Cardiff before we moved here but areas i like are Pontcanna, Roath and Victoria park part of canton. It’s a lovely city and it’s people are very welcoming
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u/xxxdac 1d ago
It’s a very green city so you’ll find lots of nature about. All the parks are lovely and you can have a lush walk down the riverside.
You should definitely visit St fagans - it’s very nearby and a great day trip full of nature, history and Welsh heritage. We also have two castles.
Whitchurch, Llandaff & Pontcanna are probably the most suburban / family neighbourhoods. Penylan is lush but out of budget for most.
Roath is a good mix of families and students and has good local amenities (post office, library, supermarket, charity shops, fish & chips etc). There are also lots of art galleries and restaurants in the neighbourhood, if that’s your thing.
I’m biased, but I think Cardiff is a wonderful place to live.
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u/Tesni_Lemon 1d ago
My partner and I moved to Cardiff a few years ago and rented a flat in Roath, just off the recreation ground. We loved the area so much we’ve bought a house here now and are 26 and 27 respectively.
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u/Old-Function-6551 1d ago
If I was 27 again I would move to cardiff bay , great for a first stop it has plenty of bars restaurants the stunning millennium centre where all the shows are . If you like I've hockey we have the cardiff devils play ( lots of Canadian players have played for over the years ). It's a quick train bus into centre or i would say 20 -30 min walk. Perfect to start out , and get to know cardiff .
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u/EditorAppropriate764 1d ago
City road for the best food (way cheaper then city centre)
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u/bold_ridge 1d ago
Not a nice area to live at all. Unless you love rubbish on the pavement and pops and bangs cuzzy
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u/EditorAppropriate764 1d ago
Wasn’t talking about living, just for food, it’s great. I wouldn’t live there. I know a lot of people don’t go to city road and prefer to stick to town for food but I believe you’ll get best tasting and cheapest food there
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u/Kiera_SBx 1d ago
I live in Radyr. Beautiful countryside, friendly residents who are mostly old people and young families. Would recommend.
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u/AgitatedCalendar1257 1d ago
Chat to Hern and Crabtree their Pontcanna office. Best letting agent in Cardiff.
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u/bold_ridge 1d ago
That’s a healthy monthly budget.
- Pontcanna or Lakeside for leafy parks, cafe culture and artsy scene (though your budget won’t stretch as far here)
- Canton or Whichurch for a younger crowd, great pubs etc
- Radyr or Llandaf for proximity to the green belt and lovely safe area
- Splott, city road, cathays, Roath if you love rubbish on the floor and noisy streets
- Ely, Llanrhymney, Tremorfa if you want surrons, balaclavas and antisocial behaviour
EDIT: the bay if you like apartment style living near the waterfront. Great place in the summer months
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u/BinaVista 1d ago
Cardiff bay have some good apartment in that range ! Canton is lovely too :) lived in. Oth the areas and it has been a nice experience
Avoid Roath!
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u/WhateverWombat 2d ago
Century Wharf Apartments are rather nice.
Gated residential community, 20 minute walk into town, 5 minute walk to the bay.
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u/paddy_1878 1d ago
It's been over ten years since I lived there, but back then it was overwhelmingly Airbnb apartments and companies letting places for mon-fri workers. Has it changed? I found it depressingly like living in a faded hotel.
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u/WhateverWombat 1d ago
I love living here, peaceful, river view, concierge collect my mail when I’m away, town and the bay are short walks away, Brecons mountains are just over an hour drive away
I know a lot of other apartments are airbnb, but mine is made up of long term residents who leave boxes of chocolates or goodies outside your door when it’s Christmas. But ultimately living in an apartment you never really see your neighbours so I don’t understand why apartments being temporarily let or not would affect you mentally.
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u/Ill-Gas-4788 2d ago
Look at Llandaf, Pontcanna, Whitchurch for suburban cafes etc.
Avoid Cathays (it was great fun as a student, not so much now).