Cardiff Castle
AT the heart of the capital city, Cardiff Castle is the ultimate in prestigious venues. Its enchanting fairy-tale towers conceal elaborate and splendid interiors of unique architecture, magnificent décor and breath-taking elegance.
Surrounded by beautiful parklands on one side and a modern metropolis on the other, the Castle is truly the city’s historic heart.
From Roman occupation, through Norman conquest, Victorian transformation and even the terrors of World War Two, Cardiff Castle has survived the centuries and evolved with them in a fashion that few others can claim.
An exclusive venue for hosting meetings, corporate events and functions, it is also one of the most popular tourist attractions in Wales, offering a unique opportunity to explore almost 2,000 years of history.
Visitors from all over the world can climb the mighty Norman Keep and see the replica trebuchet, marvel at the Castle Apartments created for one of the world’s richest men, discover the Roman remains and Chariot Corner, explore the Firing Line military museum and experience the wartime shelters, or simply enjoy a scenic stroll along the battlement walks, then relax in the Castle’s café and browse the gift shop.
Since the 1970s, Cardiff Castle has hosted concerts for a wide range of genres and from high-profile artists such as Blondie and Sting in 2023, having previously welcomed the likes of Queen, Bryan Adams, Kaiser Chiefs, Madness, Manic Street Preachers, Paul Weller, Rod Stewart, Stereophonics, Sting, Sinéad O’Connor, Happy Mondays, Diana Ross, Status Quo, 10cc, Thin Lizzy, Bonnie Tyler, Tom Jones, Simply Red, Mike Peters and Michael Bublé.
The legendary Freddie Mercury and Queen were among the first big bands to rock up at Cardiff Castle when they performed on the same bill as Manfred Mann’s Earth Band in September 1976.
Unfortunately, the Welsh weather proved inhospitable on that occasion and it poured with rain throughout this outdoor show in Wales.
Queen’s drummer, Roger Taylor, wrote about the show in the band’s fan club magazine, describing the weather as “virtually a monsoon.” He recalled, “The sight of the rain pouring down through the spotlights on everybody, and of Freddie splashing his way through pools of water at the front of the stage will remain indelibly printed on our memories forever. The fact that people stayed on and enjoyed themselves right to the end made it quite a moving occasion for us … if you were there thanks for being our bravest audience ever and I hope the pneumonia cleared up.”