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Christmas in Cardiff 2023
There's so much to get you in the festive spirit this Christmas
Cardiff Christmas Markets | Cardiff Winter Wonderland | Christmas at Bute Park
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Cardiff is truly magical at Christmas. The festive season offers things to do with family and friends, as a couple or on your own. You will be spoilt for choice with things to do at Christmas in Cardiff. From carol singing to Christmas markets and delicious festive treats to enjoy, Cardiff has it all this December! There's plenty of holiday spirit to go around!
With large shopping centres, high street favourites, individual stores, and a thriving indoor market, Cardiff is the ideal destination for a shopping trip.
The real highlight of Cardiff’s retail scene is the Victorian and Edwardian arcades, full of independent boutiques and cafes, worth a visit as architectural gems.
Don't forget about the incredible Boxing Day Sales!
A huge range of craft stalls and food can be browsed throughout the day in Alpine-style huts. Found on St John Street, Working Street, Hills Street, Trinity Street and the Hayes, known as the Festive Quarter. Over 200 individual businesses sell a wide variety of diverse arts and crafts, plus seasonal food and drinks each year.
Found just outside the city centre in Llandaff is Insole Court. Within the grounds of the 160-year-old mansion house, which was recently saved by the community, you will find craft stalls and some of the best produce South Wales has to offer. Whilst there walk around the gardens, visit the house and the exhibition 'This House is a Stage'.
The most extensive light trail in Wales has ever seen is Christmas in Bute Park. The park is taken over by dazzling light displays, interactive installations, a flickering fire and an enchanting fairy tree forest. Also, some of the best street food vendors can be enjoyed too. Fun for all the family!
The annual Christmas Winter Wonderland is in the heart of the city centre, on the City Hall lawn. The Christmas festival has funfair rides, games and a big wheel. There’s plenty of food and drink on offer too. Entry is free. However, games, food and drink are chargeable.
Enjoy a drink at The Ice Bar, where it is chilled to minus 10 degrees, and absolutely everything is made of ice. The pre-timed slots in the sub-zero temperatures book fast, so get your tickets well in advance.
This year the Christmas events are spilling over to Cardiff Castle too, where you'll find the ice rink and ice walk within the public square in the castle grounds. Get your skates on with family and friends or enjoy a festive drink or feast under the twinkling lights in this magical setting. Entry is free. However, skating (pre-booking required), games, festive food and drink are chargeable.
The Castle will also be decorated for Christmas if you want to explore beyond the walls. Tour the beautifully decorated apartments and learn about Victorian Christmas traditions. You can also meet Santa in the Castle's Drawing Room, followed by seasonal treats in the library.
The Cardiff Christmas Festival and its iconic Spiegeltent is in the grounds of Sophia Gardens in the centre of Cardiff. Productions include Santa's Wish, Castellana, Britain's Got Talent musical theatre stars Welsh of the West End, Christmas Cracker Comedy Night and My My! ABBA. It's ideal festive entertainment for all the family or to spend time with friends.
A Christmas Projection Show is coming to Cardiff. In previous years the projection, which is an immersive visual experience with family-themed Christmas stories and building designs with sound to delight people of all ages, took place in St John's Gardens.
The Christmas Trail will get all family members in the festive spirit if you want free things to do in Cardiff this Christmas. The Cardiff Bay Snow Trail is the best opportunity to explore The Bay and track down eight snow-themed characters. There are prizes every week to be won.
The launch event is on Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 December, at the Red Dragon Centre, between 12pm and 4pm. There are free games to play, including Snowball Splat and Narnia Ring Toss, and again you can win some prizes. Also, there's face painting and photo boards to bag some pictures for the family memory book.
£27.50 per person
£16.50 per child (under 12’s) | Under 2’s are complimentary
£19 per person | £12 for under 12's | Under 5's complimentary
Upgrade to bottomless Prosecco for up to 2 hours:
£29 per person
The Wales Millennium Centre Christmas show is Disney's Aladdin. With special effects, over 350 lavish costumes and all the songs from the classic film including Friend Like Me, Arabian Nights, and A Whole New World.
As the official hotel partner, ticket holders get 20% off bed and breakfast rates.
After a hectic big day, there’s no need to wrap up the festive season just yet. Indulge with three courses from our special Boxing Day Menu in Thomas Restaurant.
If you're still in the Christmas spirit, you could start with a Bucks Fizz or Mulled Wine or choose from the large selection of alcoholic and soft drinks.
£19 per person
The family-friendly New Year's Eve party includes a 3-course hot buffet and our resident party DJ to keep everyone entertained throughout the evening.
As we welcome 2024, there will be a glass of Prosecco for the adults to raise a glass with.
£46 per person
£27.50 per child (under 12’s)
Under 2’s are complimentary
Bedrooms at Future Inn Cardiff
Future Inns in Cardiff Bay has 197 bedrooms with everything you would expect of a 4-star hotel. Plus, a whole host of home-away-from-home comforts. The hotel offers all guests free parking, electric car charging, and free WiFi. All bedrooms sleep up to four guests, which is ideal for families and groups. Plus, under 12s stay for free.
It is incredibly easy to get to Cardiff city centre from Future Inns:
Book direct for the best rates guaranteed, with rooms from £67 per room per night.
Book your stay online, where we guarantee the best rate, or with our Reservations Team on 02920 487111 or reservations.cardiff@futureinns.co.uk.
For additional benefits, you can join the Future Inns hotel loyalty program. For every £1 you spend on accommodation, you earn 1 reward point. Plus, get double points when you dine in the restaurant. Points can then be used to upgrade your bedroom to a suite or a free night's stay. You also get a complimentary drink voucher to redeem when you dine in the restaurant (you'll also get double points, too!) and a member's discount rate. It's also completely free to join!
Dishes on the menu in Thomas Restaurant
Thomas Restaurant is ideal for refuelling. The team serves breakfast, brunch, lunch, evening a-la-carte or traditional roasts on Sunday. A homemade Taste of Wales Afternoon Tea is served daily between 1pm-5pm or our set menu offers 3 courses for £25 daily between 5pm-10pm. Of course, during December, a festive lunch or festive dinner is also on offer.
Our new menu features locally sourced ingredients and flavours. Whether you're in the mood for something savoury or sweet, there's something for everyone on the winter menu. Not sure where to start? Here are some of our favourite dishes, all bound to leave you satisfied and content: Discover the Winter Warmers on the New Menu
A large selection of drinks is also available, including popular local brands. Our Welsh drink selection includes Brains beers, Penderyn whiskey and vodka, Benjamin Hall gins, and Cariad wines. Thomas Bar and Restaurant also has an extensive gin and mixer menu and 2 for £15 on cocktails. Naturally, there’s a good choice of soft drinks too, including refreshing fruit juices, tea, coffee and mocktails.
Reservations can be made on 02920 487111 or thomas@futureinns.co.uk, or online: