Van Travel Guide

Cardiff

Castell y Van This building lies on the eastern edge of Caerphilly and a description of the building located by the entrance gates reads as follow;- Records referring to Van Castle date from 1415, but the dressed stone quoins and faced stones of the lodge, keep and main mansion building carry 12th century mason marks and are from the original Norman castle. In the grounds of Van Castle stood one of the largest medieval columnbrians (dove cotes) in Britain. The round pennant stone building contained over 100 nesting boxes and was described as a truly remarkable building. In 1529 Van Castle became the home of Sir Edward Lewis, descended from the Welsh Prince of Gwarthfoed. The Lewis family controlled vast estates in Wales and England and during the 16th century the Van was described as one of the finest houses in the county. In 1640 in his diary, the writer Symons of the Royalist (Kings) Army states Sir Edward Lewis Esq de Van has an annual income of £5,000pa from the vast Van Estates. The Van Castle and the Vast Lewis family estates in England and Wales passed with the marriage in 1730 of Elizabeth Lewis to the Third Earl of Plymouth. Her infant son other Lewis became the 4th Earl of Plymouth on the death of his father in 1732 and Van Castle remained part of the Plymouth Estate until 1991. The Castle Lodge, Castle Keep and Van Castle Mansion are now three private residences, and are not open to the public.
Castell y Van This building lies on the eastern edge of Caerphilly and a description of the building located by the entrance gates reads as follow;- Records referring to Van Castle date from 1415, but the dressed stone quoins and faced stones of the lodge, keep and main mansion building carry 12th century mason marks and are from the original Norman castle. In the grounds of Van Castle stood one of the largest medieval columnbrians (dove cotes) in Britain. The round pennant stone building contained over 100 nesting boxes and was described as a truly remarkable building. In 1529 Van Castle became the home of Sir Edward Lewis, descended from the Welsh Prince of Gwarthfoed. The Lewis family controlled vast estates in Wales and England and during the 16th century the Van was described as one of the finest houses in the county. In 1640 in his diary, the writer Symons of the Royalist (Kings) Army states Sir Edward Lewis Esq de Van has an annual income of £5,000pa from the vast Van Estates. The Van Castle and the Vast Lewis family estates in England and Wales passed with the marriage in 1730 of Elizabeth Lewis to the Third Earl of Plymouth. Her infant son other Lewis became the 4th Earl of Plymouth on the death of his father in 1732 and Van Castle remained part of the Plymouth Estate until 1991. The Castle Lodge, Castle Keep and Van Castle Mansion are now three private residences, and are not open to the public.
Clos Guto, Van On the Lansbury Park estate, to the north of Caerphilly.
Photo by Roger Cornfoot (Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0)
River Rhymney, Bedwas Looking east.
Photo by Roger Cornfoot (Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0)
Road Bridge over River Rhymney
Photo by norman hyett (Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0)

Popular places to visit

Millennium Stadium featuring a river or creek and modern architecture

Principality Stadium

4.5/5(198 reviews)

Follow in the footsteps of sporting and musical greats when you tour this vast sporting arena. Walk on the pitch, see dressing rooms and lift a trophy.

Principality Stadium
Pierhead Building, a Grade One listed building of the National Assembly for Wales in Cardiff Bay, Wales. A Cardiff's landmark taken from Cardiff Bay.

Cardiff Bay

4.5/5(190 reviews)

Explore the waterfront in Cardiff with a trip to Cardiff Bay. Discover the lively bars and acclaimed theatre scene in this family-friendly area.

Cardiff Bay
Cardiff Castle showing heritage architecture, château or palace and heritage elements

Cardiff Castle

4.5/5(251 reviews)

A fortified tower from the 12th century, World War II tunnels and Welsh military history make a fascinating day out at this magnificent castle.

Cardiff Castle
Aerial panorama of Barry Island, Wales, UK

Barry Island Beach

4/5(76 reviews)

If you’re looking for a quintessential Welsh seaside experience, look no further than Barry Beach in the picturesque Vale of Glamorgan.

Barry Island Beach
D6WYKM Aerial photograph of the Cardiff Motorpoint Arena

Utilita Arena Cardiff

4.5/5(59 reviews)

Cardiff Motorpoint Arena is located on Mary Ann Street in the heart of Cardiff. It was opened in 1993 and is the largest purpose-built facility for staging exhibitions and concerts in South Wales.

Utilita Arena Cardiff
Main building of Cardiff University - Wales; Shutterstock ID 289260233; purchase_order: Comps; job: ; client: ; other:

Cardiff University

4/5(44 reviews)

Founded by Royal Charter in 1883 and located in the heart of the thriving Welsh capital, Cardiff University has built an international reputation for the quality of its work.

Cardiff University

Things to do

A tour arrives at Caerleon.

The Wandering Bard's Valley Tour or the Swansea Bay Tour.

Rp2.033.489
per adult
The Wandering Bard's Valley Tour or the Swansea Bay Tour.
Cardiff: Gower Peninsula's Cliffs Scenic Day Tour

Cardiff: Gower Peninsula's Cliffs Scenic Day Tour

Rp1.918.352
per adult
Cardiff: Gower Peninsula's Cliffs Scenic Day Tour
Cardiff Bay Boat Tour

Cardiff Bay Boat Tour

Rp293.719
per adult
76% of travellers recommend
Cardiff Bay Boat Tour
Cardiff in a Day

Cardiff in a Day

Rp1.950.477
per adult
Cardiff in a Day
The Royal Mint Experience: Ticket, Guided Tour & Exhibition

The Royal Mint Experience: Ticket, Guided Tour & Exhibition

Rp395.401
per adult
100% of travellers recommend
The Royal Mint Experience: Ticket, Guided Tour & Exhibition
Cardiff: South Wales Cliffs, Bays & Castles Day Tour

Cardiff: South Wales Cliffs, Bays & Castles Day Tour

Rp1.918.352
per adult
Cardiff: South Wales Cliffs, Bays & Castles Day Tour
See all activities in Cardiff

Top hotels in Van

The Angel Hotel

The Angel Hotel

3 out of 5
Castle Street Cardiff Wales
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Cardiff. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and 24-hour room service. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (2,988 reviews)
Room was excellent, perfect size for pur family of four while we had a couple of days for my sons birthday. Staff on reception were really helpful, kind and welcoming. Cleaning staff we met and chatted with the kids, were also very kind. Beds were amazing! The hotel is beautiful and is looked after ...

Reviewed on 14 Feb 2026

Get rates
The Angel Hotel
Celtic Manor Resort

Celtic Manor Resort

5 out of 5
Chepstow Road Newport Wales
The price is Rp2.153.223 per night from 11 Mar to 12 Mar
Rp2.153.223
Rp2.583.868 total
11 Mar - 12 Mar
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this luxury hotel in Newport. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, 2 indoor pools and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in their ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (1,338 reviews)
The room was very clean and a lovely size. We stayed in a signature suite. My only negative would be while swimming although the large hot tub says adults only there was a lady in there with a child and the staff dont pay attention to tell them their not allowed in there. I didnt go in the pool as ...

Reviewed on 18 Feb 2026

Celtic Manor Resort
Cardiff Marriott Hotel

Cardiff Marriott Hotel

4 out of 5
Mill Lane Cardiff Wales
The price is Rp1.364.437 per night from 1 Mar to 2 Mar
Rp1.364.437
Rp1.637.325 total
1 Mar - 2 Mar
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in Cardiff. Enjoy breakfast (surcharge), 24-hour room service and a 24-hour fitness centre. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,209 reviews)
Lovely hotel in an amazing location.

Reviewed on 15 Feb 2026

Cardiff Marriott Hotel
Village Hotel Cardiff

Village Hotel Cardiff

4 out of 5
29 Pendwyallt Road, Coryton Cardiff Wales
The price is Rp1.516.041 per night from 22 Feb to 23 Feb
Rp1.516.041
Rp1.819.249 total
22 Feb - 23 Feb
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Cardiff. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
8/10 Very Good! (1,000 reviews)
Lovely helpful staff!

Reviewed on 15 Feb 2026

Village Hotel Cardiff
Future Inns Cardiff Bay

Future Inns Cardiff Bay

4 out of 5
Hemingway Road Cardiff Bay Cardiff Wales
The price is Rp1.347.381 per night from 15 Mar to 16 Mar
Rp1.347.381
Rp1.616.858 total
15 Mar - 16 Mar
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Cardiff. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,581 reviews)
Clean spacious room, Good breakfast. Would definitely use again. Great location to access Cardiff bay

Reviewed on 19 Feb 2026

Future Inns Cardiff Bay
The Parkgate Hotel

The Parkgate Hotel

4 out of 5
Westgate Street Cardiff Wales
The price is Rp2.027.704 per night from 1 Mar to 2 Mar
Rp2.027.704
Rp2.433.245 total
1 Mar - 2 Mar
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this spa hotel in Cardiff. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a full-service spa and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant in their ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,777 reviews)
Staff was friendly and professional. Dinner was delicious and the beds are very comfortable. Plan to stay on my next trip to Cardiff

Reviewed on 17 Feb 2026

The Parkgate Hotel
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Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Other neighbourhoods around Van

University Hospital of Wales gardens

Heath

4.5/5(4 area reviews)

If you're looking for some top things to see and do in Heath and surrounding area, you can visit Cardiff Golf Club and National Museum Cardiff.

Heath
Hollybush Estate Road - Coryton

Whitchurch

4/5(29 area reviews)

Whitchurch is popular for its ample dining options, and you might make a stop by Forest Farm Country Park, a top place to visit in the area.

Whitchurch
Llandaff Cathedral featuring religious elements, heritage elements and interior views

Llandaff

5/5(1 area review)

Visitors to Llandaff like its monuments and historical sites, and Insole Court is a sight worth a stop.

Llandaff
DSC_3799

Penylan

Travellers like the restaurants in Penylan, and Teamsport Karting is a top attraction you might want to visit.

Penylan
Main building of Cardiff University - Wales; Shutterstock ID 289260233; purchase_order: Comps; job: ; client: ; other:

Cathays

4.5/5(5 area reviews)

Cathays is well liked for its museums. If you'd like to do some sightseeing in the greater Cardiff area, you might plan a trip to National Museum Cardiff or Cardiff City Hall.

Cathays
A bridge over the River Taff in Cardiff against a blue sky

Pontcanna

4.5/5(70 area reviews)

Bars, historical sites and gardens highlight some of the notable features of Pontcanna. Make a stop by Swalec Stadium while you're exploring.

Pontcanna

Van Travel Guide