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

Wales Millennium Centre showing modern architecture, a city and a square or plaza

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 relaxing area.

Cardiff Bay
Millennium Stadium featuring a river or creek and modern architecture

Principality Stadium

4.5/5(198 reviews)

The spiritual home of Welsh rugby, the Principality Stadiumin Cardiff is one of the most famous sporting arenas on the planet, envied the world over for its cauldron-like atmosphere and state-of-the-art facilities.

Principality Stadium
Cardiff Castle showing heritage architecture, château or palace and heritage elements

Cardiff Castle

4.5/5(251 reviews)

Located in the heart of the city centre, Cardiff Castle is one of Wales’ most important cultural attractions. A rich history spanning 2,000 years is contained within its walls and fairytale-style towers.

Cardiff Castle
Barry Island Beach

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
Cardiff University

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
Utilita Arena Cardiff

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

Things to do

Cardiff Bay Boat Tour

Cardiff Bay Boat Tour

฿542
per adult
76% of travellers recommend
Cardiff Bay Boat Tour
Cardiff: Gower Peninsula's Cliffs & Bays Scenic Day Tour

Cardiff: Gower Peninsula's Cliffs Scenic Day Tour

฿3,728
per adult
Cardiff: Gower Peninsula's Cliffs Scenic Day Tour
Cardiff: South Wales Cliffs, Beaches & Castles Day Tour

Cardiff: South Wales Cliffs, Bays & Castles Day Tour

฿3,728
per adult
Cardiff: South Wales Cliffs, Bays & Castles Day Tour
Cardiff: Waterfalls, Mountains & Castles Day Tour

Cardiff: Waterfalls, Mountains & Castles Day Tour

฿3,728
per adult
100% of travellers recommend
Cardiff: Waterfalls, Mountains & Castles Day Tour
Cardiff bay

Sightseeing Tour Cardiff Bay and Vale of Glamorgan Full-Day Driver Guided

฿4,237
per adult
Sightseeing Tour Cardiff Bay and Vale of Glamorgan Full-Day Driver Guided
From Cardiff: Wye Valley and Brecon Beacons Full-Day Trip

From Cardiff: Wye Valley and Brecon Beacons Full-Day Trip

฿4,237
per adult
100% of travellers recommend
From Cardiff: Wye Valley and Brecon Beacons Full-Day Trip
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! (2,929 reviews)
Lovely location, friendly staff, comfy bed, could use a bit more of a variety regarding tea and coffee choices in room. Room needed a bit of tlc to get it to a high standard

Reviewed on 13 Jan 2026

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The Angel Hotel
Cardiff Marriott Hotel

Cardiff Marriott Hotel

4 out of 5
Mill Lane Cardiff Wales
The price is ฿2,631 per night from 25 Jan to 26 Jan
฿2,631
฿3,157 total
25 Jan - 26 Jan
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! (1,165 reviews)
Great location, friendly staff. Breakfast and check out times allow you to relax and unwind. Meal in restaurant was excellent too.

Reviewed on 12 Jan 2026

Cardiff Marriott Hotel
Future Inns Cardiff Bay

Future Inns Cardiff Bay

4 out of 5
Hemingway Road Cardiff Bay Cardiff Wales
The price is ฿2,466 per night from 29 Jan to 30 Jan
฿2,466
฿2,959 total
29 Jan - 30 Jan
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! (1,576 reviews)
Easy parking, comfortable room, reasonable rates. Would stay again

Reviewed on 18 Jan 2026

Future Inns Cardiff Bay
Village Hotel Cardiff

Village Hotel Cardiff

4 out of 5
29 Pendwyallt Road, Coryton Cardiff Wales
The price is ฿2,701 per night from 25 Jan to 26 Jan
฿2,701
฿3,241 total
25 Jan - 26 Jan
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 ...
7.8/10 Good! (1,001 reviews)
Comfortable and clean room.

Reviewed on 17 Jan 2026

Village Hotel Cardiff
The Parkgate Hotel

The Parkgate Hotel

4 out of 5
Westgate Street Cardiff Wales
The price is ฿3,612 per night from 5 Feb to 6 Feb
฿3,612
฿4,335 total
5 Feb - 6 Feb
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! (1,765 reviews)
Hotel and staff were amazing. Couldnt do enough for us . I will go back . Breakfast was stunning lots of it great choice. However at 7.30am the breakfast was cold . Beautiful hotel. I will go back there.

Reviewed on 15 Jan 2026

The Parkgate Hotel
Celtic Manor Resort

Celtic Manor Resort

5 out of 5
Chepstow Road Newport Wales
The price is ฿3,788 per night from 29 Jan to 30 Jan
฿3,788
฿4,545 total
29 Jan - 30 Jan
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! (1,333 reviews)
Lovely hotel , great facilities

Reviewed on 15 Jan 2026

Celtic Manor Resort
See all 1,814 properties in Van
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

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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 The Gate Arts and Community Centre.

Heath
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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
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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
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Penylan

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

Penylan
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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
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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