Seventy might sound like an age for retirement, but Cardiff is proving otherwise. This autumn marks 70 years since the city was crowned the capital of Wales — and it’s celebrating with the kind of energy that would put a twenty-something to shame. Enter City of Arcades: 70 Days of Events, a festival turning our Victorian and Edwardian arcades into a living, breathing playground of food, art, music, and more.
Think of it as a city-wide birthday bash where everyone’s invited — yes, even students surviving on noodles and late-night library runs. Five Fortnights, Five Flavours Rather than cram everything into one weekend, Cardiff is stretching out the fun with five themed “fortnights”; each a chance to rediscover the arcades in a new light. Foodie Fortnight (5–19 Sept) Expect pop-up stalls, late-night bites, DJs and the all-important Foodie Night Market at Cardiff Market.
Bao buns at midnight? Churros with a craft beer? Cheap eats that still feel like a treat?
Students, this is your playground. Discovery Fortnight (19 Sept–3 Oct) Hidden gems get their moment. Explore the Castle Quarter Art Trail with bespoke shopfront murals, or try your hand at the Morgan Quarter’s “cash grabber” machine — yes, really, grab vouchers mid-air like you’re in a gameshow.
Arts & Music Fortnight (3–17 Oct) Tied in with the Cardiff Music City Festival, the arcades will buzz with live sessions, popup galleries, and performances tucked into corners you probably walk past every day. Think of it as a spontaneous study break with bonus culture points. History Fortnight (17 Oct–1 Nov) Step into a time warp with historical tours, spooky Time Traveller’s Trails and a reminder that these arcades have seen everything from coal barons to coffee culture.
Health & Beauty Fortnight (1–14 Nov) Wind down with yoga, beauty pop-ups and a little self-care sprinkled among your retail therapy. Because what’s a birthday without a glow-up, right? Even uni students deserve a bit of zen between deadlines.
Cardiff’s arcades are more than just Instagrammable backdrops. They’re the city’s signature: Victorian glass roofs, quirky shopfronts, independent traders and that thrill of stumbling into a secret passageway every time you turn a corner. Each arcade has its own vibe, from vintage charm to modern creativity — perfect for discovering that hidden café where flat whites are cheaper than campus coffee.
If you’ve lived in Cardiff, you’ll know the arcades aren’t just pretty passageways: they’re part of the city’s heartbeat. Wander through Morgan Arcade and you’ll hear the soft scratch of vinyl from Spillers Records, the world’s oldest record shop. Duck into Castle Arcade and you’re met with the scent of coffee mingling with incense.
Each arcade has its own rhythm: a blend of old-school charm and new-wave creativity that feels distinctly Cardiff. So here’s your challenge: pick a fortnight, grab your flatmates, and get lost in the arcades. Try something new (even if it’s swapping your usual supermarket instant coffee for a chai latte from a café you’ve never noticed before).
Cardiff is turning 70, but this celebration proves the city is just getting started.