Graduation isn’t just about crossing the stage in a gown and cap—it’s a celebration of everything Cardiff has meant to us. From chaotic 9am lectures to 2am takeaways, the city has shaped us in unforgettable ways. So, when it comes to snapping that perfect graduation photo, why limit yourself to the usual landmarks?
Whether you’re after the iconic, the meaningful, or the totally underrated, here’s your guide to the best spots in Cardiff to capture the moment that degree becomes yours. With its grand stone steps and classic columns, Cardiff’s Main Building is basically made for graduation photos. It’s the go-to spot for a reason, iconic in showing off the university you’ve called your home!
Cardiff Castle could provide that dramatic backdrop steeped in Cardiff history you’re looking for. If you want your graduation photos to look like they belong in a fantasy novel (or just get that perfect group shot), this is the place. The courtyard or simply outside the front entrance, the Cardiffian in you will glow!
With its pretty flowers and gleaming white stone, Alexandra Gardens gives off peak “I made it” energy. Go for symmetry, sunshine, and springtime blossoms if you can to capture Cardiff’s beautiful greenspaces around campus. Our student houses may not be glamorous, but it is where we lived, laughed, and cried through the best and worst of student life.
Coming from Taly, Uni Halls or even Senghenydd, these places are full of freshers’ memories we will look back on and say, “Yep. That was home”, even if the bins were overflowing. As well as the chaotic second year house where friendships were tested and gardens may have been non-existent, it’s a place full of the silliest moments of your undergrad, where friends, enemies and housemates interconnected!
Whether it’s the Taf, Woody’s, or your secret weekday wine bar, these are the places where friendships happened. Snap a pint photo in your gown, even if graduation is at 9am— we dare you! Tucked between City Hall and the museum, the leafy square of Gorsedd Gardens is peaceful, elegant, and often overlooked.
Perfect for a calm, green backdrop that isn’t overdone. Really easy to get a quick snapshot after picking up caps and gowns from the CSL in the morning! Roath Park Lake accompanied by swans, water reflections, and that adorable bandstand, if you’ve got the extra time before graduation, it will be worth it for these main character pictures!
Ultimately, at the heart of every great graduation photo is a moment of pride! Whether you’re in front of the ASSL, Chippy Lane or walking across the big stage, this is a celebration of your achievements. So simile wide, strike a pose and remember—this is just the beginning!