The old Penny Arcades of Barry Island are a much-loved part of its history. Though they have…read morecertainly moved on into becoming the amusement arcades we'd recognise today with driving and shooting games, there is still a part of the history present in the arcades around the area. Fun Harbour is home to some of the more bewildering games along the sea front, including the one where you side swipe at some ducklings, or the one where you attempt to guide a small car around some other oncoming small cars on a conveyor belt. It is also the place where you will find the largest Chupa Chup lolly known to humankind. In line with nearly all arcades, you can expect to pay £1 or more for a drive around a virtual track. In the summer season these arcades can be buzzing with kids spending their pocket money and competitive adults hoping for glory on one of the many racing games. But as with much of Barry Island if you venture in the winter months then you may be only person there. More games for you!

A chilled out, fun bowling alley with fully stocked bar and loads of arcade games. There were a few…read moreout of order, which is the only reason they lose a star from me. The lanes are great and there's plenty of room for your coats, multiple jugs of beer, and any other snacks you require. And the price is right too. Two games for £9, jugs of beer £13 - maybe I've just gotten too used to being overcharged for pretty much everything in London, but I thought this was a bargain!

don't go here. it's a health hazard, turn up and the first thing you notice is the smell. mouldy…read moreand damp, ok it's in a basement but it's not pleasant, the staff member waring the mask because of the smell should of been the first warning, the next thing you notice is the lack of any food, kitchens closed, not surprising though as it's got a 1* food hygiene rating, considering they only sell snacks a 1* is extreamly bad, Lazer tag is a good size and interesting arena but smoke machine broken so was a bit disappointing as it left us missing some of the excitement, next up bowling, the stench coming out of the ball return is horrific, it's a cross between mould and raw sewage, no word of a lie I kept putting my head down my girlfriends top, body odour smells better- it's messed up when you have to resort to that to avoid the smell of the room but on a positive the staff started spraying air freshener in the room, it partially masked the sewerage smell. next up is the amount of issues we had with the equipment, the touch pads don't work, not all the pins get put back up, multiple times some pins were left on the floor and the balls are so damnaged one player next to us , his ball clicked as it went down the alley, it all needs replacing. toilets are also locked and unavailable, fortunately PureGym upstairs let me disabled girlfriend use their toilet's, we spoke to the staff to cancel the rest of our games so we could leave but they weren't able too as it's not an option for the management to do. they were pleasant but unable to really do anything, we won't be coming back and would recommend avoiding the place. it's clear the company has abandoned this site as it's run down and broken. not what you expect when visiting Cardiff city,

As far as I'm aware, Escal Amusements own a couple of amusement arcades in Cardiff. Typically they…read moreare positioned in the less affluent areas, and are always within easy walking distance of betting shops and pawn brokers. I find this fact a tad tragic, but I understand the human urge to indulge in a little bit of escapism every now and then. My vice is DVD's in this respect, but thankfully I've found a really inexpensive reliable source of quality films with which to feed my addiction, and so my endorphin rushes are unlikely to break the bank! As well as this outlet, there's another Escal Amusements arcade on City Road. They are both replete with a range of soul-sucking slots and all the latest arcade games, all of which are highly addictive despite not being able to offer the user anything above an adrenaline and endorphin rush. (I like to think that films can be in some way instructive or educational... or am I just kidding myself?) I guess that some of the arcade games improve the users level of dexterity, and ultimately exercise their grey matter as a sequence of rapid decisions need to be made whilst playing the games, but what about the slots? Aren't these just like the adult version of Fisher Price toys? And what's edifying about that?

It's a small casino. It's definitely smaller than the ones…read moreI've been to back home. It was surprisingly clean though! I stumbled in just to check it out. I only spent £20 on a spot machine before I decided to give up. I can imagine losing track of time here and spend hours on the slots, as it seemed others here were doing.

Avoid at all "costs". Your money is gonna be used as a temporary loan to pay off the suppliers…read moreand later on they will cancel whenever they feel like. Excuses after excuses, customer service just keep sending same email over and over(automated).They are 200% scalpers changing prices and cancelling orders on their favor all time. Had to call the bank today as it's been 25 days and still no refund.Wish i have read the reviews before.Do not say i did not warn you.

In addition to the usual ranges of Warhammer et al games, Rules of Play also carries a wide…read moreselection of board games, and some of the more esoteric games that may only have been previously available online. I thankfully didn't have the same customer service annoyances as Amanda, most likely because I came here with a boy, but I'm happy to report the staff were helpful and courteous in any case. Although I'm not interested in much this shop has to offer, I think Rules of Play is a welcomed communal haven for the gaming community. For those Cardiff residents looking to expand their playing circles, Rules of Play also has an oft-updated Facebook page, in addition to an interactive forum. Events like game-play evenings are often scheduled, with Magic night on Thursdays from 6pm (only £2 entry). For more information, check out their afore-mentioned social media pages.

Gord and I toured Cardiff Castle last Wednesday afternoon. It's in the city centre…read more The site has been occupied for nearly 2,000 years. The Romans built a fort there around AD 55 to help control the area. Later, they replaced it with a much stronger stone fort and parts of those Roman walls are still standing today. After the Romans left, the Normans arrived following the conquest of England. Around the late 11th century they built a castle inside the old Roman fort. The large grassy mound in the middle and the stone keep on top are from this period. During the Middle Ages, Cardiff Castle became an important stronghold and was involved in various conflicts between Norman lords and Welsh rulers. Over time, it evolved from a military fortress into a grand residence. The castle's most famous makeover happened in the 1800s when the incredibly wealthy John Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute hired architect William Burges. Together they transformed it into the spectacular Gothic-style palace you see today, with lavish rooms, murals, towers and intricate decorations. During the Second World War, tunnels beneath the castle walls were used as air-raid shelters for thousands of Cardiff residents. In 1947, the Bute family gave the castle to the city, and today Cardiff Castle is one of Wales's most popular attractions.

A must-see if you are in Cardiff. There is so much history inside these castle walls and it…read moreconveniently located adjacent to the city center. You can opt to go on guided-tours or wander at your leisure. I was there on a rainy day and there were very few visitors, so I really felt like I went back in time. The WWII museum was pretty intense; it might have been the dark, rainy weather or the creepy background music or the dim lights, but I could literally feel the anxiety of those that had been seeking shelter in those tunnels. While the grounds and first floor of the house are wheelchair accessible, the rest of the grounds are not. I was recovering from a broken leg, and I had to take a few steps to do the tunnel tour and I was unable to ascend the MANY stairs that lead up to the fortress at the top of the hill. The visitor center houses ruins of the original Roman wall that dates back to the 1st centaury AD, a gift shop, and a café. The experience is 100% worth the entry fee and I highly recommend if you are visiting Cardiff.

A childhood memory is this place to me, as I used to go here many times with friends. There is so…read moremuch cheap choice there too. It is almost an old fashioned sweet shop it has sweet; sugary, juicy different flavoured mice, lollies, and there all kinds of chocolate and many other sweets there. The prices are just right and the staff are really friendly and very welcoming. I recommend it as the best sweet shop in town, and it is one of the best arcades within town. I love this arcade because it is amazing what neat, smaller, old fashioned shops that you discover down here. I also love it because it reminds me of Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter, fantasy novel series. Apparently Cardiff is known for being the city of arcades representing perhaps the only images left that tell us of the wonderful and interesting history of the Victorian and the Edwardian heritage. It was in 1858 when the Royal Arcade in Cardiff's city centre was built; before that the 1790s only beheld twenty five retail shops known as 'market stalls.'

Fine Chocolates is an extremely well positioned shop on the corner of The Royal Arcade where it…read moremeets St Mary Street, allowing it a sizeable shop front on both, whilst retaining the prestigious address of The Royal Arcade. The chocolates are exquisite, but with a price tag to match, and so I have only ever bought them as gifts for other people, munching out on the less expensive, ubiquitous mass produced Belgian chocolate when I have a chocolate attack. I think that this is probably what most commonly occurs. With a selection of modern gift boxes, which are all finished off with presentation ribbons by the staff, it's clear that the gift option is a popular one. (This doesn't mean to say that it's not possible to prize the box open and snaffle a couple before you present them, somewhat apologetically, to their intended owner. And, this way you can announce with authority, as you hand the goods over, that the contents of their gift are really very good!) The shop also stocks soft drinks and a few lower cost items, like cake, that you can eat in at the tables provided. They also do great ice creams. I guess it is the sale of this kind of stuff that subsidises the chocolates, and justifies having such a large retail space, (otherwise there would be no point, and it certainly wouldn't be affordable).

If you like flashing lights, loud noises ranging from people cheering to arcade games beeping and…read moreelectronically celebrating to kids running around your feet then you'll probably wonder why St Peter isn't guarding the entrance to Hollywood Bowl. This is a place parents come on kids parties with a gang of kids who are high on sugar and excitable to the point of explosion. So if you're not the parent of any of these kids and you just want a few games of ten pin bowling with your mates if I were you I'd go late in the evening and you can be the big kid without real kids getting on your nerves. It's a bowling alley - by now surely we all know what to expect - accept that sometimes there maybe a long wait to get a lane at busy times so as soon as you get into the building register to bowl then get to the bar and sink a few and you'll probably bowl better. Last time I went there I asked for the biggest sized shoes - they gave me a size 15. Why? It was funny and they were brand new - no chance of getting a varuca there then!

I absolutely love bowling until I go bowling. Right now I want nothing more than to go bowling. But…read moreI know that after one game I'll be bored and want to just spend all of my money in the arcade. It can be expensive on the weekend to bowl but if you fancy a midweek dabble and there's a few of you then it can work out pretty inexpensive. It's always worth booking just in case because even though there's a million lanes, you never know in Cardiff. The bar is nice aswell with quite a modern feel to it. It's totally soulless and overpriced as you'd expect but it does a job if you're waiting for a film in the cinema nearby. It's also got some of the nicest pool tables in Cardiff outside of Riley's. I love going here though and it's got that typical hustle and bustle that you always get in bowling alleys. It's the same kind of background noise and fun atmosphere that you get in a good casino, except it's great for kids and you might just have some money left at the end of the night.

Clickity clicks, Gallery 66. Situated in the arcades of town, Gallery 66 is a framing specialist…read morewith art and photo's for sale too. I do love this shop as it feels you've stepped back in time upon entering and sells some fabulous art. It's almost as if this could be put on a ye olde Victorian tour of Cardiff. You may be able to make out the paintings of the galaxy in the pic, I bought one of them. The detail on them are fantastic and is reasonably priced (Under £70), the person who served me as well was so lovely that the whole experience from entering to leaving with my fine painting was an absolute joy. Please visit this place, especially if your visiting Cardiff and want to get a real feel of the culture this city has to offer.

Gallery 66 is possibly my favourite shop in The Royal Arcade. Set up in 1975 by Eva Walters, the…read morebusiness has a firm footing in the customised interior design marketplace. Offering picture framing of varying qualities and style, ranging from conventional frames, canvass stretching to box frames, as well as original artwork and prints sourced from around the globe, signed limited edition prints, in addition to local artwork including commissions, if you are looking for something specifically tailored to your tastes. Gallery 66 is a progressive business that has definitely kept up with the times. These days it provides full-time employment for Dan, (Eva's son, who wasn't even born when the business was launched), an immensely talented artist who works in the medium of print, digitally reworking iconic images, embellishing the original concepts with intelligent and creative adaptations, ultimately creating new and original artwork. Music seems to be a key influence, with album covers and portraits of legendary artists providing much of the inspiration for his work. There's also a very definite interest in graffiti, particularly the work of Banksy. Nina, Eva's daughter is also often in the shop. She comes in to help out when she has time off from pursuing her career as a teaching assistant. Being a family business the service levels are second to none. Eva is a vivacious, smart business woman who really knows her stuff. If you have a space on your wall that needs filling, this is where you need to come!