This museum is the perfect price. Free! It is a wonderful way to spend a couple of hours. There is lots of natural history as well as cultural history. Everything is in both English and Welsh. The natural history area had videos ad well as exhibits detailing the geographic history of the region. The Art of the Selfie exhibit had a small cost which was quite fair. Van Gogh's Self Portrait was the main draw, but they also had Rembrandt and other artists. In the other rooms, there were so many artifacts. Rooms within rooms and beyond, you can lose hours reading about everything on display. read more

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it was a pretty good experience, but no one warned me that the bloody dinosaurs are getting starved because they are literally just bones. animal mistreatment is NOT a joke I want to support, I cannot believe the STATE of this museum. Good value for money as its free. Cool stones and a selection of STARVED AND DEAD animals. and the service was poor because they encourage this. the toilets are good for kids, AND OTHER THINGS. read more

Very surprised about how many museums here in Cardiff are free including this one. They claim that you have to book spots beforehand, but I don't think it's particularly necessary. Hot tip: They do have free luggage storing spaces below, make sure to ask the welcome desk for them and they will be happy to show you where it is. This museum is pretty cool because it not only has elements of natural history but also art as well. During Covid, they do have quite a bit of exhibits closed off, but nonetheless it is an interesting experience. Here are some of my favorite bits: - They have a lot more artifacts than I expected. One of my favorites was the rocks collection where they had a lot of pretty geodes and information on how these elements came to be. Also appreciate that you are able to touch a moon rock? - There was a sensory room upstairs relating to the relationship between human being and whales. Although I wasn't so keen on the content itself (no spoilers), the experience was quite interesting. - Very very casually, they have Monet, Manet, and Van Gogh all in one room. Usually in the States, people line up for hours just see one of these impressionist art and to see all of them in this room very casually is quite an amazing expeirence. Overall, great museum in Cardiff. Would definitely recommend coming if you want to hide out from the weather or for a more chill afternoon. read more

Loved this museum!!!! If you are in Cardiff, this is a MUST on your to-do list. It is a beautifully designed museum with diverse galleries and experiences for all to enjoy. Start you tour with the natural pre historic gallery on the bottom floor. Then follow the marble floors to the prominent staircase to see the touring David Nash wood sculpting exhibit which was awe inspiring. Next, you must see the Impressionist art. This museum has the second largest impressionist art works next to Paris because two women donated them to the museum. Learn about these extraordinary women while on your tour.... then see so much more. It's free to enter due to a Welsh grant but donations are accepted. After you've explored, enjoy a coffee or tea at either the basement café or the café on the first floor near the gift shop. read more

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The National Museum of Wales encompasses a number of sites across Wales, but this is the main classical museum site. It's located in the main Civic Centre in Cardiff - an impressive set-piece of grand civic buildings adjacent to Cardiff's castle, just north of the city centre. It's worth a visit in its own right. The museum comprises a seriously good art gallery, and exhibits depicting the history of Wales, covering archaeology, geology, natural history and industrial development. The main draw is the collection of impressionist paintings: it's one of Europe's finest, including works by Monet, Van Gogh, Renoir, Cezanne, Corot, Pissarro and Millet. But the galleries include a wider range of works, including pieces by Gainsborough, Reynolds, Turner, Rodin, Botticelli, El Greco and a major 20th century collection featuring Augustus John, Josef Herman, Oskar Kokoschka, Stanley Spencer, Percy Wyndham Lewis, Frank Brangwyn, Eric Gill and J D Innes. Other highlights in the museum include a collection of stone Celtic Crosses from across Wales, and a recreation of a mine (the Big Pit museum in Blaenavon - a real mine - is also part of the Museum of Wales). Facilities include a restaurant and cafe, and the grand main hall hosts lunchtime classical concerts in the summer. read more

Great museum to take my children especailly when it's poor weather. Most of all it's free.

I went here twice over the course of a weekend - once to attend a wedding, then a second time to get a proper look round. So first, as a wedding venue (from the guest's perspective): a really unique place to host a wedding. After normal opening hours (so visitors weren't disrupted), we had the place to ourselves. The wedding ceremony took place in one art gallery, drinks reception in another- giving a chance to sip champagne whilst gazing at famous artworks, dinner in the entrance hall (the food was great), and finishing up with a ceilidh! For photos think the Bride and Groom got a chance to have them taken in different galleries (a backdrop of dinosaurs being more interesting than a typical photoshoot). Then, the second visit - to actually look around. Lots of different themes and things to look at - from fossils and dinosaurs, to famous works of art, there's something there for everyone. Easy to get to, and close to the city centre, it also has free luggage storage (so fellow tourists don't have to drag their suitcases round) Well worth a look at if you're in Cardiff read more

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An amazing range of art within the collection. The additional scientific exhibitions were a great addition. read more

National Museum & Gallery Cardiff - A Dinosaur skeleton in the Exhibition - Museums Near Me - Cardiff, CRF

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Brilliant museum in an absolutely beautiful old building in the centre of cardiff. Considering this museum (and art gallery) are free, the displays they have inside and also the building itself are spectacular. Great for adults and kids alike, plenty of interactive stuff to do and takes you on the journey through space and the formation of the earth through to the evolution of plants and animal species up to the present day. Lots of specimens in jars, loads of fossils and a great dinosaur exhibit with huge skeletons. You get to wonder through exhibits of both life on land and under the sea. Staff here are great and always on hand to answer any questions you may have. Also has a little cafe near the entrance which wasn't too overpriced and a gift shop full of all sorts of bits and bobs. Great place to visit on a cold wintery day in Wales :) make sure you pick up an english rather than Welsh map however or you may end up getting a little lost ! read more

National Museum & Gallery Cardiff - Museums Near Me - Cardiff, CRF

This is a fantastic building that's worth a look inside if only for it's architecture. There is an abundance of museums in and around the Cardiff area, and for that I am eternally grateful. But the National Museum is the only museum which looks and feels like everything our childhood idea of such establishments requires. There are sweeping staircases and high ceilings held aloft with marble pillars. There are exhibitions of strange and wonderful animals, cabinets of butterflies and even the odd dinosaur skeleton looming over you and casting creepy shadows on the floor. I love this museum for its traditional elements, but also the way they manage to incorporate much more contemporary exhibitions at the same time. read more

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The Museum of Wales Cardiff is centrally located next to a lovely bit of grass (Cathays Park - ideal for a picnic on a nice warm day) and is housed in a wonderfully grand building worth a visit for a picture op in itself. What else do you need to know? It's home to a wide ranging and varied exhibitions (check the website) including the geological evolution of Wales and its FREE to enter. And thats the thing - you can walk around this glorious piece of this architectural history without it damaging your finances. Even if it happens to be raining there is no finer place to shelter from the wet for an hour or so. read more

National Museum & Gallery Cardiff - Worth the photo op in itself. - Museums Near Me - Cardiff, CRF

[Note: In 2010, the National Museum Cardiff is undergoing major building and redevelopment work, and although it's still open throughout there may be some galleries closed and some museum services suspended until the work is complete.] Located in Cardiff's elegant civic centre, this wonderful city centre museum is free to get in, and showcases art, archaeology, natural history and geology, much of it with a Welsh slant. There is also a lively calendar of events and major touring and temporary exhibitions such as the fantastic Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition (on from now until 12 September 2010!). I think there's too much to see here in one visit, and perhaps saving the art for a separate day is a good move. The museum's permanent exhibits include all sorts of interesting themes including the story of Wales's history. You can find out about its evolution from the very beginnings to the present day, starting in outer space with the Big Bang and taking you on a 4,600 million-year journey through the dinosaur era in Wales - even bringing you face to face with a massive woolly mammoth! The art collection is also extensive and impressive (and as I said before probably best appreciated on a separate visit) spanning 500 years of paintings, drawings, sculpture, silver and ceramics from Wales and across the globe. There are some beautiful Italian Renaissance pieces, plus art in Victorian Britain, Welsh landscapes, contemporary craft, pottery and porcelain, beautiful Welsh silver collections, and heaps more. read more

National Museum & Gallery Cardiff - Museums Near Me - Cardiff, CRF

I'm never a person to turn down something that is free. I also enjoy some culture now and then so I decided to visit the museum. It had been ages since I'd been there and mainly forgot about all the exhibitions that were inside. When I went there a few weeks ago I had forgot about the sheer size of the building. It looks smaller on the outside but there is so much you can see and do inside. This is a very popular place for students. You can see all the art students making sketches of all the exhibitions like the bugs and dinosaurs. The Museum comes off as a truly inspiring place with all the exhibitions it holds. This is also a place where all the schools come to study and you can see some of the excitement in the children's eyes when they visit. It is nice to see school children learning about the Welsh culture. As well as the exhibitions there are some café's in the museum that are beautiful to sit and work in. Cardiff Museum is a wonderful and cultural place to be. If you ever have some free time then I recommend going to visit. read more

National Museum & Gallery Cardiff - Museums Near Me - Cardiff, CRF

Excellent museum.. When we visited..the top floor was art and pottery gallery... Downstairs the natural history museum. Geared for all ages.. I was very happy, and m y kids were happy...the staff is very friendly. A must see when in Cardiff read more

The National Museum of Wales is a great outing for all ages. they have lots of exhibitions on and it's best to keep checking their website for information on new events or join their mailing list. The building itself is maginificent, coupled with City Hall next door the pair are an impressive site. The cafe offers good priced food, although it can get a little crowded at peak times. In general I prefer to visit out of peak hours so I can wander around at leisure. As there is free entry to this site it's well worth a visit. If it's not for you then there is plenty to do in the surrounding areas, but with there being so much on offer it caters for most tastes. read more

Cardiff Museum - What Two Sisters did for Wales (runs until September 2010) If your artistic knowledge extends to Rolf Harris and the Art Attack team, then this could be the article for you. Ever since I was tormented and victimised by my heartless witch of an art teacher, (a sweet old woman bewildered by my absolute inability to draw, paint, sculpt etc), I have shied away from anything loosely connected with art. Recently however, I felt it was time to exorcise my demons, so I took a trip to Cardiff Museum to see their new collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings. The exhibition, What Two Sisters did for Wales, tells the story of two extraordinary Welsh women, namely Gwendoline and Catherine Davies. Now these Sisters were preposterously moneyed and possessed a penchant for the finer things in life. They spent their days travelling around early 20th Century Europe spending Daddy's fortune on plentiful paintings and sculptures. Their early taste was traditional and they purchased British works by Romney, Raeburn and Turner, as well as works by nineteenth century French painters such as Corot and Millet, who in my artistically ignorant opinion, was my favourite! In an ideal world I would now describe Millet's works in beautiful flowery language detailing his brush strokes and state of mind... The best I can muster is - his depictions of rural life portray lowly peasants with dignity. His subject matter differed greatly from other artists of the time and his appreciation of the working classes in an otherwise ostentatious era appealed to me. The next expensive phase these flighty sisters indulged in was Impressionism, acquiring three (apparently one was not enough), paintings of Venice by Claude Monet. Now Monet was one of the few artists I had actually heard of before the exhibition - for this reason I was expecting great things from the lad. However I was far from impressed. I am sure if any art lover has made the mistake of reading this article they will be scolding my ignorance, but don't hate me, I'm sure Monet will have encountered sterner critics than myself. He won't be losing too much sleep over my flippant remarks. (Yes I know he's dead) The First World War put a halt to the Sisters rapidly growing collection, as during these years travelling around Europe was not the quite the pleasure it had once been. However in 1920 they began again in earnest, indulging in Cézanne's Still-Life with Teapot, as the name suggests - a teapot painting. As well as Van Gogh's Rain-Auvers, which a museum security chap, who had spent all afternoon trailing me (perhaps suspicious of my beard-hoodie combination) informed me was insured for £80million. To wrap up my ramblings I did very much enjoy my excursion to the museum. After the initial shock that they actually let me in - and for free I might add - I spent about two hours gazing at the works. I left thoroughly disgruntled at my own artistic shortcomings, but content nonetheless feeling I had done something productive with my day. I thoroughly recommend it, even if you're not the next Tony Hart! read more

After a day sitting in the warm sunshine in the park opposite the Museum it began to feel a little cold. Not in the mood to go home, a trot inside the Museum seemed like a good idea - there be warmth there. I hear people shouting 'brute' at me, I assure you I'm not, I love a good Museum and would have visited for more genuine reasons at another time. I just stuck to the natural history bit - so report back later for my comments about the Art - which explores 'Origins: in search of early Wales' and 'Evolution of Wales'. 'Origins' mostly looks at artifacts and the like, while 'Evolution' really cranks things up a notch with an impressive display of Woolly Mammoth's and dinosaurs. The T-Rex head position at the correct height on the wall is terrifying and bound to please any younger visitor (okay, okay, that was my favourite bit too). Every time I come to an exhibition like this I wonder why I don't come more often. The time and effort that is put into the place is superb and it should be admired. read more

I hate that I'm only giving my once favourite museum a mere three stars. Back in the day as a child and then a parent I couldn't get enough of Cardiff Museum and have many happy memories of the place. I was expecting great things following their big refurbishment, but somehow it all felt a bit flat. The museum in its new format didn't seem to 'flow' very well and while I enjoyed some of the art gallery exhibits, nothing else really engaged me. I suspect having to constantly scan the signage to find the english descriptions didn't help, neither did the fact that everytime we came upon an audio or audio visual interpretation it was ALWAYS in the welsh language! I don't want to be curmudgeonly but this is a a museum which attracts visitors from all over the world. Having to stand about like a spare part waiting for the welsh bit to finish really takes the shine off. I'm saying this as person who was once able to speak the lingo, though a few decades have passed since I last spoke any welsh and knew what I was saying lol, One of our group got fed up with all the signage overload and unfathomable commentary and left after just half an hour, but not before complaining to one of the hapless guides who it turns out was completely in agreement that the welsh language stuff was completely over the top. What was notable by its absence was welsh history and heritage of any significance. Where has all of that gone? I found the odd local exhibit but by and large this could have been a museum anywhere in the world. You certainly wouldn't be able to tell is was a Welsh museum from the content, only from the commentary! Tecnhiquest Science Museum in Cardiff Bay, and St FagansMuseum of Welsh Life on the outskirts of Cardiff are head and shoulders above our National Museum and Gallery. Go there instead. Seriously. read more

I don't think this is going to be a very popular opinion here, so let me just preface it by saying I'm Welsh. Born here, raised here, lived here my whole life. Welsh through and through. Can we please, pretty, pretty please, get over the fact that we are Welsh? Wales has the biggest inferiority complex of any country in the world. We scream our Welshness at every possible opportunity and at some point it stops being patriotic (a fabulously stupid idea in the first place) and just turns into nigh-on jingoistic lunacy. Our severe little-man syndrome manifests in our museum, with Welsh exhibits talking about how special Wales is whilst flapping flags of Welshness and spewing Welsh cake crumbs all over anyone who gets within earshot. ALRIGHT. We get it. Wales is a country and has stuff. St. Fagan's is drowning in it. But there's a whole world of history and culture and art out there that is nothing to do with Wales. Do you think we could see more of that, please? In reality, it's not that bad. There are other exhibits there and a wonderful art collection (and only about half of it is Welsh-orientated). It's open to the public and is completely free to enter. Welsh or no, the museum is worth a visit or five. It's just a bugbear of mine that the desperate desire to big-up Wales sucks up so much space from other potential exhibits. The Louvre doesn't have a "FRANCE! FREAKIN' WHOO!" section because it's unnecessary. read more

I love museums and I love that in the UK, many of our museums are free. The museum itself is in an impressive doric columned building near City Hall. I was lucky enough to be here for a conference event. Drinks were held in the upstairs art gallery and Cardiff National Museum has a good collection of impressionist and post-impressionist art which we were left to browse, over drinks. Dinner was held in the downstairs main hall and it was full silver service. Food was great and the attention to detail was lovely. It was so good to be in such lovely surroundings. No comment on some of the exhibits which are usually in this area - I had intended to return but got sidetracked by searching for the LEGO shop. The art exhibits are well worth a visit and the perfect place to spend a few hours read more

I'm liking the way Nathan J. has started these - by each exhibit rather than for the museum as a whole. It seems that most of the exhibits are quite regularly changing. So: The Evolution Of Wales: My friend and I felt as though we needed some culture in our lives. So, making the most obvious stop, we headed on over to the museum. We weren't quite saw which direction to take because the museum is much bigger than it first appears. When you go in you can go left, right, or straight on - and then you're lost for days! We stumbled upon this exhibit quite by accident because we didn't know where we were but I had a great time. It tells the story of the history of Wales since... well, since the beginning of time. We wandered through a twisting, exciting exhibit of photos, artefacts and videos. Most of the rock samples were out - meaning that you were able to touch them (not sure if you're meant to do that...but I did) which I feel really adds something to the experience. The dinosaur section was good - lots of skeletons and descriptions about odd bones. Unfortunately, much of the exhibit didn't quite live up to this. There was one part which was explaining about rock slides and there was just a pile of rock in front of the painted background... it seemed to be a lazy way of filling up space. Having said that, I enjoyed myself greatly. I just think my expectations were too high - nothing can live up to the Natural History Museum in London! Although, do keep an eye out for the ice age animals - moving woolly mammoth and Bertie the Buffalo were two of my favourites. Great for children but lacking something of the magic of better museums. read more

A central visit: to the Welsh way of life. It has history of the world in general and I often remember it for its fantastic dinosaur collection, as they move and come to life and show off how that individual dinosaur used to act and what they used to look like. This does possibly only tend to take place during some seasonal times of the year allocated by the museum. The stuffed animals section is Eire and I am not so keen on it, although it does look pretty spectacular all the same. With the wild foxes that seem to stare at you endlessly, to be sure they will win the battle of the one who blinks first in a staring competition between you and them. Walk further on and you come to the mammals; the giants of the ancient sea bed, a Whales full body remains, it is massive! There are many art galleries and statues around the place, Science-Fiction information and Geography about the formation of planet earth. Lots of visual aids and sounds to attract and keep your children entertained. Entry is free, there's a shop and a cafe. read more

The National museum of Cardiff is a grand sight to see from the outside and is pretty impressive once you're inside its large airy foyer. I went to the museum when they were showing the entrants for the Artes Mundi prize. It had a little bar where you could get a drink and sit to watch a live music act that they had put on. Once I had my fill of live music, I ventured upstairs to see the entrants, quite excited at seeing these amazing artists. What followed was nothing but disappointment. The majority of the entrants were videos, mostly foreign, one was about factory workers. Now, don't get me wrong, film is an art form and I am a film maker myself, but I was expecting more physical, artistic exhibits, rather than a ton of films with lorries and people pushing a piano along. I just didn't have the patience for it and made my hasty exit. Fortunately to aid my pain, Starbucks had a pop up stand there, giving away free cookies, so all was not lost. read more

My first visit to the museum was when I was in school and I remember being impressed with the building itself. It reminded me of the kind of buildings you would see in Rome in films. I've been back a few times since for different reasons but I haven't really spent as long as my first visit. I think this place is very taken for granted by people. It's free to visit and set in a beautiful location. It's easy to get to and literally 5 minutes walk from town. It is home to a natural history collection along with a geology and archaeology collection. It even has its own art gallery and often houses special exhibits. I visited once to see a Da Vinci exhibition during my lunch hour whilst at work. This made very interesting conversation in the afternoon when everyone else was talking about where they went for lunch and I told them what I had done. If you're looking for some culture then you can't go far wrong by visiting here. I strongly recommend checking the website before you visit. That way you can be sure what you want to see will be open and you can find out what special exhibitions are on show. read more

I have a confession to make. When I say I go to museums and galleries, I'm more excited about the gift shop than the exhibitions. And I probably spend more time in them too. So if you want a review of the actual National Museum Cardiff and its contents then scroll on down because I'm going to focus on the shop. I must say it looks like the shop was a bit of an afterthought when they wedged it into the foyer of this grand building. It's in a strange L shape with an antechamber of postcards that you pass through to get to the goodies. One thing the odd shape of it does have going for it is the clear and defining separation of adult and children's gifts. Hoik a left for plushy dinosaurs and annoyingly awesome t-shirts that won't fit you and go right for the art books, fridge magnets and mugs. You'll also find a decent Welsh literature section and books about trains and birds. Kudos to the £10 or under section too. With birthday cards and wrapping paper also for sale this is a handy place to get birthday for any arty-farty friends. And yep they have those multi-coloured rubbers, pencils and pens with the name on to prove you've been there. The shop in the National Museum Cardiff is Bobby Dazzler of a gift shop. read more

So, I like museums. I used to love wandering around them when I was a kid, just in awe at being in the presence of so many really old things. Like, I thought my Mum was old, but compared to a dinosaur bone or a flint arrow head she was only quite old. I was quite excited about taking a little trip to the Musem in Cardiff. From outside it looked, well, like a proper museum. I was with my pal, an archaeologist, and we both knew a bit about old stuff. I was particularly excited about the geological/prehistoric bit. But then I was disappointed. Very disappointed. Rather than a room with really, really old stuff that you could ponder and contemplate, maybe with some bits of well researched and succint information, there was something more like a Jurassic Park theme ride. It was noisy, there were kids running around everywhere - and sadly missing the really amazing stuff that were original, proper old dinosaur bones - and the educational content was evidently less of a priority. As I say, I've done a bit of geology, geomorphology, prehistory, but actually didn't really understand what it was about. It was more of a mix between theme park, documentary and wikipedia. How very sad. read more

It's worth mentioning that it's closed on Mondays so that anyone reading this might not make the same mistake I did yesterday. The only reason I went to Cardiff by train was to visit the Natural History department which is closing on Friday for TWO YEARS for refurbishment! OK, I should have read the small print on their website which I overlooked the day before, but it really is ridiculous that the opening times aren't given somewhere outside the main entrance. I was one of about 40 people who were standing on the steps waiting and wondering if it was only closed for lunch - especially as the lights were on inside! UPDATE FRIDAY 28th: Back there by train again today specifically to see the 'Diversity of Life' exhibition - I was told at the front desk that that was where I would find the insect collection (what I was most interested in). Well, I have to admit to being very disappointed as the relatively small number of insects were all mixed up in a glass case and not one was labelled! The stuffed animals around the room all had information and their species clearly marked, but not so the insects. There was also a mysterious wine glass full of water under a lit dome that wasn't labelled either so I had no idea what was supposed to be in there (other than the glass, that is!) Ah well, it's closed for 2 years now; it will be interesting to see if things are done in a more professional way in future, I do hope so read more

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As a foreigner living in Wales I was very surprised to find a museum of this size with a very good collection. All of this was due to the work of the Davies sisters that gathered an enormous collection and then donated it to the museum. This is one of the best cultural spots on Cardiff and the fact that surprised me was to find artworks from well known artists, such as Van Gogh (it was my very first one), Cezanne, Monet, Rodin, Botticelli, among others. And this is only the art collection of the museum that spreads to 7 rooms. The museum possesses a very big natural exhibition, that encompasses all the natural life around Wales, including a very large (vegetarian) Whale that roams around Wales' coastline. You can also find the historic ancestors of the Welsh people and their founders alongside to a huge of Celtic crosses. The National Museum of Wales also hosts several temporary exhibitions throughout the year, past ones were the Sketches of Leonardo da Vinci, Dinosaurs and the Impressionist paintings. The museum facilities, include lockers to leave your belongings (you only have to put a pound on there and you'll have it back afterwards), a souvenir shop, a learning center and a restaurant. The building is situated right in the middle of Cardiff's Civic center, it is next to the all imposing City Hall and only 5 minutes away from the busy Queen Street. During the Winter you will certainly pass by the Cardiff Winterland, an entertaining center that only opens in December for the Xmas holidays and really adds color and warmth to the city. If you are in Cardiff, don't miss it. It is an excellent place to be in when the weather is not all we wanted it to be and a great place to go when you are in Cardiff for the first time. Even if the sun shines you have a very welcoming garden in front of it, so don't start on giving excuses to miss it. read more

A must see in Cardiff for any culture vulture. Entrance is free and they constantly have a variety of exciting and interesting exhibits and installations on display. There is also a art gallery linked on which hosts some beautiful pieces from the likes of Monet, Van Gogh and Rodin. There are also tours available. Great place for adults and children alike and with its base in the city centre, it's very accessible for all. Restaurant and cafe are quite expensive, but the gift shop is well priced and offers a lot of great items. read more

This makes for a fantastic day out with the children. The art gallery is lovely and the museum displays are enough to keep the children interested and occupied for a while. We took sketch books to the art gallery and staff wheeled in an art trolley with pencils and paper - so the children created their own art! The children loved the natural history section and the archaeological sections - all that 'old money' was enough to excite them too! We had a picnic in the grounds just outside and had a wonderful day. read more

This was a really fulfilling day out. We arrived at the Museum mid-morning and firstly spent a little while admiring the building, and it's two neighbours; the City Hall and the High Court of Justice with the Gorsedd Gardens as the foreground. In the main hall we were greeted by the Rodin Kiss statue, and then bought our guide book and set off on our journey. Whatever your interest there is more than enough here to satisfy your curiosity, from the tiniest bugs to the bones of dinosaurs; from primitive tools from Llyn Cerrig Bach to exquisite glass and silver. On the ground floor they stage special exhibitions, but when we were there the hall was closed whilst they were setting up the next event. But the one area everyone gravitates to is the art gallery - some drawn by the reports of the fabulous value of the paintings on view. When we were there they had on show one of Van Gogh's paintings with a value in excess of £30million! In the Renoir room for example, the 'Blue Boy' gazed across a room full of the proof of artistic talent. One gallery is dedicated to Welsh artists. We missed the Dali showings, but the works on show were enough for one day. On the next floor we wandered from room to room. One was full of things connected to HRH the Prince of Wales, including the regalia he wore at his investiture at Caernavon. Shoud you need any assistance or advice there are plenty of friendly knowledgable staff to come to your aid. Take time, too, to admire the building itself, an exhibit in it's own right. There are many archive records which you can arrange to view, but you may need to make special arrangements. As said at the beginning; this museum is a place with more than enough to fill your day out; go more than once and every time you will find something new to think about or to make you want to know more. read more

The National Museum of Wales is conveniently situated right in the middle of Cardiff's most beautiful civic centre. The museum is a considerable size, so allow yourself a least half a day to properly do it justice. I particularly enjoyed the paintings especially Turner and Monet. There is a souvenir shop , a learning centre and a restaurant. Personally, I found that there was far too much to see in one visit so will certainly come back again - this of course, is not a problem as its now free to visit and really close to excellent bus links! Highly recommended. read more

I love our museum. I would love to go more often but it's the time! They hold great regular exhibits and have a wonderful range of interactive ones. Very educational and a great trip out. read more

Got a few hours to kill? Head down to the museum and spend a lazy afternoon getting absorbed by paintings by the Victorian Greats, bonding with woolly mammoths, browsing the titles of artistic magazines and indulging in coffee and irresistible cake in the spacious foyer café. When it comes to pulling in fine exhibitions, the National Museum has got it covered. Temporary installations range from solemn and disturbing photographs by Diane Arbus to Lauren Child's fun exhibition which gets both adults and children crawling under tables and playing with Cbeebies favourites, Charlie and Lola. The staff here are incredibly intelligent, and seem to take great pleasure in sharing their knowledge. I've been treated to long and informed one-to-one lectures covering diverse topics from ants and their curious habits to the revered Artes Mundi Award, which the museum houses every year. Simultaneously tapping into the atmosphere of contemporary Cardiff and the finest moments of our cultural, anthropological and astrological history, the National Museum makes for an informative and enjoyable day out. URBAN CHALLENGE: Find the Lowry read more

The museum has fond memories for me growing up in Cardiff, I often went along with family or for school trips. The building itself is really quite grand looking with its huge pillars and open steps leading to the giant oak doors. And inside it's a fairly impressive building as well. I'd certainly recommend going along to this muesum as part of your visit to the capital, it has things of general interest like a natural history section, and geological history, and even a little room that explains the history of the Universe, which is also helpful. There are also parts that relate a lot of things to Welsh history. For me, personally, I feel the museum could do with a re-vamp, not that much has changed in it since my youth, I'd love to see whole new installations to draw in more local crowds. It is free to get in, but there's also somewhere on the way out to make a donation. No pressure. But I would really like that re-vamp. read more

I went to see a photographic exhibition a few months ago that was showing in the Museum. Diane Arbus the american photographer. Her uncompromising shots show a world of freaks and weird and wonderful people shot in glorious black and white. I'd never seen an art exhibition in the Museum and i was wondering what the space would be like. I'd been to visit the museum many times as a child mainly because it was free and open on Sundays. I enjoyed it but the reverent hush just made me feel uncomfortable and it always seemed cold even in the height of summer. I was pleasantly surprised the whole place seemed a lot less stuffy than I remember and not quite so cavernous as the space is broken up into more intimate areas. The exhibition was fine and I stayed for a wander round the shop. Just outside in the park across the road by the standing stones is a small refreshment stall if you've got time go and get an ice cream or a drink after your visit. read more

An oft neglected (or at least by us residents) Cardiff resource. I tend to come here when I have visitors and then always wonder why I don't come to the museum more often. As with many museums it's too big to be enjoyed all in one day. Downstairs there are a number of really good exhibits to take the kids to. The Evolution of Wales may sound a bit boring but in fact it's full of fascinating things that hold everyone's attention. Some smaller people are thrilled by the magically moving mammoth. Although some very smaller people have known to scream in fright. Upstairs tends to be the more static exhibitions which perhaps are a bit more adult attuned. But if you have a child with you be sure to pick up one of the backpacks that have activities and that tends to slow them down to a pace where you can actually enjoy the exhibits. read more

On rainy days I always find myself standing in the art section of the museum staring at the small collection of Monet paintings they have on display, I could spend hours upon hours in here and never feel tired of staring into the fine collection of art pieces from various artists such as Manet, Carriere, Renoir and Pissarro! This Museum offers a must see collection of famous impressionistic paintings which will captivate your imagination. Also you can't help but going to see the small but intriguing collection of dinosaur bones and other historical creatures they have on display. The Museum also offers day courses for children on geology, art and history. They also have a pretty impressive gift shop, it's ideal to buy small birthday presents and children go nuts on all the souvenirs they have to offer! read more

Whenever I am in Cardiff I make a point of taking time to pop into the museum. And everytime I discover something new! Not to forget the ever changing events & exhibitions. A treat in our art & cultural starved society and it is all free. My favourite place is the art gallery as they have some fantastic Monet's there. I could sit there for hours! read more

Its easy to spend a whole day here. Excellent range of exhibits. The staff are really knowledgeable and approachable too. Recommended.