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    National Museum & Gallery Cardiff

    4.2 (60 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

    National Museum & Gallery Cardiff Photos

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    Amber A.

    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.

    Art work
    Katie G.

    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

    A Dinosaur skeleton in the Exhibition

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

    Robyn C.

    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 !

    http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/cardiff/about/
    Tanya P.

    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.

    Worth the photo op in itself.
    Justin W.

    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.

    Rebecca B.

    [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.

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

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    18 years ago

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

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    National Museum & Gallery Cardiff Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - National Museum & Gallery Cardiff

    As a foreigner living in Wales I was very surprised to find a museum of this size with a very good collection.

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    Gallery 66 - The old shop in Royal Arcade

    Gallery 66

    3.4(8 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    ££

    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!

    Photos
    Gallery 66 - Canvas Prints (Upstairs @ Royal Arcade)

    Canvas Prints (Upstairs @ Royal Arcade)

    Gallery 66
    Gallery 66 - Digital Gicleé Printing (Upstairs @ Royal Arcade)

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    Digital Gicleé Printing (Upstairs @ Royal Arcade)

    Albany Gallery

    Albany Gallery

    4.0(6 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    £££

    The Albany Gallery is a great little commercial gallery that is located above Zio Peppino on the…read moreAlbany Road. There is every reason to visit Albany Gallery at any time of the year, but there's presently an even more compelling reason to make the effort to go there. The current exhibition will be on for the duration of the summer, and features work from some of the best of contemporary Welsh artists. And it's excellent! There are circa. 70 different artists exhibiting, who specialise in all different kinds of media and subject. Prices for work exhibited vary dramatically, starting at incredibly affordable prices. Now is definitely the time to buy fine art. The art market has not been this depressed in a long time, and with galleries exerting pressure on the artists to keep their work affordable, prices have dipped or remained static for a while. It's difficult for an artist to discount their work as it devalues the pieces that have been sold previously, and so there is an unwritten obligation borne by each artist to protect the commercial interests of existing patrons. Nevertheless, galleries are going out of business left, right and centre, and those that remain are doing al they can to preserve the market. Keeping prices affordable is one of the key means of doing this. Artists tend to increase the sale price of their work on a regular basis. It is common to see considerable price increases within a short space of time. Each successful exhibition, of which an artist will have several a year, will prompt them to review the value of their work. A successful exhibition at a high profile gallery that has been met with critical approval in the media may cause an artist to add a nought to their sale price, taking the value fo their work from £500 per piece to £1,500 for example. This means that price increases have been seriously inhibited owing to the fact that the art market has remained relatively static throughout the duration of the recession. Therefore, prices should rocket once the market has stabilised once more, making any investment today a good one. Obviously you have got to buy right, so it pays to know what you are doing, but quite often buyers can make a killing just by buying what they like... (if they like it, it usually follows that other people do too, and demand ultimately regulates the market).

    I definatly think this is one of the best galleries we have here in Cardiff. I was introduced to it…read moreby my art teacher and have been a few times when I like the sound of an exhibition the have on. Of course any gallery is only as good as its exhibitions and their website is very good at letting you know whats on when and shows you the kind of art they do. I love the fact that it shows the very best of contemporary British artists. It even hosted an exhibition by the late Kyffin Williams who is arguably one of Wales greatest artists. You can't help but feel inspired and the staff are very approachable and happy to talk to you about the pieces.

    Photos
    Albany Gallery
    Albany Gallery
    Albany Gallery

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    Blue Dot Gallery

    Blue Dot Gallery

    2.7(7 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    £££

    Sitting within the confines of St David's 2, the only thing I could afford to buy in this store is…read morea copy of The Fine Art Preview which cost me £2.50. If you're just passing by and don't have £500 or more burning a hole in your pocket then you may well simply pass on by without a second glance. However, if you have an eye for art, or simply know what you like, if something catches your eye whilst walking by, you may find yourself drawn inside for a closer look. I found myself gazing at one of the pieces in the window for around 15 minutes before I realised. When I did realise how long I'd been entangled, I felt obliged to venture inside and see what else they had to offer. Inside I expected to find snobbery and judgement but this simply isn't true. The staff there appeared very down to earth, very willing to just talk about art and to provide as much information for you as they can offer to you. I didn't feel out of place at all, in fact, if I had the money I dare say I would have walked out of there with more than just a magazine. This is a place for all art lovers to visit even if your wallet doesn't meet their price range. I think they have an impressive gallery and are probably highly overlooked, too easily disregarded in the retail environment they are surrounded by.

    Inside of the huge new shopping complex of the city centre of Cardiff there's a little art gallery…read morefull of pretty pricey paintings. It's called the Blue Dot Gallery and it's got a wide variety of art available. There's water painting, traditional landscapes, more modern artistic techniques, work by local artists, sculptures, and work by Rolf Harris. You heard correct. The Rolfmeister himself. The art isn't cheap, some pieces can be a few grand, but if you are on the look-out for some art then there are some available for a couple of hundred pound. Now, for the likes of me that is an extortionate amount to pay for anything that isn't, oh I don't know, extra money. But it's not bad value, I suppose. They also offer an option for some pieces to be paid for over a longer period on an interest free basis.

    Cardiff Design Festival - an  interesting bookshop ( Morgan arcade)

    Cardiff Design Festival

    5.0(3 reviews)
    0.4 mi

    This annual celebration of Welsh design talent takes place each October, packing in stacks of…read moredesign-related events. Aimed at members of the public, businesses and fellow designers, the festival showcases Welsh design by turning the spotlight on a wide range of areas within the sector, hosting talks, exhibitions and even drawing workshops where you can turn up and try out your own design and drawing skills with Cardiff School of Art & Design, and Cardiff Open Art School tutor and artist Christopher Holloway. Events take place in various venues, so you need to check out the website's events page to find out more - for example the drawing workshop mentioned above takes place in a unit within Morgan Arcade, just opposite Neal's Yard Remedies, while other events take place at the art college. The 'Best of Welsh Design' awards event, announcing this year's winners, is also incorporated into the festival - having received submissions earlier in the year (and with the shortlist announced today, 1 October!).

    This is definitely one for your diary...!…read more The Cardiff Design Festival really is an annual treat! Hosted at various venues around our nations capital, it is a positively splendid affair! Held every October it showcases 'The Best of Welsh Design', which really is more diverse than you might think! There's also a programme of design related events curated with the intention of educating and informing, as well as to inspire and perhaps even provoke. In addition there's also a series of talks, alongside the exhibitions and events. These run from 1st to 16th October. Don't miss it, especially if you are looking for that wow factor for your home!

    Photos
    Cardiff Design Festival - They don't make arcades like this now!

    They don't make arcades like this now!

    Cardiff Design Festival - Tthese look like they were living quarters ( castle arcade)

    Tthese look like they were living quarters ( castle arcade)

    Cardiff Design Festival - Entrance to the Wyndham arcade

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    Entrance to the Wyndham arcade

    Off the Wall Art Gallery - Official Website Picture

    Off the Wall Art Gallery

    4.0(2 reviews)
    1.8 mi

    I don't claim to be any sort of expert of Art but I certainly enjoy visiting exhibitions and…read morefinding new inspirations. Off the Wall takes its place in a beautiful old Victorian building and holds modern contemporary exhibitions, or sales if you can afford it. The atmosphere isn't at all stuffy and everyone is given a warm welcome. I've been to a couple of exhibitions and really enjoyed the selection of works on display. This would be a great place for anyone looking for some art work for their homes, or for investment and if there's nothing on display that you fancy the staff will try and find you something to your taste. Lovely place to visit, if a bit out of the way from the main shopping area.

    Cardiffs newest gallery for contemporary art introduces a disparate range of modern, urban,…read morecollectable, edgy artwork to shake up the established roster of South Wales galleries by bringing something different to the walls of south wales. From Jamie Reids 'never mind the bollocks' screen print for the (in)famous Sex Pistols, through to well known names such as Peter Blake (Sgt Pepper Beatles album cover fame) and Welsh establishment hero Kyffin Williams the gallery also seeks to support the new with work from the freshest talent around and all with a visually intersting slant, and prices to suit a wide range of budgets. Located in Llandaff with lots of restaurants and coffee houses nearby, offthewall is worth a visit or go to their online galleryfirst to get a feel before you explore the work a first hand.

    Photos
    Off the Wall Art Gallery - Official Website Picture

    Official Website Picture

    Off the Wall Art Gallery
    Off the Wall Art Gallery

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    Martin Tinney - Photo of modern extension, from business website: http://artwales.com/

    Martin Tinney

    3.5(2 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    This is one of Wales's leading private, commercial art galleries, housed in a 19th century extended…read moretownhouse and specialising mainly in showcasing well known Welsh artists or Wales-based artists, both past and contemporary. The exhibition space is split across three levels, with a purpose built extension, and holds monthly solo exhibition in the Main Gallery alongside a changing temporary exhibition of art work across the remaining two floors - incorporating paintings, sculptures and prints. The gallery is currently holding its Summer Exhibition, then from 12 August there's an exhibition of new paintings by Sigrid Muller, running until 4 September. The website offers full details of what's coming up, but generally you can expect to see works by highly respected and well-established Welsh artists such as Gwilym Prichard, Shani Rhys James and Kevin Sinnott, as well as some of the best works by the younger generation of Wales's artists. Alongside these contemporary works, the gallery features work by past, 20th century leading Welsh artists such as Sir Cedric Morris, John Piper, Graham Sutherland, Gwen John, Augustus John, Ceri Richards, David Jones, Josef Herman, Peter Prendergast and Sir Kyffin Williams. It's a lovely, light exhibition space, and well worth a regular visit if you love discovering art both old and new.

    Established in 1989, Martin Tinney is a private commercial art gallery in a central Cardiff…read moretownhouse location. They have gained themselves a good reputation for showing some of the best known Welsh and Wales-based artists across their three floors of exhibition space. Artists who have been exhibited in the space include Harry Holland, Sally Moore, Gwilym Prichard, Shani Rhys James, Kevin Sinnott, Evelyn Williams, Gwen John, Augustus John, Ceri Richards, David Jones, Sir Cedric Morris, John Piper, Graham Sutherland, Josef Herman, Peter Prendergast and Sir Kyffin Williams. The emphasis is on quality portraiture and landscape by leading names, and, as a commercial gallery you will not see the innovation of the newer artist-led gallery spaces such as TactileBosch, G39 and Swansea's Elysium Gallery. Less exciting, in my eyes then, certainly, but still worth a regular visit. There are monthly solo exhibitions in the main gallery, and a constantly changing exhibition of paintings, prints and sculpture on the other two gallery floors. The gallery also have an archive of work in their store, which may be viewed on request. Bonus Points? An Arts Council of Wales interest-free credit scheme is available for purchase of work by living artists.

    Photos
    Martin Tinney - Photo from business website: http://artwales.com/

    Photo from business website: http://artwales.com/

    Martin Tinney - Photo from business website: http://artwales.com/

    Photo from business website: http://artwales.com/

    Martin Tinney - Photo from business website: http://artwales.com/

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    Photo from business website: http://artwales.com/

    National Museum & Gallery Cardiff - museums - Updated May 2026

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