Bute Park

From castle grounds to public park

The park was once the grounds of Cardiff Castle. Capability Brown worked on the Castle Green in the late 1700s, and from 1873 the Bute family's head gardener Andrew Pettigrew laid out much of what you see today. The 5th Marquess of Bute gave the park to the city in 1947, and it is now Grade I listed on the Cadw register of historic parks and gardens.

What to find

The arboretum is the main draw for anyone who likes trees, with over 3,000 individually catalogued specimens. Look for the outline of Blackfriars, a 13th-century friary, marked out in the grass, and the Herbaceous Border running beside the river. On Castle Street, the Animal Wall's carved creatures peer over towards the shops. Three cafés, Brodies on the Wall, the Secret Garden Café and the Summerhouse Café, keep you going.

Ways to use it

Walk or cycle the riverside path, which is part of the Taff Trail, or cross the footbridges to Sophia Gardens and the Glamorgan cricket ground. A water taxi runs to the park, and the nursery's plant shop opens on selected days. The visitor and education centre has trails for children.

Highlights

• About 130 acres beside Cardiff Castle
• Arboretum of 3,000+ catalogued trees
• Remains of the 13th-century Blackfriars friary
• Part of the Taff Trail for walking and cycling

Good to know

• Three cafés in the park: Brodies on the Wall, Secret Garden Café and Summerhouse Café.
• Bikes can be hired from Pedal Power in nearby Pontcanna.
• A water taxi service runs to the park.

Frequently asked questions