Coach and Minibus Hire in the United Kingdom

Cardiff Minibus Hire for Match Days and Welsh Castles

Cardiff comes alive on match days, and it's also the gateway to castles, coal-mining history and the mountains of Bannau Brycheiniog. A minibus with a driver lets your group enjoy both without worrying about parking or who drives home.

Big days at the Principality Stadium

On major event days, the streets around the stadium, including St Mary Street, Westgate Street and Castle Street, close for most of the day. Instead, special parking for coaches and minibuses appears at spots such as the Civic Centre or along Lloyd George Avenue. It can be reserved beforehand, so do that early and expect a short walk to your seats.

The council coach park at Sophia Gardens, off Cathedral Road, has a small number of bays with toilets and CCTV, and on event days it can be booked.

Ford Transit minibus cabin with blue and grey seats
Ford Transit minibus cabin with blue and grey seats

Travelling at Welsh speeds

Since September 2023, most residential streets in Wales have a 20 mph default limit, though some roads are going back to 30 mph after a review. Your driver will follow the signs, and short hops across town may take a little longer than you expect.

Cardiff has no charging Clean Air Zone, and both Severn crossings have been toll-free since December 2018, which makes a trip over to Bristol or Bath simple.

Flying into Cardiff

Places your group will want to see

  • Cardiff Market — Victorian indoor market
  • Caerphilly Castle — Medieval fortress north of Cardiff
  • Castell Coch — Gothic Revival castle north of the city
  • Principality Stadium Tour — City centre
  • Cardiff Bay — Waterfront with the Senedd and Wales Millennium Centre
  • St Fagans National Museum of History — Open-air museum on the western edge of Cardiff
  • National Museum Cardiff — Cathays Park
  • Cardiff Castle — City centre, beside Bute Park

Where groups usually stay

  • Cardiff Airport area (Rhoose)
  • Cardiff Gate / M4 junction 30
  • Cathedral Road / Pontcanna
  • Cardiff Bay
  • City centre / Queen Street / St Mary Street

Flying into Cardiff Airport

The airport is at Rhoose, 12 to 13 miles south-west of the city, about 25 minutes. Pickups and drop-offs on the approach roads aren't allowed. Car Park 2 has a pick-up area that's free for the first 20 minutes, the drop-off zone outside the terminal is charged in 10-minute blocks, and coaches for 40 or more need the airport's permission before they arrive.

Castles, mines and mountains

Castell Coch and Caerphilly Castle are both under half an hour away, so you can see a fairy-tale folly and a medieval fortress in one morning. Big Pit at Blaenavon and Tintern Abbey are around 50 minutes. St Fagans, the open-air museum on the city's western edge, is perfect for a family group.

Your questions

Where can our minibus park on an international match day?

Use the event parking the city lays on for coaches and minibuses, such as at the Civic Centre, and reserve a space early. The streets right around the stadium will be shut.

Why do journeys across town feel slower?

Wales has a 20 mph default on most restricted roads, although some roads are returning to 30 mph. Allow a little extra time.

Can we reach the Brecon area for a day walk?

Yes. Brecon is about 40 miles away, roughly an hour, which leaves a good long day on the hills.

More trips we can arrange

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