Cardiff is easy to reach whether you're travelling by public transport, by car or by air.
There are many options for travelling to Cardiff and getting around the city by bus.
As the name suggests, Cardiff Bus provides bus services within the city centre, its suburbs and to various destinations outside of the city (eg Newport, Penarth, Dinas Powys, Barry, St Athan and Llantwit Major).
Cardiff is well provided for in terms of park and ride services. There are three locations to park your vehicle and hop on a bus to take you into the city centre. This is a cheaper alternative to city centre parking and takes away the stress of looking for a parking space.
There are a number of other bus and coach service providers providing services to and from Cardiff and the surrounding areas.
Cardiff is also well served by National Express, Megabus and Greyhound Express providing services to and from other major towns and cities.
Cardiff benefits from its close proximity to two international airports (Cardiff International Airport and Bristol Airport). Both are served by Shuttle Bus Services.
Cardiff is easily accessible by rail from London, major UK airports and many towns and cities across the country.
The Cardiff-London InterCity rail service, from London Paddington, runs some seventeen times a day, with a journey time of less than two hours.
Frequent regional network trains, the Sprinter services, connect Cardiff with many towns and cities across the UK, including:
Various rail companies operate direct services to Cardiff Central Station from London's Heathrow and Gatwick airports.
Cardiff Queen Street station is best placed for access to the following University buildings:
Cathays station is located in the centre of the Cathays Park campus and provides easy access to all other University buildings at Cathays/Maindy Park including the Students’ Union.
The Heath Park campus is located approximately three miles from Cardiff city centre.
Heath Low Level and Heath High Level Stations are the nearest stations within (approximately) twenty minutes walk from the Heath Park campus.
Cardiff is served by the M4 and is easily accessible from all parts of Britain.
From the south west, take the M5 and from the south of England, follow major A-roads to the M4.
From Scotland, the north of England and the Midlands, travel via the M50 to the M4.
Leave the motorway at Junction 32, follow the A470, sign-posted city centre.
Follow the A470 as far as Gabalfa Interchange. Take first exit onto the A48 (Eastern Avenue), sign-posted Newport and the M4, but immediately exit at the slip road on the left. This leads directly onto the University Hospital site.
Follow the A470 towards the city centre and the University is sign-posted.
Leave the motorway at Junction 29, follow the A48(M)/A48, sign-posted Cardiff East and the South. Continue for approximately seven miles.
On the A48, speed reductions will be noticeable from 50 to 40mph. At this time the University Hospital will be visible on the right. Exit the next slip road, sign-posted “University Hospital” and turn right at the traffic lights along a short road leading directly onto the University Hospital site.
Continue along the A48 to the A470 (Gabalfa Interchange). Leave the A48 at Gabalfa Interchange and take the A470, sign-posted city centre. Follow the A470 towards the city centre and the University is sign-posted.
There is limited car parking available at Cardiff University and due to expansion and improvements planned throughout the University estate, there will be further impact on the availability of car parking facilities in the future.
There are three park and ride services which operate in Cardiff. Opening hours and prices vary. For prices, locations and opening hours please see the Cardiff Council website.
On University-wide Open Days, we run a shuttle service from Cardiff East Park and Ride to the Cathays Campus which costs £7 per vehicle and includes the return bus journey.
Car parking in the University car parks is extremely limited and a permit is required. However, there are several public car parks located close to the University, all of which are marked on Map 4.
There is also pay and display car parking available on Park Place and within the civic centre (along College Road, City Hall Road, King Edward VII Avenue and Museum Avenue). This typically costs around £3.50 for two hours. Payment is by coin or debit/ credit card. Parking in the North Road car park is £8.00 per day.
Charges for city centre multi-storey car parks vary considerably, up to £26.00 per day.
Limited car parking is available in various car parks.
Cardiff International Airport connects Cardiff to many European cities and has an increasing number of international flights.
Cardiff Airport (code CWL) is 11 miles from the city centre.
Various coach and rail companies operate direct services to Cardiff Central Station from London's Heathrow and Gatwick airports.
See the location guide and detailed information: https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/166163/CU_LocationGuide2019_website_ENG.pdf