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Bute Park
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Bute Park

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Bute Park
4.5
About
Bute Park & Arboretum is an extensive area of mature parkland that forms the 'green heart' of Cardiff. Equivalent to 80 football pitches in size, Bute Park is one of the largest urban parks in Wales. As well as beautiful flowers and an abundance of paths and tracks to explore, visitor facilities include an Education Centre & Visitor Centre (open daily 12 - 3pm), 3 cafes, toilets, a woodland play trail, wooden sculptures and fitness equipment. There is a varied events programme, see Bute-park.com for current listings. A Grade 1 listed landscape, it contains designed views and interesting built heritage such as the remains of a medieval friary and the ever-popular Animal Wall. The magnificent arboretum contains “champion” (tallest or widest of their species in UK) and many rare and beautiful trees. The site is managed by Cardiff Council and benefitted from a £5.6M restoration project between 2010 - 2014, supported by a £3.1M grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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Top ways to experience Bute Park and nearby attractions

The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Cathays
Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
1,057 within 3 miles
Revolution Cardiff
1,823
0.3 mi££ - £££ • American • Bar • British
Nata & Co Bakery Clifton
373
0.3 mi£ • Bakeries • Cafe • European
Pasture Cardiff
827
0.3 mi££££ • Steakhouse • British • Vegan Options
Corner Coffee
177
0.3 mi££ - £££ • Quick Bites • Cafe • British
Graze
577
0.3 mi££ - £££ • British • Contemporary
Brewhouse & Kitchen - Cardiff
752
0.3 mi££ - £££ • Bar • British • Pub
Pettigrew Tea Rooms
1,169
0.2 mi££ - £££ • Cafe • British • Welsh
Nata & Co Bakery
164
0.3 mi£ • Dessert • Cafe • European
Franco Manca Cardiff
121
0.3 mi££ - £££ • Italian • Pizza
Cafe Citta
1,972
0.3 mi££ - £££ • Italian • Pizza • Vegetarian Friendly
See all
Attractions
219 within 6 miles
Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
144
0.1 miEducational sites
Cardiff Castle
6,781
0.2 miCastles
Christmas At Bute Park
53
0.2 miCultural Events
Alexandra gardens
10
0.2 miParks
Firing Line Museum of The Queen's Dragoon Guards and The Royal Welsh at Cardiff Castle
107
0.2 miMilitary Museums • Speciality Museums
National Museum Cardiff
2,715
0.3 miArt Galleries • Natural History Museums
City Hall
164
0.3 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Government Buildings
The Animal Wall
26
0.2 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Historic Walking Areas
Castle Quarter Arcade
80
0.3 miShopping Malls
Glamorgan Building
1
0.2 miGovernment Buildings
See all
See what travellers are saying
  • packedandready2go
    933 contributions
    Beautiful large park adjacent to Cardiff Castle
    This is an outstandingly beautiful park. Lots of different types of trees beautfully laid out. Adjacent to Cardiff Castle. You can catch a boat to Cardiff Bay from the Taff River wharf close by Petigrew's Cafe, which is also a good place to have a snack.
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 21 May 2023
  • iamface
    Cardiff, United Kingdom1,517 contributions
    relax and cool
    after visited cardiff castle then walked along the bute park, near the river with many trees that was so relax and cool. good for take walk if got time. Blackweir also pretty that has many people down to river and playing.
    Visited June 2023
    Written 25 June 2023
  • StephLauren
    Strasbourg, France98 contributions
    Amazing park!
    What a gorgeous park. Loads of green space. It was the perfect space to spend the day with the kids! Will absolutely come back if we need the kids to run around or if we want to walk a little. Highly recommend everyone to spend some time here!
    Visited July 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 31 July 2023
  • Robert3856
    Surrey, United Kingdom487 contributions
    Cardiff's hidden gem
    I discovered Bute Park Arboretum whilst I was staying in Cardiff. I have been visiting Cardiff for years and I never knew that this place excited. It is so peaceful there that you wouldn't know you are so close to the City Centre. They have notice boards around requesting that you don't go down this path to protect the environment, but I noticed that joggers totally IGNORED this request. It is really Cardiff's hidden gem, I will definitely be going there again when I am next in Cardiff.
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 3 September 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.5
1,878 reviews
Excellent
1,280
Very good
529
Average
59
Poor
7
Terrible
3
tinkle_24
Northampton, UK1,732 contributions
A walk not to be missed if you have the time!
Nov 2023 • Couples
Very pleasant walk along River Taft and you can cross over to Sophia Gardens using bridges along the way. Autumn colours were out and very beautiful. A fun Christmas installation of sheep on a wall. Walk was okay in spite of wet soggy ground from rain. River in full spate,
Written 17 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BelaN74
Mississauga, Canada4,237 contributions
Nice
Sep 2023 • Solo
I had such a nice all through Bute Park every morning while I was in Cardiff. It’s such a beautiful park that is very well maintained. It also has the Cardiff Castle as a backdrop that is beautiful.
Written 27 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert3856
Surrey, UK487 contributions
Cardiff's hidden gem
Aug 2023 • Solo
I discovered Bute Park Arboretum whilst I was staying in Cardiff.

I have been visiting Cardiff for years and I never knew that this place excited.

It is so peaceful there that you wouldn't know you are so close to the City Centre.

They have notice boards around requesting that you don't go down this path to protect the environment, but I noticed that joggers totally IGNORED this request.

It is really Cardiff's hidden gem,

I will definitely be going there again when I am next in Cardiff.
Written 3 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Julie L
31 contributions
Dinosaurs in the park Bute park
Aug 2023
Went to see dinosaurs read on website would be ok for disabled people that was a joke had soggy wet slope with a wheelchair and a disabled person not very wheelchair, friendly. They arena was on wet sodden grass a lot of the time I had to pull wheelchair backwards not on member of staff offered to help
Written 26 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dave O
Newport, UK907 contributions
Great park
Aug 2023 • Friends
Ideal scene to walk talk and chill, with nice gardens, and good paths and cafes on site. Nice to chill when its dry, and relaxing if sunny.
Written 15 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lloyd D
3 contributions
Green oasis in heart of city
Aug 2023
Ideal place to walk and relax just minutes away from the city centre. Three coffee shops and space for children and dogs to play
Written 5 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
StephLauren
Strasbourg, France98 contributions
Amazing park!
Jul 2023 • Family
What a gorgeous park. Loads of green space. It was the perfect space to spend the day with the kids! Will absolutely come back if we need the kids to run around or if we want to walk a little. Highly recommend everyone to spend some time here!
Written 31 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Naomi B
Watford, UK8 contributions
recommend
Jun 2023
After a visit to the castle, great place to chill by. The weather was just right and the nearby river was just very relaxing to the mind. Would recommend
Written 28 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
iamface
Cardiff, UK1,517 contributions
relax and cool
Jun 2023
after visited cardiff castle then walked along the bute park, near the river with many trees that was so relax and cool. good for take walk if got time. Blackweir also pretty that has many people down to river and playing.
Written 25 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
packedandready2go
California933 contributions
Beautiful large park adjacent to Cardiff Castle
May 2023 • Couples
This is an outstandingly beautiful park. Lots of different types of trees beautfully laid out. Adjacent to Cardiff Castle. You can catch a boat to Cardiff Bay from the Taff River wharf close by Petigrew's Cafe, which is also a good place to have a snack.
Written 21 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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BUTE PARK: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Bute Park