Pierhead Building
Pierhead Building
4.5
10:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Monday
10:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday
10:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday
10:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
10:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
10:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday
10:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday
10:30 AM - 4:30 PM
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
366 reviews
Excellent
160
Very good
148
Average
52
Poor
4
Terrible
2
RebeccaB
Northampton, UK161 contributions
Apr 2024 • Couples
Very interesting building to visit. We had a warm welcome from a man sitting at reception. He spent time explaining the building's history and importance. We watched an interesting film and walked around the building.
Written April 28, 2024
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.
Annie
Tidworth, UK1,929 contributions
Jun 2022 • Couples
We wandered in to look at the building and we were welcomed inside. There is a video and a room explaining the history of the building. In the main hall there is a longer historical video. You can look upstairs where there are some mementos on display. The inside is so interesting, beautiful coloured tiles and worth a visit.
Written June 14, 2022
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, Canada5,580 contributions
Sep 2023 • Solo
It’s just okay because there really is nothing to do here except see the view which is short lived and go to restaurants. You can do this in 30 minutes.
Written October 27, 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.
florencewise
Worcestershire, UK93 contributions
Sep 2012
You can't visit the Cardiff Bay area and miss a visit to this gem. It shouts out to be visited with it's bright red bricks and wonderful architecture. Yes, it has a story to tell and what a story - all about the development of the docks and the history of coal and the man who helped make it happen the then Marquess of Bute. I could go on, there is so much to see and we shall be going back for a further visit.
The interior is beautifully laid out for the visitor with hear/see aids telling the story with illustrations, pictures, artifacts, etc.etc. so much to see you could spend hours there. It also has an audio/visual show on the ground floor which is very enlightening.
There are also wonderful views from the top floor windows right across the bay.
Do please visit this unique building and spend time listening to the history and the stories it tells you, I promise you will enjoy the visit.
The interior is beautifully laid out for the visitor with hear/see aids telling the story with illustrations, pictures, artifacts, etc.etc. so much to see you could spend hours there. It also has an audio/visual show on the ground floor which is very enlightening.
There are also wonderful views from the top floor windows right across the bay.
Do please visit this unique building and spend time listening to the history and the stories it tells you, I promise you will enjoy the visit.
Written February 1, 2013
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.
Deb L
Jervis Bay, Australia12 contributions
Jan 2021 • Solo
They wanted to keep all visitors at a bay. Such a pity that this building by the bay not to be visited.
Written January 15, 2021
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.
Richard K
Llanfairfechan, UK166 contributions
May 2019 • Friends
Visited with guests from USA and was really disappointed in what is available to see.
Had visited some time back and then all the rooms were open with lots of pictures and videos of how Cardiff developed (as an outlet for Merthyr coal) and how all the canals went right up into Cardiff and how they loaded all the ships with coal etc......
None of this info is now on show.
A short video showing its growth and that's it the looking around there is an art gallery and 2 small rooms with some display items, the rest are seminar rooms...
(Obviously commercial pressures have made it go this way and is now a meeting / conference centre.
Shame..............
Had visited some time back and then all the rooms were open with lots of pictures and videos of how Cardiff developed (as an outlet for Merthyr coal) and how all the canals went right up into Cardiff and how they loaded all the ships with coal etc......
None of this info is now on show.
A short video showing its growth and that's it the looking around there is an art gallery and 2 small rooms with some display items, the rest are seminar rooms...
(Obviously commercial pressures have made it go this way and is now a meeting / conference centre.
Shame..............
Written May 21, 2019
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.
cherjan
Zejtun, Malta34 contributions
Feb 2020
Though I was aware of this building, I had no idea it was a free gallery. The gallery had exhibits and information panels which revealed more information regarding Cardiff's history. Worth a few minutes to check it out!
Written February 27, 2020
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.
Daniel D
Shenzhen, China130 contributions
Jan 2020
This was a small and mildly interesting place to check out. Especially on a cold and rainy day its fine. It gives a history of the city and the bay.
Written February 1, 2020
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.
wendyanddavid536
Solihull, UK2,120 contributions
Jul 2017 • Couples
Built in 1897 in French-Gothic Renaissance style, completely clad in striking glazed red terracotta manufactured in Ruabon, the Pierhead Building stands proud among its more modern neighbours. It is now part of the National Assembly of Wales.
Architecturally fascinating inside and outside, there is an introductory video on the ground floor in the main hall giving a history of Cardiff, the docks and the coal industry.
On the stairs there is a riot of glazed tiles leading to a couple of interesting exhibitions with pictures and artefacts depicting Cardiff life from a bygone era.
Friendly helpful receptionists at the entrance.
Architecturally fascinating inside and outside, there is an introductory video on the ground floor in the main hall giving a history of Cardiff, the docks and the coal industry.
On the stairs there is a riot of glazed tiles leading to a couple of interesting exhibitions with pictures and artefacts depicting Cardiff life from a bygone era.
Friendly helpful receptionists at the entrance.
Written July 20, 2017
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.
sarah t
Barry, UK257 contributions
Oct 2015
Standing proudly in Cardiff bay, a beautiful building built in 1897, re-opened in 2010 as a Welsh history museum & the clock tower is unofficially named 'Little Ben' gorgeous architecture, wonderful Gargoyles & stunning detail in the lovely terracotta brick! Great video inside on the history of the Docks! A must see for all ages
Written November 29, 2015
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.
Bethan R
Snowdonia-Eryri National Park, United Kingdom
Is it accessible for wheelchairs
Written February 17, 2019
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