SHW MAE
AND WELCOME
TO WALES
FIRST of all congratulations on getting
into university, think about that for a
short second and feel damn proud.
You’ve managed to struggle though
exams, conquer coursework and put
up with relentless UCAS statement
rewrites. Now it’s time to reap the
benefits of university life.
It can be easy in the first few weeks of
life to constrict yourself to studentsville,
but venture a little further and you’ll
find plenty to do in vibrant and varied
South Wales. There’s a thriving music
scene that includes many a live music
festival, a range of exciting eateries
and different drinking holes, there is
independent film and theatre galore,
as well as a comedy circuit to die
(laughing) for.
Whether you’ve come from cities miles
away, far flung gap years or the next
town along make the most of your
education by being in the know about
what’s going on. This guide will give
you an introduction to South Wales
entertainment and culture, as well as
some advice on saving your pennies,
some local secrets and how to decide
what drinking game to play.
Buzz 04
NEWPORT
Spoof music videos on YouTube are not to be trusted as Wales’
youngest city has a lot to offer its student. Although relatively
small (do think about how much you’ll save on bus fares)
Newport packs a lot into its size. The Riverfront Arts Centre
has always got something exciting to show, and often plays
host to live music and well-known comedians.
A true hub of culture Newport has festivals galore with the
Newport Food Festival, the Comedy Port comedy festival and
Newport International Film Festival all taking place in October
alone. Would you expect any less from the birth place of
Michael Sheen?
If you’re looking to expand your mind outside of lectures a
wander around one of Newport’s three museums is certain
to offer you something new. If you’d rather stretch your legs
than your brain then you can venture out into Newport’s
surrounding countryside and take on a stretch of the Usk
Valley Walk.
CARDIFF
Recently voted the UK’s ‘best city for young people’ the Welsh
capital has a lot to offer university newbies. More than just the
backdrop to Torchwood, Cardiff has shiny city sites such as the
restaurant-filled waterfront of Cardiff Bay and the built-up city
centre, where you can find an array of venues offering a good
night out.
Cardiff’s slightly more rough-and-ready areas are also culture
filled (if a little less glossy). The whole host of international
eateries on City Road can provide you with more than a late
night kebab (some of which have been known to stay open after
3am), and in amongst the hustle and bustle of Canton is Wales’s
‘film hub’ Chapter Arts Centre.
With an estimated 40,000 students floating around Cardiff you
are guaranteed to be kept occupied with club nights, student
discounts and one-off events.