Where is Wales?
Wales is a small country in the west of the United Kingdom. The English border to the east is formed by the counties of Cheshire, Shropshire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire.
What is the population of Wales?
The population of Wales is estimated at 3.1 million for 2019. English and Welsh are both official languages, with over half a million Welsh-speakers in the country.
What are the six cities in Wales?
The six cities in Wales are Cardiff, Swansea, Bangor, St Davids, St Asaph and Newport.
Cardiff
The largest city in Wales is its capital, Cardiff. It is the eleventh largest city in the UK and houses the Senedd – the Welsh Parliament – along with the Principality Stadium and Cardiff Castle. A major tourist attraction and site of historical interest, parts of the castle date back to the 12th century, although it was constructed on the site of a 3rd century Roman fort.
Swansea
To the west of Cardiff lies Swansea – Wales’s second city. Famed as the birthplace of poet Dylan Thomas, the county of Swansea also takes in the Gower Peninsula and Swansea Bay. The city is home to around 250,000 people, many of whom find employment in the service sectors and at companies such as HSBC, Virgin Media and BT.
Newport
Known as ‘Casnewydd’ in Welsh, Newport is located in the south east of Wales. A key industrial centre for the country, the city has its roots in the export of coal but now major employers cover government departments, aerospace and manufacturing. The city is also home to the National Velodrome.
Bangor
The oldest city in Wales, Bangor can trace its roots back to the 6th century, when a monastic community made a home there around the site of Bangor Cathedral. The cathedral is what secures the settlement its city status, despite the population in 2019 being only around 16,000 in 2011.
St Davids
The smallest city in the UK by population (just over 1,600 people in 2011), St Davids Cathedral is what gives this small conurbation its grand title. The Cathedral is the resting place of the patron saint of Wales – St David – and is built on the site of a monastic community founded by him in the 6th century.
St Asaph
Another tiny city, St Asaph has a population of around 3,350. The current cathedral was built in the 13th century after the previous stone building was burned down during the Second Welsh War. St Asaph is known as the ‘City of Music’ and hosts the annual North Wales Festival of Music at the cathedral and other venues around the area.
Things to do in North Wales
The National Park of Snowdonia is the key visitor attraction in North Wales, offering stunning landscapes and many of the highest peaks in England and Wales. Hikers, mountain bikers, paragliders and other outdoor enthusiasts will find the perfect playground here in North Wales.
Other great things to do in North Wales include visits to Caernarfon or Conwy castles. Great Orme and Llandudno also offer a great day out, with a family-friendly beach and a tramway or cable car to take you to the top of this historic coastal peak.
Things to do in South Wales
A visit to Cardiff has to come top of the list for visitors to South Wales, while the mountains and waterfalls of the Brecon Beacons National Park are also a must-visit. The Gower Peninsula offers scenic walks and wild beaches, while St Fagans National Museum of History provides a fascinating overview of the Welsh culture, lifestyle and architecture.
