Attending training courses in Cardiff

Cardiff is the largest city in Wales and also its capital. Located on the south coast of Wales, Cardiff is the eleventh largest city in the United Kingdom and home to Cardiff University, one of the top five universities for research excellence. Cardiff is also famous for being the city that is home to the most castles in the world, the most famous of these, Cardiff Castle, is almost 2000 years. The city is an ideal location for attending training courses with plenty of venues, suitable accommodation, great transport links and places for some downtime when you’re not studying.

Transport

The city and surrounding areas are serviced by Cardiff Airport which is located 13 miles to the west of the city centre. The airport offers direct flights to 50 destinations and over 900 connecting flights. Good public transport links make getting from the airport to the city centre very easy too. There is a mainline train station in Cardiff which links the city to London with trains every 30 minutes for a journey that takes just under 2 hours. There are also direct trains to Birmingham, Manchester and a number of other big cities and towns. By car, Cardiff is accessible using the M4, which runs through the north of the city and links it directly with central London and just 3 hous. From the North of England, the Midlands and Scotland, Cardiff is accessible via the M6, M5 and the M50/M4.

Accommodation 

With most in-person professional training courses lasting for a few days, it is a good idea to find some local accommodation near to where your course is being held. Cardiff has some fantastic hotels that make the ideal base.

Jury’s Inn Cardiff, 1 Park Pl, Cardiff CF10 3UD

The Jury’s Inn in Cardiff is located right in the heart of the city and easily accessible by public transport. The hotel has self-parking for all of its guests and is participating in the Green Tourism Programme. The rooms are a very good size and all benefit from free Wi-Fi which is also available in the public areas of the hotel as well. The hotel also has a number of onsite meeting rooms that offer the ideal location for running a project management training course for a number of participants. It is also within easy walking distance of a number of the different attractions that the city has to offer.

Clayton Hotel, St Mary St, Cardiff CF10 1GD

Just a three-minute walk from Cardiff Central Station the Clayton Hotel is a very convenient hotel to use as a base for attending a training course. This is a large city centre hotel with 216 rooms and all of the modern amenities you would expect. Off-site parking is available but due to the city centre location of the hotel it is at an additional cost. The hotel has 7 meeting rooms and a computer station making it a popular choice with those individuals who want to keep in touch with the office whilst they are away.

Future Inns Cardiff Bay, Hemingway Rd, Cardiff CF10 4AU

If you prefer a hotel that is not located right in the heart of the city then the Future Inns Cardiff Bay hotel is a great choice. Just 1 mile outside the centre it is easy to get to but far enough from the hustle and bustle of the main centre for a bit of rest and relaxation. The hotel has free onsite parking, including some wheelchair accessible parking spaces, and electric vehicle charging points. The hotel is a stone’s throw away from the bay so expect some stunning views as well as all of the facilities you would expect from a 4-star hotel of this size and reputation.

Meeting rooms for training courses

All of the hotels we have mentioned benefit from large meeting room facilities that can host training courses. Whilst some people like to stay and do their training in the same hotel, it is understandable that others want to separate the two, especially on intensive training courses. Cardiff has plenty of alternatives available when it comes to meeting rooms.

.

Regus, Falcon Dr, Cardiff CF10 4RU

Regus have 3 different locations within Cardiff, offering meeting rooms that are ideal for hosting project management training courses. Apart from the Cardiff Bay facility at Falcon Drive there is also a location at Cardiff Gate Business Park on the outskirts of the city in a stylish building with 4 meeting rooms equipped with all of the facilities you might need for a training session. Plus a facility at Brunel House in the city centre just a few minutes’ walk from the train station and conveniently placed for lunch time eating options. All Regus spaces are fully equipped with the latest modern technology.

Clockwise,  2 Fitzalan Rd, Cardiff CF24 0EB

Another company who specialises in fully equipped meeting rooms that are ideal for a range of training courses, is Clockwise. Their meeting rooms are fully equipped and benefit from Creston video conferencing systems and modern surroundings.

Things to do in Cardiff

If your training course lasts more than a couple of days you may want to take advantage of some of the opportunities that Cardiff has to offer.

Restaurants

When it comes to restaurants, Cardiff has plenty to choose from with an emphasis on seafood and menus that showcase local Welsh ingredients as well as a range of different international cuisines.

If you are looking for somewhere a little special, then Home in Penarth just a few miles outside Cardiff City Centre is the perfect choice. This 1 Michelin Star restaurant is a family run venue offers a stunning array of modern dishes that make the most of stunning local produce. Their cheese board is a particularly well thought out showcase for local foods. They gained their addition to the Michelin star list in 2022.

There are a further 7 restaurants in Cardiff that are mentioned in the Michelin restaurant guide as worth visiting, offering a range of different tastes from Spanish to Indian, Classic British dishes to those with a more modern twist.

Entertainment

St David’s Hall in Cardiff Bay host a range of musical concerts and extravaganzas throughout the year, ranging from classical music to pop music. Tickets for weeknight performances are very reasonably priced and could be the perfect end to a rewarding training course.

Cardiff is also home to a range of pubs, bars and clubs, just like any great city, offering a range of options for those looking for some entertainment in the evening.