St Fagans National Museum Review – Cardiff, Wales
St Fagans National Museum Review
If you plan a trip to Wales, you’ll undoubtedly want to visit its capital, Cardiff. While Cardiff has plenty of modern attractions, there’s also an opportunity to step back in time and experience the country’s fascinating history. One such attraction is St. Fagans National Museum, a remarkable open-air museum that will take you through Wales’ history from the Roman era to the present day. Keep reading for our St Fagans National Museum review and to learn more about this must-visit destination.
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We added a visit to the museum during our visit to Cardiff. This one came up on TripAdvisor as a top three attraction in the city. So, it made our itinerary for one of our big attractions while visiting Cardiff.
St Fagans National History Museum Introduction
St Fagans National History Museum is a must-visit attraction for history enthusiasts. Located just outside the Cardiff city center, this open-air museum offers visitors a unique experience of stepping back in time to discover the country’s rich cultural heritage.
The museum boasts over 40 historic buildings, including homes, farmsteads, churches, shops, and workshops that have been carefully reconstructed from different periods of Welsh history. The setting provides a glimpse of Welsh life in different periods. Visitors can explore these buildings to learn about the traditional way of life in Wales and witness demonstrations of traditional skills by costumed guides. This museum is unusual because it is set in a beautiful parkland, and its numerous buildings have been transported everywhere in Wales.
One of the recent additions to the museum is a recreated “Iron Age Village,” which includes a roundhouse, farmstead, and an Iron Age farm. The village even has costumed artisans who will demonstrate traditional crafts like metalworking and blacksmithing. With its extensive collection of artifacts and immersive exhibits, St Fagans National History Museum is truly a fascinating destination that offers an unforgettable journey through Wales’ past.
Is St Fagans National History Museum Worth Visiting?
The wonderful St Fagans National History Museum (aka The Museum of Welch Life – Amgueddfa Werin Cymru) is one of Europe’s leading open–air museums and Wales’s most popular heritage attraction. At this museum, you can travel back in time to take a memorable walk around Wales – from Celtic times to the present day.
At St. Fagans Museum, you’ll encounter various historical structures from multiple locations across Wales. Wander around nearly 50 buildings, where each structure is full of historical significance and authenticity. You’ll see many remarkable buildings like a medieval prince’s hall, a traditional clog maker’s workshop, a Victorian school, a woolen mill, a medieval church, farmhouses, a corn mill, a war memorial, a Workmen’s Institute, and an 18th-century chapel. These historical buildings are what make St Fagans a unique place to visit.
St Fagans was awarded the 2019 UK Art Fund Museum of the Year! Tourists interested in Welsh culture will enjoy this museum’s rich history and beautiful grounds.
Expectations for St Fagans Museum
Our expectations were only set for experiencing a traditional museum. And for us, that meant a typical indoor museum. We saw the sign in front for Sain Ffagan Museum and proceeded to walk to the entrance. Entering the front doors, we found a map of the museum building, it showed just the second floor as having exhibits. Hmm, perhaps this would be a short visit. But we found a door to exhibits on the outside, and our unimagined and unexpected incredible day was underway.
Walking through the door into the outside felt like watching Dorothy step from her black-and-white world of Kansas into the colorful land of Oz.
Exploring the Main Attractions at St Fagans
Castle Farmhouse
Visiting the Castle Farmhouse at St. Fagan Museum in Cardiff is a unique experience that will take you back in time. The farmhouse was originally built in 1470 and was made of timber, but it was later replaced by stone when it was enlarged in 1734. This date is still visible on the house today.
Craft Workshops
The craft workshops at St. Fagan Museum in Cardiff provide a look into the life of ancient times. From traditional crafts to science and industry, the museum offers various courses inspired by its collections. Visitors can participate in mini masterclasses and sign up for more extensive courses or explore the Gweithdy gallery, which celebrates the skills of makers across millennia. You can even try your hand at traditional crafts with Stone Age tools and stick chairs!
Discover the Ancient Celtic roots of Wales
Explore Iron Age Fortifications
The Iron Age fortifications at St. Fagans Museum left quite an impression on us during our visit. We could imagine how settlers spent their time in the large fortifications several thousand years ago.
The oldest structure (in history here) was an iron age roundhouse like a thatched circular yurt. This Bryn Err Iron Age farmstead represents a nearly 2000-year-old structure.
The two huts are linked and have been recreated based on archaeological investigations of similar sites in Wales. Stemming from the Roman conquest, the Iron Age farmstead lets visitors glimpse ancient living styles. This rural settlement comprises two roundhouses with six-foot thick clay walls and large conical thatched roofs.
A copy of metal work found by archaeologists along with the structure depicted how the 1% of an era two millennia ago lived.
Visitors can explore the circular Celtic houses and other structures from the medieval period, as well as ironworker houses from the 19th century. These provide examples of inhabitants who once occupied Tre’r Ceiri, an Iron Age fort that is one of the best-preserved and most intact sites in the United Kingdom.
Learn About Archaeology
If you are interested in archeology, you can learn about archaeological digs through various interactive activities at St. Fagans Museum. The museum’s Archaeology & Numismatics Department offers visitors the chance to explore the collections of Ancient Wales, including artifacts from prehistoric times. Visitors can also explore several dozen buildings representing the architecture of Wales.
Take a Step Back in Time with Ancient Structures
Visit a Medieval Castle
Castles are abundant in Wales, and there is even one here. The museum’s centerpiece is St. Fagans Castle. The Grade 1 listed building is located on the grounds of the museum. Dating back to the late 16th century, the Elizabethan manor house was rebuilt in the 1880s in the Gothic Revival style. It was originally built on the site of a 13th-century medieval castle that fell into ruins by 1536.
The Tudor manor house was gifted to Wales by the Earl of Plymouth in 1948 with 18 acres of beautiful gardens and grounds.
The castle’s Great Hall has stunning vaulted ceilings, and the Drawing Room boasts a Rococo ceiling. It features a stone curtain wall, a narrow pointed postern doorway on the south side, and a moat filled in on the east and north sides. Visitors can explore an Elizabethan mansion with much of its interior remodeled during the 19th century.
Visitors can tour these rooms and the castle’s kitchens, bedrooms, and bathrooms. Small exhibits throughout the court also showcase Welsh artwork, textiles, and furniture. And do spend time strolling the beautiful Italian-style garden surrounding the castle property.
Welsh Houses from Different Periods
The museum grounds are home to over forty original buildings, ranging from St Teilo’s Church to the House of the Future, which was recently renamed Ty Gwyrdd. Visitors can explore a Tudor manor house called St Fagans Castle, built in 1580, and 18th and 20th-century Welsh workers’ terraced houses.
Activities for the Whole Family
Families will find much to do and explore at St Fagans Museum. Voted as one of the best free places to go in south-east Wales by Netmums.com, St Fagans offers a variety of activities for all ages. The museum features traditional crafts, native livestock, and exhibitions. Kids can explore the 40 reconstructed buildings, including a working forge, a chapel, and an old schoolhouse, or take a ride on the train from one side to St. Fagans House. Family explorer packs are available during half-term holidays, allowing kids to learn more about food through the ages with their own interactive guide.
Participate in Interactive Workshops and Site Tours
Learning opportunities include a variety of available workshops ranging from one-hour sessions to half-day and even full-day events. Learn new skills such as textile crafts, metalwork, and leatherwork. The museum offers art workshops as well. Group workshops require a minimum of 2 weeks’ notice for bookings.
Site tours include themed tours (e.g., the Tudor Tour), Castle and Gardens, demonstration talks with craft persons (blacksmith, clog maker, miller, weaver), and seasonal tours (nature walks).
Visit the museum’s website for current tour offerings
Learning about Welsh Culture
Sample Traditional Welsh Cuisine or Watch Cooking Demonstrations
Food lovers can learn about traditional Welsh cuisine in a variety of ways. From sampling local delicacies at the annual Amgueddfa Cymru Food Festival to exploring the museum’s collection of Welsh Foods, there are interesting foods to discover. It’s a place to sample traditional Welsh dishes such as Bara brith, cawl, and Welsh cakes.
Learn About Welsh Culture Through Stories and Music
Visitors can explore the country’s history and people through stories and music. The museum houses various artifacts from the past, including traditional costumes, musical instruments, and artwork. It also offers interactive activities such as storytelling sessions.
The Gŵyl Ifan festival celebrates traditional folk dancing. Dancers entertain with traditional rituals, colorful costumes, and lively music.
Historic St Teilo’s Church
Saint Teilo’s church was moved here. It is decommissioned today. The church displayed a separate main altar area, similar to that found in Orthodox churches such as the Russian or Greek variety.
Enjoy the Wonders of the Outdoors
Stroll in the Beautiful Gardens
Aside from the historical structures, St Fagans is also home to numerous gardens and orchards. There’s a traditional Welsh cottage garden, a vegetable patch, and the Orchard House Garden, which features over 200 varieties of fruit. While these gardens are attractive, they also play a significant role in preserving Welsh plant varieties. After all, before the advent of the supermarket, Welsh people depended on their land for sustenance. The gardens and orchards are a reminder of that way of life.
Discover Animals at the Museum’s Nature Reserve
The reserve has many species, from birds and amphibians to farm animals. Visitors can take guided walks around the reserve, learning about the habitats and wildlife that call it home. You can also explore the park, discovering hidden gems like wildflower meadows, woodlands, ponds, and wetlands. There are plenty of opportunities for bird watching, too, with over 100 species recorded at the reserve. The trees around you are over a hundred years old. They are a sanctuary for birds, bats, and rare animals and a great place to enjoy the outdoors.
A bird hide lets you take cover so you can observe native birds. We stepped inside and viewed the descriptions of birds in the area. The descriptions included robins, wrens, and varieties named great tit, blue tit, and coal tit.
Appreciate Art from Local Artists
St Fagans National Museum of History in Wales is home to a wide variety of art by local artists. The museum has an impressive collection of paintings, sculptures, and other works of art from all over Wales. The museum showcases the best of Welsh art, from traditional Welsh landscapes to modern abstract pieces. Visitors can explore the galleries and discover the unique stories behind each piece. There are also interactive displays that allow visitors to learn more about the history and culture of Wales through its art, including paintings, pottery, and craftwork from talented creators.
Look for Ghosts in the Evening Hours
For something completely different, ghost tours at St Fagans bring true tales of ghostly encounters among the historic buildings. Learn about Welsh superstitions and why Wales might be the most haunted country in the world. Torch-lit tours will take you to the very spots where unexplainable events have occurred.
A partnership between St Fagans National Museum of History and Dark Wales Tours presents tours.
Getting to St Fagans National History Museum
Visiting St Fagans National Museum of History in Cardiff is easy and convenient. You can get there by car, bus, train, or even on foot.
If you drive to St Fagans, you must pay for parking. The cost is £6 per day and can be paid by cash or card. FREE for disabled badge holders and those with a valid Blue Badge.
You can also take the bus from Westgate Street (Stop KN) to the main entrance of St Fagans via bus 32A, which runs hourly (more in summer). Alternatively, you can take the train to Radyr station and then take a taxi to St Fagans.
There is a large car park at the museum.
As new visitors to Cardiff, we had a bit of a challenge figuring out where to find the bus to the museum. As we were staying in the city centre and had no vehicle, we needed to rely on public transportation for our ride to the museum. We had a general sense of the direction and got fairly close to the right area. With help from a Cardiff local, we were quickly at the right bus stop.
Just before departing, however, we were concerned that we might not have the exact bus fare. We stopped in the shop after shop seeking change for a ten-pound note. And after asking for two five-pound notes, we were denied at least five times. This wasn’t very encouraging. Finally, we found a convenience store where we were also told no. But the man behind the counter said he could give us ten one-pound coins. Perfect! Now we were on our way.
St Fagans National History Museum Hours
The opening hours at St Fagans National History Museum are 10 am to 5 pm. And entrance is free! That’s fantastic. We arrived at the museum around 1030 am.
Food and Drink at St Fagans Museum
St. Fagans Museum has various delicious food and drink options to satisfy your cravings.
Y Gegin: The recently opened restaurant is located in the main building and serves hot meals midday and a variety of offerings between 9.30 am–4.30 pm
PysgOdyn: This is the place to stop for traditional fish and chips. PysgOdyn serves beer-battered fish and chips in a traditional cone.
Gweithdy: A café in the craft building serves a selection of light lunches, beverages & cakes.
Gwalia Tea Room: Enjoy a traditional 1930s-style tea service. Light lunch and afternoon tea are served on vintage crockery.
Castle Buttery: A small café serving a selection of sandwiches, cakes, and beverages.
Popty Derwen Bakehouse: Purchase a variety of bread.
We enjoyed a wonderful minted pea soup for lunchtime at the museum’s café. This was wonderful comfort food that hit the spot. We also recreated this soup upon returning home – find the recipe here: Minted Pea Soup Inspired by St Fagans Museum.
Top Tip – Speak with the Docents
During our visit, one of the docents in an older village home exhibit initiated a lively conversation upon learning we hailed from California. He offered many recommendations for our next future visit to Wales with exceptional advocacy for the Snowdonia area. He also spoke some phrases to us in Welsh. This was a most pleasant encounter with a very proud Welsh resident.
Our docent host here noted how residents of Wales are engaged in preserving Welsh culture and heritage. He described his recent participation in a Wales independence march – a movement promoting Welsh sovereignty and break from England.
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQ
Yes, entry to the museum is free. Facilitated sessions may have costs. Food and gift items are available for purchase.
Three hours is recommended for a typical visit. We spent five and a half hours on our visit. You can easily spend an entire day at the museum as there is much to see and do.
Visitors with mobility limitations may have a challenging experience. Given the historic layout of the museum, there are elevated levels and stone steps without handrails. Navigating the grounds can be challenging for some visitors.
About St Fagans Museum
Address: St Fagans Museum, St Fagans, Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales, CF5 6XB
Attraction Type: Historic House
Location: 4 m W Cardiff, off A4232
Website: Museum of Welsh Life
St Fagans is all about Welsh History
If you’re interested in learning about the history of Wales and the Welsh people, try some of these top-rated books.
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Conclusion
These are expansive grounds where ancient Welsh buildings from around the country have been taken apart and reconstructed at this location. We walked through time and history for hours learning how the Welsh used to live and survive via old farmhouses, tanneries, bread bake shops, mill houses, and on and on.
We likened the grounds to a historical zoo, as the experience felt much like a stroll through a zoo. But, instead of animal exhibits, these grounds offered historical exhibits.
As you can see, visiting St. Fagans National Museum is a unique opportunity to experience Welsh history. Whether you’re interested in architecture, gardening, or traditional crafts, there’s something for everyone at the museum. So, if you’re planning a trip to Wales, add St Fagans National Museum to your itinerary.
St Fagans Podcast
Listen to our trip to St Fagans National History Museum on our podcast episode.
We have more travel adventures in this episode, with tips on how to get to the museum from Cardiff City Center. Learn how to make the correct bus connection if you travel by public transportation. We also share highlights of the museum, fun facts, and a few tips you’ll want to consider on your visit to St Fagans National History Museum.
Cardiff Wales: Know Before You Go
✈️ Airport: Cardiff Airport (code: CWL)
⏰ Time Zone: Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), GMT+1 in the summer
💰 Currency: Pound Sterling (£)
🗣 Language: English and Welch are spoken in Wales
🎫 Visa: U.S. citizens do not require a Tourist Visa to enter Wales. However, a U.S. passport is required
🔌 Electricity Socket: In Wales the power plug sockets are of type G. The standard voltage is 230 V and the frequency is 50 HzFor visitors from other countries, you’ll need this universal travel adaptor.
Read About More Things To Do In And Near Cardiff Wales
Exploring Cardiff: A 4-Day Itinerary of Must-See Attractions
The best tours in Cardiff Wales
Find Places To Stay During Your Visit to Cardiff Wales
If you’d like to find a place near the museum, check out our post – Hotels Near St Fagans National History Museum – Your Guide to the Closest Accommodations.
For more recommended hotels and places to stay in Cardiff, we have more options on our post: Exploring Cardiff – A 4-day Itinerary of Must-See Attractions. And learn how we stay at hotels for free.
Access Our Cardiff Itinerary
As we made this visit with our base in Cardiff, you can also look at our recommended itinerary for visiting Cardiff.
Exploring Cardiff: A 4-Day Itinerary of Must-See Attractions
Our Travel Planning Resources For Our Cardiff Visit
We leveraged DK Eyewitness Travel Guide Great Britain to identify specific attractions during our trip. The book helped identify walking tours and museums plus times and days particular places are open to visit. We recommend purchasing a book similar to this one when planning a more extended trip.
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