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When planning your next trip, your thoughts might turn to a visit to the good old United Kingdom. It is always a popular destination with so much history, culture and the circus of the monarchy. London has its pageantry and drama, Stratford-upon-Avon its theatre and Stonehenge is a must-see sight. However, many people fail to travel any further west and therefore miss out on a wild jewel – Wales, or Cymru, as it is known in the nation’s language.

Wales is a beautiful, mountainous country with a stunning coastline and dramatic lakes and rivers. Unlike much of England, it is sparsely populated. The nation has a rich tradition of music, rugby and rebelliousness. Its capital, Cardiff, should definitely be included in your itinerary to the British Isles.

Wales is home to Celtic culture and prides itself on its language, music, rugby and fierce defiance. Cardiff is home to Wales’ Parliament, called the Senedd. In addition, it has a beautifully intact castle with a fabulous ‘Animal Wall’, which will serve as a fantastic backdrop for any social media posts.

Cardiff is a relatively young capital city. It was granted city status in 1905, but it was not named the capital of Wales until 1955. As well as being one of the newest European capital cities, it is also one of the smallest. The entire metro area of Cardiff has a population of less than half a million people, making it smaller than its easterly English neighbour Bristol.

What Cardiff lacks in size, however, it makes up for in space and a fabulous choice of things to do. Small but perfectly formed, Cardiff allows you to enjoy some of the best bits of this corner of the globe without having to schlep for miles or face heaving crowds.

Suppose you want to be part of something enormous. In that case, Cardiff has plenty on offer as it is home to the Millenium Stadium, which regularly hosts the biggest names in rock and pop, as well as rugby internationals. Unlike in most European capital cities, the Millenium Stadium is right in the heart of the city. As you step off the train, you are almost through the turnstiles, and after your match or gig, you are a short stroll to the bars, restaurants and famous pubs.

The choice of nightlife in Cardiff is extensive. As well as massive capacity arena concerts, there are plenty of smaller venues with a more personal feel. Clwb Ifor Bach is a lively venue in the city centre on Womanby Street. The club hosts international, local and emerging artists. Established in 1983, it has been an early platform for some of the music industry’s biggest stars today, including The Killers, Coldplay, Four Tet, Foals and Idles. So while you might not immediately recognise names on the ‘What’s On’ list, you can bet your bottom dollar you will have heard of some of them in the future.

Cardiff also has a choice of three great casinos if you like to play your chances with Lady Luck. The Rainbow, Les Croupiers and The Grosvenor Casino are all located in the city and have a variety of games that might interest you. The latter is also known to be one of the best casino sites UK, where you can find a choice of over 1,000 online slots to choose from and take advantage of attractive bonuses. You can play from the comfort of your hotel, Airbnb or even on the go.

Cardiff is also home to the world’s most famous Time Lord – Dr Who. Unfortunately, the Dr Who experience in the city is currently closed. However, this need not stop you from finding some familiar locations on your travels. Filming often took place in the city centre, and other sets included Llandaff Cathedral, Cathedral Green, The Museum of Welsh Life and St Fagans and Cardiff Museum. So you can seek out the Dr and throw in some culture and history and visit landmarks at the same time.