Friday, August 1st, is set to be a massive night with Catfish and the Bottlemen taking over Principality Stadium and Faithless rocking Cardiff Castle. To make sure your evening is as smooth as possible, here’s everything you need to know about getting there and back.
Road Closures from 4pm
Due to security measures, roads around Principality Stadium will close from 4pm on August 1st. This is a full city centre closure, so plan your arrival accordingly. The M4 is expected to be incredibly busy, so leave plenty of time for your journey.
Park & Ride is Your Best Bet
The best way to get in and out is to use the Park & Ride at Vindico Arena (International Drive, Sports Village – CF11 0JS). Staff will be there from 9am, with the first bus into the city centre departing at 11am. The last bus back leaves at midnight, so don’t miss it. It’s just £15, cash only.
Gates Open at 5pm
Both Principality Stadium and Cardiff Castle gates open at 5pm. We highly recommend arriving early to soak up the atmosphere, grab a bite, and avoid any last-minute rushes. For those heading to the stadium, double-check the prohibited items list and bag policy (no large bags!) on principalitystadium.wales before you leave.
City Centre Road Closures (4pm – Midnight):
A significant number of city centre roads will be closed from 4pm until midnight. This includes key routes like Kingsway, Cowbridge Road East, Tudor Street, Duke Street, Castle Street, High Street, St Mary Street, and many more. Residents and traders on Tudor, Plantagenet, and Beauchamp Streets will have restricted access.
New Addition: Civic Centre Access Control
Access to parts of the Civic Centre (King Edward VII Avenue, Museum Avenue, City Hall Road, College Road, and Gorsedd Gardens Road) will be controlled throughout the day, primarily for event parking, limited commuter parking, and private car park access.
Trains: Plan Ahead & Check Last Trains
Transport for Wales (TfW) and Great Western Railway (GWR) are running extra and strengthened services to manage the crowds. However, do check for any engineering works on journeycheck.com/tfwrail/ and, most importantly, know the time of your last train home.
A queuing system will be in place from 10pm: mainline rail services will queue on Central Square, and Valley queues will be at the rear of the station.
Important Train Station Info:
- Cardiff Queen Street Station will close at 10pm, except for those with accessibility needs or travelling to Cardiff Bay.
- Ticket checks will be in force before and after the events.
Other Parking Options:
- Civic Centre Event Day Parking (Cars & Coaches): Open 8am-midnight. £20 for cars, £30 for coaches (card payments now accepted!). Exit M4 J32, head south on A470, follow signs.
- Sophia Gardens Event Day Parking (Cars & Coaches): Open 8am-midnight. £20 for cars, £30 for coaches (card payments now accepted!). Approx. 0.5-mile walk to Principality Stadium Gate 2. Please note: Staffed until 7pm, vehicles left at owner’s risk, fines for vehicles left after closing.
Buses:
Local bus services will be diverted, so check your operator’s website for specific route changes:
- Stagecoach: stagecoachbus.com
- Cardiff Bus: cardiffbus.com/principality-stadium
- NAT: natgroup.co.uk
National Express coaches will use Sophia Gardens, and FlixBus will use its usual Friary Gardens stop on North Road.
Cycle or Walk: The Green Option
If you’re local, consider cycling or walking. The cycleways within the road closure area will remain open. With 52% of Cardiff car trips being under 5km (a comfy 20-minute cycle), it’s a fantastic, quicker option when roads are congested.
Shopping Parking:
City centre car parks will still be available, including North Road, St David’s Shopping Centre, John Lewis, Capitol Shopping Centre, and NCP car parks (Adam Street, Dumfries Place, Greyfriars Road).
Disabled Parking:
Disabled drivers are advised to use Sophia Gardens. Private car parks may also offer disabled parking; check their individual websites.
Taxis:
The taxi rank outside the former House of Fraser building will close at 4pm and reopen at midnight.
Have an amazing time at the concerts, and travel safe.
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