Cardiff named one of the UK’s coolest places to live thanks to its shops, restaurants and 'artsy neighbourhoods'

The capital is described as a “welcoming, interesting and modern” city full of history and plenty to see and do Cardiff has been named among the coolest places in the UK to live by a popular travel blog, with the city’s friendly atmosphere, bars and restaurants and affordability all praised.

American travel site Nomads Nation has published a list of its top 10 coolest cities in the UK, with this round-up summarising what there is to do in each city, as well as the cost of living, rent and other pros and cons for readers looking for somewhere to suit them and their budget. Cardiff was named in tenth place, behind the likes of Manchester, Edinburgh and Bristol, but was the only Welsh city to make the list.

The top 10 sees London take top spot, followed by the small coastal city of Portsmouth in second place. The UK capital is described as “proud, multicultural and never boring,” while Portsmouth is praised for its history and “lively student scene”.

Cardiff is described by the blog as “warm and welcoming”, as well as an “interesting modern city for nomads looking for a friendly, alternative option”. The entry continues: “[Cardiff] is the perfect perfect place to soak up that quintessential Welsh atmosphere of friendly and easy-going that makes this country such an endearing place.

“The city is often surprising to people, who fall in love with it – sometimes from the moment you step inside the Millennium Stadium to watch a rugby match.”

Cardiff Bay is singled out as a must-visit destination, with the travel site praising its “great atmosphere on sunny afternoons” and describing it as a “great place to base yourself”, thanks to the generous selection of bars and restaurants in Mermaid Quay and the surrounding area.

Just weeks after Pontcanna was named by the Telegraph as one of the UK’s coolest neighbourhoods thanks to its “green spaces, hipster hangouts and cool cafés”, neighbouring Canton is selected by Nomads Nation as a “great option” for those wanting to live in the capital, describing it as a “pretty fun place to live” with “an artsy vibe and a whole lot of good food options”.

As well as its friendly atmosphere, Cardiff’s history and vast selection of shops, bars and restaurants are also given as reasons for the city being among the coolest in the UK. The amount of green space in the city centre and surrounding areas is also praised, with those visiting or wanting to settle down in the capital blessed with plenty of options for places to relax.

“For shopping opportunities, this city certainly doesn’t want for that,” the blog reads. “There are some beautifully maintained Victorian-era shopping arcades, the perfect places to shop, grab a bite to eat, or simply sit with a coffee and watch the world go by. Otherwise there’s plenty of city parks for a weekend picnic or an afternoon stroll.”

It adds: “Cardiff also has its very own castle, an 11th-century building that makes for an interesting place to learn about this once unconquered land.”

According to the list, the average monthly cost of living in Cardiff works out at around £1,550, the second lowest figure on the list with only ninth-placed Belfast ranking lower with an average monthly cost of £1,365. The average cost of rent, however, is calculated to be just under £500 a month in Cardiff, with Belfast the next cheapest with an average rent cost of £645 a month.

Unsurprisingly, then, Cardiff’s affordability for a British city is named among its ‘pros’ by the blog, with the capital also described as “easy to meet people [in]” and having “lots of nature on the doorstep”. However, its cons include its relatively small size, as well as its problems with traffic and how it can be overlooked for cultural events.

10 coolest places to live in the UK according to Nomads Nation

• London
• Portsmouth
• Brighton
• Edinburgh
• Oxford
• Manchester
• Bristol
• Exeter
• Belfast
• Cardiff