Birthplace of Roald Dahl, Cardiff attracts 18-million tourists every year, but doesn’t have to be visited to be experienced. With the joys of modern technology, there are now ways to explore our favourite cities without stepping out of the front door. If the Welsh capital has been on your bucket list for a while, there are plenty of ways to enjoy it online with loved ones - why not have a virtual date night in Cardiff?
Whether you live with your significant other or not, we’ve brought together a few ways you can experience the city, even if you live on the other side of the UK.
Activities
Wales’ capital is a fantastic city. With activities suitable for all ages, it is the perfect place to spend a day with loved ones. However, this isn’t possible right now, so luckily some of our favourite attractions have opened virtually for us to enjoy.
The Big Pit
The Big Pit is one of the UK’s leading mining museums and allows visitors to go 300ft underground to learn more about life as a miner. The museum is currently closed; however, they offer a virtual experience too – perfect if you’re afraid of small spaces.
Simply download the Google Expeditions app to a smartphone or tablet, type in Big Pit and explore the mines from the comfort of your own home. The experience contains plenty of information and you can take as long as you like to explore the mining pits. You can even wear the equipment if you have it available - a helmet, cap lamp, battery and belt and you’re ready to go.
Escape Room
Escape Room Cardiff is a firm favourite with thousands of people visiting every year, and whilst they are currently closed, they have created a virtual escape room that can be played from home.
Multiple people can join from different devices, meaning you can pair up with other couples for a double date or for a family activity instead. SectorX costs just £15 per team and is the perfect way to spend an evening doing something different from home.
Check out more places to visit from home on our virtual tour of Britain.
Food and drink
Now it’s time for the best bit of the day – food! Welsh cuisine is something you must try, and thankfully it is something we can all make at home, too. For your virtual date in Cardiff, get your aprons on and start cooking some local delicacies.
If you’re living apart from your partner, why not video call and follow our recipes at the same time to cook up a storm together?
Welsh Rarebit
Traditionally named Welsh Rabbit, lots of people are rightly mistaken when they think this dish contains rabbit. In fact, it has no meat in at all and is basically a spruced-up cheese on toast!
A great idea for brunch or afternoon snack, a rarebit works well on granary bread or toasted muffins but is equally delicious on any type of bread you have in the house.
Ingredients for 4 portions
50g flour
50g butter
250ml strong beer, warmed
250g grated strong cheddar
2tsp English mustard
2tsp Worcestershire sauce
4 large slices of granary bread
Method
- In a saucepan, melt the butter and mix in the flour, making a roux. Cook for two minutes, stirring continuously to prevent burning.
- Stir in the warm beer until a thick but smooth sauce is formed.
- Add the cheddar cheese and stir until it has melted. The sauce should now be a thick paste.
- Mix in the mustard and Worcestershire sauce and season with black pepper.
- Pop the granary bread in the toaster and butter it generously.
- Finally, pile the cheesy mixture onto each slice and cook under a hot grill for a few minutes. Serve when dish is bubbling and has browned.
Glamorgan Sausage
Glamorgan sausage is a traditional Welsh vegetarian sausage that encompasses three main ingredients: leeks, cheese, and breadcrumbs. Serve with any dish you’d regularly serve sausage with like mash, chips, and gravy, or whatever your preference is.
Ingredients for 6 sausages
50g butter
50g flour
1 large leek
Nutmeg to season
170g fresh breadcrumbs (a mixture of white and brown if possible)
2tsp finely chopped thyme
2 eggs, separated
1½ tsp English mustard
175g Caerphilly cheese (or a light cheddar if you can’t find Caerphilly)
2 tbsp milk
Method
- Melt half the butter in a frying pan and add the leeks, cooking over a medium heat until softened. Season well with salt, pepper and nutmeg.
- In a large bowl, mix 100g breadcrumbs with thyme.
- In a separate bowl or mixing jug beat together the egg yolks and mustard.
- Crumble the cheese into the breadcrumb mixture. Stir in the leeks and follow with the egg yolk and mustard mixture. Season to taste, mixing well and then add in the milk.
- Shape into six sausages – it may help to have damp hands – and chill for 30-minutes.
- Heat the oven to 180c/gas mark 4.
- Meanwhile, whisk the egg whites until frothy. Set up for breading with the egg whites, flour and remaining breadcrumbs each on separate plates.
- Roll each sausage in the flour, egg white and breadcrumbs (in that order) to coat.
- Melt the remaining butter in a pan over a medium-high heat. When the butter is hot, add the sausages and cook until each side is lightly golden.
- Transfer to a baking tray and cook in the oven for 20-minutes, until richly golden.
- Serve immediately with a side of your choice.
If you’d like to explore more regional foods, our traditional Scottish and North-East recipes might hit the spot.
Music
Why not enjoy some music during your cooking or date activities? We’ve put together a playlist full of music artists who come from Wales. From Sasha to Tom Jones, our playlist encompasses some of the greatest musicians in the world in a plethora of genres. Enjoy!
Written by Julia