City trailCardiff, United Kingdom

Cardiff scavenger hunt for kids and families

Cardiff packs a castle, a stadium and a waterfront into a short walk, and it has more Victorian arcades than any other city in Britain. This is a self-guided trail of eight finds from the castle down towards the Bay, with each find photographed and checked on the spot.

Get the appSee the stops
Finds
8
Ages
4–14
Plan
With Pro
App languages
8
Where
Centre and Bay
Booking
None

snap it and it counts

How the hunt works

  1. Go to the stop

    Each stop has a zone around it, so it only counts when you're really there.

  2. Snap it

    Take a photo and the app checks it shows the right thing.

  3. Collect the set

    Tick off every stop at your own pace. Stop for food whenever you like; your progress is saved.

Nobody can tick off Cardiff Castle from a café two streets away, which is exactly why children take it seriously.

Adventures

Vote the next city in

BristolWant a trail here?
This example plays the Bath trail.
What happens in this example
  1. The trails list, with a colour for each kind of trail. Filter it, or open the Bath city trail.
  2. The Bath in Honey Stone trail: 8 stops, with Pro. The first stop, the Roman Baths, says you're in the zone.
  3. The stop: a drawn map shows you're here, with a hint about what to look for.
  4. Snap it and the app checks the photo.
  5. Found! Stop 1 of 8 is done. Bath Abbey is next, and that's the end of this example.

what you'll find

The Cardiff trail

8 stops to find. Here they are.

City trailWith Pro

Cardiff Castle to Bay

Dragons, arcades and the wall with carved animals along the top of it.

  1. Stop 1: Cardiff CastleThe clock tower, or the grassy motte with the stone keep on it.
  2. Stop 2: The Animal WallThe wall by the castle topped with carved animals: a seal, a bear, a lioness, a pelican.
  3. Stop 3: Principality StadiumThe huge stadium right in the city centre, or its roof masts from the riverside.
  4. Stop 4: Wales Millennium CentreThe bronze building in the Bay with enormous words cut into the front in Welsh and English.
  5. Stop 5: A Welsh dragonOn a flag, a shirt, a sign, a souvenir or carved into a building.
  6. Stop 6: A Victorian arcadeA covered shopping arcade with a glass roof and ironwork. Cardiff has more than any other UK city.
  7. Stop 7: A sign in WelshBilingual signs count. Look for Croeso, Canol y Ddinas or Allanfa.
  8. Stop 8: A daffodil or a leekEither Welsh emblem, real or drawn, printed, carved or stitched.

good questions

Questions parents ask

How much does the Cardiff scavenger hunt cost?

The Scavvi app and its daily hunt are free. City trails come with Scavvi Pro, £2.99 a month or £19.99 a year, cancel any time in the App Store or Google Play. There is no booking.

Can you walk from the castle to the Bay?

You can, and it takes roughly forty minutes at an adult pace, longer with children. Many families do the centre finds on foot and take the bus or a boat down to the Bay.

What is the Animal Wall?

A stone wall beside Cardiff Castle topped with carved animals. It is a favourite with children because each one is different and they are at a good height to look at.

Is it worth doing in the rain?

Better than most cities, because the Victorian arcades are covered. The arcade, dragon and Welsh sign finds are all doable without getting wet.

What ages does it suit?

Four to fourteen. Dragons and the Animal Wall land instantly with younger children.

Playing in Cardiff?

The app and its daily hunt are free. City trails come with Scavvi Pro. Download it before you go and the trail will be waiting when you get there.

Get the app

going somewhere else?

More city trails