There are lots of things to love about Cardiff - its buzzing nightlife and friendly atmosphere are second to none. But living in Cardiff has another great advantage - the miles of stunning natural scenery right on your doorstep. Read on for our guide to some of the best places to get away from it all - from golden beaches to mystical mountains, there’s something for everyone.

Cardiff has quietly emerged as a centre for tertiary education in the UK. Alongside its famous university constituted by Royal Charter in 1883,  there are Cardiff Metropolitan University, the University of South Wales and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

As the capital of Wales, Cardiff has long been its administrative hub and cultural heart. More importantly, the city is an economic powerhouse, home to world-class organisations such as the BBC, the Bank of Wales and British Airways Engineering.

Along the coast travelling west from Cardiff is the city of Swansea, Wales’s second largest city. With an urban population of around 250,000, it is the 25th biggest city in the United Kingdom.

Situated just over the border from England on the south coast of Wales sits Cardiff. The Welsh capital since 1955, Cardiff, with a population of around 365,000, is the UK’s 11th largest city but the biggest in Wales, with Swansea in 2nd place with a population of around 245,000.