Cardiff Lancaster Train

Cardiff is bordered to the west by the rural district of the Vale of Glamorgan—also known as The Garden of Cardiff— to the east by the city of Newport, to the north by the South Wales Valleys and to the south by the Severn Estuary and Bristol Channel. The River Taff winds through the centre of the city and together with the River Ely flows into the freshwater lake of Cardiff Bay. A third river, the Rhymney flows through the east of the city entering directly into the Severn Estuary. Its location and geographic features were influential in its development as the world's largest coal port, most notably its proximity and easy access to the coal fields of the south Wales valleys.

Today, Cardiff is the main financial and business centre in Wales and the city was recently placed seventh overall in the top 50 European cities and also ranked seventh in attracting foreign investment. Cardiff is one of the most popular tourist destination cities in the United Kingdom, receiving around 18 million visitors in 2010 and generating £852 million for the city's economy. There are a large number of hotels of varying sizes and standards in the city, providing almost 9,000 available bed spaces.

Located in the county of Lancashire in the north west of England, the city of Lancaster is a compact city with a pedestrianised centre where theatres, music venues and galleries are just a few minutes’ walk from shops, pubs and restaurants. Take a stroll along one of Lancaster’s charming cobbled streets and you’ll find a wide variety of independent and individual shops, cafes and restaurants alongside the familiar chains. The city's heritage as a market town still continues with the twice-weekly Charter Market in bustling Market Square right in the centre of the city. A walk along St George's Quay, along the River Lune, will highlight Lancaster’s important maritime history as one of the major ports in England. Take time to stop in at the Maritime Museum to explore the city’s heritage as a centre for trade and import - there are plenty of interactive exhibits for the kids, and activities are run during the school holidays. Up the hill lies Williamson Park with its Butterfly House and Ashton Memorial - the green-domed folly, commissioned by Lord Ashton in memory of his wife, is visible from many points in and around Lancaster. Stroll the meandering paths to discover mosaics, sculptures and a sundial.