Welcome to Bute Park and Arboretum
Behind Cardiff Castle just a short walk from the city’s main high streets and civic centre, Bute Park is the green heart of the city.
Explore a superb tree collection, natural play features, a visitor centre, three cafes, and a wealth of horticulture and wildlife.
Bute Park is a Green Flag site and a CADW Grade 1 listed park. Read about the history of the park.
Discover Bute Park
Cardiff Castle
Cardiff Castle is one of Wales’ leading heritage attractions and a site of international significance. Located within beautiful parklands at the heart of the capital’s city centre, Cardiff Castle’s Romanesque walls and fairytale towers conceal 2,000 years of history.
Love Exploring’ app
The Love Exploring app puts the power of discovery in your hands by providing a range of quiz trails and guided tours that are fun to do and free to use.
Donated Seat Scheme
A donated seat is the perfect way to celebrate a loved one, commemorate a milestone or even as a wedding gift
Arboretum
Take a walk through our beautiful arboretum which has over 3,000 individually catalogued trees.
Major Events
Bute Park hosts a variety of events. Find out what events are happening.
Room Hire
Book a meeting room in the Bute Park Visitor Centre.
Park attractions
Secret Garden Café
Secret Garden Café
The Secret Garden Cafe is an independent business who describe themselves as “An honest cafe in the heart of Cardiff, promoting local produce, the environment and community.” Learn more.
Pettigrew Tea Rooms
Pettigrew Tea Rooms
This vintage-style tea room is located at the southern end of the park in the handsome West Lodge building on Castle Street. Learn more.
Water Taxi
Water Taxi
The water taxi service is a unique and fun way to travel to the park. Learn more.
Summerhouse Café
Summerhouse Café
The Summerhouse cafe offers a wide selection of locally sourced drinks and snacks. Learn more.
Plant Shop
Plant Shop
The Bute Park Plant Shop stock a range of plants and bulbs to purchase. Our knowledgeable staff are happy to offer expert advice on purchasing and maintaining our beautiful plants. Learn more.
Eastern Boundary Wall
Eastern Boundary Wall
This wall runs the extent of the boundary from Blackweir farmhouse to Gabalfa lodge. The precise age of the wall is not known but it may be contemporary with Llys-Tal-y-Bont Lodge which is dated pre 1880. It is a significant visual feature along the north/south cycleway and provides a strong boundary statement for the northern... View Eastern Boundary Wall Learn more.
Bute Park Community Orchard
Bute Park Community Orchard
Cardiff Council have granted permission for a new community orchard planting in Bute Park. The project is being developed and led by a community group with support from the Friends of Bute Park. There are two orchard locations: a main one to the north of Blackweir playing fields, and a smaller one adjacent to the... View Bute Park Community Orchard Learn more.
Gallery Footings
Gallery Footings
Immediately north of the animal wall is a large concrete footing which was constructed in 1937 to create a private art gallery within the castle grounds. The original structure was designed by F. R. Bates of Newport. It was the intention of the castle’s owner, the 4th Marquess of Bute (1881 – 1947), to display... View Gallery Footings Learn more.
Bridge Abutment
Bridge Abutment
These stones mark the eastern end of the 18th Century Bridge across the Taff replaced with the current bridge in 1920’s. The stonework of the 18th century bridge abutment is still preserved within the flood prevention bank on the east bank of the Taff beside the existing Canton Bridge. An early view of the... View Bridge Abutment Learn more.
West Gate Bridge
West Gate Bridge
The West Gate and bridge on the side of the Castle were re-constructed by John P. Grant on the instructions of the 4th Marquess in 1921. The original gate had been largely demolished after 1787, but one pier remained. When the new gate was constructed, a new bridge was also built to span the watercourses... View West Gate Bridge Learn more.
Lady Bute’s Bridge and Well
Lady Bute’s Bridge and Well
Lady Bute Bridge The bridge gave members of the Bute family access to their gardens to the west of the feeder, using a carriageway which led from the Castle’s North Gate to an exit onto Castle Street. The old postcard (courtesy of Vena and Wynne Edwards) shows the feeder leading towards the bridge. Much of... View Lady Bute’s Bridge and Well Learn more.
Northern Collection
Northern Collection
Tapering leaf maple (common name)What3Words: ///coach.free.stirTag No: 3060Botanical Name: Acer acuminatumYear first gained champion status: 2023Champion for height, girth, or both: H + GYear Planted: 1950sPlanted by: W.Nelmes Snr Brief description: Acer acuminatum is a small tree with dark grey bark, typically growing to about 10 metres. Its leaves are 10cm across and on scarlet... View Northern Collection Learn more.
The Central Collection
The Central Collection
Chinese Cork Tree (common name)What3Words: ///Chin.fled.ovalTag No: 3120Botanical Name: Phellodendron ChineseYear first gained champion status: 2023Champion for height, girth, or both: GYear Planted:1950-55Planted by: W.Nelmes Snr Brief description: Phellodendron chinense is a wide-spreading tree up to about 15 metres tall. It has dark green, leathery, pinnate leaves, up to 38cm long and comprising seven to... View The Central Collection Learn more.
Southern Collection
Southern Collection
Ash (common name)What3Words ///plug.shape.saveTag No: 1788Botanical Name: Fraxinus excelsior ‘Stricta’Year first gained champion status: 2023Champion for height, girth, or both: H + GYear Planted: UnknownPlanted by: Unknown Brief description: This tree has a conspicuous graft, and was thought to be the cultivar ‘Jaspidea’, but it has not shown the expected autumn colour of ‘Jaspidea’. It... View Southern Collection Learn more.
Water Fountains
Water Fountains
Visitors can quench their thirst with fresh, cold water while enjoying the beauty of nature in the heart of Cardiff. Learn more.
‘Love Exploring’ app
‘Love Exploring’ app
Download the ‘Love Exploring’ app to play for free Are you on the lookout for things to do with the family in Cardiff? Have you ever visited somewhere and wished there was more to do? The Love Exploring app puts the power of discovery in your hands by providing a range of quiz trails and... View ‘Love Exploring’ app Learn more.
The Visitor Centre
The Visitor Centre
The Bute Park Visitor Centre is a hub for learning and training and acts as a visitor centre for the park. Learn more.
The People’s Door
The People’s Door
The People's Door - a work of art. Learn more.
Cardiff Castle
Cardiff Castle
The Castle’s walls & fairy tale towers conceal 2,000 years of history. Learn more.
Bute Park for the young-at-heart
Bute Park for the young-at-heart
There are several trails, activities and play features throughout Bute Park for you to enjoy. Many will help you learn more about the park and what lives within it. Learn more.
Stuttgart Garden
Stuttgart Garden
The City between the wood and vines. Learn more.
Story Trail
Story Trail
Play, have fun and follow the child friendly story trail through Bute Park. There are 5 stops along the way... A collaboration with Child Friendly Cardiff Learn more.
Nature Activity Trail
Nature Activity Trail
Aimed at our younger visitors – this trail is ideal for those aged 4 to 10. Learn more.
Dock Feeder Canal
Dock Feeder Canal
The Dock Feeder Canal runs along the eastern boundary of Bute Park from Blackweir at the north end, south to the Castle, where it turns east, and runs along the north side of the Castle to leave the park. Learn more.
Blackweir Woods
Blackweir Woods
This beautiful woodland is designated as a Site of Interest for Nature Conservation (SINC) because of its importance to wildlife in Cardiff. It includes plants such as wood anemones, toothwort, moschatel (town hall clock), and ramsons (wild garlic), which are characteristic of native ancient woodland. Learn more.
Cardiff Salad Garden
Cardiff Salad Garden
A range of salad leaves are grown all year round for continuous harvesting. Learn more.
Meteorological Station
Meteorological Station
The present-day station is part of the Met Office network of more than 270 automatic weather stations which report a mixture of snapshot hourly observations of the weather (synoptic observations) as well as daily summaries of the weather (climate observations). Learn more.
Tree Charter Pole
Tree Charter Pole
The Charter for Trees, Woods and People sets out the principles for a society in which people and trees can stand stronger together. Learn more.
Wildlife Explorer Trail
Wildlife Explorer Trail
Bute Park Wildlife Explorer Trails are available to collect at the Education Centre. Learn more.
Pedal Power
Pedal Power
You can hire a bike from Pedal Power in Pontcanna and enjoy the beauty of Bute Park or cycle along the Taff Trail. Learn more.
Gorsedd Stone Circle
Gorsedd Stone Circle
This circular collection of stones was installed in 1978 to commemorate the Welsh National Eisteddfod in Cardiff. Learn more.
Bee hives
Bee hives
Bute Park honey is now back on the menu and available to buy directly from Bute Park Education Centre and Pettigrew Tea Rooms Learn more.
Herbaceous Border
Herbaceous Border
Our renowned ‘Herbaceous Border’ is a striking display of perennial and herbaceous plants that runs parallel to the river Taff. Learn more.
Bat Meadow
Bat Meadow
The wildflower meadow was created in 2017 to provide a diverse and attractive habitat for insects, pollinators and a food source to encourage an increase in bat population. Learn more.
Woodland Play Trail
Woodland Play Trail
Hidden in the woods behind the Summerhouse Café, 11 outdoor play items create an exciting and fun woodland balance trail for youngsters or the young-at-heart. Learn more.
Sculptures
Sculptures
There are twenty one sculptures to discover throughout the park. Learn more.
Seasonal Discovery Trails
Seasonal Discovery Trails
Our Seasonal Discovery Trails are packed with fun ideas for children to do in the park throughout the year. Learn more.
History Points (QR code) Trail
History Points (QR code) Trail
Use your QR scanner to access a wealth of information, old photographs, drawings and maps of Bute Park. Learn more.
Champion tree trail
Champion tree trail
Bute Park contains a nationally significant arboretum collection. Dr Owen Johnson of the Tree Register of the British Isles (TROBI) described the park as ‘unique in public parks in Britain or Ireland for its scope and its quantity of rare material’. An arboretum is a planned collection of trees where specimens from around the world... View Champion tree trail Learn more.
Family tree trail
Family tree trail
A trail for families with children - giving you a fun and friendly insight into our collection. Learn more.
Blackfriar’s Friary
Blackfriar’s Friary
Blackfriars Friary is an ancient scheduled monument and a grade II listed building dating back to the 13th Century. Learn more.
Mill Leat
Mill Leat
The body of water along the western edge of Cardiff Castle is known as the Mill Leat. Learn more.
The Nursery
The Nursery
Producing thousands of bedding plants and supplying plants and trees throughout Cardiff’s parks and in the city centre. Learn more.
The Animal Wall
The Animal Wall
Animals peer over the wall from the park onto Castle Street delighting generations of residents and visitors. Learn more.
River Taff
River Taff
The River Taff is 64 km long and is formed at Cefn-coed-y-cymmer in Merthyr Tydfil at the confluence of the rivers Taf Fechan and Taf Fawr. Learn more.
Fitness trail
Fitness trail
Along the path around Blackweir playing fields you will find our fitness trail which features 8 fitness stations. Learn more.
