Sunday

Forget the guidebook, to really get under the skin of a place go to someone who lives there. Hannah James volunteered to let us in on her personal “recipe” for the perfect weekend at home.

Morning

 Downstream to the sea air of Cardiff Bay for a walk along the mile-long barrage that converted the bay into a giant fresh water lake in 1999. The barrage connects Cardiff to the Victorian seaside glamour of Penarth.

Afternoon

 Walking up a bit of an appetite, sit on the pier to enjoy some fish and chips and watch the world go by.  Refuelled it’s up into town to visit two lovely independent galleries.

Go to Washington for contemporary Welsh paintings and ceramics and Ffotogallery – well you can guess what that exhibits.

 Head back to Cardiff on the waterbus that runs from Penarth to Cardiff  Bay and on to the Millennium Stadium.  Looking across the bay three buildings stand out - and sum up Cardiff’s recent transformation. There’s the contemporary style of 5* St David’s Hotel, with its sail-shaped roof; the roof lantern and cowl of the Senedd, which signifies the political independence Wales now has and the copper dome of the Wales Millennium Centre, proud home of our thriving performing arts scene.

 The Wales Millennium Centre is the perfect place to finish the weekend relaxing with a coffee. Time it perfectly and you can be there between 1pm and 6pm when there’s a free musical performance in the foyer every day.