National Museum Cardiff

Cardiff, United Kingdom

The National Museum of Wales was founded in 1905, with its royal charter granted in 1907. Construction of a new building in the civic complex of Cathays Park began in 1912, but owing to the First World War it did not open to the public until 1922, with the official opening taking place in 1927. The museum has collections of botany, fine and applied art, geology, and zoology.

The National Museum of Art opened in 2011. The collection of Old Master paintings in Cardiff includes, among other notable works, The Virgin and Child between Saint Helena and St Francis by Amico Aspertini, The Poulterer's Shop by Frans Snyders, A Calm by Jan van de Cappelle Since 2016, the museum has had Rembrandt's 1657 Portrait of Catharina Hooghsaet on permanent display.

There are also collections of landscape paintings, portraits, French art and works by all of the notable Welsh artists, including landscapes by Richard Wilson and the pioneering Thomas Jones. The collection of 20th-century art includes works by sculptors Jacob Epstein, Herbert Ward and Eric Gill and painters including Stanley Spencer, the British Impressionist Wynford Dewhurst, L. S. Lowry, and Oskar Kokoschka.

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Address

Cardiff, United Kingdom
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Details

Founded: 1905
Category: Museums in United Kingdom

More Information

museum.wales
en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.6/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Archisha Tripathi (4 months ago)
The National Museum Cardiff UK is a wonderful museum that showcases a range of collections, from art to natural history. It is located in the heart of Cardiff and is a popular attraction for both locals and tourists. The museum's art collection is impressive, with works from renowned artists such as Monet, Van Gogh, and Renoir. The museum's galleries are well-designed, and the artwork is displayed in a way that allows visitors to appreciate it fully. In addition to the art collection, the museum also has an excellent natural history section. It features an extensive collection of fossils, minerals, and plants, as well as a range of taxidermy animals. The natural history section is well-curated, and visitors can learn about the history of life on Earth and the diversity of living organisms. One of the highlights of the museum is the Evolution of Wales exhibit. It provides an overview of Wales' geological history, from the Big Bang to the present day. Visitors can see real fossils and learn about the evolution of life on Earth. The National Museum Cardiff is a great attraction for all ages. Whether you're interested in art, natural history, or just want to learn something new, the museum has something to offer. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and the museum's layout is easy to navigate. It's a great place to spend a day and learn more about Wales' rich history and culture.
Aurangzaib Rana (4 months ago)
Absolutely amazing place and all free. Entry was totally free just had to pay for for parking which was around £3-4 for couple of hours. We went with family and everyone enjoyed the visit. There is plenty to explore in there, even my little one of 3 years enjoyed. You can easily spend 3-4 hours in there. There is cafeteria on the ground floor for tea coffee breakfast and reasonable seating available. Staff was very polite and friendly. Totally worth a visit. I would definitely recommend a visit if you are into art, animal and history.
Hayley Perks (5 months ago)
Visited during Easter holidays with my dinosaur mad 9 year old. Free to enter. Excellent museum with lots to see. Particularly enjoyed the natural world and the history of Wales. Two places to eat (one in foyer and one in basement) but places to sit and each a packed lunch. Metered on-street parking easily available behind the museum. We spent 3 happy hours wandering around but there was still lots we didn't see (out of choice). Highly recommend.
a bc (10 months ago)
I had a phenomenal time here when I went on a trip to Cardiff with my school! The exhibitions were completely outstanding, I've never seen anything like it! The facts on the boards surrounding the artifacts and the dinosaurs were very interesting and I found my trip here very educational! I highly recommend going here and as someone from Pembrokeshire who was visiting this was completely marvellous! It also had a really nice gift shop! Didn't have the time to buy anything though it was severely tempting! If you're looking for an educational visit with little ones or even a fun day out with your family this is definitely the place for you! (The felt animals are extraordinarily detailed too which adds an extra layer of magic to the museum!)
Joe Macpherson (11 months ago)
Cardiff museum is one of the best in the United Kingdom in my opinion. It's a great free, fun and interesting option to have, and good for all weathers. The classical art section here is excellent with many masters on display such as Renoir, Monet, Van Gogh, Turner and more. The display is well laid out and comes with information about each painting or sculpture. There is a prehistoric section with information about dinosaurs, mammoths, fossils and so on. And the museum has rotating special exhibitions which change every few months The building is also gorgeous, a fine example of Victorian era architecture
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