How to Get to Roath Park: Best Bus Routes from Cardiff City Centre

Roath Park is a Victorian-era public park opened in 1894, located 2 miles northeast of Cardiff city centre. The best bus route is Cardiff Bus route 28 from Cardiff Bus Interchange (Bay 11), which takes 12–15 minutes and costs £2.00 for an adult single fare. Multiple bus routes serve Roath Park, with stops directly at the park entrance on Lake Road West and Wellfield Road.

What Is the Best Bus Route from Cardiff City Centre to Roath Park?

The best bus route is Cardiff Bus route 28 from Cardiff Bus Interchange Bay 11, taking 12–15 minutes and costing £2.00 for an adult single fare. This route runs via Albany Road and stops directly at Roath Park Lake and Lake Road East, providing the most direct access to the park’s main entrance.

Route 28 operates Monday through Saturday from 6:29 AM to 9:40 PM, with departures every 30 minutes during peak hours. The bus starts at Cardiff Bus Interchange (Bay 11), travels through Customhouse Street and Bute Terrace, then follows Albany Road through Roath before reaching the park. Key stops include “Roath Park, before Werfa Street” and “Roath Park Ninian Road,” both within 100 metres of the park entrance .

Alternative direct routes include numbers 9, 29, and 86, which also pass near Roath Park. Route 9 runs from Crwys Road via Lake Road West, taking approximately 10–15 minutes. Route 29 travels to Llanishen via Albany Road and Lakeside, while route 86 goes to Thornhill via Lisvane. All three routes accept the same £2.00 adult single fare and operate similar schedules to route 28.

Which Bus Stops Are Closest to Roath Park Entrance?

The closest bus stops are “Roath Park, before Werfa Street” and “Roath Park Ninian Road” on Albany Road, both 50–100 metres from the main Lake Road West entrance. These stops place you directly at the park’s Victorian pleasure gardens and botanic garden entrance.

Four additional stops serve the eastern and southern park boundaries: “Roath Park, before Boverton Street” (150m), “Roath Park, after Tydfil Place” (200m), “Roath Park, after Lady Mary Road” (250m), and “Roath Park, before Cartref” (300m) . The Wellfield Road stop “Roath, o/s West Grove 5” serves routes 21 and 25, located 400 metres from the recreation ground entrance.

Route 28 stops at 17 different locations within Roath Park, covering the full length of Albany Road from West Grove to Leven Close . The nearest stop to the boat stage and lake is “Roath Park, after Lakeside Drive,” 200 metres from the water’s edge. For the conservatory and botanical gardens, “Roath Park Ninian Road (o/s 109)” provides the shortest 100-metre walk.

How Long Does the Bus Journey Take from Cardiff City Centre?

The bus journey from Cardiff City Centre to Roath Park takes 12–15 minutes on route 28, with total travel time including waiting averaging 18–22 minutes. Departures from Cardiff Bus Interchange reach Roath Park before Werfa Street at 7:20 AM (first morning service), 19 minutes after departure .

Peak-hour travel (7–9 AM and 4–6 PM) averages 12 minutes due to higher frequency and reduced waiting time. Off-peak journeys (10 AM–3 PM) take 15–17 minutes as buses run every 30–40 minutes. Weekend service (Saturday) starts at 7:37 AM and runs until 9:40 PM, with journey times of 13–16 minutes.

Sunday service operates limited hours from 8:57 AM to 5:25 PM, with journey times extending to 18–20 minutes due to reduced frequency. Evening travel after 8 PM adds 2–3 minutes due to lighter traffic but longer waiting intervals between buses.

What Is the Cost of a Bus Ticket to Roath Park?

An adult single bus ticket to Roath Park costs £2.00 for Cardiff, Penarth, and Llandough local routes, with child fares at £1.40. Day tickets cost £5.00 for adults and £3.30 for children, providing unlimited travel on all Cardiff Bus services.

Cardiff Bus accepts contactless payment and exact cash fare. Mobile tickets and live bus tracking are available through the Cardiff Bus app . Weekly tickets cost £18.00 for adults (£13.00 children), while monthly tickets are £62.00 for adults (£46.00 children).

The Skycar open-top service (summer only) costs £4.00 for adults and £2.50 for discounted single fares, with day tickets at £7.00. This premium service operates different routes and does not include route 28 to Roath Park.

Can You Walk from Cardiff City Centre to Roath Park?

Walking from Cardiff city centre to Roath Park takes 25–30 minutes (2.2 miles) via Albany Road or 35–40 minutes (2.5 miles) along the Nant Fawr stream path. The route is fully paved and mostly flat, suitable for all ages.

The quickest walking route follows Albany Road north from Cardiff Castle, passing through Roath’s residential streets before reaching the park entrance at Lake Road West. This 2.2-mile path takes 25 minutes at average walking speed. Alternative routes include Wellfield Road (35 minutes) or following the Nant Fawr stream through Cathays Park (40 minutes), offering more scenic but longer options.

Cycling takes 10–12 minutes using the same routes, with bike racks available at the botanic garden entrance. The park is 3 miles from Cardiff Queen Street station, requiring a 42-minute walk if choosing train plus walking.

What Are the Alternative Bus Routes Besides Number 28?

Five alternative bus routes serve Roath Park: routes 9, 29, 52, 86, and 101, all passing within 300 metres of the park entrance. Route 9 from Crwys Road to Lake Road West takes 10–15 minutes. Route 29 travels to Llanishen via Albany Road and Lakeside, while route 52 covers Cardiff City Centre to Heath Hospital.

Route 86 connects Cardiff City Centre to Thornhill via Lisvane, with stops at Roath Park Lake. Route 101 serves St. Mellons, and route 102 reaches Llanrumney, both passing near the park’s eastern boundary. Routes 21 and 25 from Wellfield Road stop at “Roath Park” after 10 minutes, costing approximately £1.50.

All alternative routes use the same £2.00 adult single fare as route 28. Service frequency varies: routes 9 and 29 run every 20–30 minutes, while routes 86, 101, and 102 operate every 30–40 minutes. Evening service ends between 9:30 PM and 10:00 PM for all routes.

When Do Bus Services to Roath Park Start and End Each Day?

Route 28 starts at 6:29 AM on weekdays and ends at 9:40 PM, with Saturday service from 7:37 AM to 9:40 PM and Sunday service from 8:57 AM to 5:25 PM. The first morning departure from Cardiff Bus Interchange reaches Roath Park at 7:20 AM.

Monday through Thursday operations run 6:29 AM–9:40 PM with 30-minute intervals. Friday service starts later at 8:10 AM but ends at the same 9:40 PM time. Saturday begins at 7:37 AM with evening service matching weekday end times.

Sunday operates limited hours (8:57 AM–5:25 PM) with reduced frequency every 40–50 minutes. Alternative routes 9, 29, and 86 follow similar schedules, starting between 6:30 AM and 7:00 AM and ending between 9:30 PM and 10:00 PM.

Where Exactly Is Roath Park Located in Cardiff?

Roath Park is located at Lake Road West, Cardiff CF23 5PA, 2 miles northeast of Cardiff city centre in the Roath neighbourhood. The park spans 30 acres and includes GPS coordinates 51.509604/−3.174913 for the lake entrance.

The park covers multiple access points: Roath Park Lake (51.509604/−3.174913), Conservatory/Botanic Garden (51.50511/−3.17522), Pleasure Grounds (51.500875/−3.172738), and Recreation Ground (51.498489/−3.167042). Albany Road forms the western boundary, while Lake Road West provides the main eastern entrance.

Roath Park sits between Cathays (southwest), Penylan (northeast), and Penycwm (north), making it accessible from multiple Cardiff neighbourhoods. The park is 0.5 miles from Cardiff High School and 1 mile from Llanishen centre.

What Are Roath Park’s Main Features Visitors Should Know?

Roath Park features a 30-acre man-made lake with the Scott Memorial Lighthouse, Victorian botanic gardens, conservatory (£2.60 adult entry), children’s playgrounds, tennis courts, bowling green, and 24-hour recreation ground. The park is Grade 1 listed and holds Green Flag status.

Key attractions include the Wild Garden north of the lake with winding paths and wildflowers, Llandennis Oval with an ancient pond, and the Botanic Garden south of the dam containing tree/shrub collections. The Pleasure Gardens offer bowls, tennis, and basketball facilities in parkland setting.

Boat hire runs Easter to September: 30 minutes for £10.67, 1 hour for £19.17. The conservatory charges £2.60 for adults, £1.35 for children (under 5 free), and £1.35 for concessions. Public toilets and baby changing facilities are next to the Botanic Garden playground.

Is There Parking Available Near Roath Park for Drivers?

On-street parking is free and available around Roath Park’s surrounding streets, with no entry charges for the park itself. Pre-booked parking starts at £0.90 per hour, rising to £4.70 per day, with monthly rates from £37.50.

Daily parking prices range from £1.50 (low) to £19.38 (high), averaging £7.82. The park is open all year with no entry fees, but boat hire and conservatory visits require payment. Street parking is most abundant on Albany Road, Lake Road West, and Wellfield Road.

How Accessible Is Roath Park for Wheelchair Users and Those with Mobility Needs?

Roath Park is fully accessible with paved paths throughout the botanic garden, pleasure gardens, and lake area, plus public toilets with baby changing facilities. The park is mostly flat with fully paved walkways suitable for wheelchairs and mobility aids.

Bus route 28 uses modern low-floor buses with wheelchair access and contactless payment. The closest accessible stops are “Roath Park, before Werfa Street” and “Roath Park Ninian Road,” both within 100 metres of graded entrances. Public toilets near the playground include accessibility features.

Concession pricing (£1.35) applies to disabled people, students, and pensioners for conservatory entry. The trim trail in Roath Recreation Ground and tennis courts are accessible year-round with no charges.

What Time Should You Visit Roath Park for Best Experience?

Visit Roath Park between 7:30 AM and 30 minutes before sunset for the park, with the boat station open Easter to September (11 AM–7 PM daily in school holidays, weekends only in term time). The recreation ground is open 24 hours daily.

Morning visits (7:30–9 AM) offer quiet walking conditions and wildlife activity. Midday (11 AM–2 PM) provides optimal boat hire weather permitting. Evening visits (5–7 PM) feature sunset views over the lake and Scott Memorial Lighthouse.

Weekday visits avoid weekend crowds. School holidays increase boat hire demand, so arrive before 11 AM or after 5 PM. The Heritage Trail provides self-guided history tours throughout the park.

Roath Park remains Cardiff’s premier Victorian public park, accessible via five direct bus routes from city centre, with route 28 providing the fastest 12–15 minute journey. The park’s free entry, on-street parking, and full accessibility make it suitable for all visitors seeking horticultural interest, nature conservation, and recreational activities.