Cardiff - Go and No Go areas!

Heh, I live by Ely Bridge, too. Amusingly enough, Grand Avenue is probably one of the safer parts of Ely main - I'd say the big estate up the top of Wilson Road is the place to really avoid.. you go up there, and loads of the houses have boards and bars on the windows to deter intruders thanks to the high frequency of break-ins. Fortunately, that's miles out of the way for any students, anyway.

Chippy Lane really isn't that bad.. it's just rather greasy. Sounds like you've had unfortunate experiences of it, but on the whole it's just what you'd expect from a lane in the centre of town that's lined with fast food places - people go there when drunk, and end up fighting. It's best to avoid it or - if you must go - to be cautious at night, but during the day it's absolutely fine.

I actually have a bit of a soft spot for Chippy Lane, since I witnessed someone I really, truly loathe walking down there and getting caught in the nads by one of the bollards. That is rather mean, I know.. but I do have pretty compelling reasons for despising this person.



Canton really isn't that rough! You have the Pontcanna/Llandaff side, (i.e. one side of Canton backs onto two of the nicest parts of the city) and you have the Riverside/Grangetown side, which isn't so nice, but it's not terrible - certainly nowhere near as bad as Grangetown itself.



Chippy Lane is a poor representation of how rough Cardiff can be - though, as mentioned above, the main areas where trouble is "the norm" are quite far from the studenty areas. Butetown isn't so bad in terms of violent crime; it is one of the red-light areas, though, so it doesn't have the best reputation.

Other than that - as mentioned in the post above, all parts of Cardiff can be rough/. Whilst areas such as Cathays and Roath don't have a particular reputation for violent crime, assaults and murders can and do happen there from time to time, so don't assume that you're automatically safe in those areas. And even if the violent crime rate isn't very high - the petty crime rates certainly are.

One other place I should probably mention is the Sophia Gardens/Bute Park/Cooper's Field area (the big green space behind Cardiff Castle). Way too many people walk through there of a night, thinking it's safe because it's close to town and it's a well-kept, pretty place. The reality of it is that it's a poorly-lit area where there are very few - if any - people around to help you if you get into trouble. It's okay in daylight (though I'd still avoid the Trail unless you're in company, because it's secluded and well-known for muggings) but I would say you should avoid it like the plague after dark.

I think we're being a bit wimpish and severe saying that nowhere is safe to tread. You're never completely safe from crime but there are places where you'll get mugged and harrassed in the street fairly reliably and there are places where it won't happen. Let's all not act like we're in a safety video for primary school children and use some brains.

Heh, I live by Ely Bridge, too. Amusingly enough, Grand Avenue is probably one of the safer parts of Ely main - I'd say the big estate up the top of Wilson Road is the place to really avoid.. you go up there, and loads of the houses have boards and bars on the windows to deter intruders thanks to the high frequency of break-ins. Fortunately, that's miles out of the way for any students, anyway.

I actually have a bit of a soft spot for Chippy Lane, since I witnessed someone I really, truly loathe walking down there and getting caught in the nads by one of the bollards. That is rather mean, I know.. but I do have pretty compelling reasons for despising this person.

=] The Lucky Chef Chinese takeaway on Ely Bridge is the best! And what you said about Wilson Road is so very, very true. I remember when my friend moved from Ascot Close by Trelai park to Wilson Road during the first week there they were burgled. I like my house/location, despite the reputation I'm going to miss it!

And that comment about getting hit in the nads - it made my day! Hahaha. I think seeing that would change my opinion on chippy lane a little =]

Cardiff is a pretty safe city and the main student areas (Cathays, Roath, Penylan) aren't plagued by the chav menace that some other cities are. The areas which have a deservedly bad reputation for crime and disorder are:

Ely - way out in the west of the city, plagued by white trash, no student ever need go there

Gabalfa/Mynachdy - near to Talybont, students still don't go there

Butetown - crime-ridden urban area between town and The Bay - the buses and trains will drop you safely at either end

Llanederyn - rhymes with Kick Yer Head In - miles from any students

St Mellons - yet another white trash council estate, students rarely spotted

Splott, Canton, Adamsdown, Riverside, Grangetown and Llandaff North have both good and bad areas - the discerning eye will be able to tell between.

You should feel completely safe going to Llandaff, Fairwater, St Fagans, Whitchurch, Pantmawr, Heath, Rhiwbina, Pontprennau, Llanishen, Lisvane, Birchgrove, Tongwynlais, Cyncoed and Rumney (although not Llanrumney).

The city centre pubs and bars are nice and unthreatening, although some (like Jumpin' Jaks on Naked Tuesdays) may get a fluctuating reputation for scumminess. Don't go to the Maindy or Master Gunner near Talybont, the Blackweir is cheaper and safer.