The Student Room Group

"Rough" areas in cardiff?

Today me and my partner went to the atrium open day in cardiff..we must have taken a wrong turn somewhere on our way because we ended up walking for ages, somewhere near butetown(?). So we decided to go ask in the nearest shop for directions.
We asked a girl who worked in the shop, and she said we were in completely the wrong area, and to be careful. When we asked why she said you cant walk down here youre white! You'll get attacked, and looked deadly serious.
Me and my partner are from a little town in wales, and so completely oblivous to all this, started to panic, and quickly walked back to the town centre.

Anyway...after dgoing to the open day we're very interested in going to uni at cardiff..but is it really as bad as she made out? Is there anywhere we should avoid? Or somewhere which would be best to find a place to rent during uni?

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Reply 1
Anyone?
cardiff have its rough areas - but ive never been anywhere like that in cardiff let alone here about it.

shes probably just exagerating. Where you from btw?
Reply 3
yes, there is an area in cardiff where people form Mali and Nigeria reside, and they practice their satanic rituals and when they see white people they mistake them for angels and try to attack them. Alas! May they be punished.
Reply 4
Cardiff isn't *that* bad....it's like anywhere though, you have to be pretty careful wherever you go these days :o:
saying that ive just remembered - there are two incidents in the last year both friends of friends - where a white boy was attacked unprovoked by a group of somalians. Practically the same - 1 incident involved 3 14yo boys walking down to the bay, 2 - a 17 year old boy withdrawing cash
Reply 6
Im from neath...i just wanted to know whether she was exaggerating or there were some places to avoid.
Reply 7
This has come up before, and someone made some kind of list of areas to be careful in.

I've been in Cardiff for a little while, and as a student you'll mostly be in Cathays which is very safe - the town centre has also been fine all the times i've visited (both day and night). As far as I can see, you'll have no reason to visit other residential parts of Cardiff.

Coming from London, and having seen many English cities and some others across the UK. I can personally say that Cardiff is one of the most cosmopolitan and welcoming places I've visited. If your not used to cities there will be a few things that might worry you, but aslong as you use common sense you'll be fine.

Like all cities, some surburban areas a little bit out from the town centre will be questionable - but the same philosophy applies anywhere you go aslong as you don't go out alone at some ridicoulous hour or draw attention to yourself you should be fine.
Few things to know about Cardiff.

- Never WALK between the City Centre and the Bay, either down Bute Street or Lloyd George Avenue, it's through Butetown and its a death trap.

- Don't stray too far past the Atrium away from the City Centre cos its generally quite grim down there.

- Keep and eye out for Somalis hanging around. Even anti-racism campaigners don't like Somalis cos they cock it up for everyone else.

- Theres a few council estates on the edges where I would be very careful (Ely, Llanrumney, the Gabalfa Avenue section of Gabalfa) but students would hardly ever go there.
Reply 9
Adam-Cardiff
Few things to know about Cardiff.

- Never WALK between the City Centre and the Bay, either down Bute Street or Lloyd George Avenue, it's through Butetown and its a death trap.

- Don't stray too far past the Atrium away from the City Centre cos its generally quite grim down there.

- Keep and eye out for Somalis hanging around. Even anti-racism campaigners don't like Somalis cos they cock it up for everyone else.

- Theres a few council estates on the edges where I would be very careful (Ely, Llanrumney, the Gabalfa Avenue section of Gabalfa) but students would hardly ever go there.


I know im going to probably sound quite naive, but we were lost down there, if they saw us would they really attack two girls? Is there a racial divide? Would we solely be attacked for being white?
I'm currently studying at the uni now, and live in Roath. I've been fine so far, but I have heard that there is a gang going round (my boyfriend heard on another forum) attacking especially those coming out drunk of the union. Everywhere you go, there is always going to be trouble there. Btw, i'm from Pontardawe originally, and I went to Neath college too! I would never go out alone anyway, even if you're a boy or girl, everyone should be careful! :smile:
Reply 11
Grangetown...
Somali boys really really like white women (my sister's had a bit of bother with one) and really really hate white men and quite readily get violent. They're easy enough to spot though, they're very dark, tall and gangly and like big baseball caps and most people give them a wide berth. They're mostly refugees and they're from a country where murder is perfectly legal (there's no laws at all).

One of my uni flatmates said she wanted to walk down the Bay one afternoon and me and three local mates all had to stop her and put her straight. There are other rough areas and you'll pretty much know them when you see them, but the stretch between town and the bay is worth a special mention because its not very far on the map and looks a good way of saving bus fare. Don't.
Reply 13
This thread has a load of quasi-racist ******** to be honest. I know Bristol quite well, and Somalians have a bad rep there too, but it's always the minority, and things are never "that" bad. Cardiff feels a lot safer to me than Bristol anyway,.... I think some of you are being very melodramatic and quite naive. No one's going to rip a couple of people to pieces in broad daylight cos you're in the wrong area. Obviously stuff can and does happen, but the city centre feels pretty damn safe to me, and all the studenty areas too.

I've been out towards Canton and a couple of other suburbs, and it's the same as anywhere... you have to use your head and be a bit street smart. If you have a loud voice, maybe don't gabble away obliviously if you're in a slightly dodgy area...? I dunno really, theft seems to be more of the problem in and around Cardiff, not felt at all intimidated walking 'round at night. It's a city though... there are places you probably don't wana get lost alone, same as any other. Some people just have a taxi-driver mentality, and need to get real.
Reply 14
I've lived here just over a year and have always wondered if there are places i really shouldn't wander in to as I like to just go for random walks. Maybe i've been lucky, but i've never had any problems. Going from town to the bay has definitely never been a problem, especially down lloyd george avenue. I agree that some of the areas may feel rough, but if you keep your whits about you I don't think there's any reason to be worried.

Having said that, there are a lot of places I wouldn't go to at night on my own. And my boyfriend wanted to live in grangetown this year, and that was a definite no-no!
Splott is a bit dodgy haha
Reply 16
I walked alone at night last week in Bute Park and I was almost beaten up by a Somalian. He just ran up to me for no reason and started cursing and swearing at me. Then when I wanted to walked away from him, he grabbed my arm and pushed me. I was like wtf... what should i do? I then just apologised to him then unexpectedly he walked off. Strange...
Reply 17
My Dads car was broken into the day I was moving into my 2nd year house. This was in Roath. Don't worry though, that was mainly through stupidity and bad timing. He left the sat-nav on the top so anyone could have nicked it with a tool to get in. I haven't had any problems since then.
katechar_X
Im from neath...i just wanted to know whether she was exaggerating or there were some places to avoid.


Fairytown (I think it's called that?) is way more rough than Cardiff!
Reply 19
SuicideCommando
Fairytown (I think it's called that?) is way more rough than Cardiff!

Wheres "fairytown"?

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