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Graduation

Travel, accommodation and accessibility

Last updated: 27/03/2026 09:53

Travel advice for visiting Cardiff, where to park, accommodation options and accessibility information.

We want you to have the best Graduation experience. The following information is provided to assist you with your planning.

During Graduation week, Cardiff is likely to be busy with other events. Consider this when making travel and accommodation arrangements.

Find out more about what’s happening in Cardiff during Graduation week.

Travel advice and support

Cardiff is a compact city and reasonably easy to travel around on foot or bike, by bus, train, taxi, or even boat.

For further details on travel options:

Check National Rail for train status, for any disruptions, and engineering work.

If you or your guests require a visitor letter to support a visa application, you will need to contact the relevant team to provide you with one.

Undergraduate students will need to contact studentconnect@cardiff.ac.uk, and postgraduate students will need to contact registrysupport@cardiff.ac.uk.

There are many parking options in Cardiff city centre and Cardiff Bay. For parking locations and prices:

No on campus parking is provided with the exception of blue badge holders or those with mobility needs who can request this by emailing  carparking@cardiff.ac.uk

Blue badge holders are welcome to use our Temple of Peace car park on the day they are attending Graduation. Upon arrival, you must present your blue badge and display it in your vehicle.

Cardiff has many taxi services available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with various fleets to suit different party sizes and accessibility needs.

For information on taxi operators, ranks and pricing, see Visit Cardiff's taxi guide.

There are no luggage facilities at any of our Graduation venues. If you do have luggage to store, you could consider using a service such as Stasher.com

Accommodation options

We can offer self-catered rooms at Aberdare Hall, Senghennydd Court and Talybont North from Monday 13 July to Friday 17 July 2026 inclusive.

Facilities include:

  • single occupancy rooms
  • en-suite facilities (Talybont North) or shared bathroom facilities (Aberdare Hall/ Senghennydd Court)
  • shared kitchen area
  • access to free Wi-Fi
  • fresh bed linen and towels
  • minimum of 2 nights
  • a maximum of eight people can book as a group on the link below (contact by email or phone if numbers greater than 8)
  • car parking (subject to availability), an additional charge is applicable.

Book your accommodation

Cardiff offers a wide range of accommodations to suit all tastes and budgets. Visit Cardiff provides lots of choices for hotels, hostels, or self-catering.

Disabled holidays are accessible holiday specialists who provide details of accessible accommodation in Cardiff.

Accessible services

As a student, you may have had reasonable adjustments for your studies, but your graduation is a very different environment from the learning and teaching spaces at the University.

To ensure you have the adjustments you need for this specific event, please advise us of any adjustments you require when registering your attendance in SIMS Online. Any accessibility information you provided to us for your studies, at enrolment, or during your time studying at Cardiff University will not be applied to your graduation; you need to provide this information when registering.  

Marston allocates guest tickets. If your guests have missed registration and require adjustments, please contact them directly.

Visit Cardiff has an accessibility guide on travelling to and around the city, including information on accessible toilets and the services available if you have accessibility needs.

A free mobility buggy service can be used to travel around Cardiff city centre between two prearranged locations. Find out more about booking a mobility buggy service.

We have partnered with AccessAble to create detailed access guides for the university.

These guides show how to access our academic buildings, lecture theatres, teaching spaces and residences. They include information on parking spaces, toilets, stepped/ramp access, and changing facilities.

Accessibility at Utilita Arena

Information about accessibility at the ceremony venues is available on the Utilita Arena website. In particular, the arena has:

  • private baby changing and feeding facilities, which do not need to be pre-booked
  • a quiet room available for guests who struggle with crowds or  noise
  • a relay screen in the foyer showing the live stream for  guests who are unable to remain seated in the arena for long periods of time
  • hearing loop devices, which can be collected from and returned to the reception desk - a deposit is required

Find out more

Accessibility at Cardiff University

Main Building and Centre for Student Life are easy to reach. Get directions to Cardiff University by bus, train, car or plane.

We are constantly making improvements and adaptations to our buildings to improve accessibility. Find out more about the buildings you visit

The Centre for Student Life

The Centre for Student Life, the venue for gowning and photography has:

  • A breastfeeding room is available (room 2.27).
  • Quiet rooms for graduates and guests can be found on the 4th floor, rooms 4.12 and 4.13. Ask a member of staff to direct you.

View on AccessAble

Main Building

The Main Building, the venue for our celebration areas, has disabled access to school reception events permitted through the main building's Viriamu Jones Gallery.

View on AccessAble

Contact us

Get in touch for further information on travel advice, visitor letters, visiting Cardiff, car parking, accommodation options and accessibility.

Undergraduate students

Postgraduate students