Llandaff Cathedral is the Anglican cathedral for the Diocese of Llandaff, set in the quiet, largely unspoilt conservation area of Llandaff, now surrounded by the city of Cardiff rather than separate from it. It stands on one of the oldest Christian sites in Britain, was nearly destroyed by a German landmine in 1941, and today is as well known for hosting some of Cardiff’s most atmospheric concerts as it is for its genuinely ancient roots.

History of Llandaff Cathedral

St Teilo and a 6th-Century Beginning

Llandaff’s Christian roots stretch back to the 6th century, when St Dyfrig founded a monastic community on the banks of the River Taff, later led by St Teilo and then Teilo’s nephew, St Euddogwy. Teilo’s shrine became a significant place of pilgrimage after his death, and the cathedral’s unusually long dedication — to SS Peter & Paul, Dyfrig, Teilo & Euddogwy — still commemorates all three Welsh saints today, represented by the three mitres on the cathedral’s own badge. The only physical survival from this earliest Celtic-era church is a stone cross still standing near the chapter house doorway.

Bishop Urban’s Norman Cathedral

Following the Norman conquest of Glamorgan, Urban was appointed the first Norman bishop of Llandaff in 1107, and began rebuilding the cathedral in grand style from around 1120, work that continued until 1290. Urban also arranged for St Dyfrig’s remains to be brought to Llandaff from Bardsey Island, and is thought to have overseen the writing of the Book of Llandaff, one of Wales’s earliest church manuscripts. The Romanesque sanctuary arch surviving from this period remains one of the cathedral’s most striking medieval features.

Storms, Neglect, and a Collapsed Tower

The cathedral’s fortunes fell badly in the centuries that followed. Owain Glyndŵr’s forces destroyed the adjacent Bishop’s Palace during his rebellion of 1400, and the cathedral steadily lost much of the land that had funded its upkeep over the following centuries. Its lowest point came in 1722, when a great gale brought down the medieval southwest tower entirely, taking much of the nave roof with it — leaving the cathedral in a state of genuine dereliction that effectively required rebuilding rather than mere repair.

The Cardiff Blitz and Epstein’s Majestas

At around 6.30pm on 2 January 1941, air raid sirens announced the first major bombing raid on Cardiff. Amid the confusion, the cathedral’s dean, unable to find his tin helmet, reportedly put a colander on his head and hurried with the verger to their wartime posts inside. A parachute landmine, clearly visible to onlookers as it drifted down, snagged briefly on the cathedral spire before falling into the graveyard and exploding with tremendous force, devastating the Chapter House and much of the nave, south aisle and chancel roof.

The post-war restoration, led by architect George Pace between 1949 and 1960, became genuinely celebrated in its own right. Its centrepiece is the Majestas: a 16-foot aluminium figure of Christ in Majesty, designed by the sculptor Sir Jacob Epstein and suspended dramatically above the nave on a striking concrete arch that also discreetly houses part of the cathedral organ. Commissioning a Jewish sculptor to create a monumental Christian figure for the nave provoked real controversy at the time, echoing the storm raised a century earlier when the cathedral employed Pre-Raphaelite artists for its Victorian restoration. Epstein himself, asked shortly before the 1957 re-hallowing whether creating a Christian image had been difficult for a practising Jew, reportedly replied that his lifelong search for truth and beauty had ultimately led him to the idea of Christ regardless.

A New Organ for the 21st Century

In February 2007, a severe lightning strike badly damaged the cathedral’s already ageing organ. Rather than simply repair it, the cathedral launched a £1.5 million appeal, fittingly announced on 13 July 2007, the 50th anniversary of the nave’s post-war re-hallowing, to build an entirely new instrument. The resulting Nicholson & Co organ, debuted in 2010 and fully completed in 2013, is the largest wholly new British-built organ installed in a UK cathedral in half a century — the first entirely new cathedral organ of its kind since Coventry Cathedral’s own post-war rebuild.

Visiting Llandaff Cathedral: Practical Information

Verified against the official Llandaff Cathedral website, checked 6 September 2026.

Opening Hours and Free Entry

Llandaff Cathedral is free to enter every day, opening at 9am (7am on Sundays) and closing following the last service of the day, which can vary between term time and holidays. Running and maintaining the cathedral costs over £3,000 a day, so donations are genuinely welcomed, even though admission itself carries no charge.

Opening hours last checked: September 2026.

Getting There by Car and Parking

Car parking in the immediate area around the cathedral is free and unrestricted, and there’s a further car park off Llandaff High Street offering two hours free. The address for satnav purposes is Llandaff Cathedral, Cathedral Close, Llandaff, Cardiff, CF5 2LA.

Getting There by Train and Bus

Trains run from Cardiff Central to Fairwater in around 10 minutes, followed by a 10–15 minute walk to the cathedral. By bus, routes 25, 63 or 66 from Westgate Street (by the Principality Stadium) take 25–30 minutes to the Black Lion stop, a short walk from Llandaff High Street.

Guided Tours

Guided tours can be arranged for groups and schools, covering the cathedral’s history, art and architecture, with length adjustable from around 45 to 95 minutes depending on your itinerary. A Welcomer is usually on hand in the cathedral even without a booked tour, along with the official guidebook for visitors exploring independently.

Cathedral Concerts and Events

Llandaff has become a genuinely popular Cardiff concert venue in its own right, hosting a regular programme of touring tribute concerts inside the cathedral itself — including “An Evening of Pink Floyd” and “An Evening of Radiohead,” performed by a live band, vocalists and string ensemble as part of a wider UK cathedral touring series, alongside separate Candlelight-branded tribute concerts and seasonal events like Christmas carol services and craft fairs. Worth being precise about: these are live tribute performances of the bands’ music by other musicians, not appearances or recordings by Pink Floyd or Radiohead themselves — a genuinely enjoyable evening out, but not a historic connection between either band and the building. Check the cathedral’s events calendar directly for current listings and ticket links, since the touring programme changes regularly.

The Cathedral’s Choir

The Cathedral School, Llandaff, is the only dedicated choir school in Wales, and its choristers, alongside adult singers, perform at Sunday services (8am Holy Eucharist, 9am Holy Eucharist, 11am Choral Eucharist, and 4pm Choral Evensong) as well as regular weekday services — genuinely worth timing a visit around if hearing the choir in the space it was built for matters to you.

Accessibility

Wheelchair access is available at both the east and west ends of the cathedral, with a wheelchair available for general use inside and reserved spaces in the nave (contact the cathedral in advance to reserve seats for a whole party). Be aware the cathedral sits at the bottom of a steep slope, and there are no marked disabled parking bays in Llandaff, though a small, limited car park near the southeast door offers step-free access via a nearby entrance. There’s no separate unisex disabled toilet, but standard toilets have spacious cubicles and handrails, reached via a ramped entrance to the left of the West door.

Food and Facilities Nearby

There’s no café on the cathedral site itself, but a short walk up the hill to Llandaff High Street leads to Jasper’s tearoom and several other cafés, pubs and shops, including the Black Lion and the Butchers Arms, for anyone wanting refreshments before or after a visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Llandaff Cathedral free to visit?

Yes, admission is completely free every day, though donations are welcomed given the cathedral costs over £3,000 a day to run and maintain.

Did Pink Floyd or Radiohead actually perform at Llandaff Cathedral?

No. The cathedral regularly hosts “An Evening of Pink Floyd” and “An Evening of Radiohead” tribute concerts as part of a touring UK cathedral concert series, performed by live tribute musicians rather than the bands themselves.

What are Llandaff Cathedral’s opening hours?

It opens at 9am daily (7am on Sundays) and closes following the last service of the day, which varies between term time and holidays.

Is there parking at Llandaff Cathedral?

Yes, parking in the area around the cathedral is free and unrestricted, with an additional car park off Llandaff High Street offering two hours free.

How do I get to Llandaff Cathedral by public transport?

By train to Fairwater from Cardiff Central (around 10 minutes), followed by a 10-15 minute walk, or by bus routes 25, 63 or 66 from Westgate Street to the Black Lion stop.

What happened to Llandaff Cathedral during WWII?

A parachute landmine exploded in the graveyard during the Cardiff Blitz on 2 January 1941, devastating the Chapter House and much of the nave, south aisle and chancel roof. The cathedral was restored between 1949 and 1960.

Is Llandaff Cathedral wheelchair accessible?

Wheelchair access is available at the east and west ends, with a wheelchair available on site and reserved nave spaces. The cathedral sits at the bottom of a steep slope, and disabled parking is very limited.

Llandaff’s blend of ancient history and modern concerts pairs well with Cardiff’s other landmarks. Browse the full Wales guides collection for more of the country’s landmarks and landscapes.