From its days as a small and relatively insignificant regional town, through its growing prominence in the early nineteenth century as a major port for the export of coal from South Wales, to its current status as national capital and major tourist centre, Cardiff has a proud and distinctive identity. This extraordinary history is embodied in the buildings that have shaped the city.

Cardiff in 50 Buildings explores the history of this rich and vibrant community through a selection of its greatest architectural treasures. From the Victorian Coal Exchange to the Senedd building and the Welsh Millennium Centre arts complex, part of the twenty-first-century Cardiff Bay waterfront development, this study celebrates the city’s architectural heritage in a new and accessible way. Author and historian John B. Hilling guides the reader on a tour of the city’s historic buildings and modern architectural marvels, accompanied by beautiful full-colour images from David A. L. Hilling.