Ed Sheeran Live in Cardiff: Travel Advice
Written by Gavin on 20th May 2022
Ed Sheeran will be performing at Principality Stadium on May 26th, 27th and 28th and to facilitate these events, a full city centre road closure will be in place on health and safety grounds to ensure people can safely enter and leave the stadium after the concerts.
My Chemical Romance will also be performing on Saturday May 28th at Sophia Gardens Cricket Ground.
On both May 26th and the 27th, there will be a full city centre road closure from 4.30pm until 12.30am. On Saturday May 28th, the road closure will be put in place slightly earlier, from 2pm until 12.30am.
Those attending these concerts are strongly advised to leave large bags at home and pay attention to the prohibited items listed at https://orlo.uk/XIBT5 before they travel into the city.
Road closures
From 7am, access to Scott Road and Park Street will be managed to ensure vehicles do not park in the road closure area.
The following roads will be closed as part of the full city centre road closure:
- Kingsway from its junction with North Road to its junction with Duke Street.
- Cowbridge Road East from its junction with Cathedral Road to its junction with Westgate Street.
- Tudor Street from its junction with Clare Road to its junction with Wood Street (access for residents and traders will be permitted via Fitzhammon Embankment.)
- Plantagenet Street and Beauchamp Street from their junctions with Despenser Place to their junctions with Tudor Street (access for residents and traders will be permitted.)
- The following roads will be closed in their entirety: Duke Street, Castle St, High Street, St Mary Street, Caroline Street, Wood Street, Central Square, Westgate Street, Quay Street, Guildhall Place, Golate, Park Street, Havelock Street and Scott Road.
- Station Terrace and Guildford Street from the junction with Newport Road to the junction with Churchill Way will be access for buses only during the times of the road closures. This is to ensure that there is reliable access for buses to the satellite points in Churchill Way.
Additions:
Civic Centre: Access to part of the Civic Centre will be controlled throughout the day, with access allowed only for event parking, limited commuter parking, loading and access to private car parks.
Roads affected include King Edward VII Avenue, Museum Avenue, City Hall Road, College Road and Gorsedd Gardens Road.
Penarth Road (back of Cardiff Central Train Station) from the junction of St Mary Street through to the entrance off Penarth Road will close between 9pm and midnight to help TfW with the queuing fans.
Trains
Transport for Wales is running a full timetable and there is no railway upgrade work affecting services in and out of Cardiff on 26th, 27th and 28th May, but services will be very busy so please allow plenty of time for your journey.
Post-event queues for mainline services will be on Central Square and queues for Valleys services will be to the rear of the station.
Visit https://orlo.uk/PvTSK or the new TfW app for the latest travel information.
If you have any issues on the railway, please speak to a conductor or, for more serious matters, you can text the British Transport Police on 61016 or call 0800 40 50 40. In an emergency, always call 999.
Civic Centre Event Day Parking
Getting there: Exit Junction 32 of the M4, head south on the A470 towards the city centre and follow signage to the civic centre.
Cost: £15 payable on the day at the car park – card payments are also now available.
Parking time: The car park will open at 8am and closes at 12 Midnight.
Civic Centre Event Day Parking (Coaches)
Cost: £25 payable on the day (cash only)
Parking time: The car park will open at 8am and closes at 12 Midnight.
Park & Ride facilities
The event park and ride facility is being provided for all four concerts at both the Principality Stadium and Sophia Gardens Cricket Ground and will be at County Hall in Cardiff Bay.
The event park & ride facility will be at County Hall in Cardiff Bay. The facility is easily accessible via the M4, leaving at junction 33, and travelling down the link road (A4232).
Buses will be running to and from the city centre every 10 minutes before the concerts begin. Cost: £10 payable on the day – card payments are now available.
The car park opens at 10.30am and the first bus will leave at 11am. The last bus from the city centre will be at midnight and the car park will close at 12.15am
Event Day Parking at Sophia Gardens
Sophia Gardens (cars)
(Approximately, 0.5 mile walk to the Principality Stadium, Gate 2).
Sophia Gardens Event Day Parking
Getting there: Exit junction 32 off the M4
Cost: £15 payable on the day at the car park – card payments are now available.
Parking time: Car park opens at 8.00am and closes at 12 midnight
Please note: Sophia Gardens car park will be staffed until 7.00pm all vehicles are left on site at the owner’s risk. Cardiff Council will not be held responsible for any theft or damage to motor vehicles or personal possessions. Any vehicles left in the car park after closing time will be fined.
Local buses:
Bus services will be diverted while the city centre road closures are in place
Please visit the relevant bus operator’s website for more information about your specific bus routes.
For Stagecoach services, please visit: Welcome to Stagecoach (https://orlo.uk/FMb2r)
For Cardiff Bus services, please visit: https://orlo.uk/Eo3Xm
For NAT services, please visit: https://orlo.uk/4JIvg
National Express:
National Express coaches will use Sophia Gardens as usual.
Can you cycle or walk?
Those who live locally in Cardiff may want to travel by bicycle or walk. Research shows us that 52% of car trips made in the Welsh capital are less than 5km. This is a distance that can be comfortably cycled in 20 minutes.
We also know that 28% of Cardiff residents who currently do not cycle would like to do so.
When the roads are congested this makes cycling an even more attractive option as travel by bicycle would be quicker than a car during rush hours or during big events.
Shopping Parking
Shoppers are advised to make use of the dedicated Shopping Park & Ride sites at Pentwyn or County Hall. Or city centre car parks are also available: North Road Car Parks, St David’s Shopping Centre, John Lewis, Capitol Shopping Centre, and NCP (Adam Street, Dumfries Place and Greyfriars Road.)
Disabled parking
Disabled drivers are advised to use Sophia Gardens. Disabled parking is also available at various private car parks.
Please check individual websites for availability.
Taxis
St Mary Street taxi rank (outside the House of Fraser) will be closed at the same time that the road closures are put in place. So, on Thursday May 26th and Friday May 27th, this will be at 4.30pm and on Saturday May 28th, it will be 2pm.
Source:- Cardiff City Council