This Welsh city along the River Usk has a 12th-century cathedral, medieval castle ruins, and a Victorian transporter bridge - one of only six still working worldwide.
Newport sits on the River Usk in Wales, where you'll find the remains of Europe's only visible Roman legionary barracks in Caerleon. You can cross the river on a rare transporter bridge - one of just eight remaining worldwide. Play a round at Celtic Manor Resort, home of the 2010 Ryder Cup, or explore Tredegar House, a 17th-century mansion with stories of pirates and nobility. The city's medieval ship discovery in the river tells an unexpected story of maritime trade.
Getting to Newport
The M4 motorway connects Newport to Cardiff (19 km) and London via the Severn Bridge. Trains from London Paddington reach Newport in 1 hour 45 minutes, while Bristol is just 35 minutes away. Cardiff Airport and Bristol Airport both lie within 32 km of the city center, making Newport one of the most accessible cities in Wales.
Parks and Water Spaces
Walk the boardwalks at Newport Wetlands Reserve's 438 hectares of reed beds, lagoons, and grasslands along the Severn Estuary. Watch wading birds feed in the mudflats or spot migrating species throughout the year. The Fourteen Locks Canal climbs 50 meters through a series of water-control mechanisms built in 1799. You can walk alongside the locks and see how each chamber raises boats to different levels.
Food and Independent Shops
Buy local produce and eat at food stalls inside the restored Victorian Newport Market building. Take a brewery tour at Tiny Rebel in Rogerstone, where you can taste their award-winning craft beers and see how they've grown from a garage operation. Browse independent stores along High Street and Commercial Street, mixed with major retail chains.
Cultural Spaces
Watch theater productions, comedy shows, and concerts at the Riverfront Arts Centre's 500-seat auditorium. The center's café overlooks the River Usk. Visit Newport Museum to see local artifacts and art collections, and look for street art around the city, including the statue of poet WH Davies.
Tredegar House
Walk through 90 acres of gardens surrounding this red-brick 17th-century mansion. Inside, you'll find rooms restored to different time periods, showing how the Morgan family lived - including Sir Henry Morgan, who became a Caribbean pirate. Join guided tours to learn about the house's 500-year history and see the ornate plasterwork and period furniture.
Roman Legacy in Caerleon
Visit Britain's most complete Roman amphitheater at the National Roman Legion Museum in Caerleon. Walk through the barracks where 5,500 soldiers of the Second Augustan Legion once lived. See weapons, coins, and personal items excavated from the 1st-century fortress site. The museum explains how Roman soldiers lived and trained at this important military base.
