Cadw Open Doors 2014

 On 20 September 2014 the National Assembly for Wales will open its doors to the public as part of Cadw’s annual Open Doors event. Hundreds of attractions across Wales will be offering free entry, activities or events throughout September, with some unique buildings even allowing public access for the first time. Visitors to the Assembly estate will take a journey through time, discovering the history of Cardiff Bay and the National Assembly for Wales, with access to some areas not usually open to the public. The tour will cover the three buildings within Assembly estate:

• The Senedd, a modern parliamentary building, one of the most environmentally friendly and sustainable buildings in Wales and home of the debating chamber of the Assembly;
• The Pierhead, a historic late Victorian building which is now a museum and exhibition centre, and;
• Ty Hywel, the original home of the Assembly’s debating chamber alongside offices of both Assembly Members and staff.

Date: 20 September 2:00pm Booking is essential as we can only offer a limited number of places on this exclusive behind the scenes tour. Please call 0845 0105500 or 01492 523 200 to book your place. Address: National Assembly for Wales, Cardiff bay, Cardiff, CF99 1NA Travel information: The bendy bus leaves from Cardiff Queen Street Station and Cardiff Central station every 10 minutes. Train services are every 12 minutes from Cardiff Central Station to Cardiff Bay Station. The station is a few minutes’ walk from the Senedd and the Pierhead building. Leave the M4 at junction 33, follow the A4232 to Cardiff bay and follow signposts to National Assembly for Wales. By Bike/foot, the Taff Trail from Brecon through Cardiff city centre to Cardiff bay ends at the oval basin outside the Senedd. If you can’t make it on 20 September you can still visit the Senedd and Pierhead buildings which are open to the public seven days a week. You can have a cup of coffee in the Senedd Oriel on the upper level, and go into the public galleries from the Neuadd on the centre level. And it is not just visitors that come to see and enjoy the Senedd – we also have performers, singers, exhibitions and all sorts of activities happening regularly. Cadw Open Doors is an annual celebration of the architecture and heritage of Wales and is part of European Heritage Days, which take place in 50 European countries each year in September. For more information, including other participating attractions around Wales, please see the Cadw website: http://cadw.wales.gov.uk/opendoors/?lang=en