- Monday to Friday: 09:00–16:30
- Weekends & Bank Holidays: 10:30–16:30
- Last entry: 16:00
The building may open earlier or stay open later for visitors attending Plenary sessions or committee meetings.
Please note that opening hours, guided tours, exhibitions and access to parts of the building may be changed at short notice because of Parliamentary business.
The Senedd is located in Cardiff Bay. You can get here on foot, by bike, public transport or by car.
Bike
There are two locations for cycle parking on the estate, near the Pierhead and Tŷ Hywel entrances.
You can find details of local cycle routes on Cardiff walking and cycling map.
Bus
The Wales Millennium Centre bus stop is a 3 minute walk from the entrance to the Senedd. Visitors can use the following bus services:
- 6 Baycar, 8 and 305 from Cardiff Bus Interchange, Central Square
- 305 from Dinas Powys via Penarth
- 1 & 2 City Circle service
You can find details of routes and times at Cardiff Bus.
Train
The Cardiff Bay station is a 10-minute walk from the entrance to the Senedd. Services run from Pontypridd and Cardiff Queen Street Station.
For more information head to the Traveline website.
Road
From the West, leave the M4 at junction 33, follow the A4232 to Cardiff Bay and follow signposts to Welsh Parliament, CF99 1SN.
From the East, leave the M4 at Junction 29, follow the A48 and then A4232 to Cardiff Bay and follow signposts to Welsh Parliament, CF99 1SN.
Accessible Car Parking
Accessible parking is available, by prior arrangement.
In the case of visitors who are attending meetings with Members of the Senedd, Welsh Ministers or officials, arrangements should be made with their offices.
In the case of visitors attending Plenary meetings, committee meetings or pre-arranged visits to the Senedd, parking can be arranged by contacting us.
There is an external lift available for disabled visitors at our accessible parking area outside the Senedd.
A minimum of 24 hours’ notice is usually required together with information about the vehicle and driver. Visitors must display their blue badge on arrival.
Car Parking
The nearest car park, the Q-Park multi-storey on Pierhead Street, is a 4-minute walk from the Senedd entrance. A discount can be applied to pre-bookings using the code ‘SEN’. On-street, pay and display parking may be available on Harbour Drive or there is a pay and display car park off Stuart Street.
Coach Parking
Please contact us for a map showing coach drop-off points.
Taxi
Taxi ranks are situated across the city, including outside Cardiff Central railway station. The nearest taxi rank to the Senedd estate is on Bute Street, near Mermaid Quay.
As we are a working Parliament, all visitors must go through a security scan and bag search before they are able to enter the building. This process is similar to airport-style screening and is carried out by our trained security staff.
Usually, this should only take a few minutes but please allow approximately 15 minutes. There may be a short queue outside the building prior to entering.
Please minimise any belongings you bring with you into the building. Find out what you can and can’t bring to the Senedd.
In the event of an emergency evacuation, the Senedd estate will sound a fire alarm. A member of staff will guide you to your nearest exit.
Our aim is for everyone, whether they are working in or visiting the Senedd, to experience an environment of dignity and respect. This means that there is an expectation for you and the people you interact with to feel safe, respected, and comfortable. Behaviour that adversely affects the dignity of others has no place at the Senedd. If you witness anything which contravenes the expectations we have set out, please let a member of Senedd staff know. You can find us at Reception or Security. We will follow the policy outlined below, which may include recording the incident for further investigation.
Behaviour Expectations for Members of the Public engaging with the Senedd.
Lifts and access
There are lifts, step-free access, and ramp access throughout the Senedd estate. Wheelchairs are available for visitors to use on request.
We provide dedicated provision for wheelchair users in the public viewing galleries.
Accessible toilets
In the Senedd, there are accessible toilets, a Changes Places facility with an adult changing bench and hoist, toilets for people with ambulant disabilities, and gender-neutral accessible toilets.
In the Pierhead, there is an accessible toilet on the ground floor and gender-neutral toilets on the first floor.
In Ty Hywel, there are wheelchair accessible toilets on each floor. These have also been designated gender neutral toilets.
Parking
Accessible parking is available. Please contact us in advance to arrange this.
Braille
We provide signage in Braille and some materials are available in Braille. Please ask at reception during your visit.
Hearing loops
The reception areas of our buildings and offices each have audio induction loops.
A temporary portable system is available for other spaces in the Senedd, Pierhead Main Hall and other meeting rooms across the estate. Amplification in the Siambr and Committee Rooms is provided by the translation headsets.
British Sign Language (BSL) and video relay service
If you are visiting the Senedd to take a tour and require a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter, we can usually arrange this for you if you contact us in advance.
A video relay service is available for BSL users at the reception desk in the Senedd building.
BSL and Senedd TV
Live BSL is provided on Senedd TV during Plenary during Questions to the First Minister (FMQs).
BSL is also provided on Senedd TV for any BSL related business.
Assistance dogs
Assistance dogs are welcome on the estate.
Quiet space
A quiet room in the Senedd is available for prayer, contemplation and as a calming space for distressed visitors.
Additional assistance
If you require additional assistance, particularly during emergency evacuations, we can create a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) for you. Please contact us before you arrive.
Telephone services
If you are contacting us by phone, we welcome relay and text to speech calls from services such as Relay UK. This service may be helpful for people who are D/deaf, hearing impaired, or have a speech impediment.
The Senedd is signed up to Interpreters Live!. Customers who are BSL users can call us through this service which is available on-demand during our normal Contact Centre opening hours. They are connected to us via a BSL Interpreter.
User guides are available to support users of the InterpretersLive! service. Please select an option for more information.
For more detailed information about accessibility, please contact us.
Our quieter visiting days are Saturdays and Mondays. We have a quiet room that visitors are welcome to use.
Our resources can help you understand what sensory experiences to expect during your visit to the Senedd.
Children can enjoy a play area with toys, sensory play and a giant floor map of Wales.
Pick up the free Senedd Explorer Trail, designed for 5-7 year-olds to discover key features of the building in a fun, interactive way.
The Senedd café is the first in Wales accredited by the Kids in Museums Family Café Standard, a mark of excellence for welcoming, family-focused cafés in cultural spaces. The cafe offers:
- We’re breastfeeding friendly
- Bottle warming
- Free water fountain
- High chairs
- Nearby baby changing facilities and a family bathroom
- Free Wi-Fi
Two quiet rooms are available.
Two quiet rooms are available for use as prayer rooms. Prayer mats are available.
If the metal detecting arch detects something metal, staff will use a hand-held detector to scan your body. You may request a same-gender security guard to perform this task.
Kirpans must be deposited with the Security team on arrival. Visitors will be provided with a substitute miniature kirpan for the duration of your visit. You will be allocated a unique identification number to ensure you are provided with the correct kirpan upon your return.
At the Senedd, you’ll find:
- Café with locally sourced food and drink.
- Gift shop featuring Welsh-made products.
- A range of toilet facilities including baby changing, gender neutral and Changing Places facility with an adult changing bed and hoist.
- Free Wi-Fi.
- Free water fountain.
- First aid room with a defibrillator.
Please note we do not have a cloakroom facility.
Have a question before your visit? Get in touch with our team, we’re happy to help.
