Mermaid Quay, Cardiff

Mermaid Quay is a vibrant waterfront shopping and leisure district located in Cardiff Bay. Officially opened in August 1999, this 14,000 square meter (150,000 square foot) development is an integral part of Cardiff's waterfront, encompassing a variety of restaurants, bars, cafes, and shops. The Cardiff Bay Development Corporation, launched in April 1987 as part of the UK's Urban Development Programme, significantly advanced the regeneration of Cardiff and Penarth's former docklands. This project revitalized 1,100 hectares of the area, once the world's largest coal exporting port, into Europe’s largest waterfront development.

Following the completion of the Cardiff Bay Barrage in 1999, which transformed the bay into a 500-acre freshwater lake, Mermaid Quay was constructed. Designed by the architecture firm Benoy, the quay is central to the bay's transformation, featuring extensive residential and commercial developments, landmark buildings, and enhanced city connectivity via Lloyd George Avenue.

Additionally, Cardiff Bay’s transformation, with Mermaid Quay at its heart, has made the area a popular setting for television productions, most notably the BBC’s “Doctor Who” and “Torchwood” series. The fictional entrances to the underground Torchwood 3 Institute, featured in "Torchwood," are located at Roald Dahl Plass, adjacent to Mermaid Quay.

The development also led to the demolition of the Welsh Industrial and Maritime Museum to make way for new structures. While the museum's collection was preserved, most of it remains in storage, with only a few items on display at the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea.

Today, Mermaid Quay remains a testament to successful urban regeneration, combining leisure, retail, and cultural spaces in a uniquely scenic waterfront setting.