Free water and wildlife activities at Mermaid Quay this May half term

Paid collaboration with Mermaid Quay

Given its bayside location, it’s fitting that Mermaid Quay is focussing its half term family events on water safety and the importance of keeping our local environment clean.

Visitors can experience a range of activities from Wednesday 29 May to Saturday 1 June, as Mermaid Quay works with local emergency services to promote water safety and wildlife messages.

The week will include demonstrations, educational information, and interactive activities in partnership with South Wales Police and the RNLI, as well as two afternoons of free face painting.

Plus there’s lots more for families to do across Mermaid Quay and around Cardiff Bay, with options for all ages and budgets. Read on for all the details.

Water and Wildlife Week at Mermaid Quay this half term

Head to Mermaid Quay on Wednesday 29 May for free facepainting between 12pm and 4pm on Tacoma Square, from Cardiff and Newport Face Painting.

Thursday 30 May will see South Wales Police on hand from 1.30pm to promote their Operation Seabird Campaign. This campaign engages and educates people on the sensitivities of the coastline and how simple changes could reduce pressure on our wildlife.

Friday 31 May will see RNLI greeting visitors between 12pm-4pm where they will be able to take part in water-themed activities get advice on water safety and what do if you find yourself struggling in the water unexpectedly. Scroll down for advice from RNLI on water safety.

Saturday 1 June will again see free facepainting between 12pm and 4pm on Tacoma Square, from Cardiff and Newport Face Painting.

Read more about the water and wildlife events at Mermaid Quay this half term here.

Great for families

Mermaid Quay is a great destination for families. Visit one of the many restaurants or cafes for a bite to eat or a drink, with chains including Pizza Express, Wagamama, Las Iguanas and Cosy Club offering great value children’s menus, and Cadwaladers and Coffi Co offering hot and cold drinks, light bites, and sweet treats. And on the subject of sweet treats, for a eal treat this half term, head to Mermaid Quay’s newest resident, the Urban Chocolatier. Here you’ll find an array of artisan gelato, handmade with fresh ingredients, using a traditional Italian method, and free from artificial ingredients, as well as patisserie, macarons, French toast loaded with chocolate and cream, crepes, pancakes and lots more yummy delights.

You’ll also find lots of lovely boutiques and independent stores such as Zia which sells jewellery, accessories and other trinkets, as well as Fabulous Welsh Cakes, which has some gorgeous Welsh-made gifts, as well as the yummiest freshly-baked Welsh cakes.

Plus there are some great statues to spot around Mermaid Quay, as well as Ianto’s Shrine, dedicated to the much-loved Torchwood character.

Everyman Cardiff offers a luxury cinema experience where you can sit on cushioned sofas and order food and drink directly to your seats. Family-friendly films this half term include If (U), Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (12A), The Garfield Movie (U), The Fall Guy (12A) and Kung Fu Panda 4 (PG).

We also highly recommend a visit to Techniquest, the science centre where you can get hands on with two floors of exhibits, not to mention experiencing their live science shows filled with exciting experiments. It’s best to book in advance to avoid disappointment.

Mermaid Quay is also a great starting point for a walk to the Senedd (where you can take a free tour or visit the free play area) around to the Norwegian Church and even onto Cardiff Bay Barrage.

You can also take a boat tour from Mermaid Quay around the Bay, with boat taxis into the city centre, 15-minute speed boat trips, hour long tours, and day-long excursion available. Check out companies including Cardiff Boat Tours, Cardiff Cruises, Bay Island Voyages, Cardiff Jet and Aquabus. The boat taxis generally don’t need booking, some other excursions may have on-the-day availability, but most require advance booking.

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Refill your reusable water bottles at Mermaid Quay

Also, make sure you don’t forget your reusable water bottle because Mermaid Quay is an official partner of the REFILL initiative. There are nine locations (and more planned) where you can fill up your water bottle, for free, helping to reduce the amount of litter in the local area and prevent plastic pollution at source. 

Refill is a UK-wide campaign to reduce plastic pollution by making refilling a water bottle as easy, convenient and cheap as possible – their aim is to have Refill Stations on every street, which would be amazing. If you download the Refill app, you can see the refill stations in Mermaid Quay, elsewhere in Cardiff Bay and, in fact, anywhere in the UK.

Read more about the Mermaid Quay REFILL initiative

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Recycle your chewing gum with Gum Drop Bins

Yep, you read that correctly. It sounds like it can’t be true, but at Mermaid Quay you can give your chewing gum a second life. Gum Drop are the first company in the world to recycle waste chewing gum and convert it into GUM-TEC® compounds, which offer sustainable alternatives to conventional rubber and plastic compounds.

There are four pink Gum Drop Bins around Mermaid Quay, so if you’re a gum chewer, don’t forget to use them.

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RNLI’s advice on water safety

If you can’t make the RNLI event at Mermaid Quay on Friday 31 May (or even if you can), then do take a look at their advice on water safety and what to do if you find yourself struggling in the water unexpectedly. For most of us, the instinct would be to swim hard. But actually, cold water shock could make you gasp uncontrollably, which could cause you to breathe in water and drown. Instead, you should Float to Live. 

As the RNLI Float to Live website says: “The best way to float is to tilt your head back with your ears submerged. Try to relax and breathe normally. You can gently move your hands to help you stay afloat if you need to. Spread your arms and legs out to improve stability – and it’s OK if your legs sink, we all float differently. Once your breathing is under control, call for help or swim to safety.”

Get more advice from the RNLI on water safety here