Newport City tourist information

Think of the city of Newport and you may think firstly of its industrial heritage, when the city docks thrived by transporting coal and steel from the Welsh valleys and helped to power the British industrial revolution.

Newport has reinvented itself in recent times as a vibrant, bustling University city, with modern facilities and cutting-edge architecture. The new Riverfront Arts Centre is a theatre and gallery space set in an unique piece of 21st century architecture, and the city abounds with places to eat, drink and be seen as well as some great shopping opportunities.

But the city has a far older pedigree, dating back to ancient settlements and Roman occupation at the nearby fort of Caerleon. Newport Cathedral was founded in Anglo Saxon times, and largely reconstructed in the 15th century. Newport Castle was built in the 14th century and is now ruined. You can learn more about the fascinating history of the area at the Newport Museum and Art Gallery.

One of Newport's most iconic structures dates back to 1906 - an enormous and spectacular transporter bridge which ferries passengers across the River Usk in a gondola suspended high in the air. This is echoed in the wonderful new Newport City footbridge, an award-winning modern design that pays homage to the docks and iron bridges of its industrial heyday.

There are many other attractions in the surrounding area, including the beautiful 17th century mansion of Tredegar House set in lovely grounds, the Fourteen Locks Canal Visitor Centre, and the RSPB Newport Wetlands wildlife reserve. The nearby Celtic Manor Resort has some of the finest golf courses in the UK and hosted the 2010 Ryder Cup.