For comprehensive information on what's coming up during the period of your stay, do contact the Cardiff Visitor Centre on 029 20 227281. The staff will be able to fill you in on all the city's events, theatre and show listings and concerts, or alternatively log onto www.visitcardiff.info.

Cardiff has a thriving calendar of events and is by now established as a leading venue for a whole range of arts, music and sporting activities. Just some of those drawing in the crowds are:

* The hugely successful Cardiff Summer Festival which has been running for the past 22 summers and has been called 'the biggest all-city bash this side of Edinburgh'. It incorporates a whole range of events, from the International Food and Drink Festival, the Welsh Proms and the multi-cultural MAS Carnival through to the Formula 3 Powerboat Grand Prix and the Worldport Festival (jazz, roots and world music).

In addition, every summer sees the city's streets and the Bay filled with street performers, acrobats and musicians.

*Artes Mundi, February 5 - March 11, 2004. The largest art prize in the world, Artes Mundi will be exhibiting shortlisted artists at the National Museum and Gallery, February through to Easter.

The prize will be given on March 10 or 11.

* The Wales Rally GB, a must-see for motor sports enthusiasts from all over the world

*The FA Cup final, Britain's foremost football fixture. Cardiff's Millennium Stadium is home for this event during Wembley's revamp

* The Six Nations Rugby Internationals - a firm Cardiff favourite

* Pop concerts - Cardiff is an essential stop-off for all divas and supergroups

* The Gay Mardi Gras, which is the fastest growing event of its kind in Britain

* BBC Cardiff Singer of the World, the Oscars of song, which takes place here biennially (next in 2005)

* The International Festival of Musical Theatre (biennial), a wonderful celebration of the musical genre, which kicked off in 2002 will be staged again in April 2005 to coincide with the opening of the Wales Millennium Centre and centenary celebrations

* Winter Wonderland, a Christmas-shopping and ice-skating experience (a vast ice rink is 'built' outside the city's beautiful Portland stone City Hall) kicked off two years ago and provides a sensational season-long Christmas party for locals and visitors.