New Homes in Caerphilly 

A historic town close to the vibrant Welsh capital

Home to the one of the biggest castles in the UK, Caerphilly is a town steeped in history. Located just to the north of Cardiff, it’s a great place to live close to the Welsh countryside as well as city amenities and family-friendly attractions. With so much to see and do on its doorstep, it’s no wonder that new homes in Caerphilly are popular with house buyers right across the generations.

Caerphilly through the ages

Caerphilly is an important historical town, with a Roman fort built around 75 AD and likely occupied until the 2nd century. When the Normans invaded Wales, some areas of Caerphilly stayed under Welsh control and by the mid 12th century, the town and wider area was governed by Ifor Bach. By the middle of the 13th century, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd was recognised as the Prince of Wales, while the construction of Caerphilly Castle began in 1268 as a way to stop the prince from encroaching on the town, and is the largest castle in Wales.

During a siege of the castle, the town was burned and later rebuilt. Caerphilly was quite small through the Middle Ages and had to endure several more attacks, including one led by Owain Glyndwr in the 15th century. Caerphilly grew as a town after the introduction of a market in the 18th century, and became more prosperous during the industrial revolution and after the opening of the railway lines.

Must-know info for families

For those of you moving to a new home in Caerphilly with children, it’s helpful to know which schools are top-rated in the local area. The best secondary schools in and around Caerphilly are Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni, Risca Community Comprehensive, Newbridge School, Oakdale Comprehensive and Lewis Girls' Comprehensive School, while further education is provided by Ystrad Mynach College and Coleg Gwent at Crosskeys. Universities close to Caerphilly include the University of South Wales in Pontypridd, Cardiff University and Cardiff Metropolitan University.

Places to see and things to do

When it comes to family days out and events, there’s lots going on in Caerphilly or just a short distance away from the town. The Big Cheese is an annual highlight, with not only cheese stalls but a funfair, a cheese ‘race’ and fireworks in the evening. Megaday is a family-friendly pop festival held each year in aid of the Velindre Cancer Centre. Caerphilly Castle is the main attraction in the town, while Y Galeri displays work by local artists.

Other attractions within driving distance of Caerphilly include Castell Coch, Glamorgan Canal Nature Reserve, Cefn Mably Farm Park, Cwmcarn Forest and Llancaiach Fawr Manor. The National Museum Cardiff, St Fagans Natural History Museum and Rhondda Heritage Park are also popular.

What about business?

The biggest businesses based in Caerphilly are PHS Group Ltd, Celtic Mining Group, Peter's Food Service, Glatfelter Caerphilly, and Ensco 502. SERS Energy Solutions Group, Creditsafe Business Solutions, Lenstec (Holdings) and Eriez Investments are also based in the region, while Cardiff is also within commuting distance. Big companies in the Welsh capital include Admiral Group, GE Aircraft Engine Services, Arriva Trains Wales, Western Power Distribution and the Principality Building Society.

For travel

For commuters, Caerphilly is served by the A469 and the A468, while the A470 and M4 are also close by. The town itself has three train stations in total, all on the Rhymney Line which links Caerphilly to Cardiff. A journey from Caerphilly station to Cardiff Central takes around 20 minutes, making it a popular commuter route.

For journeys further afield, long-distance train journeys require a change at Cardiff Central. Once there, the journey from the Welsh capital into London Paddington takes just 2 hours 5 minutes. The closest airport to Caerphilly is Cardiff Airport, while Bristol Airport can be reached in just over 1 hour by car.