Pontypridd, United Kingdom
Pontypridd is a town of 31,206 people in Wales, United Kingdom.
Why visit Pontypridd
Townapedia lists 10 museums and landmarks, 8 parks and trails, 67 places to eat, 1 place to stay and 3 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Pontypridd Bridge, Pontypridd Market and Town Hall, Muni Arts Centre and Rhondda Heritage Park.
Weather in Pontypridd
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Pontypridd
Pontypridd ( PON-tih-PREEDH, Welsh: [ˌpɔntəˈpriːð]; colloquially referred to as Ponty) is a town and a community in Rhondda Cynon Taf, South Wales, approximately 10 miles (16 km) north west of Cardiff city centre.
From the Wikipedia article Pontypridd (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Travel tips from other travellers: Pontypridd on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Photos of Pontypridd
Things to do3
Pontypridd Bridge
Bridge
Grade I listed bridge in Pontypridd, south Wales
Pontypridd Market and Town Hall
Cinema and theater
Grade II listed building in Pontypridd. In the town centre, uphill from and W of the attached Market Chambers
Museums and landmarks10
Rhondda Heritage Park
Museum · 2.0 mi
Tourist attraction and museum in Trehafod, Rhondda, Wales, United Kingdom
Parks, trails and playgrounds8
Restaurants and cafes67
Bunch of Grapes
Bar and pub · 0.5 mi
Ynysangharad Road
Mo-Th 12:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 12:00-24:00; Su 12:00-23:00
Casa Bianca
Restaurant · Italian
20 Llanover Street, Pontypridd
We,Th 12:00-14:00,17:00-23:00; Fr,Sa 12:00-23:00; Su 12:00-21:00
Maltsters Arms
Bar and pub
Bridge Street, Pontypridd
Mo-Su 11:00-00:00,00:00-00:30
Bradley's Coffee Shop
Cafe · Coffee Shop
3 Llys Cadwyn, Pontypridd
Mo-Fr 09:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-16:00
The Tumble Inn
Bar and pub
4-9 Broadway / Sardis Road, Pontypridd
Su-Th 08:00-00:00; Fr-Sa 08:00-25:00
Ceylon Express
Restaurant · Regional · 0.9 mi
Sri Lankan & South Indian restaurant
68 Park Street, Trefforest
55 more on the map.
History
The name Pontypridd derives from the name Pont y tŷ pridd, Welsh for "bridge by the earthen house", referring singly to successive wooden bridges that once spanned the River Taff at this point.
Pontypridd is noted for its Old Bridge, a stone construction across the River Taff built in 1756 by William Edwards. This was Edwards's fourth attempt, and at the time of construction, was the longest single-span stone arch bridge in the world. Rising 35 feet (11 m) above the level of the river, the bridge forms a perfect segment of a circle, the chord of which is 140 feet (43 m). Notable features are the three holes of differing diameters through each end of the bridge, the purpose of which is to reduce weight. On completion, questions were soon raised as to the utility of the bridge, with the steepness of the design making it difficult to get horses and carts across. As a result, a new bridge, the Victoria Bridge, paid for by public subscription, was built adjacent to the old one in 1857. Pontypridd was known as Newbridge from shortly after the construction of the Old Bridge until the 1860s.
Read more of the history
The history of Pontypridd is tied to the coal and iron industries; before their development Pontypridd was a hamlet of a few farmsteads, with Treforest initially becoming the main urban settlement in the area. Sited at the junction of three valleys, it became an important location for transporting coal from the Rhondda and iron from Merthyr Tydfil, first by the Glamorganshire Canal, and later by the Taff Vale Railway, to the ports at Cardiff, Barry and Newport. Its role in coal transport lengthened its railway platform, which is thought to have once been the longest in the world in its heyday. Pontypridd in the second half of the 19th century was a hive of industry, once nicknamed the "Wild West". There were several collieries within the Pontypridd area itself, including:
As well as deep-mined collieries, there were many coal levels and trial shafts dug into the hillsides overlooking the town from Cilfynydd, Graig, Graigwen and Hafod. The Albion Colliery in the village of Cilfynydd in 1894 underwent one of the worst explosions in the South Wales coalfield, with the death of 290 colliers (see Keir Hardie).
Other instrumental industries in Pontypridd were the Brown Lenox/Newbridge Chain & Anchor Works south-east of the town, and Crawshay's Forest Iron, Steel & Tin Plate Works and the Taff Vale Iron Works, both in Treforest near the now University of South Wales.
The town has a hospital, Dewi Sant Hospital and acts as the headquarters of Transport for Wales Rail at Llys Cadwyn.
From the History section of Pontypridd on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
More about Pontypridd
Geography
Pontypridd comprises the electoral wards of Cilfynydd, Glyncoch, Graig, Hawthorn, Pontypridd Town, 'Rhondda', Rhydyfelin Central/Ilan, Trallwng (Trallwn) and Treforest. The town mainly falls within the Senedd and UK parliamentary constituency by the same name, although the Cilfynydd and Glyncoch wards fall within the Cynon Valley Senedd constituency and the Cynon Valley UK parliamentary constituency. This change was effective for the 2007 Welsh Assembly election, and for the 2010 UK General Election.
The town sits at the junction of the Rhondda and Taff valleys, where the River Rhondda flows into the Taff just south of the town at Ynysangharad War Memorial Park. Pontypridd community recorded a population of about 32,700 in the 2011 census figures. while Pontypridd Town ward itself was recorded as having a population of 2,919 also as of 2011.
The town lies alongside the north–south dual carriageway A470 between Cardiff and Merthyr Tydfil. The A4054, running north and south of the town, was the former main road, and like the A470, follows the Taff Valley. South of the town is the A473 for Llantrisant and Pencoed. To the west is the A4058, which follows the River Rhondda to Porth and the Rhondda Valley beyond.
Education
Pontypridd County Intermediate and Technical School was built in 1895 as a co-educational school in Tyfica Road, later becoming Pontypridd County Grammar School for Boys. In 1973, it became the Coedylan Comprehensive School, and is now the Pontypridd High School in Cilfynydd on the west side of the A4054.
Hawthorn High School is near the A4054 in Hawthorn (south-east of the town)
Pontypridd Grammar School for Girls was on Glyntaff Road in Glyntaff.
Bryn Celynnog Comprehensive School is on Penycoedcae Road in Beddau.
Ysgol Garth Olwg is on the A473 in Church Village (south of the town).
The University of South Wales is in Treforest (south of the town), next to the A473.
From the Wikipedia article Pontypridd, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Notable people from Pontypridd
Freddie WelshWelsh boxer (1886–1927)Photo: Bain News Service, publisher, Public domain
Mike LewisWelsh guitaristPhoto: Unknown author, CC BY 3.0
Dale ApplebyWelsh racing cyclistPhoto: Cs-wolves, CC BY-SA 4.0
Beth WinterBritish politician (born 1974)Photo: David Woolfall, CC BY 3.0- Tom JonesWelsh singer (born 1940)
- Phil CampbellWelsh guitarist (1961–2026)
- Chris SladeWelsh drummer
- Steve CooperWelsh football manager
- Elaine MorganBritish screenwriter, journalist, and author (1920–2013)
- Christopher JonesBritish water polo player (1886–1937)
- Merlyn ReesBritish politician (1920-2006)
- Naunton WayneWelsh actor (1901-1970)
Born in Pontypridd, according to Wikidata (CC0). Each name links to its Wikipedia article.
Where to stay1
Churches and places of worship20
Shopping10
Gas and EV charging1
Schools, colleges and libraries12
Healthcare7
Map of Pontypridd
139 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Cardiff Airport (CWL) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 14 miles away.
- Treharris 5 mi north, about 7 min by car
- Rhondda 6 mi northwest, about 10 min by car
- Whitchurch 8 mi southeast, about 13 min by car
- Risca 10 mi east, about 17 min by car
- Cardiff 11 mi southeast, about 18 min by car
- Tredegar 12 mi north, about 20 min by car
- Newport 15 mi east, about 24 min by car
- Pyle 16 mi west, about 27 min by car
- Porthcawl 18 mi southwest, about 29 min by car
- Weston-super-Mare 24 mi southeast, about 38 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Towns near Pontypridd
,_Rhondda_Heritage_Park,_3_April_2013.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
_Lostprophets_in_Pontypridd,_2007.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
Keep exploring
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- Mapillary (see each image): photos
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Pontypridd 2001, Victor J Davies, CC BY-SA 1.0
- Lloyds bank Pontypridd, Theneurowarrior, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Crazy Croissant Pontypridd, Theneurowarrior, CC BY-SA 4.0
- The Old Bridge, Pontypridd, Varitek, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Capel Rhondda 2022, Victuallers, CC BY-SA 4.0
- St Mary's Church, Glyntaff, Cinnamonsweets, CC BY-SA 4.0
- JamesJamesEvanJamesMemorialPontypriddPark, Varitek, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ysgol Evan James, Pontypridd, Stefanik, CC0
- Central Hotel, Trallwn, Aderixon, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Maltsters Arms, Trallwn, Aderixon, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Patriot Bar, Aderixon, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Llanover Arms pub, Pontypridd, Nov 2023, Dominic Nelson, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ty Cwrdd Meeting House, Thomas Allen Glenn, Public domain
- Church Of St Catherine, Andriusphoto, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Square and mill street pomty, Victuallers, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Muni Arts Centre, Gelliwastad Rd, Pontypridd, Varitek, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Rhondda Transport bus 457 (457 KTG), Rhondda Heritage Park, 3 April 2013, Chris Sampson, CC BY 2.0
- Street-level photo, southglos, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, laye, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, laye, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, victuallers, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, laye, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, laye, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, laye, CC BY-SA 4.0
Page built November 10, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.