Newport City Council - Quality of Life
Newport, home of the 2010 Ryder Cup Golf Tournament, benefits from being between two major cities (Bristol and Cardiff) and surrounded by beautiful countryside, with the world famous Wye Valley and the Brecon Beacons National Park nearby.
For active residents, there are plenty of sports facilities, including 8 golf courses and Newport`s International Sports Village comprising Wales`s National Velodrome, 25m pool, football and athletics stadium, cricket and hockey pitches and an indoor tennis centre. The Newport Centre has a pool, badminton and squash courts, and a gym. In nearby Cardiff, The Millennium Centre has hosted major sporting events including the Rugby World Cup and the FA Cup. There is fishing, including Cwm Hedd Lakes and salmon fishing to the north of Newport`s River Usk. The numerous clubs in Newport include running, cycling and fencing clubs.
For art and entertainment lovers, Newport has 2 theatres, the £16.5 million Riverfront Theatre and Arts Centre, hosting plays, ballet, comedy, and art exhibitions, and The Dolman Theatre. The Newport Leisure Centre hosts pop and rock concerts, exhibitions and conferences. The Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff is home to the Welsh National Opera and also stages London musicals, opera and ballet. The new Theatre and St David`s Hall in Cardiff stages musicals, plays and ballet, with the Cardiff International Arena staging major pop/rock concerts.
For nature enthusiasts, we have The Newport Wetlands, an RSPB Reserve that puts on events for birdwatchers, nature lovers and astronomers.
