Wales (UK) - Facts for Kids

Basic Information

Wales is officially called “Wales” in English and “Cymru” in Welsh, and it’s one of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom!

The capital city of Wales is Cardiff, which became the official capital in 1955!

Wales has a population of about 3.1 million people, which is smaller than many cities around the world!

Wales is located on the western side of Great Britain, with England to the east and the Irish Sea to the west!

Welsh and English are both official languages in Wales, making it a truly bilingual (two-language) country!

Wales uses the British Pound Sterling (£) as its money, just like the rest of the United Kingdom!

Wales is part of a constitutional monarchy (a country with a king or queen as the head, but also has its own government), which means it has a King or Queen as the head of state, but also has its own government called the Welsh Government!

The Welsh flag features a fierce red dragon on a white and green background, and it’s one of the coolest flags in the world!

The national anthem (special song) of Wales is called “Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau,” which means “Land of My Fathers” in Welsh!

The red dragon (Y Ddraig Goch) is the national animal of Wales and has been a symbol of Wales for more than 1,000 years!

Wales has a maritime climate (weather affected by being near the ocean), which means mild winters, cool summers, and plenty of rain throughout the year!

Geography & Nature

Wales shares a 160-mile (257 km) border with England but is surrounded by water on three sides!

Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa in Welsh) is the highest mountain in Wales at 3,560 feet (1,085 meters), which is about as tall as 286 children standing on each other’s shoulders!

Wales has an incredible 870 miles (1,400 km) of coastline (edge where land meets the sea), with beautiful beaches, cliffs, and coves to explore!

The longest river entirely in Wales is the River Towy, which flows for about 75 miles (120 km) through the beautiful Welsh countryside!

Wales is home to three National Parks (special protected areas of natural beauty): Snowdonia, Pembrokeshire Coast, and Brecon Beacons, which together cover about 20% of the country’s land!

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path in Wales is 186 miles (299 km) long and would take about 74 hours of non-stop walking to complete!

Wales has over 500 castles, which is more castles per square mile than any other country in the world!

Pistyll Rhaeadr is the tallest waterfall in Wales at 240 feet (73 meters), which is taller than Niagara Falls!

Wales is home to many rare animals, including the pine marten (a cat-like animal), red squirrel, and the Chough (a rare bird with a bright red beak)!

The smallest house in Great Britain is in Conwy, Wales, measuring just 72 inches (1.8 meters) wide and 122 inches (3.1 meters) tall!

Wales has more than 1,680 lakes, and the largest natural lake is Llyn Tegid (also called Bala Lake), which is about 3.7 miles (6 km) long!

The west coast of Wales faces the Irish Sea, while its southern coast looks out to the Bristol Channel!

Wales has more than 150 mountains that are over 2,000 feet (610 meters) high!

Culture & Traditions

The Welsh celebrate St. David’s Day on March 1st each year, when many children wear traditional (old-fashioned) Welsh costumes to school!

Traditional Welsh women’s costume includes a tall black hat, a red flannel (soft wool) shawl, and a checked apron!

Male voice choirs (groups of men who sing together) are an important Welsh tradition, with groups of men coming together to sing beautiful harmonies (different notes that sound good together)!

The Welsh game of “cnapan” was an early form of rugby where hundreds of players could participate (take part) at once!

The National Eisteddfod (special Welsh festival) is a Welsh festival of literature (books and writing), music, and performance that’s been held for over 900 years!

Love spoons are traditional Welsh gifts that are hand-carved (shaped by hand) wooden spoons given as a token of affection (to show someone you care about them)!

The Welsh have a tradition called “Mari Lwyd” where people carry a decorated (fancy) horse’s skull door-to-door during winter celebrations!

Wales has its own form of singing called “Cerdd Dant,” where a singer performs to a contrasting (different) harp accompaniment (music played at the same time)!

Rugby is considered the national sport of Wales, and the country goes rugby-crazy during the Six Nations Championship (big rugby competition)!

Welsh traditional music often features the triple harp, which has three rows of strings instead of just one!

The Llangollen International Eisteddfod in Wales brings together over 4,000 performers (people who sing, dance, or play music) from around the world each year!

Wales is famous for its storytelling tradition called “Cyfarwyddyd,” which kept Welsh history and mythology (old stories and legends) alive for generations!

“Plygain” is an ancient (very old) Welsh Christmas tradition where people gather before dawn (early morning) to sing carols in three‑ or four‑part harmony — usually between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m.!!

The Welsh have a traditional New Year’s celebration called “Calennig,” where children go door-to-door singing songs in exchange for treats!

Food & Daily Life

Welsh cakes (called “picau ar y maen” in Welsh) are small, round spiced cakes cooked on a griddle (flat cooking surface) rather than baked in an oven!

Cawl is a traditional Welsh stew (thick soup) made with lamb and vegetables that has been eaten in Wales for hundreds of years!

Bara brith is a famous Welsh tea bread filled with dried fruits that have been soaked in tea overnight!

Welsh rarebit is a popular dish made of a savory (not sweet) cheese sauce served over toasted bread!

Laverbread isn’t actually bread, but a Welsh delicacy (special food treat) made from seaweed that’s often served with bacon and cockles (small shellfish) for breakfast!

In Welsh schools, all children learn both Welsh and English, with many schools teaching all subjects in Welsh!

The Welsh tradition of “Nos Galan” involves a special New Year’s Eve race that commemorates (remembers) the legendary (famous) runner Guto Nyth Brân

Many Welsh families celebrate “Dydd Santes Dwynwen” (St. Dwynwen’s Day) on January 25th, which is the Welsh equivalent (same as) of Valentine’s Day!

Fishing for sewin (sea trout) in Welsh rivers at night is a traditional pastime (hobby) that has been enjoyed for generations!

Welsh people often use the phrase “cwtch” (pronounced “kutch”), which means both a cuddle and a small, cozy (warm and comfortable) space!

Many Welsh children participate (take part) in Young Farmers’ Clubs, where they learn about agriculture (farming) and take part in competitions!

Traditional Welsh butter is often salted and formed into decorative (pretty) patterns using wooden molds (special shaping tools)!