Merthyr Tydfil

A weatherproof box where anyone can leave books, toys or kitchen bits and take something else: sustainability can be that simple. What matters is a good spot, permission from the owner or the council, and a few people w…

Not everyone finds smartphones, online bookings or long forms easy. Often a patient half hour is all it takes to help someone. Important: never take over passwords or bank details, go through it together step by step in…

Whether it's a part-time job in a café, delivering leaflets or tutoring: your first job brings not just money but confidence too. Make sure you get a written contract and that your hours fit around school or college. Wh…

A driving licence is a big step towards independence for many, but it takes time and money. Compare offers beforehand, study the theory regularly in small chunks and stay relaxed during lessons. Bikes and public transpo…

Every place has spots only locals know: a bench with a view, a courtyard full of flowers, a little path along the water. Which hidden corner of Merthyr Tydfil County Borough would you show a newcomer? Let us in on the s…

Parents and grandparents know it well: not all playgrounds are equal. Which playground in Merthyr Tydfil County Borough is your favourite, and why? Share your tips with other families!

Football, table tennis, swimming or a walking group: clubs are often the best way to meet people. Which club are you part of in Merthyr Tydfil County Borough, and are you looking for new members? Give your club a quick …

Since 2017, the Valleys Taskforce have developed many schemes and initiatives to support communities in the South Wales Valleys. We spoke to Landscape, Culture and Identity Convenor for the Valleys Regional Park, Dan Lo…

=== Pre-industrial Merthyr === What is now Merthyr Tydfil town centre was originally little more than a village. An ironworks existed in the parish in the Elizabethan period, but it did not survive beyond the early 1640…

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough (Welsh: Bwrdeistref Sirol Merthyr Tudful) is a county borough in the south-east of Wales. In 2025, it had an estimated population of 58,362, making it the smallest local authority in Wales …

Vlorë holds a central place in Albanian history: it was here that Albania's independence was proclaimed on 28 November 1912. The city's roots go back to antiquity, when it was known as Aulon and mentioned by Ptolemy amo…

During the Bronze Age, the area of today's Shkodër County was home to Illyrian tribes such as the Ardiaei and the Labeates. In the second century BC, Illyria was annexed by Rome, and the region became part of the Roman …

Fier County in southwestern Albania is home to the ruins of Apollonia, one of the most important ancient cities on the Adriatic coast, founded by Greek colonists. Over the centuries the fertile plains between the mounta…

People have lived in the Tirana area since the Paleolithic, some 10,000 to 30,000 years ago, as tools from Mount Dajt and the Cave of Pëllumbas show. The oldest find in the city centre is a Roman house from the 3rd cent…

Durrës is one of the oldest cities in Albania. Founded in antiquity as Epidamnos by Greek colonists and later known to the Romans as Dyrrachium, it became an important port on the Adriatic and a gateway between Italy an…

In 314 BC, Cassander founded the city of Antipatrea, named after his father Antipater, on the site of today's Berat; its ancient fortress is still visible. The Dassaretae lived in the area as early as the 6th century BC…

Almost every region has a dish you won't find anywhere else, or a recipe handed down through the generations. What food simply belongs to Saint Paul, Antigua and Barbuda? Tell us your favourites and where to try them!

Not every day is sunny, and with kids you need good ideas when it pours. Where do you go in Saint Paul, Antigua and Barbuda when it's wet outside: the library, the swimming pool, a board-game café, or puddle jumping aft…

Every place can become a little nicer to live in, and locals often have the best ideas. What would you improve in Saint Paul, Antigua and Barbuda: more benches, better cycle paths, a meeting place for young and old? Sha…

Helping out, for example coaching kids' sports, at an animal shelter or at local events, brings new friendships and looks great on your CV. Often just a few hours a month are enough. Simply ask clubs and organisations i…