Roath (Welsh: Y Rhath) is a district in the east/north-east of the city of Cardiff, capital of Wales.
It lies just east/north east of the city centre, stretching from Adamsdown in the south to Roath Park in the north. Roath contains the Plasnewydd electoral ward. The name is believed to originate from Irish ráth, 'fort'. Alternatively, it could derive from the name given to the Roman settlement in Cardiff, Ratostabius.
Its main shopping streets are Albany Road, City Road, and Wellfield Road. It is characterised by its several tree-lined avenues and Victorian era terraced streets. Roath houses a very diverse population including a large number of students, being very close to the main university campuses, a large ethnic minority population and many young professionals. Parts of Roath are among the most affluent districts of Cardiff, although subdivision of the large Victorian properties is starting to occur in the areas at the south end of the district.
Its close proximity to the city centre and large number of local amenities makes it known for its very strong sense of community, encouraged largely due to the parks, road layouts, churches, and local post offices and newsagents, therefore Roath a very popular area to live. There are a number of restaurants and public houses, a variety of shops, an outdoor tennis centre and the famous Roath Park making it one of the greenest areas in Cardiff.
Roath contains the Church of St Margaret of Antioch, built in 1870 on the site of an earlier Norman chapel and the new Gothic revival church. Designed by Llandaff architect John Prichard on a Greek Cross plan, the latter was financed totally by the third Marquess of Bute, in spite of his conversion to Catholicism in 1868. Inside is an opulent mausoleum housing tombs of nine members of the Bute family, including the First Marquess and his wives. The tower of St Margaret's was finally completed in 1926.
Roath court, a Georgian era manor house, is also found near Saint Margaret's Church.
| Heath | Roath Park | Penylan |
| Cathays | Roath | Tremorfa |
| City centre | Adamsdown | Splott |
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