In many towns and cities across Wales you'll find places and local landmarks that have adopted nicknames or even terms of endearment that many people don't even realise are not their proper official names.
Here in south Wales, we have plenty of these unofficial names for places we see every day or talk about, so much so that it would seem strange or even weird to call them by their official names.
For example, if someone was to say to you that they used to work near the Landmark, in Cardiff, or that you need to turn off the junction before the Unity statue in Pontypridd, would you have realised that they were talking about the Magic Roundabout or that boat just off the A470 Pontypridd turn off? Chances are you didn't and hats off to you if you did!
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Here we look at some more places like these and no doubt there are plenty of others that are called different things all over Wales, and we would love to hear about them! If you know of another one, please leave a comment in the section below.
The A4232 - Concrete Road
Most people call this the concrete road rather than its official name - the A4232/Cardiff Link Road. It is one of the major artery roads which links the M4 to Cardiff and the Vale. It can be accessed via junction 33 of the M4. The nickname is due to the road being made mainly from concrete, from the M4 to the Culverhouse Cross turnoff.
Victoria Park - Vicky Park
Victoria Park is home to the Billy The Seal monument and locally the park is known as Vicky Park, with kids telling their parents that they are off down to the Vicky to play with their friends. The park was built back in 1897/1989 in honour of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee and is also a recipient of a Green Flag Award for being one of the best-maintained parks in Cardiff.
The A4063 - Paper Mill Road
The A4063 is one of the key routes in and out of Maesteg, but to locals in the area, it is often also known as the Paper Mill Road. The road is a lifeline for those who commute in and around Maesteg.
Although the A4063 is made up of Maesteg Road and Bridgend Road, where it runs by the Paper Mill - most locals have given it the adopted name of the Paper Mill Road. With an official name that has so many digits in it, there's no doubt Paper Mill Road just rolls off the tongue so much better.
Caroline Street - Chippy Lane/Chip Alley
The weekend tradition of clubbing in the capital normally ends up at Chippy Lane or Chip Alley. Either way, Caroline Street is the best place for a night-ending chicken curry off the bone, and chips to refuel.
Confluence - The 'Y' gateway sculpture, Porth
“Confluence” was created by international Welsh artist Ann Catrin Evans and is sited adjacent to the A4058 roundabout near the Rhondda Heritage Park. The title comes from the place where the two Rhondda (Fach and Fawr) rivers meet in Porth.
Junction of Albany Road, City Road, Crwys Road, and Richmond Road - Death Junction
The point where Albany, Richmond, City, and Crwys roads meet, known locally as 'Death Junction', is aptly named due to the horrific acts that were carried out on that patch of land many years ago. Criminals used to be executed using excruciating methods at the site, and two priests were hung, drawn and quartered there.
That said, even today it is a nightmare to cross or drive through if you are not familiar with the layout.
Unity - The Boat, Pontypridd
The landmark that is currently at the A470 Pontypridd turnoff is known locally as 'the boat' or 'the waste of money' though it's actually called Unity. Back in 2010 when it was unveiled, it was reported to have cost £169,000.
The Magic Roundabout - Landmark
Another place, and one that has become synonymous with the area, is the Magic Roundabout, but did you know that it is officially called 'The Landmark'? Back in 2016, the Landmark was given a refurbishment after 25 years of wear and tear. Thankfully, the signs were given the facelift they so desperately needed.
Carrefour - Asda, Caerphilly
Back in the early '70s, supermarkets weren't the titans of commerce they are now. However, that was all about to change when Carrefour opened in Caerphilly. While Carrefour reigned supreme back in the day, Asda is currently doing great business there but, to many in the area, the supermarket will always be Carrefour. Do you remember the gorilla that used to call the supermarket home?
Swansea.com Stadium - Liberty Stadium
Opened in 2005 and known as the Liberty Stadium, Swansea's jewel in the crown venue has been home to Swansea City AFC and the Ospreys rugby team. Since 2021, the stadium has been officially named Swansea.com Stadium due to Swansea.com winning the naming rights.
While for many it will always be the Liberty Stadium, I'm sure a fair few will still call it the Morfa or even the White Rock due to the history of the location.
Principality Stadium - Millennium Stadium
When plans were announced that The National Stadium of Wales was to be demolished to make way for the Millennium Stadium, many were sad to say goodbye to Cardiff Arms Park. However, when the Millennium Stadium opened, people rejoiced that we finally had a venue we could be proud of and call ours.
Since 2016, the stadium has had a new name, however, due to sponsorship, and is now the Principality Stadium. But to many people it's the Millennium Stadium and always will be.
Cardiff Motorpoint Arena - Cardiff International Arena
Okay, we're being a bit cheeky with this one but, since 2016, the CIA has been sponsored by Motorpoint and known officially as the Motorpoint Arena, but to those of us who grew up going to see bands there since it opened in 1993, it was always the Cardiff International Arena, AKA CIA. And it is once again now officially known as Cardiff International Arena.
Did you also know that the offices upstairs and around the venue are officially known as the World Trade Centre?
The Prince Of Wales Bridge - The Second Severn Crossing Bridge
When the Second Severn Crossing bridge was controversially renamed in 2018 as The Prince of Wales Bridge, many people in Wales were up in arms about it. It is still to this day named the Prince of Wales Bridge but, to many people, it will always be called the Second Severn Crossing.
Castle Square, Swansea - Castle Gardens
This area in the centre of Swansea used to be full of gardens, flowers and lush green grass. Then the whole thing was paved over in 1995, creating a stone ampitheatre space with a large cascading fountain and leaf sculpture as its centrepiece. You can read more about how that came about here.
But the nostalgia for the old gardens has never gone away, especially when pictures of what it used to look like are shared on social media. To answer calls for a change, Swansea Council has since unveiled plans to radically alter the square and return a bit of greenery along with other new features there.
LC - LC2, Swansea
The old Swansea Leisure Centre, known as the LC, was condemned as potentially dangerous and closed with immediate effect in 2003. Quickly, plans were hatched to replace it with a new facility which would utilise the existing structure but would otherwise be better in just about every way.
The new LC was opened by The Queen in 2008 but its logo immediately caused confusion. The letters LC in the logo are followed by a breaking wave graphic and a couple of smaller waves which look like someone is trying to depict the number '2'. With it being the second coming of the much-loved attraction, people thought that wave was actually a '2' and henceforth it became known to most as the LC2, even though it really is just - the LC.
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