The original Castell Coch or 'Red Castle' was probably built in the 15th century and later surrounded by a strong earthwork ditch. No other history is known about the castle and by the late-19th century it was just an ivy covered ruin. On the foundations of the early castle the 3rd Marquess of Bute commisioned William Burgess to fabricate a 13th century castle. Burgess had previously worked with the Marquess on Cardiff Castle. The castle was built with two round towers which rise out of buttressed square bases and a third tower that stands in a dry moat crossed by a wooden bridge. Burgess allowed personal taste to enter his design and added conical turrets to the towers instead of the traditional flat roof, parapet and rampart. As a result Castell Coch appears more like a French chateau than a Welsh castle.

With easy access to Cardiff City Centre and South Wales, the Quality Hotel & Suites Cardiff is situated just off junction 32 on the M4. The hotel offers 95 well appointed Premier bedrooms, all with en-suite bathrooms and a full range of amenities including tea and coffee making facilities, direct dial telephone, clock-radio, trouser press, mini-bar, hairdryer and colour television with satellite channels. For the health conscious, or if you just want to unwind after a long day, the hotel sports a Quality Living Leisure Club with a heated indoor swimming pool, solarium, sauna, jacuzzi and fully equipped gym.