THERE is no getting away from the build up to this weekend’s Uefa Champions League finals and festival in Cardiff.

And it is promising to be a fantastic sporting spectacle.

This is a great opportunity to showcase Cardiff and Wales to the world and to show that – as when the Ryder Cup and the Nato summit were hosted here in Newport – Wales can pull-off world-class events.

Around 200,000 additional visitors are expected in Cardiff over June 1-4, joined by 2,500 members of the media.

The planning and organisation has been as complex as it has been lengthy, especially given the need for a substantial security operation.

As with hosting any event on this scale there will inevitably be disruption and this weekend will be the busiest ever on Wales’ transport network.

Cardiff is by far the smallest city to host the Uefa Champions League final which brings its own pressures.

So, our advice is: if you don’t have to travel along the M4 corridor during the festival, then don’t choose to.

If you absolutely have to travel, then allow plenty of time for your journey. For all the extra trains and park-and-ride services it will still be incredibly busy.