As we welcomed in the noughties in Cardiff more than 15 years ago - with thousands of us at the Manic Street Preachers gig at the then brand new Millennium Stadium - little could we have envisaged the changes that would have taken place.

Today the Welsh capital is almost unrecognisable, with an amazing choice of shops, restaurants, venues and activities.

So lets look back at a few things that we wouldn't have done in Cardiff if we rewound the clocks by 15 years...

1. Bump into a Dalek while walking along Queen Street

Exterminate, exterminate! A Dalek looking very menacing in front of a large crowd during the premiere of Doctor Who Series 8 last year
A Dalek on the red carpet

In fact, who would have thought that the popular sci-fi series Doctor Who would be revived by Swansea writer Russell T Davies a few years later and produced by BBC Wales, catapulting the likes of David Tennant and Matt Smith to global stardom.?

Related:The proper Cardiff quiz: 25 questions only a true Cardiffian could answer

2. Experience a slice of the West End without travelling to London

If you wanted to see the likes of Les Miserables or Miss Saigon, you would have had to endure a long coach trip along the M4 or a two-hour train ride. But in 2004 one of the country's most important venues opened its doors - the Wales Millennium Centre. The Cardiff Bay arts centre now welcomes the latest musicals and among those heading there in the coming weeks are The Bodyguard and Jersey Boys.

3. Enjoy an alfresco lunch, night out or an ice cream in Cardiff Bay

Cardiff's landmark Pierhead Building and Wales Millennium Centre.

In fact, it wasn't just the Wales Millennium Centre which didn't exist, Cardiff Bay was still under development back then. Now it's a bustling area of Cardiff with its own shops, bars, restaurants and the five-star St David's Hotel. During the summer months, it feels like you're on the Med.

4. Cross the Cardiff Bay Barrage

Running across the Cardiff Bay Barrage

After years in the planning, the Cardiff Bay Barrage was one of the largest civil engineering projects in Europe during its construction in the 1990s. It finally opened in 2001 and now people can cross the 1km stretch which links Cardiff Bay to Penarth.

5. Shop in John Lewis - or a multitude of designer stores - and be spoilt for choice by the restaurants too

John Lewis' Cardiff store

The Hayes area of the city was completely unrecognisable before the second part of the St David's shopping centre was constructed there, bringing with it designer stores like Jo Malone and Cardiff's massive department store John Lewis. As far as restaurants are concerned, we now have everything from Jamie's Italian to Wahaca to choose from.

6. Spot the world's highest paid footballer eating his lunch in Nando's

Gareth Bale in a supermarket

He was just a schoolboy in the year 2000 but former Whitchurch High School pupil Gareth Bale is now the world's highest paid footballer. And while he lives in Spain, when he's not scoring goals for Real Madrid, he's more often than not on home turf in his beloved Cardiff - and eating at The Plough in Whitchurch or spending his cash at St David's shopping centre, much to the excitement of fans. We also know he loves to visit Nando's - another eaterie which wasn't around back then.

7. Watch a film in 3D at the IMAX

As well as sitting back and tucking into your popcorn these days, you now feel like you are part of that alien world on the big screen as you get immersed in the 3D film experience in the Cardiff Bay cinema.

8. Tweet or Instagram a selfie in the city centre

Who would have thought one of the greatest obsessions of modern life would have been taking photos of yourself doing everything from running to shopping to, er, eating? Nope, us neither.

9. Go white water rafting

Cardiff International White Water Centre, Cardiff Bay
Cardiff International White Water Centre, Cardiff Bay

People used to travel far and wide to enjoy a bit of white water rafting. Not any more - now you can do it in the city thanks to Cardiff International White Water, which opened its doors five years ago.

10. Swim in an Olympic-sized pool

Cardiff International Swimming Pool

How we cried when the Empire Pool closed down all those years ago. Luckily would-be Rebecca Adlingtons can now practise to their hearts content at the 50-metre pool. Is it too late for us to enrol for the 2016 Olympics?

11. Shop, eat and drink in the suburbs

Miss Jones in Whitchurch

There was a time when the only place to go after dark was Cardiff city centre, now we are flocking to the suburbs instead thanks to a wealth of restaurants and late-night bars which have cropped up in areas like Whitchurch, Roath, Canton and Birchgrove.

12. Watch dramas like Casualty and Sherlock filming on our doorstep

Casualty being filmed in The Hayes

Everywhere you turn, Cardiff is like one giant film set. One minute Doctor Who is being shot in the local play park, the next moment the Casualty cameras are rolling in the city centre and after that you will find Sherlock taking over the museum. Thanks to the new BBC Roath Lock drama studios, more TV series are now based in the Welsh capital.

13. Have a conservatoire that looked like a state-of-the-art venue not out of place in New York

It used to be a rather grim-looking building in Cathays Park but now the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama has had a swish makeover that wouldn't make the building look out of place in New York. And it even has a veranda with the most fantastic views overlooking the park.

14. Enjoy gigs at not one but TWO stadiums on our doorstep

One Direction were the latest band to rock up at the home of Welsh rugby last week. Since the Millennium Stadium opened its doors, big names like Madonna, Take That, Bruce Springsteen and Paul McCartney have all performed there. And nearby Cardiff City Stadium has also welcomed its fare share of bands too, including Stereophonics.

15. Celebrate a Welsh football win on the streets of Cardiff... and think about cheering the team on in the Euro championships

Wales' Gareth Bale celebrates after the game during the UEFA European Championship Qualifying match at Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff

Do we need to say any more? Thanks to Gareth Bale and the rest of Chris Coleman's team, Welsh fans are now dreaming of travelling to France next summer...