Locations to visit from the Doctor Who series Flux

The list of Doctor Who sites evolves as The Doctor regenerates through new incarnations. South Wales provided the several backdrops when Jodie Whittaker was at the helm, including for her final series, Flux.

St Donat's Castle

The 12th century castle, located in the grounds of Atlantic College in the Vale of Glamorgan, once hosted Hollywood legends. More recently, St Donat's, which is the longest continually inhabited castle in Wales, found Mandip Gill (Yaz) and guest actor, Jacob Anderson, battling Sontarans for Flux in the college grounds.

Stone castle.

Atantic College, St Donats, Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales

Merthyr Mawr Warren

Merthyr Mawr Warren National Nature Reserve is part of the historic Merthyr Mawr Estate, situated just outside Bridgend. It's best known for The Big Dipper, the highest sand dune system in Wales. But this wildlife haven has also hosted the Doctor Who cast with scenes shot around the dunes and surrounding farmland.

Two humans and a dog exploring a sandy path through grassy dunes.
aerial view of trees and sand dunes.

Merthyr Mawr Warren National Nature Reserve, Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales

Cold Knap Bay

Cold Knap’s beach lived up to its name for the filming of series 13, which saw Jodie Whittaker face off the haunting Weeping Angels. When not hosting a Time Lord, the quieter, pebble beach, away from the main resort of Barry Island, is popular for fishing and rock pooling.

The sweep of the bay. Cold Knap bathed in winter sunshine.

Posted by Visit the Vale on Saturday, January 21, 2017

Doctor Who locations to visit across Wales

But, even before Jodie Whittaker took the helm, a TARDIS was often seen on the South Walian horizon. Try these Doctor Who reboot locations:

Tredegar House

This 17th century mansion in Newport, Tredegar House has been a stalwart of modern-day Doctor Who, appearing in multiple episodes. The red-brick stately pile, set within 90 acres of grounds and originally home to local landowners, was particularly popular with David Tennant-era series, appearing in both The Christmas Invasion and The Girl in the Fireplace.

red 17th century manor through open gates.
One of the impressive state rooms featuring a fireplace and candelabra at Tredegar House.

Tredegar House, Newport, South Wales

Chepstow Castle

The historic Chepstow Castle has kept watch over the River Wye since the Norman Conquest, built in 1067 by associates of William the Conqueror. The castle was later a seat of medieval and Tudor power before finding a new role, providing the backdrop to scenes in Doctor Who episodes such as The Rebel Flesh and The Almost People, both from the Matt Smith era of the show, plus the 50th-anniversary special, The Day of the Doctor.

Two towers inside Chepstow Castle showing the ruins of war.
Exterior shot of an archway and steps of an abbey
The ruins of a castle on rocky cliffs on the bank of an estuary.

Chepstow Castle, Monmouthshire, South Wales

Tredegar House & Gardens

Attraction
Newport City
Landscape of the attractions at Cardiff Bay seen from the water.
Chepstow Castle

Chepstow Castle (Cadw)

Attraction
Chepstow
Landscape of the attractions at Cardiff Bay seen from the water.

National Botanic Garden of Wales

National Botanic Garden of Wales is a 568-acre site in Carmarthenshire dedicated to horticulture. Its landscapes are alive with the changing colours of the seasons. The centrepiece Great Glasshouse, the landmark glass dome designed by architect Norman Foster, played a darkly dramatic role in the The Waters of Mars, staring David Tennant. 

Colourful flowers and plants under a glass dome roof
A green moss covered lake in front of a colourful slate bed

National Botanic Garden of Wales, Carmarthenshire, West Wales

Southerndown Beach

The shingle beach, located along the Wales Coast Path in Glamorgan, is officially known as Dunraven Bay. However, the wave-washed beach, popular with fossil hunters, is better to known to Whovians — that’s Doctor Who fans — as Bad Wolf Bay. Southerndown Beach played a starring role in several episodes, the most dramatic scene the tearful farewell between Doctor David Tennant and companion Rose Tyler (Billie Piper) in Doomsday.

Dunraven Bay (Southerndown)

Dunraven Bay (Southerndown Beach)

Attraction
Llantwit Major
Landscape of the attractions at Cardiff Bay seen from the water.
Tide out at Southerndown beach at sunset.

Dunraven Bay, also often referred to as Southerndown beach taking its name from the nearby village. 

Classic Doctor Who locations in Cardiff

The Welsh capital, Cardiff, has been a regular destination for Whovians since the arrival of the ninth doctor, Christopher Eccleston. It even featured in the 50th anniversary special, The Day of the Doctor, whereby doctors ten and 11, David Tennant and Matt Smith respectively, joined forces — plus a preview of then incoming twelfth doctor, Peter Capaldi. Try these classic Cardiff locations for Doctor Who nostalgia:

National Museum of Wales

The cornerstone of Cardiff’s Civic Quarter, the National Museum Cardiff is a treasure trove of discoveries. While the gallery is home to works by Monet and Rodin, plus Welsh artist Augustus John, the Evolution of Wales gallery traces the history of the nation. For Doctor Who fans, however, the museum’s staircase is the biggest draw: the 2005 episode, Dalek, saw The Doctor’s arch-nemesis conquering stairs here.

Inside the National Museum Wales

National Museum Cardiff, South Wales

Cardiff Castle

The Cardiff landmark was the former home of wealthy industrialists, the Bute family, who transformed the historic Cardiff landmark into a Victorian architectural folly. Cardiff Castle also provided the Victorian backdrop to a Matt Smith-era Christmas special, The Snowmen, which first introduced fans to future companion, Clara Oswald, played by Jenna Coleman.

A castle keep with two people walking up the steps.
View of Cardiff  from Cardiff Castle grounds

Cardiff Castle, South Wales

St Fagans National Museum of History

The open-air museum, located just outside Cardiff, tells the story of Welsh life through history. That made it the perfect location for filming the episodes Human Nature and The Family of Blood, which takes David Tennant back to eve of World War I. St Fagans National Museum of History stands in the grounds of 16th century St Fagans Castle.

Doctor Who walking tours

There are a number of Doctor Who themed walking tours in Cardiff, including Fogo's Free Tours, which runs on a 'pay as you feel' basis. For a self led tour, you can download the Cinematic Cardiff Tour from VoiceMap, voiced by guide Sarah of Sarah's Wales. Listen as the tour guides you around the city centre pointing out spots used in the filming of the Doctor Who series, Torchwood, The Sarah-Jane Adventures and the BBC’s Sherlock, as well as a few more surprising television productions.

Waterlilies by Monet

National Museum Cardiff

Attraction
Cardiff
Landscape of the attractions at Cardiff Bay seen from the water.
Cardiff Castle Summer Room

Cardiff Castle

Attraction
Cardiff
Landscape of the attractions at Cardiff Bay seen from the water.
Cardiff Walking Tour

Fogo's Free Tours

Attraction
Cardiff
Landscape of the attractions at Cardiff Bay seen from the water.
People walking past a traditional store.
exterior of building.

St Fagans National Museum of History, Cardiff, South Wales

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