Doctor Who celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2023, so it's no surprise the longest running sci-fi show has found some of the top spots around the UK for filming throughout the past six decades. Wales in particular has become a favourite Dr Who filming location, thanks to the country's spectacular natural and historical backdrops - from Norman strongholds to wild beaches.
So where exactly is Dr Who filmed? We delve into ten of the best Doctor Who filming locations across the UK to inspire your travels, whether you are location scouting for a production or are a keen fan exploring for fun.
Nant Ffrancon Pass is a deep glacial valley between the Glyderau and Carneddau mountain groups and it offers stunning highland views. The valley is located in Eyri (Snowdonia) National Park in Wales which is well known for its dramatic snow-capped peaks, wild streams and lush green valleys.
The 1967 episode of Doctor Who, The Abominable Snowman, was an adventure set in the Himalayas, but shooting overseas just wasn't feasible. So instead Nant Ffrancon made a convincing stand-in for the Tibetan mountain range.
Bodiam Castle is a 14th century moated castle which was originally built to defend the south coast against French invasion. The castle is now owned by the National Trust and is open to the public. The impressive medieval exterior is largely intact but the interior has fallen into ruin.
The castle has featured in two episodes of Doctor Who, 'The Kings Demons' (1983) and 'Robot of Sherwood' (2014). Bodiam stood in for Nottingham Castle, home of the Sheriff, in the latter episode where the Doctor meets Robin Hood.
Dyrham Park features a Grade I listed baroque English country house within an ancient deer park in Gloucestershire. This is another property owned by the National Trust and has become a popular attraction and filming location. The building has been beautifully restored and the interior is decorated with artworks and artefacts with a strong Dutch influence.
The location features in the 2011 Dr Who episode 'Night Terrors'. The house was transformed into a giant doll's house for the episode, where the Doctor's friends Amy and Rory were chased by the spooky peg dolls.
This elaborate Grade I listed Edwardian garden can be found on the Dyffryn Estate on the outskirts of Cardiff. There are many areas to explore on the grounds which are carefully maintained by the National Trust, including the sweeping lawns, the arboretum and the exotic gardens.
Dryffryn house and gardens are popular Dr Who filming locations and have featured in nine episodes over the last two decades. The gardens even stood in for the Palace of Versailles in the 2006 episode 'The Girl in the Fireplace'.
Craig Y Nos is a fully restored gothic castle surrounded by mountains in the heart of Wales. It is now a gorgeous hotel and wedding venue but was once the home of the opera singer Adelina Patti.
The exterior was transformed into Torchwood House, the Scottish residence of Queen Victoria for the 2006 episode 'Tooth and Claw'. The Doctor tags along with Queen Victoria's party but find the house already playing host to a caged prisoner turned wolf during the full moon.
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Doctor Who episode 'The Daemons' (1971) (credit: BBC)
Aldbourne is a quaint and historic village surrounded by rolling chalk hills in the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It has a delightful village green at the centre, overlooked by St Michael's Church which dates back to the 11th century.
The Village was renamed 'Devil's End' for the 1971 five-part story 'The Daemons'. Here the Doctor discovers his nemesis masquerading as the local vicar, attempting to invoke the powers of Azal the Daemon to take over the world.
Cardiff Castle is conveniently located in the centre of the Welsh capital and offers 2,000 years of history within its walls with a Roman fort, Norman keep and a Victorian Gothic revival palace, making it a popular location for historical films.
So it's no surprise Cardiff Castle is another regular filming location for Dr Who. The castle has been used over multiple episodes and even as a stand-in for the Tower of London. But probably its most famous episode was 2012's Christmas Special 'The Snowmen' where Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman) was officially introduced as the Doctor's new companion.
Dunraven (also known as Southerndown beach from the nearby village of the same name) is a secluded bay surrounded by scenic cliffs and features a mostly sandy beach with rock pools. It offers one of the most dramatic coastal backdrops in South Wales.
The beach has been used as a filming location in six episodes of Doctor Who between 2006 and 2010, including the emotional season finale 'Doomsday' where the Doctor said farewell to his former companion Rose Tyler (Billie Piper). In this episode the beach stood in for Bad Wolf Bay in Norway.
For more beach inspiration, explore our list of famous beach locations for filming.
Clearwell Caves are a natural cave system in Gloucestershire formed by underground streams, and have been extensively mined for iron ore since around 100 BC. It now mainly operates as a mining museum with mines open for the public to explore. The ochre colours the rock red and yellow, producing a unique and magical backdrop.
The caves have featured in five Doctor Who episodes. They were transformed into the Sycorax Spaceship for the Christmas special 'The Christmas Invasion' (2005), the tunnels under the Vesuvius volcano in 'The Fires of Pompeii' (2008) and the deep pit on the planet Krop Tor in 'The Satan Pit' (2006).
Llansannor Court is an elegant Grade I listed mansion in the Vale of Glamorgan, with features from the 16th and 17th Centuries. The estate is a private residence within the small hamlet of Llansannor.
It's yet again another popular Welsh filming location for Doctor Who and was transformed into the home of Lady Eddison in 2008's 'The Unicorn and the Wasp', the home of Me in 2015's 'The Woman Who Lived' and the interior of Torchwood House in the 2006 episode 'Tooth and Claw'.
We hope you enjoyed exploring these Dr Who filming locations with us. They demonstrate just how versatile the UK landscape can be, with many of the locations on the list standing in for overseas spots, from France to the Himalayas.
These beautiful backdrops have inspired decades of storylines and characters in the beloved Doctor Who cast, and will continue to do so for years to come.
For more UK filming inspiration check out these 10 British farm locations for hire.
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