TV Shows Filmed in Wales: Filming Locations You Can Visit

By the Wales.org Travel Team | Updated April 2026

Wales is one of the busiest filming locations in the UK. A combination of world-class studios in Cardiff, diverse landscapes ranging from castles to coastline, and decades of production expertise have made the country a favourite for everything from sci-fi blockbusters to intimate Welsh-language dramas. Whether you are a fan of Gavin & Stacey, Doctor Who, Sex Education, or Sherlock, the chances are that many of your favourite scenes were shot against a Welsh backdrop.

This guide covers the most popular TV shows filmed in Wales, where they were shot, and which filming locations you can visit in person.

TV Filming Locations in Wales at a Glance

🗺️ Fictional to Real-World Translator (With Postcodes)

Trying to plug a fictional town into your sat-nav? We have translated the most famous on-screen locations into their real-world Welsh counterparts so you can drive straight there.

Comedy and Drama

Gavin & Stacey — Barry Island, Vale of Glamorgan

No list of TV shows filmed in Wales would be complete without Gavin & Stacey. The brainchild of James Corden and Ruth Jones, this much-loved sitcom follows the long-distance relationship between Gavin (Mathew Horne) from Billericay, Essex, and Stacey (Joanna Page) from Barry Island, South Wales.

The show ran for three series (2007–2010) plus Christmas specials in 2019 and 2024. The final ever episode aired on Christmas Day 2024 and was the most-watched scripted programme in the UK in over 20 years — Smithy and Nessa finally married, bringing one of British television’s great love stories to a close. Barry Island features so prominently throughout the series that it has become a pilgrimage destination for fans: Trinity Street (Gwen’s house and Uncle Bryn’s house), Barry Island Pleasure Park, and Marco’s Café are all instantly recognisable.

You can book a guided Gavin & Stacey sightseeing tour of Barry Island covering all the key filming locations. Barry Island is easily accessible from Cardiff by train (20 minutes from Cardiff Central).

Keeping Faith — Laugharne, Carmarthenshire

Filmed in both Welsh and English (as Un Bore Mercher on S4C), Keeping Faith stars Eve Myles as a solicitor struggling to keep her family together after her husband’s disappearance. The fictional town of Abercorran was brought to life in and around Laugharne in Carmarthenshire — the same coastal town famous for its association with Dylan Thomas. The show ran for three series (2017–2021) and became one of the most successful Welsh-produced dramas in recent years.

Stella — Ferndale, Rhondda Valley

Following her success with Gavin & Stacey, Ruth Jones created this six-season comedy-drama set in the fictional Welsh town of Pontyberry. The show depicted struggling mother Stella’s slightly haphazard life with warmth and humour. It ran from 2012–2017 and was largely filmed in Ferndale in the Rhondda Valley — one of the classic South Wales Valleys communities.

Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Crime

Doctor Who — Cardiff and Wolf Studios Wales

The most famous TV show produced in Wales, Doctor Who has been made in Cardiff since its 2005 revival under Russell T Davies. Production is now handled by Bad Wolf at Wolf Studios Wales — a 7-stage studio complex in Cardiff that replaced the earlier Roath Lock Studios. Cardiff’s National Museum, city centre streets, and Cardiff Bay are regular exterior filming locations.

The current Doctor is Ncuti Gatwa (15th Doctor, since 2023). The Doctor Who franchise’s popularity also spawned Torchwood (set in Cardiff Bay) and the 2025 spin-off The War Between the Land and the Sea, filmed extensively across South West Wales including Swansea Bay, Port Talbot, and Carmarthenshire. Fans can visit the Ianto Jones shrine at Mermaid’s Quay in Cardiff Bay — created by Torchwood fans after the character’s on-screen death.

His Dark Materials — Brecon Beacons and Cardiff

Produced by Bad Wolf with HBO, this adaptation of Philip Pullman’s trilogy was filmed across multiple Welsh locations: Cardiff’s Pontcanna, the Brecon Beacons, and Atlantic College in the Vale of Glamorgan. The town of Trollesund was built from scratch at Llangynidr Quarry in Crickhowell for the first season. The series ran for three seasons (2019–2022).

Sherlock — Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan

Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman’s Sherlock was extensively filmed in Wales, with production based at studios in Cardiff. Cardiff Bay and locations across the Vale of Glamorgan were used for exterior shots. Despite being set in London, the show’s Welsh production base meant that eagle-eyed viewers could occasionally spot Cardiff landmarks doubling for the capital.

Merlin — Brecon Beacons, Caerphilly, Chepstow, and Raglan

This reimagining of the Arthurian legends used Wales extensively for its atmospheric exterior sequences. While Camelot’s interiors were filmed in France, many of the outdoor and castle sequences were shot in the Brecon Beacons National Park and at the castles of Caerphilly, Chepstow, and Raglan — all visitable Cadw heritage sites.

Britannia — Gower Peninsula, Brecon Beacons

Written by Jez Butterworth for Sky Atlantic, Britannia depicted a land of druids and fierce women, using some of Wales’s most dramatic landscapes: Rhossili Bay on the Gower Peninsula, Cwm Porth at Ystradfellte, Llyn y Fan Fach at Llanddewi Skirrid, and Henrhyd Falls at Coelbren (the tallest waterfall in South Wales).

Hidden / Craith — Bangor and Eryri (Snowdonia)

Originally broadcast in Welsh on S4C as Craith, this crime drama starring Sian Reese-Williams used the landscape around Bangor and Eryri (Snowdonia) as a beautifully menacing backdrop for its increasingly dark storylines. The bilingual production demonstrated the growing international appetite for Welsh-language drama.

Drama and Period Pieces

Sex Education — Wye Valley and Newport

The hugely popular Netflix series (four seasons, 2019–2023) used the Wye Valley extensively for its pastoral settings. Moordale High — the fictional secondary school — was in fact the former University of South Wales campus in Newport. The cycling scenes between Otis (Asa Butterfield) and Eric (Ncuti Gatwa, later the 15th Doctor) were filmed around Usk, Chepstow, and Caerleon.

The Crown — Caernarfon Castle, Aberystwyth, Blaenavon

Caernarfon Castle featured for the recreation of Prince Charles’s 1969 investiture ceremony. Scenes depicting the Aberfan Disaster were shot at Cwmaman and Ferndale in the South Wales Valleys. Additional filming took place in Aberystwyth and at Blaenavon.

The Pembrokeshire Murders — Pembrokeshire Coast

Starring Luke Evans as detective Steve Wilkins, this ITV true-crime miniseries (2021) used the Pembrokeshire coastline as its dramatic backdrop, telling the story of real-life murders that took place in the county in the 1980s.

The Accident — Rhondda Valley

Written by Jack Thorne and starring Sarah Lancashire, this four-part drama explored the impact of a devastating disaster on a small Welsh community. Filming locations included Porth, the Rhondda Valley, and Pontyclun.

Industry — Cardiff

HBO and BBC’s financial drama Industry is produced at Bad Wolf Studios in Cardiff. While set in the world of London investment banking, the show is filmed almost entirely in Wales. New seasons continue to film in Cardiff for 2026 — making it one of the most high-profile ongoing Welsh productions alongside Doctor Who.

Wales as a Filming Destination

Wales’s success as a filming destination is no accident. The establishment of BBC Wales as a major production centre in the early 2000s, followed by the founding of Bad Wolf in 2015 (now owned by Sony Pictures Television), created a critical mass of studios, crew, and infrastructure in Cardiff. Wolf Studios Wales operates a 7-stage complex that has hosted Doctor Who, His Dark Materials, Industry, and multiple other productions.

Beyond the studios, Wales offers landscapes that can convincingly double for almost anywhere: medieval England (Merlin), ancient Britain (Britannia), parallel universes (His Dark Materials), and contemporary England (Sherlock, Sex Education). The Brecon Beacons, the Pembrokeshire coast, and the South Wales Valleys appear again and again across different genres and periods.

Frequently Asked Questions About TV Shows Filmed in Wales

What TV shows have been filmed in Wales?

Major TV shows filmed in Wales include Gavin & Stacey (Barry Island), Doctor Who (Cardiff), Sex Education (Wye Valley), Sherlock (Cardiff), His Dark Materials (Brecon Beacons), The Crown (Caernarfon Castle), Keeping Faith (Laugharne), Merlin (Brecon Beacons), Industry (Cardiff), and many more. For full details on Welsh filming locations, see the British Film Institute database.

Where was Gavin and Stacey filmed?

Primarily in Barry Island, Vale of Glamorgan. Key locations include Trinity Street (Gwen’s and Bryn’s houses), Barry Island Pleasure Park, and Marco’s Café. The final episode aired Christmas Day 2024. Guided tours are available.

Where is Doctor Who filmed?

Doctor Who is produced by Bad Wolf at Wolf Studios Wales in Cardiff. Cardiff’s streets, National Museum, and Cardiff Bay are regular exterior locations. The 2025 spin-off The War Between the Land and the Sea was filmed across South West Wales.

Can you visit TV filming locations in Wales?

Yes. Barry Island (Gavin & Stacey) has guided tours. Caernarfon and Caerphilly castles (The Crown, Merlin) are open to visitors. The Wye Valley (Sex Education), Laugharne (Keeping Faith), and the Brecon Beacons (His Dark Materials) are all publicly accessible landscapes.

Why are so many TV shows filmed in Wales?

Wales offers world-class studios (Wolf Studios Wales), diverse landscapes, competitive production costs, and strong industry infrastructure. The success of Doctor Who from 2005 established Cardiff as a major UK production hub. Bad Wolf’s 7-stage complex now operates year-round, producing shows for BBC, HBO, ITV, and Netflix.

What new TV shows are being filmed in Wales in 2026?

Industry (HBO/BBC) continues at Bad Wolf Studios. The Other Bennet Sister (BBC/Britbox) is set for release. Red Eye (ITV) has a new season. Doctor Who continues production. Wales remains one of the busiest filming locations in the UK.

Nick

Nick, your trusted guide to Wales travel and exploration, shares a deep passion for this enchanting land. With years of exploration, Nick offers expert insights into the best of Wales. Join him on a journey through its captivating history, culture, and hidden gems, as he inspires you to create unforgettable Welsh travel experiences.