Doctor Who fans across Wales can find many familiar sights in the latest season of the BBC sci-fi series. The show has been filmed across Wales since it regenerated back in 2005. And Ncuti Gatwa’s first full season as The Doctor is no different. “Wales is just the most beautiful country, like ridiculously so at times,” Gatwa told BBC Radio Wales. “I can see why they film Doctor Who here because there’s something almost mythical about some of the landscapes in Wales.”

1. St Mary’s Church, Nash

St Mary’s Church near Newport featured heavily in the first episode of Doctor Who season 14. New companion Ruby Sunday, played by Millie Gibson, was introduced with a heartbreaking backstory – abandoned as a baby on the steps of a Manchester church on Christmas Eve, 2004. The church was St Mary’s – recognised instantly thanks to its striking 15th-century steeple.

2. Parkgate Hotel, Cardiff

TV presenter Davina McCall appeared as herself in the latest season of Doctor Who. She interviewed Ruby at the Parkgate Hotel in Cardiff for a fictional episode of a TV show reuniting long-lost family members.

3. The Golden Cross, Cardiff

The Golden Cross is Cardiff’s oldest LGBT bar. Ruby was seen here performing with her band in the run-up to Christmas, with The Golden Cross representing a bustling London pub. It’s not the only Cardiff bar to feature on the show – The Doctor can also be seen throwing shapes at the former nightclub PRYZM on Greyfriars Road.

4. The Parade, Cardiff

It’s not often The Beatles come to Wales, but one Cardiff street was transformed into London’s legendary Abbey Road. The Parade, just off City Road, can be seen when Ruby and The Doctor recreated the classic cover of The Beatles’ 1969 album, Abbey Road. The street doesn’t usually have a zebra crossing – this was added to the location specifically for the episode and was removed after filming.

5. Newport Market, Newport

A traditional Victorian indoor market, Newport Market is home to dozens of traders. It also set the stage for the dramatic appearance of the character Jinkx Monsoon. Encouraging Ruby to play for him, The Doctor had a piano lifted to the roof of Abbey Road Studios, which was the roof of Newport Market.

6. Giltar Point, Tenby

Materialising on a rocky outcrop somewhere along the Welsh coast, the TARDIS appeared at Giltar Point in Tenby. The TARDIS remained here for much of the episode while Ruby went off to explore several other Welsh locations.

7. The White Cross Inn, Groeswen

The White Cross Inn in Groeswen dates back to 1750 and was used to film the pub scenes at the fictional Y Pren Mawr. “We had to shut the pub and they spent the first day taking out whatever they didn’t want and the fifth day putting it all back together again,” landlady Mair Arthur told the Caerphilly Observer. Thankfully, it looks as though she’s a fan of the show, and hosted a watch party at the pub when the episode was originally broadcast on 25 May 2024.

8. Capitol Centre, Cardiff

The Capitol Centre on Queen Street, Cardiff originally opened in 1990. Built on the site of the former Capitol Theatre, it was transformed in Doctor Who season 14 into a campaign office for a fictional election candidate, played by Aneurin Barnard. The former Boots store was adorned with propaganda and is seen bustling with teams of party volunteers.

9. Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff

Cardiff City Stadium, one of the largest stadiums in Wales, hosted a political rally in the latest series of Doctor Who. Fictional Welsh politician Roger ap Gwilliam takes to the pitch to begin a dramatic scene.

10. Swansea University Bay Campus, Swansea

Swansea University Bay Campus was the filming location for one episode, featuring a fictional influencer-led society called Finetime. The campus is seen throughout the episode, providing much of the exterior shots as Lindy Pepper-Bean, played by Callie Cooke, is led through the streets by Ruby and The Doctor.

11. Tredegar House, Newport

A 17th-century mansion, Tredegar House in Newport was transformed into the English stately home of the fictional Duchess of Pemberton. The Doctor and Ruby arrive there in 1813 for an extravagant ball. However, it wasn’t the only Welsh mansion to be used in the episode – the Margam Country Park Orangery was also used, with shots from three different locations edited together to give a grand Regency-era look.

12. One Central Square, Cardiff

The office building of One Central Square became the headquarters of a fictional tech company called S Triad Technologies. The fictional company was referenced throughout the latest series. One Central Square was used as the foyer of S Triad Technologies, seen when The Doctor and Mel head there for an important meeting.

13. Sherman Theatre, Cardiff

The Sherman Theatre in Cathays has housed both local and national theatre companies. It also set the stage for the character Susan Triad’s big speech in the latest series of Doctor Who. The theatre opened in 1973 and has since offered its stage to a huge variety of productions.