Film & TV Locations in Wales
Wales has proven itself time and time again to be a breathtaking backdrop to many award-winning TV series and Hollywood blockbusters. Check out some of the latest releases and revisit some old classics:
Films
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Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)
In a twist to the fairy tale, the Huntsman ordered to take Snow White into the woods to be killed winds up becoming her protector and mentor in a quest to vanquish the Evil Queen.
Starring:
Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron and Chris Hemsworth
Location: Marloes Sands, Pembrokeshire
- Wrath of the Titans (2012)
Perseus braves the treacherous underworld to rescue his father, Zeus, captured by his son, Ares, and brother Hades who unleash the ancient Titans upon the world.
Starring: Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson and Rosamund Pike
Location: Blaenau Gwent
- Resistance (2011) Starring: Michael Sheen, Iwan Rheon and Kimberley Nixon. In 1944 a group of women in an isolated Welsh village wake up to discover all their husbands have mysteriously vanished! Location: Abergavenny, Monmouthshire
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Hunky Dory (2011)
Starring: Minnie Driver, Aneurin Barnard, Robert Pugh and Danielle Branch.
The Wales-based movie is set in the Summer of 1976 and tells the story of a high school teacher, played by Minnie Driver, who inspires her class to put on a rock and roll version of ‘The Tempest’ for their year-end show. Location: Swansea
- Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
Starring: Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving & Samuel L Jackson
A superhero film based on the comic books. A young soldier, Steve Rogers, is found unfit for military service and volunteers for a top secret research project that turns him into Captain America
Location: Caerwent, Monmouthshire
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Patagonia (2011)
Starring: Matthew Rhys, Duffy, Nia Roberts, Nahaul Perez Biscayart and Marta Lubos.
Inspirational film about the parallel journey of two women, one looking for her past and the other for her future. Incorporating the culture and countryside of both Wales and Patagonia. A road movie for romantics with dialogue spoken in both Spanish and Welsh.
Locations: Llyn Gwynant Campsite; Pant y bedw Farm, Penmachno; Capel Moriah, Dolrhedydd; Blaenau Ffestiniog; Aberystwyth; St Fagans National History Museum; Cardiff; Barry; Station Cafe, Treorchy; Gilfachmaen Uchaf Farm, Trelewis; Gellogaer Common; Royal Glamorgan Hospital.
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Clash of the Titans (2010)
Starring: Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Gemma Arterton, Ralph Fiennes.
A remake of the 1981 film follows the hero Perseus on his quest to battle Medusa and the Kraken monster to save Princess Andromeda.
Locations: Dinorwig Quarry, Gwynedd; Newborough, Anglesey
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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2010)
Part 2 (2011)
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Alan Rickman, Helena Bonham Carter, Bill Nighy.
The final film in the Harry Potter series. Seaside scenes in the book relate to a fictional village where Harry, Ron and Hermione take shelter in Shell Cottage – a big cottage made out of shells.
Location: Freshwater West beach, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
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Robin Hood (2010)
Starring: Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett
The latest Robin Hood film, directed by Sir Ridley Scott was filmed in Wales in May/June 2009. The filming in Wales was part of the finale and includes a major battle scene with boats and horses.
Location: Freshwater West beach, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
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Edge of Love (2008)
Starring: Mathew Rhys, Cillian Murphy, Kiera Knightley, Sienna Miller.
The story concerns the famous Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, (Rhys) his wife Caitlin McNamara (Miller) and their married friends, the Killicks (Knightley and Murphy).
Locations: Tenby, Lampeter, Laugharne, New Quay, Betws-y-Coed and the Gwili Railway. Visit Dylan Thomas’s boathouse in Laugharne, Dylan Thomas Centre in Swansea, the Gwili Railway or take a walking tour of Swansea. You can now even stay in 5 Cwmdonkin Drive, Swansea - Dylan’s birthplace. Also, Sea View in Laugharne, Dylan’s former home is now a luxury 4-bed hotel., to face the tragedy that tore them apart all those years ago.
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Abraham's Point (2008)
Starring: Mackenzie Crook
A poignant film of one man's search for redemption. Comet Snape (Crook) has not been home or seen his parents for fifteen years. Living in a west London tower block he spends his days restoring antiques and his nights in haunted insomnia. When his strange hallucinations and tormented mind urge him to steal a grandfather clock, he sets off on a physical and spiritual journey back to the heart of his family, to face the tragedy that tore them apart all those years ago.
Locations: Rhossili Beach on the Gower and Cardiff
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Half Light (2006)
Starring: Demi Moore
Moore stars in a mysterious film in which her character gets involved in a ghost story.
Locations: Llanddwyn Island and Llanbadrig Church, Anglesey, Porth Dinllaen, Llŷn Peninsula.
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The Libertine (2005)
Starring: Johnny Depp, John Malkovich, Samantha Morton
The story of John Wilmot (Depp), a.k.a. the Earl of Rochester, a 17th century poet who famously drank and debauched his way to an early grave, only to earn posthumous critical acclaim for his life's work.
Locations: Crickhowell, Tretower Court and Castle, Brecon Beacons
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Tomb Raider 2 – Lara Croft and the Cradle of Life (2003)
Starring: Angelina Jolie, Chris Barrie, Gerard Butler, Ciaran Hinds.
Lara Croft (Jolie) fights to save the orb from falling into the hands of an evil scientists
Locations: Llyn Gwynant and the slate quarries of Snowdonia.
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The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain (1995)
Starring: Hugh Grant, Tara Fitzgerald
A romantic comedy set during the First World War. A mapmaker upsets a village when he announces that their landmark is too short to be called a ‘mountain’ and is in fact a hill.
Locations: Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant and Llansilin, Mid Wales
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An American Werewolf in London (1981)
Two American tourists in London are attacked by a werewolf that none of the locals will admit exists.
Locations: The Black Mountains and the village of Crickadarn.
James Bond 007
You may be surprised to learn that Wales also has connections to the classic James Bond films:
- Shirley Bassey from Cardiff peformed the theme songs to three James Bond films – Goldfinger, Diamonds are Forever and Moonraker.
- Timothy Dalton from Colwyn Bay played the character James Bond in The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill.
- Desmond Llewelyn from Newport played the character ‘Q’ in 17 James Bond Films.
- Jonathan Pryce from Holywell starred in Tomorrow Never Dies as the character ‘Elliot Carver’.
Locations around Wales were used for scenes in the following Bond films:
- Quantum of Solace (2008) – Llyn Peris, Snowdonia
- Die Another Day (2002) – Penbryn Beach (closing scene)
- The World is Not Enough (1999) – Snowdonia National Park
- From Russia With Love (1963) – Snowdonia National Park
Television:
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Being Human (Series 3)
Starring: Lenora Crichlow, Michael Socho & Damien Moloney. Comedy-drama series about three twenty-something housemates trying to live normal lives, despite struggling with unusual afflictions - one is a werewolf, one is a vampire and the other is a ghost.
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Sherlock Holmes (2010 to present)
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch as Holmes, Martin Freeman as Watson, Rupert Graves as Inspector Lestrade.
The BBC has commissioned the first series of a new Sherlock Holmes television drama which has been co-created by Doctor Who’s Steven Moffet and The League of Gentleman’s Mark Gatiss. It will be a modern take on the life of Sherlock Holmes, portraying Holmes as a ‘dynamic superhero’.
Location: Cardiff
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Merlin (2008 to present)
Starring: Colin Morgan as Merlin, Richard Wilson, Anthony Head, John Hurt
Merlin is a 13-part television drama series that began in 2008. It is based on the Arthurian legends of the mythical wizard Merlin and his relationship with Prince Arthur, but differs significantly from traditional versions of the myth. The BBC re-commissioned a second series with filming beginning in January 2009.
Locations: Various locations in South Wales including Wenallt Woods, Cardiff; Cosmeston Medieval Village, Penarth; Southerndown; Forest Fawr, Caerphilly; Raglan Castle,Pontscill Reservoir.
www.bbc.co.uk/merlin
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Gavin & Stacey (2007 to 2009)
Starring: Rob Brydon, Ruth Jones
A BAFTA Award Winning British sitcom based on Gavin, a 26 year old from Tottenham, and Stacey, a Welsh girl from Barry Island. It’s unclear if a 3rd series will be produced but a Christmas Special is currently underway.
Locations: Barry Island and Penarth
Brit Movie Tours offer Gavin & Stacey Tours from April to October at weekends. Starting from Barry Island train station tour the locations in the same vehicle used by Dave's Coaches. www.britmovietours.com
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Dr Who and Torchwood (2005 to present)
Starring: David Tennant
The TV series was successfully relaunched in 2005, produced in-house by BBC Wales. Doctor Who has also spawned the cult television programme Torchwood (an anagram of Doctor Who) filmed entirely in Cardiff. You can spot the stars of Doctor Who filming in and around Cardiff on a regular basis. Visit the Doctor Who Up Close Exhibition in Cardiff Bay to see Daleks and Cyberman and pick up a Dr Who location map.
Locations: Various locations in South Wales including Cardiff, Newport, Swansea and Dyffryn Gardens.
Brit Movie Tours offer a selection of Doctor Who tours including a 4 hour luxury mini coach tour of Cardiff locations and a 3 day mini coach tour of England and Wales locations. Private/group tours also available. www.britmovietours.com
www.doctorwhoexhibitions.com
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The Prisoner (1966-68)
Starring: Patrick McGoohan
A true TV classic of its age. 6 (McGoohan) is a prisoner in a strange world where people are numbers not names.
Location: Portmeirion
www.portmeirion-village.com
Wales Screen Commission
The Wales Screen Commission is the location service for Wales offering comprehensive information and support on locations, facilities, crew and local services throughout Wales. Watch their locations showreel.
Movie Map North Wales
Catch more information on TV and film locations in North Wales on
www.moviemapnorthwales.co.uk
National Trust Movie Map
The downloadable movie map showcases National Trust sites includung historic houses, gradens, coast and coutryside featured in films.
Sat-nav providing movie location in Wales
The latest sat-nav technology tells you that you are approaching a famous film and TV location in the UK and includes information about the movie or scene. If you’re interested in a particular movie then you can also do a search and go on a tour of all the scenes. www.famouslocations.com is available for your Garmin Sat Nav (GPS).
Richard Burton Trail
The Richard Burton Trail is a three mile (4.8km) walk around the villages of Pontrhydyfen and Oakwood, surrounded by the Afan Forest Park. It starts at Burton's birthplace in Pontrhydyfen. Visitors can then listen to the Oscar-nominated star quote a passage from Under Milk Wood, the play by his favourite poet Dylan Thomas. Signposts with facts about Burton's childhood and career are placed along the trail.
http://www.visitnpt.co.uk/Default.aspx?page=6983
Roath Lock
The BBC’s Roath Lock Studios in Cardiff have opened in record time. In just 13 months, 175,000 square foot of HD-ready studios have been constructed and fitted out to provide a permanent, purpose-built home to four flagship BBC dramas – Casualty, Pobol y Cwm, Doctor Who and Upstairs Downstairs – as well as new productions in the future.
This is the quickest BBC build of its size ever and marks an exciting new chapter for drama production in Wales. BBC1’s Casualty began its move from Bristol to its new set in Cardiff at the start of the month and by Christmas the facility will be full with 500 to 600 people working on site.
