Wales’ stunning landscape includes three National Parks, epic mountains and a spectacular coastline with sandy beaches and rugged cliffs. A lot of our locations have featured in Hollywood films. Some choices may be a surprise as Wales is sometimes chosen as an alternative for other countries with equally stunning backdrops. We have included a selection of our favourite films with the trailer so that you can decide what you would like to add to your watch list.
Films and movies
The Edge of Love
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 Gwili Railway
Itinerary suggestions:
The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain
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
Itinerary suggestion:
First Knight
Starring: Sean Connery, Richard Gere, Julia Ormond
Set way back in Arthurian Britain, this is the story of the love triangle between Guinevere, Lancelot and King Arthur.
Locations: Llanfair Slate Mine, Harlech, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Trawsfynydd
Itinerary suggestions:
Half Light
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 and Porthdinllaen, Llŷn Peninsula.
Itinerary suggestions:
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 and 2
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
Itinerary suggestions:
James Bond films
There are a number of James Bond films with scenes filmed in Wales:-
- From Russia With Love (1963) – Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park
- The World is Not Enough (1999) – Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park
- Die Another Day (2002) – Penbryn Beach (closing scene)
- Quantum of Solace (2008) – Llyn Peris, Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park
Itinerary suggestions:
King Arthur
Starring: Clive Owen, Stephen Dillane, Keira Knightly, Ioan Gruffydd
Set around 400AD, Arthur has to carry out one last dangerous task before he is set free after many years forced into military service for the Roman Army.
Location: Llandeusant - Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park
Itinerary suggestions:
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword
Starring: Charlie Hunman, Astrid Berges-Frisbey, Jude Law
An alternative version of the tale of King Arthur and Excalibur, the mystical sword.
Location: Capel Curig, Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park
Itinerary suggestion:
Robin Hood
Starring: Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Oscar Isaac, Mark Strong, William Hurt
This adaptation of Robin Hood was directed by Sir Ridley Scott. 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
Itinerary suggestions:
The Secret Garden
Starring: Colin Firth, Julie Walters
An orphaned ten year old girl discovers a fairy-tale garden that holds many mysteries at her strict uncle’s estate. The film is based on the classic novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
Location: Bodnant Garden
Itinerary suggestions:
Snow White and the Huntsman
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron and Chris Hemsworth
In a twist to the fairy tale, the Huntsman who was 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.
Location: Marloes Sands, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
Itinerary suggestions:
Tomb Raider 2 – Lara Croft and the Cradle of Life
Starring: Angelina Jolie, Chris Barrie, Gerard Butler, Ciaran Hinds.
Lara Croft fights to save the orb from falling into the hands of an evil scientist.
Locations: Llyn Gwynant and the slate quarries of Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park.
Itinerary suggestions:
Wonder Woman 1984
Starring: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Kristen Wiig.
This sequel to the 2017 superhero blockbuster fast-forwards to the 1980s where Wonder Woman must face a new set of foes.
Location: Swallow Falls in Betws-y-Coed, Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park.
Itinerary suggestions:
TV series
The Crown
Starring: Claire Foy, Olivia Coleman, Imelda Staunton, Matt Smith, Tobias Menzies, Jonathan Pryce, Dominic West, Vanessa Kirby, Helena Bonham Carter
The Netflix dramatisation, over six seasons, is a portrayal of the British Monarchy from when Queen Elizabeth II was a young princess right up to her death in September 2022.
Key location: Castell Caernarfon (Caernarfon Castle) (Prince Charles investiture as Prince of Wales), Aberystwyth
Itinerary suggestions:
A Discovery of Witches
Starring: Teresa Palmer, Matthew Goode, Alex Kingston
Fantasy drama where witches and vampires collide, as they discover the mystery behind alchemist book Ashmole 782. Bad Wolf Studios based in Cardiff are responsible for the Sky Original production.
Locations: Aberglasney Gardens, Caerphilly Castle, Tretower Court and Castle, Carew Castle, Cardiff Market
Itinerary suggestions:
- Explore South and Mid Wales on The Cambrian Way
- Gardens in South and West Wales
- Travel around Mid Wales on public transport
- Days out in and around Tenby
Useful information: See A Discovery of Witches: A location guide on Visit Wales.
Doctor Who
Starring: Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant, Matt Smith, Peter Capaldi, Jodie Whittaker, Ncuti Gatwa
A long running British science fiction series where a Time Lord from Gallifrey, encounters many adversaries whilst travelling through time and space in the TARDIS.
Locations: Throughout South Wales. Iconic locations include Caerphilly Castle, Wales Millennium Centre and Cardiff Bay, St Fagans National Museum of History, National Botanic Garden of Wales, Dunraven Bay and Llandaff
Itinerary suggestions:
Useful information: Brit Movie Tours run a guided Doctor Who Cardiff Tour for groups. Fogo's Free Tours also run a Doctor Who Walking Tour
Gavin and Stacey
Starring: James Corden, Ruth Jones, Joanna Page, Mathew Horne, Alison Steadman, Rob Brydon, Larry Lamb, Melanie Walters
The BBC comedy series ran for 22 episodes and is set around the coastal resort of Barry Island. It follows the long distance relationship of Gavin and Stacey, their families and friends.
Location: Barry town, Barry Island, Dinas Powys
Itinerary suggestion:
Useful information: Brit Movie Tours run a guided Gavin and Stacey Tour with discounts for groups of 10+. Private tours can also be arranged. See also Gavin and Stacey filming locations guide on Visit Wales.
His Dark Materials
Starring: Dafne Keen, Kit Connor, Ruth Wilson, James McAvoy
The BBC produced the fantasy series in Wolf Studios, Cardiff. It follows the story of Lyra who lives in a parallel universe. Whilst searching for a kidnapped friend, she meets Will who together, embark on a quest to uncover the mystery that surrounds the Dust phenomenon.
Key locations: Blaenavon, Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park, St Govan's Chapel, Dunraven Castle, Dewstow Gardens
Itinerary suggestions:
House of the Dragon - Series 2
Starring: Emma D'Arcy, Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, Rhys Ifans
The sequel to the 2017 block-buster, set 200 years before Game of Thrones telling the story of House Targaryen.
Locations: various locations in North Wales were used as a stand-in for a number of fictional locations such as the Riverlands, The Vale and Dragonstone. Two old quarries were also used as exterior scenes of Harrenhal castles and the Dragonstone.
Itinerary suggestions:
Mr. Bates vs the Post Office
Starring: Toby Jones, Will Mellor, Julie Hesmondhalgh
A true story about over 900 British Post Office workers who faced the greatest miscarriages of justice in Great Britain. Wrongly accused of false accounting, fraud and theft due to a defective IT system, they lose everything, and fight over 20 years to clear their name.
Locations: Llandudno, Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park, Beddgellert, Nant Gwynant
Itinerary suggestions:
The Prisoner
Starring: Patrick McGoohan
Although only 17 episodes over one series were filmed, the British 1967-1968 is still iconic, including the most famous line "I am not a number, I am a free man". It tells the story of a secret agent who is kidnapped and taken to an idyllic village which is actually his prison.
Location: Portmeirion
Itinerary suggestions:
Sex Education
Starring: Asa Butterfield, Gillian Anderson, Ncuti Gatwa
The Netflix comedy drama about a teenager and his sex therapist mother.
Key locations: St Fagans National Museum of History, Cwmcarn Forest, Penarth, Monmouth and Tintern.
Itinerary suggestions:
Useful link: Where Netflix's series Sex Education is filmed in Wales
Welcome to Wrexham
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney
Emmy award winning docuseries following the fortunes of Wrexham Association Football Club and its supporters. The club has been in the spotlight following the two Hollywood stars taking over as co-chairmen.
Location: Wrexham
Itinerary suggestions:
See more productions filmed in Wales with the interactive map.
Read the article in Travel and Leisure magazine about film locations in Wales.
For additional information, contact our mailbox traveltradewales@gov.wales.
