The first ever episode of Doctor Who was broadcast on 23rd November 1963, meaning it clocked up its 50th anniversary last year – an occasion marked by a special star-studded, feature-length 3D episode and all manner of Tardis-related fun. There’s never been a better time to celebrate this cult TV favourite and key part of British pop culture. Here are some of the best places around Britain to do so…
First port of call should be the interactive Doctor Who Experience in Cardiff Bay, Wales – the show’s spiritual home, where fans can star in their very own adventure by flying the Tardis and fighting monsters. It boasts a vast collection of props and costumes, plus runs behind-the-scenes set visits when the studio isn’t being used for filming. The experience will be closed for six weeks from September 1, reopening mid October when will feature new props from series eight as well as the 50th Anniversary special ‘The Day of the Doctor’ and Matt Smith's final Episode 'The Time of the Doctor'. Keep an eye out for Zygons, Timelords, the three Doctors' Police Boxes, Cyber Head “Handles” and items from the street scenes of Christmas town. There are also weekend walking tours of key Cardiff locations. www.doctorwhoexperience.com ; http://www.visitcardiff.com/the-home-of-doctor-who
There are also unofficial bus tours of the Cardiff area, with a four-hour guided trip to Amy Pond’s village, Sarah-Jane Smith’s house and other memorable locations, with photo opportunities galore and even chances to re-enact scenes. www.britmovietours.com/bookings/doctor-who-tours
York Maze in north England (York is less than 2 hours from London) has created a Doctor Who-themed labyrinth to mark the 50th anniversary, complete with a 300-metre Dalek and faces of different Doctors. www.yorkmaze.co.uk
Bad Wolf Bay, scene of the tear-jerking farewell between the Doctor and Rose Tyler in “Doomsday”, was supposed to be in Norway. It’s actually the scenic Southerndown beach, 24 miles from Cardiff in Bridgend. Its spectacular sedimentary cliffs also stood in for the crash site in “The Time Of Angels” and the ark’s engine room in “Dinosaurs On A Spaceship”. www.britishbeaches.info/southerndown-the-vale-of-glamorgan
Also seen in “The Time of Angels” and its follow-up “Flesh And Stone” were the Maze of the Dead caves and magical forest of Byzantium - both filmed in The Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. Explore the stunning woods and find the spot where Amy Pond kept her eyes closed to survive the Weeping Angels. The forest is also home to mining museum Clearwell Caves, which was the Sycorax spaceship in “The Christmas Invasion”, the beast’s prison in “The Satan Pit” and Vesuvius in “The Fires Of Pompeii”. It’s two and a half hours’ drive from London to the Forest. www.visitforestofdean.co.uk, www.clearwellcaves.com
London has long been a favourite location for Doctor Who adventures, so the capital is crammed with sites to see. Albert Embankment andBattersea Power Station popped up in Cybermen story “The Age Of Steel”. The Doctor met Shakespeare inside The Globe Theatre.Buckingham Palace was almost hit by the Titanic in “Voyage Of The Damned”, The London Eye was the home of the Nestene Consciousness in “Rose”, while Westminster Bridge and its views have appeared in 10 episodes down the years. For a Tardis photo opportunity, you’ll find blue police boxes at London Film Museum and outside Earl’s Court Station.
Glaswegian Peter Capaldi the Doctor’s 12th incarnation maintains his Scottish accent during series 8. Capaldi attended Glasgow School Of Art, designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Tenth Doctor David Tennant trained at the city’s Royal Conservatoire. Other places of Doctor Who interest in Scotland include Dunvegan Castle on the Isle Of Skye and Loch Ness, both from classic Tom Baker story “Terror Of The Zygons”, starring no less than the Loch Ness Monster.
Series 8 premieres in Australia on ABC1, Sunday August 24.
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