BBC Wales' thriller The Guest was an absolute hit with audiences.(Image: BBC/Quay Street Productions)

Twelve major film and TV productions in 2025 that used amazing Welsh locations

by · Wales Online

Every now and again you'll be watching something on your TV, perhaps it's a sitcom or maybe an action movie, and you'll think to yourself, "I recognise that place."

In recent years, Wales has become an absolute hot spot for filming big TV and film productions thanks to its stunning scenery and bustling capital city. This does however mean that some locations are extremely recognisable, especially when they are on our doorstep. Whether that's the beautiful views across the Gower peninsula or maybe a steam railway in Merthyr Tydfil, there have been some iconic Welsh spots on our screens this year.

If you're not too sure which this year's productions took place in Wales, here is a list of the TV and films that were released in 2025.

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Death Valley

At a BAFTA Cymru event ahead of the series' debut on May 25, Director of BBC Wales Rhuanedd Richards said that she was delighted that the comedy crime drama was set in her home town of Mountain Ash. However, despite being set in the Cynon Valley most of the series was filmed elsewhere across South Wales.
Throughout the series there are a few locations which keep cropping up, this includes the cottage of John Chapel (Timothy Spall). The gorgeous cottage, which has beautiful stonework and flowers everywhere is located in St Hilary in the Vale of Glamorgan.
The café used throughout the series, where Timothy Spall enjoys a good macchiato is actually in Penarth, in Brød Bakery, a Danish bakery chain which has shops across Cardiff.
They also used a classic filming hack in Wales, which was to use St Fagan’s Museum of Welsh Life, for any sets that need to look a bit dated. In contrast they also used the beautiful Blaen y Glyn waterfalls, when a hiking group take a trip to Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons).(Image: BBC/BBC Studios/Simon Ridgway)
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What It Feels Like For A Girl

The BBC adaptation of Paris Lees' memoir was set in the Nottingham club scene (despite being partially filmed in South Wales), at the beginning of the millennium.
Eagle eyed viewers may have spotted that the series was filmed in several locations in Newport including The Celtic Manor Resort, Le Pub and Liberty Steel.
However, when it came to the Circuit and District Nightclubs in the series these were filmed in Cardiff to replicate the early 00s Nottingham club scene.(Image: BBC/Hera/Enda Bowe)
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The Guest

BBC Wales' thriller, The Guest, stars Welsh leading ladies Eve Myles and Gabrielle Creevy, and is set (and predominantly filmed) in Cardiff. When watching the series, it is easy to spot some iconic locations whether that's The Hayes or your favourite bar.
They filmed in an impressive and enviable manor house in Newport, which was used as Eve's character's home. They also used the rainy streets of Cardiff city centre and the Master Gunner pub in Cardiff.
Some people may have recognised the breath taking Gower peninsula. They shot several scenes down Rhossili Beach and The Old Rectory.
The shots of the coast and the property made for some stunning landscape shots, which demonstrated the beauty in contrast to the grittiness of the series. It really showed the beauty that Wales has to offer.(Image: BBC)
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