Warning: this post will be image heavy!
On Saturday 21st June 2014, me and my friend Kerry went on an adventure through time and space… we took our space transport/Kerry’s car across the galaxy/Severn Bridge, passing many obstacles/the £6.40 toll on the way – until we finally reached the strange land known as… Cardiff. After a long and arduous journey through the cosmos/down the M4, we came upon this terrifying sight:
Following the signs warning us of Daleks (perhaps a foolish choice?) we eventually reached our destination: the Doctor Who Experience in Porth Teigr, Cardiff. Words cannot describe how happy it made me to see more and more people sporting their Doctor Who t-shirts and costumes as we got closer and closer. As we got there quite early, we decided to have a browse in the shop first. It was actually a LOT smaller than we expected, and much more reasonably priced than the Harry Potter Studio Tour shop, although some items were still a bit pricey. Anyway, when we finally queued up, we were told that there was no photography in the first bit of the tour, which has an interactive element to it.
I don’t want to tell you much about the interactive part of the tour because I want it to be a surprise for anyone who is planning on going. However, if you don’t mind spoilers, then click under the cut to read about my favourite part. [spoiler]One room was pitch black as we entered – then suddenly some of the lights came on really quickly, and there were a couple of Weeping Angels littered around us. Then the lights flickered and the Angels had ‘moved’! AHHH I WAS ACTUALLY TERRIFIED. It was so well done![/spoiler] Overall, the exhibition was actually quite a bit smaller than we’d expected, but it still had a decent amount of props and costumes. Now to share some photos!
Some of the amazing costumes on display – a mix of original and replica.
The first and fourth TARDIS consoles.
That oh so familiar sign, and the infamous scarf!
Creepy Peg Dolls, and the Face of Boe.
OOD! and the Silence – wait, what? What was I talking about?
I made a new friend, he didn’t like my offer of a Jammie Dodger though; got my eye on you…
I was strangely disappointed by this Weeping Angel… there was only one.
Genuinely sad that I couldn’t go inside.
The whole tour and experience didn’t actually last too long: we were in there for about an hour and a half (basically as long as it takes to drive there), but I suppose you can spend as long as you like in the main exhibition bit. So after leaving the experience, we decided to do some sightseeing around Cardiff. Spoilers for Torchwood below.
The fan-made shrine to Ianto Jones in Mermaid Quay (by the ‘official’ Torchwood entrance), with the plaque the BBC put up afterwards.
The secret Torchwood entrance by the Millennium Centre!
Rinn Reads 
Oh my gosh, that is awesome! I love Doctor Who!
Definitely worth a visit for Whovians 😀 Even if you don’t spend all day there, there’s plenty to do in Cardiff.
Ugh, this is all so fantastic! This is Priority 1 for my next trip to England! I had to read the spoiler and that sounds so cool! As long as it’s really fake… I’ll bring some matches just in case… Great pictures Rinn, thank you for sharing this trip with us!
I was genuinely terrified. My favourite parts of DW and it felt so real! It was so fun to walk through the experience bit and see the actual console 😮
I’ve never been to London (or the UK for that matter) but it’s at the top of my travel bucket list…including of course, a visit to Cardif and ANY DW things I could find. So to say that your trip to the DW experience seems like a dream come true to me is putting it mildly 😀 Even though it was smaller than you were expecting, I’d still be over the moon about seeing a real live TARDIS, the Face of Boe and all the old costumes!! I’d die of fright seeing a Weeping Angel though. Daleks would be pretty cool – and that sign was SWEET! Thanks for sharing about your trip and for including pics ♥
Yesss! Cardiff is a gorgeous city anyway, so definitely worth a visit if you’re coming to the UK 🙂
It was much smaller than expected, yes, but if you’re taking things slowly then you could spend a very long time in there for sure. Plus you can always visit various places around Cardiff where they filmed DW and Torchwood 😉
There were about four different TARDIS exteriors, and three or four consoles, plus the one in the interactive experience 😀 The Dalek signs are actually all around the city!
You are a big fan then I take it! Would you go all crazy if you knew I’ve never even seen one episode? BUT my husband built a life sized tardis to put in his boss’s cubicle at work. I have a picture of it up on twitter lol.
I wouldn’t go crazy but I’d definitely recommend it ;D
Ahh that’s amazing!! 😮 By life sized, I hope you also mean it’s bigger on the inside?
ack!! I am insanely jealous!! The Face of Boe seems to need a face lift…hmmm..
Haha yes, one of his eyes was kind of falling back into his head 😦 But I guess they’re not too bothered about keeping him perfect as he won’t be reappearing (I assume??)
Wow, this is awesome! I’ve actually never seen Doctor Who (don’t kill me!) but all the stuff looks really interesting 🙂 Sounds like a really fun time though.
Give it a try 😉
Yeah, it’s a haven for Who fans. So wonderful to see all these familiar costumes, props, monsters and sets in the flesh, so to speak!
This. looks. soooo. AMAZING! I wish I could visit it D:
It really was, especially being around all those fellow Whovians 🙂
I have a terrible confession. I have not watch Doctor Who. But this looks like an amazing trip!! I think it would’ve been so fun to go with you.
Give it a try!! 😀 It was a great trip, Cardiff is such a pretty place.