With its windswept coastline, Victorian buildings, post-industrial landscapes, and quirky mix of urban and rural charm, Swansea has long been a quietly popular location for both British and international film and TV productions. While Cardiff often gets the credit for South Wales filming, Swansea’s dramatic backdrops have played key roles in everything from cult comedies to Hollywood blockbusters.
Here’s a cinematic tour through the films and TV shows that have been shot in Swansea — including specific venues, districts, and scenic spots where the cameras rolled.
Where: Mount Pleasant, The Kingsway, Uplands, and Swansea Docks
Why It’s Iconic: Often dubbed “Swansea’s Trainspotting,” Twin Town is a dark comedy that became a cult favourite for its raw depiction of 1990s Swansea life. Directed by Kevin Allen and starring Rhys Ifans, it follows two delinquent brothers causing chaos across the city.
What to Look For:
The Kingsway: One of the main filming locations, featured in car chases and late-night scenes.
Swansea Docks: Used as a gritty backdrop for industrial scenes.
Parc Llewelyn and Brynmill: Showcased for domestic scenes and the contrasting class settings.
Where: Mumbles Pier, Swansea Bay, Oystermouth, and Cwmdonkin Drive
Why It’s Quirky: This indie gem directed by Richard Ayoade paints a nostalgic, offbeat picture of teenage life in South Wales. It’s based on the novel by Joe Dunthorne, a Swansea native.
What to Look For:
Mumbles Pier & Lighthouse: The key romantic location for Oliver and Jordana’s relationship.
Cwmdonkin Park: Dylan Thomas’s old stomping ground appears as a backdrop to introspective monologues.
Suburban streets around Oystermouth: Used for the main character’s home and school walkabouts.
Where: Port Talbot beach and surrounding coastal paths toward Swansea
Why It’s Experimental: A bold reinterpretation of the Passion Play, this film starred Michael Sheen and was shot over three days of live performance.
What to Look For:
Swansea Bay coastal route: Featured during Sheen’s dramatic seaside walk.
Margam Sands and Aberavon area: Blurs into Swansea’s eastern edge, giving the film its rugged feel.
Where: Gower Peninsula and roads around Swansea
Why It’s Romantic: While the main castle scenes were shot in Pembrokeshire, several driving sequences and countryside shots were filmed near Swansea.
What to Look For:
B4295 and Gower roads: These offer stunning views of Rhossili and the coastline, used as scenic transitions in the film.
Where: Margam Country Park (just east of Swansea)
Why It’s Hollywood: This American children’s comedy used the grand Margam estate as the main venue for a glamorous dog show.
What to Look For:
Margam Castle’s interior and gardens: Doubled as a luxury event space.
Where: Swansea Bay, Brangwyn Hall, and Singleton Park
Why It’s Sci-Fi Gold: Though mostly based in Cardiff, Doctor Who frequently uses Swansea’s dramatic natural features and historic buildings to stand in for alien planets and future Earths.
What to Look For:
Brangwyn Hall: Used as a backdrop for period and alien diplomacy scenes.
Singleton Park: Featured in several outdoor sequences requiring manicured gardens.
Swansea Promenade: Sometimes appears as a futuristic or alternate universe street.
Where: Swansea Docks, Fabian Way, and beachfront locations
Why It’s Edgy: The grittier cousin to Doctor Who, Torchwood made frequent use of Swansea’s urban edge.
What to Look For:
Fabian Way and Port Tennant: Used for chase scenes and secret base entries.
Docks area: Ideal for apocalyptic and sci-fi visuals.
Where: Morriston Hospital and surrounding roads
Why It’s Realistic: While mostly filmed in studios, Casualty has periodically shot emergency exteriors and crash scenes in Swansea.
What to Look For:
Hospital entrance roads and ambulance bays in the Morriston area used for medical emergencies.
Where: Swansea Marina and civic buildings
Why It’s True Crime: Based on a real-life Welsh serial killer case, this ITV drama filmed some of its courtroom and investigation scenes in Swansea.
What to Look For:
Swansea Civic Centre: Used for police headquarters and court interior shots.
Where: South Wales including rural areas near Swansea
Why It’s Haunting: This bilingual Welsh/English crime drama starring Joanna Scanlan was shot across mid and South Wales.
What to Look For:
Outskirts of Swansea and Gower: Used to heighten the eerie, introspective atmosphere.
Diverse Scenery: Beaches, cliffs, cityscapes, woodlands, and industrial ruins — all within a 20-minute radius.
Architectural Variety: From medieval ruins to modernist civic buildings and Edwardian arcades.
Logistical Support: Proximity to major production hubs in Cardiff and Pinewood Studios Wales.
Whether you're hunting down Submarine’s moody beaches or looking for the rough charm of Twin Town, Swansea is an ideal destination for movie buffs.
Top Film Locations to Explore:
Mumbles Pier & Oystermouth Castle – for romantic indie film vibes
Swansea Docks & The Kingsway – for gritty urban thrillers
Margam Park – for grand period or fantasy scenes
Swansea Bay and Gower Peninsula – for sweeping cinematic landscapes
Want to stay near some of these iconic filming spots? Pass the Keys Swansea offers beautifully managed holiday lets across the city — from stylish apartments near the Marina to cosy homes on the edge of the Gower. Whether you're retracing the steps of film stars or planning your own shoot, we’ll help you find the perfect base.