Skip to content
Search

Where will your curiosity take you?

Philip Pullman’s trilogy, 1995–2000 · BBC One and HBO, 2019–2022

His Dark Materials

Six people seated at a long panel table on a stage, speaking into microphones
Jane Tranter, Jack Thorne, Dafne Keen, Ruth Wilson, Lin-Manuel Miranda and James McAvoy on the His Dark Materials panel at San Diego Comic-Con, 18 July 2019, four months before the first episode. Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America · CC BY-SA 2.0
Jane Tranter, Jack Thorne, Dafne Keen, Ruth Wilson, Lin-Manuel Miranda, James McAvoy · July 2019
A rocky bay with layered cliffs and a pebbly beach
Dunraven Bay, Southerndown, on the Glamorgan coast, 2013. Mick Lobb · CC BY-SA 2.0
Dunraven Bay
A wooden bench under a tree beside a path, with autumn leaves
The bench in the far corner of Oxford Botanic Garden’s Lower Garden, October 2008. Miranda Hodgson · CC BY-SA 2.0
The bench, Oxford

Three windows cut in the air: the cast and producers on the series’ first panel, San Diego, 18 July 2019 (Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA); the Welsh coast it filmed on; and the Oxford bench where the books end. Further down, a knife cuts more.

Sources

Splott, Cardiff · 2017–2022

Six stages
off Ocean Way.

Filming of His Dark Materials began at Wolf Studios Wales in June 2018. The studio has six sound stages.

In May 2017 the Welsh Government bought the Trident Park units off Ocean Way: two linked high-bay buildings, 253,500 sq ft in all, to be leased to Bad Wolf. Bad Wolf’s Jane Tranter said the studio would give the company a permanent base in Cardiff.

Tom Hooper directed the first eight-part series, adapted by Jack Thorne, for the BBC with New Line Cinema. The cast named that June included Dafne Keen, James McAvoy, Ruth Wilson, Clarke Peters and Lin-Manuel Miranda.

The third season had 333 crew, 203 of them, 60%, based in Wales.

Sources
A wide road with industrial units and street lights
Ocean Way, Splott, in 2012: the road past the Trident Park units that became Wolf Studios Wales (a nearby view; the studio itself is private). John Lord · CC BY-SA 2.0

A working studio on an industrial estate east of Cardiff Bay. There are no tours; the units are seen from Ocean Way.

The subtle knife

Cut
the air.

In The Subtle Knife, Will finds a window in the air near the Oxford ring road and steps out of our world into Cittàgazze, where he meets Lyra. Here, ten real places hang behind the dark. Drag down through any lane to cut a window, or use the buttons.

Sources

0 windows open. The air is whole.

Nothing cut yet. Ten places are there, behind the dark, from Oxford to Blaenavon.

Sources
Cadw

Blaenavon Ironworks

Blaenavon, Torfaen · Adults £8

The furnaces, cast houses and water balance tower. From 2 November open Friday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm.

Opening times
University of Oxford

Oxford Botanic Garden

Rose Lane, Oxford

Lyra and Will’s bench is in the far corner of the Lower Garden, with Julian Warren’s dæmon sculpture behind it. Open daily 10am to 5pm, last entry 4pm.

Plan a visit
A wooden bench under a tree beside a path, with autumn leaves
The bench in the far corner of Oxford Botanic Garden’s Lower Garden, October 2008. Miranda Hodgson · CC BY-SA 2.0

The one left

Midsummer,
midday.

At the end of The Amber Spyglass, published in 2000, Lyra and Will must go back to separate worlds. They agree to sit on the bench in their own Oxfords every Midsummer’s Day. Lyra names the hour: midday.

In The Amber Spyglass, every opened window lets Dust leak away and makes a new Spectre, so the windows are closed. One is left open, out of the land of the dead.

In the far corner of the Lower Garden, Lyra’s bench is a popular place of pilgrimage for the garden’s visitors. The garden calls it a significant place in Pullman’s trilogy, where Lyra and Will meet.

On 22 May 2019 Philip Pullman unveiled a stainless steel dæmon sculpture by Julian Warren, set behind the bench.

A grey-haired man in glasses signing a book at a table
Philip Pullman signing Lyra’s Oxford at the Oxford Literary Festival, April 2005, five years after the last book of the trilogy (later photograph, captioned with its year). Adrian Hon · CC BY-SA 2.0

Inside the Botanic Garden, opposite Magdalen College. Open daily 10am to 5pm, last entry 4pm; buy a ticket at the gate or online.

Sources

One college, two buildings

Jordan
twice.

Lyra grows up in Jordan College, which is not on any map. Choose where it came from.

A stone bay window with leaded panes on an old college building
Exeter College’s bay window over Turl Street, Oxford, 2009. Ozeye · CC BY-SA 3.0

Exeter College, Turl Street

The college says it inspired Jordan College, Lyra’s first home.

Philip Pullman read English at Exeter College; the college lists him as an alumnus, 1965. Lyra Belacqua first appeared in Northern Lights in 1995.

Pullman’s books have sold more than 49 million copies worldwide.

A working college on Turl Street. The front is on the street; ask the college before planning a visit inside, as parts close for students.

Sources
Old Royal Naval College

The Painted Hall, Greenwich

Greenwich · Adults £19

Thornhill’s hall, the film’s Jordan College. Open daily 10am to 5pm.

See tickets
The Oxford Collection

Old Bank Hotel

High Street, Oxford

A Georgian hotel of 43 rooms on the High Street, opposite the Radcliffe Camera; Turl Street is round the corner and the Botanic Garden at the bottom of the High. Pictured: the bench in the Botanic Garden, 2008.

Check rooms

End of the windows

Where they
are now.

The Botanic Garden, the Painted Hall, the Temple of Peace, Dunraven, Llyn y Fan Fach, Wentwood and Blaenavon are open to visit. Wolf Studios and the Welsh Government offices are working buildings, seen from outside; Exeter College is a working college.

Sources

Where it is now

10 places you can visit in Oxford, Greenwich and Wales. The Welsh film commission names the series’ locations but not the scenes shot at each, so none is matched to a scene here.

Pins mark public places; private homes are named but not pinned.

  • Site reference · Public access · Not an exact scene or camera position; not a visitor route. Inside the Botanic Garden, opposite Magdalen College. Open daily 10am to 5pm, last entry 4pm; buy a ticket at the gate or online.

  • Site reference · Restricted access · Not an exact scene or camera position; not a visitor route. A working college on Turl Street. The front is on the street; ask the college before planning a visit inside, as parts close for students.

  1. A wooden bench under a tree beside a path, with autumn leaves
    The bench in the far corner of Oxford Botanic Garden’s Lower Garden, October 2008. Miranda Hodgson · CC BY-SA 2.0

    Oxford · The far corner of the Lower Garden, Oxford Botanic Garden, Rose Lane

    Lyra and Will’s bench

    In the far corner of the Lower Garden, Lyra’s bench is a popular place of pilgrimage for the garden’s visitors.

    Inside the Botanic Garden, opposite Magdalen College. Open daily 10am to 5pm, last entry 4pm; buy a ticket at the gate or online.

    Sources
  2. A stone bay window with leaded panes on an old college building
    Exeter College’s bay window over Turl Street, Oxford, 2009. Ozeye · CC BY-SA 3.0

    Oxford · Turl Street, central Oxford

    Exeter College

    Philip Pullman read English at Exeter College; the college lists him as an alumnus, 1965.

    A working college on Turl Street. The front is on the street; ask the college before planning a visit inside, as parts close for students.

    Sources

Stay

Near the bench.

A hotel on the High Street, a walk from Turl Street and the Botanic Garden.

The Oxford Collection

Old Bank Hotel

High Street, Oxford

A Georgian hotel of 43 rooms on the High Street, opposite the Radcliffe Camera; Turl Street is round the corner and the Botanic Garden at the bottom of the High. Pictured: the bench in the Botanic Garden, 2008.

Check rooms

Go there

See it close.

The garden, the Painted Hall, the ironworks and Oxford on foot.

University of Oxford

Oxford Botanic Garden

Rose Lane, Oxford

Lyra and Will’s bench is in the far corner of the Lower Garden, with Julian Warren’s dæmon sculpture behind it. Open daily 10am to 5pm, last entry 4pm.

Plan a visit
Old Royal Naval College

The Painted Hall, Greenwich

Greenwich · Adults £19

Thornhill’s hall, the film’s Jordan College. Open daily 10am to 5pm.

See tickets
Cadw

Blaenavon Ironworks

Blaenavon, Torfaen · Adults £8

The furnaces, cast houses and water balance tower. From 2 November open Friday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm.

Opening times
Viator · Ad / affiliate

Oxford literary walking tours

Oxford

Live marketplace results for guided walks round Oxford’s colleges and literary places. Check which include the Botanic Garden.

Live marketplace results · itineraries change

Compare tours

What’s on

No dates yet.

Nothing dated for the series is listed at these places now.

No current dated events are listed. Check providers for the latest programme.

Take it home

The books.

Where Lyra starts, and where the windows close.

Bookshop.org UK · Ad / affiliate

Northern Lights

Philip Pullman

The first book, 1995: Lyra at Jordan College.

Find the book
Bookshop.org UK · Ad / affiliate

The Amber Spyglass

Philip Pullman

The last book, 2000: the windows closed, and the bench.

Find the book

Dates, prices, rooms and stock change: confirm with the provider before you travel or buy. A stay or tour is described as a filming location only where the card says so.

The archive

Every place and moment behind this page, with sources.

10 of 10 places · 15 of 15 stories

  • Lyra and Will’s bench

    The far corner of the Lower Garden, Oxford Botanic Garden, Rose Lane

    • A window in the air

      In The Subtle Knife, Will finds a window in the air near the Oxford ring road and steps out of our world into Cittàgazze, where he meets Lyra.

    • Every window closed

      In The Amber Spyglass, every opened window lets Dust leak away and makes a new Spectre, so the windows are closed. One is left open, out of the land of the dead.

    • Midsummer, midday

      Lyra and Will agree to sit on the bench in their own Oxfords every Midsummer’s Day, at midday.

    • The dæmons behind the bench

      Philip Pullman unveils Julian Warren’s stainless steel dæmon sculpture behind the bench.

  • Exeter College

    Turl Street, central Oxford

    • Jordan College

      Exeter College, where Pullman read English, inspires Jordan College, Lyra’s first home.

  • Old Royal Naval College

    The Painted Hall and Upper Grand Square, King William Walk, Greenwich

    • Jordan in Greenwich

      For The Golden Compass, the Painted Hall plays Jordan College, Oxford, and the Upper Grand Square gains a dome in CGI.

  • Wolf Studios Wales

    Trident Park, off Ocean Way, Splott, Cardiff

    • The studio is bought

      The Welsh Government buys the Trident Park units for Bad Wolf.

    • Six stages

      Filming begins at Wolf Studios Wales, on six stages, with Tom Hooper directing the first eight episodes.

    • 333 crew

      The third season films with 333 crew, 60% of them based in Wales.

  • Temple of Peace

    King Edward VII Avenue, Cathays Park, Cardiff

    • Cathays Park

      The trilogy films at the Temple of Peace.

  • Welsh Government offices

    Crown Buildings, Cathays Park, Cardiff

    • Government offices

      The trilogy films at the Welsh Government offices.

  • Dunraven Bay

    Southerndown, Vale of Glamorgan coast

    • Dunraven

      The trilogy films on the coast at Dunraven Bay.

  • Llyn y Fan Fach

    Below Bannau Sir Gaer, above Llanddeusant, Bannau Brycheiniog

    • Llyn y Fan Fach

      The trilogy films at Llyn y Fan Fach.

  • Wentwood

    Wentwood Forest, between Newport and Chepstow, Monmouthshire

    • Wentwood

      The trilogy films in Wentwood Forest.

  • Blaenavon Ironworks

    North Street, Blaenavon, Torfaen

    • Blaenavon

      The trilogy films at Blaenavon Ironworks.

Keep exploring

Where next?

Every place in His Dark Materials leads somewhere else.

On the mapSee London on the atlas mapOpen the atlas
Your atlas

Keep His Dark Materials with the places you mean to see.

How saving works

Its cities

All 50 cities

Related Worlds

All Worlds
Image credits
  • Leadenhall Market, the City of London · Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0
Privacy