15+ Magical Merlin Filming Locations You Can Visit in the UK & Beyond

Merlin fans, did you know that there are many Merlin filming locations in the UK you can visit?

I’ve been obsessed with this magical TV series since the very first episode filmed over a decade ago. 

I still rewatch the show today, and have made it a mission to find as many Merlin filming locations as possible.

Most of these filming locations are in the Forest of Dean and Wales, and they make for an incredible Merlin road trip. 

Here’s a list of the magical Merlin filming locations you can visit in the UK & beyond. 

Merlin filming locations you can visit 

1. Château de Pierrefonds

Château de Pierrefonds played Camelot Castle in every series of BBC’s Merlin. Yes, it’s a real castle, not CGI.

Scenes with Merlin, Arthur, Uther, Gwen, Gaius, and Morgana were all filmed inside the castle and in the castle courtyard.

They didn’t alter any of the castle for filming. They only added furnishings and built a small medieval street with The Rising Sun tavern ;).

It’s a castle that looks straight out of a storybook in the commune of Pierrefonds. This is in the Oise region of Picardy in France. 

Although the Merlin props and sets won’t be here, Camelot Castle will look exactly as it did in the TV series.

You can visit this fairytale castle on a day trip from Paris. Make sure to read my travel guide for directions. 

2. Puzzlewood

Did you know that there are Merlin filming locations that you can visit in Puzzlewood?

For five years, the production team filmed scenes for the Kingdom of Albion in this magical forest. So, fans must visit.

You can follow in the footsteps of your favourite actors like Colin Morgan and Bradley James.

Or, you can feel like you’ve been transported straight to Camelot. You can even visit Morgana’s hut that they kept after filming.

3. Speech House Lake

Speech House Lake is a fishing lake in the Forest of Dean, but to Merlin fans, it’s more than that.

Fans know this place as the Lake of Avalon, a place mentioned in the Arthurian tales.

Avalon is an island where the sword Excalibur was forged, the Holy Grail is buried, home of Morgan le Fay, and the final resting place of King Arthur.

Avalon Lake featured in many notable episodes of Merlin as part of the Kingdom of Albion

The most famous episode is The Gates of Avalon. This is where Merlin sees the Sidhe (pronounced she), who are nasty fairies. 

We also see this lake in the episode Excalibur, where Merlin hides the iconic sword, which forms part of his destiny with Arthur. 

Speech House Lake also features in the Lady of the Lake, where Merlin says a tearful goodbye to his dying love, Freya.

It’s also in The Coming of Arthur Part II and The Diamond of the Day Part II, where Merlin bids Arthur farewell. 

4. Castell Coch 

One of the best day trips from Cardiff is to Castell Coch above the village of Tongwynlais. 

It’s known as the ‘Fairytale Castle of Wales’, a Gothic revival folly with over 900 years of history. 

Merlin fans will love that this was a filming location in ‘The Changeling’ episode with Princess Elena. It’s one of my favourites.

This is where Arthur is expected to enter an arranged marriage with Princess Elena, but she’s actually a greedy troll.

The exterior of Castell Coch is featured as Elena’s home as she is about to enter her carriage.

5. Dunraven Bay

A unique beach on the South Wales coastline is Dunraven Bay, or Southerndown Beach, in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Fans of Doctor Who and Merlin will also love Dunraven Bay as this gorgeous place features in both productions.

Merlin fans will recognise this beach from the first series in ‘The Labyrinth of Gedref’. 

At the very end of the Labyrinth, Merlin and Arthur are transported to the coast. 

There is a table waiting for them with two golden chalices. One chalice is poisoned, and so the two of them have to make a choice.

Who drinks from their cup first? In the end, Arthur drinks from both, proving himself worthy to be a prince. 

6. Three Bears Cave

Another Merlin filming location to visit is Three Bears Cave in Fforest Fawr near Castell Coch.

It featured in series two, ’Lancelot and Guinevere’, when we meet the grim ‘giant baby rats’ called the Wilddeoren in the Tunnels of Andor. 

A visit to these caves will take you on a short and scenic walk through the forest, and there’s even a magical sculpture trail.

7. Caerphilly Castle

As the largest castle in Wales and the second largest castle in Britain, Caerphilly Castle is a must-visit.

Fans of Merlin will love visiting as it appeared in three seasons of the show.

It features in series 2, episode 4, as Lancelot and Guinevere, as Hengist’s Fortress. 

The Great Hall was used as Hengist’s Hall, where we meet the Wilddeoren.

In series 3, Merlin visits Gwaine after Arthur has travelled to the Perilous Lands in ‘The Eye of the Phoenix’. 

It also reappears later as both the inside and outside of the Fisher King’s Castle.

Lastly, Caerphilly Castle briefly appears during ‘Diamond of the Day’.

It makes the perfect day trip from Cardiff, as there are plenty more attractions in this scenic area of South Wales.

8. Clearwell Caves

Another Merlin filming location you can visit in the Forest of Dean is Clearwell Caves.

It features as the deep caverns beneath Camelot Castle where Merlin speaks to Kilgharrah, the Great Dragon. 

You’ll see it more prominently in two episodes during series five.

Merlin meets a soothsayer here in The Disir, and it was the Druid’s Cave in Arthur’s Bane.

Beyond a filming location, the caves are an incredible attraction. You can take a self-guided tour 100 feet underground through nine show caverns.

I loved exploring these mystical caves; it felt like I would meet Merlin down here at any moment. 

9. Cannop Ponds

Cannop Ponds is in the heart of the Forest of Dean and is a Merlin filming location that appeared several times in the show. 

It features in series 1 during The Poisoned Chalice and in series 4 during The Darkest Hour, where Arthur hunts down the spectral Dorocha.

We also see it in series 5 during The Valiant, where Merlin finds a piece of cloth with a warning message about Morgana from Princess Mithian.

Beyond being a filming location, these ponds are a peaceful place for a stroll around the scenic ponds or to have a picnic.

10. Raglan Castle

Raglan Castle is one of the most magical fortresses in South Wales.

In Merlin, it was where magic originated, and priestesses practised the Old Religion.

Merlin defeats Nimueh here in a magical battle during season one. Later, he sacrificed the sorceress Morgause to release the Dorocha.

It’s a late medieval ruin built by Sir William Herbert in the 15th Century. You can visit as it’s an attraction owned by Cadw. 

11. Goodrich Castle

Another Merlin filming location you can visit in the Forest of Dean is Goodrich Castle. 

This was the mysterious lair of Morgause during series 2, episode 8, Sins of the Father. 

She lures Arthur into the castle with news about his mother, and Merlin has to save him. 

Goodrich Castle is an English Heritage attraction with a keep, dry moat, dungeon and tea shop.

Free parking is provided for members. If not, you have to pay for parking along with your entrance fee. 

12. King Arthur’s Cave 

This historic cave in the Wye Valley has connections to the Arthurian Tales and the legend of King Vortigern.

It was also used as a Merlin filming location in Another’s Sorrow in series 5. 

Princess Mithian travels to Camelot and asks Arthur for help to rescue her father, Rodor.

She says that Rodor is stuck in a mausoleum over the border. Of course, it’s all a trap, but the caves act as the entrance to that mausoleum.

Also, Guy Ritchie used this location to film King Arthur: Legends of the Sword in 2017 with Charlie Hunnam .

The cave is a little hard to find, but I have a helpful guide with directions.

13. Trefil Quarry

Trefil Quarry is a privately owned site in Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) which served as a major filming location in Merlin. 

This limestone quarry provided the backdrop in Season 5, episode 9, ‘With All My Heart’.

Here, we see scenes of Arthur’s knights on horseback when they encounter Dolma, Merlin’s alter ego and disguise.

It’s also featured in Doctor Who and The Witcher, so TV buffs will be in their element.

It’s free to visit, with a public right-of-way route that allows you to explore. 

14. Chepstow Castle

Although not a prominent Merlin filming location, Chepstow Castle features in a few episodes of the show.

It served as a backdrop in several episodes when Merlin and Arthur are on one of their many brotherly adventures.

In the Arthurian Legends, King Arthur and his knights are not dead but sleeping beneath Chepstow Castle.

They are in eternal slumber, waiting for the day that Britain needs them most.

As my family live in Caldicot, I’ve visited Chepstow Castle since I was a child. It never fails to fill me with whimsical wonder. 

15. Glastonbury Tor

Glastonbury Tor features briefly as a Merlin filming location in the very last episode, Diamond of the Day Part II. 

But it’s not just a filming location. In Arthurian legends, this is the legendary Isle of Avalon. 

According to Geoffrey of Monmouth in his Historia Regum Britanniae, Avalon was the place where King Arthur’s sword Excalibur was forged. 

It’s also where Arthur is taken to recover from his mortal wounds after the Battle of Camlann, overseen by Morgan le Fay.

Around 1190, the monks of Glastonbury Abbey claimed to have unearthed the bodies of King Arthur and Guinevere.

There is also a legend that King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table found the Holy Grail here.

So, you must visit on your Merlin-inspired adventure. Read my travel guide for more information.

Merlin-Inspired Locations to Visit

Of course, legends of King Arthur and Merlin are woven firmly into the tapestry of British history.

Many destinations in the UK are associated with the Isle of Avalon, Camelot, the Lost Lands of Lyonesse and Queen Mab.

Here are some of the most popular destinations you can visit to relive the legend. 

Tintagel Castle

Tintagel Castle is one of the most famous historical sites in all of Great Britain.

It’s where legends of myth and magic blend with history on the spectacular Cornish coast.

Tintagel is also famous for being the birthplace of King Arthur of Camelot. 

Whether you believe the legends are true or not, visiting Tintagel Castle has to be on your UK bucket list.

Merlin’s Cave

You can also visit Merlin’s Cave underneath Tintagel Castle, where the wizard lived.

Legends say that Arthur grew up in Tintagel Castle with King Uther and Lady Igraine.

Merlin lived in the cave below the castle and tutored Arthur as a boy, hoping he would become a good man and noble king. 

We know this story from the tales by Geoffrey of Monmouth. He writes of the legend in the ‘History of Kings of Britain’ in 1139. 

It’s completely free to visit, even if you don’t have a ticket for Tintagel Castle.

Winchester 

Have you ever wanted to visit King Arthur’s Round Table of Camelot?

Well, you can by visiting the Winchester Round Table as part of Winchester Great Hall.

Although it’s not the legendary circular table, it is a medieval recreation from the 13th-century.

It’s well worth seeing as a Merlin fan, and I have a helpful travel guide on how to visit.

Read more of my Arthurian travel guides

How to Visit Dinas Emrys in Wales

How to Visit Pendragon Castle in the Yorkshire Dales

How to Visit St Nectan’s Glen in Cornwall

Things to Do in Land’s End Cornwall 

Save these Merlin Filming Locations for later