Filming Locations Across Wales
A new television series directed by Guy Ritchie was filmed extensively across Wales, featuring a "dramatic scene" at one of the country's most renowned religious sites.
Young Sherlock, a re-imagined origin story of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous detective, included several days of filming at Llandaff Cathedral, which was transformed to represent the Victorian era for the production.
Additional filming locations encompassed Monmouth, Margam Park in Port Talbot, and Merthyr Mawr in Bridgend.
The Dean of Llandaff, Jason Bray, expressed enthusiasm about the project, stating they were "thrilled" to present the cathedral to a "worldwide audience."
"It's a really atmospheric place, one of Wales' greatest buildings, fusing ancient and modern architecture," said Bray.
The filming occurred in January 2025, during which the cathedral was closed to the public for four days.
Cathedral's Role and Production Details
A spokesperson for Llandaff Cathedral revealed that they were approached by a location manager with the opportunity to participate in "the largest production filmed in Wales."
Located on the outskirts of Cardiff, the cathedral hosted a crew of nearly 100 people. Significant efforts were undertaken to transform the site into a Victorian setting appropriate for the series.
According to the spokesperson, there was "a real buzz around Llandaff" during filming, and a "dramatic scene" shot at the cathedral appears in episode three of the series.
Series Setting and Additional Filming Sites
The series is set in 19th Century England, France, and Turkey, with much of the filming conducted in Wales, as well as locations in Oxford and south-west England.
The Merthyr Mawr estate in Bridgend served as the Holmes family's English estate. Filming also took place in the market town of Monmouth and at Margam Park near Port Talbot.
The Bannau Brycheiniog, also known as the Brecon Beacons, provided the backdrop for a Chinese village in a flashback sequence.
Cast and Series Information
Hero Fiennes Tiffin portrays the young Sherlock Holmes, while Colin Firth plays Sir Bucephalus Hodge, the dean of Oxford University, where Holmes works as a porter.
The eight-episode series marks Guy Ritchie's second time directing a Sherlock Holmes adaptation, following his 2009 film starring Robert Downey Jr.
