Locations Children of Earth, Day Two

 

Children of Earth: Day Two, broadcast 7 Jul 2009 

Locations has lost its Doctor and gained a Captain. 

Time Lords, eh! 

So, we’re covering Children of Earth Episode Two this month and using Millennium Centre as the starting point for each journey. 

Pierhead Street, Cardiff 

This is the area where Ianto hides from the Sniper and where the Sniper is seen running downstairs after the fleeing Ianto.  It's also an area where the Torchwood team were heading off from in Day One, for the meteor site.

Walk north-east (ideally, if you have a compass, this might help), take a sharp right towards Bute Place, and turn left towards it. Turn right onto Bute Place and turn left onto Pierhead Street.

Buchan Close, Newport  - This is the housing estate where Ianto's Sister and brother in law live with their two children, and an area used a lot during Day Two, Day Three and Day Five.

 

It takes roughly, give or take, 26 minutes to arrive at this destination. It's about 13.6 miles from Millennium Centre to Newport location. If you take the A470 and Hemingway Road to Cardiff Bay Link Road/Eastern Bay Link Road/A4232 for about 3 mins. Continue on the same road to Rover Way for two minutes before following Rover Way to A4232 for 4 mins. Obviously, allowing for delays due to any traffic conditions, especially at this time of year, and especially due to COVID-19. Continue on A 4232. Take Eastern Avenue/A48 and A48 (M) to Southern Distributor Road/A48 in Duffryn. Take exit 28 from M4. After 10 minutes and having continued on Southern Distributor Road/A48, take the Cardiff Road/B4237 to Buchan Close in Newport. Your destination will appear after 7 mins.

 

Fitzhamon Embankment, Cardiff - the area that Gwen is seen fighting her way out of the ambulance in Day Two. 

This route using the A4119 will take 10 minutes by car. Heading out from the Millennium Centre, head south-west on Bute Place/A4119. Continue to follow the A4119. At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Corporation Road, still A4119. Turn right onto Despenser Street. This street turns right and becomes the Fitzhamon Embankment. Your location is on the left.

 

Talbot Place, Cardiff - Used for many of the earlier Torchwood scenes, such as in the episode Adam, but also for Gwen and Rhys' flat when they flee from the arrival of the Special Ops team headed up by Johnson.

This route is 2.2 miles and takes 11 mins by car, and pretty much the directions are the same as above. Head south-west on Bute Place/A4119. At the roundabout take second exit onto Corporation Road, A4119, only this time, turn left onto Talbot Street.

 

Womanby Street, Cardiff - This was the street where Ianto thought he was being followed by the van, which turned out to just be someone dropping off early morning newspapers. 

This is one of the oldest streets in Cardiff. It is well known for hosting live music venues, albeit small ones, it is also home to the Welsh Club. 

From Millennium Centre, head south-west on Bute Place/A4119. At the roundabout, take 2nd exit onto Corporation Road, A4119. Turn right onto Cowbridge Road/A4161. Turn right. Turn left, and you've arrived in the street. 

 

Hunter Street, Cardiff - At the north end of this street, by the Newsagents, is the route Clem McDonald walked after escaping the rest home. He spies the newspaper headline on this walk. 

This route is on foot this time. Get out your compass and head south. Turn right towards Bute Place/A4119. Turn left onto Bute Place/A4119. Turn left onto Hunter Street. Slight right to stay on this street. It will take 9 minutes to walk this. 

 

The Hereford Arms, Hereford Street, Maindee, Newport, NP19 8DT Wales is the pub that Clem enters to buy himself a drink with stolen money and where he was subsequently arrested by the two police officers.

 

The fastest route is by car and via the M4. If travelling by train, it will take considerably longer. Strange that. Put away your compass and pay full attention to the road signs for this one.

Take the A470 and Hemingway Road to Cardiff Bay Link Road/Eastern Bay Link Road and A4232. Continue on Cardiff Bay Link Road/Eastern Bay Link Road and A4232 to Rover Way. Follow Rover Way to A4232. Take Eastern Ave/A48, A48 (M) and M4 to Malpas Road, A4051 in Newport. Take the exit 26 from M4. Continue on the Malpas Road/A4051. Take B4591, Clarence Place/B4596 and Chepstow Road/B4237 to Hereford Street. In 5 mins you will be at the Hereford Arms. 

Interesting side note to this location. In 2012, on a Beer brewers blog, it was mentioned that the Hereford Arms had closed its doors for good and was awaiting conversion into flats. Yet, 2020, its listed as open for business as a pub. 

 

Liverpool Street, Newport, Wales 

This is outside the Hereford Arms pub, which would explain why the directions sounded similar!!! This is the road where Clem began chanting and then screaming at the sky that he wouldn't be taken in the street. Use the above route for this location. It looks as though this pub is in the middle of two streets. It's quite likely that Liverpool Street is at one side of the large public house.

 

Thames House, Millbank, London SW1P 4QE – Is the location of the big build at the top of the House, where the 456 was to make its grand entrance, and even bigger exit at the end of Day Five. 

Thames House is the location of the MI5 building since 1994. It was built in 1930 on the north bank of the Thames at Millbank. It was featured in all five episodes of COE. You won't be able to enter this building but you should at least be able to see it from the outside quite safely. 

To travel to this destination from Cardiff will, on the fastest route via M4, take you about 2 hours and 56 mins. Be aware that you will face tolls on this stretch. Be sure to also quote Gwen Cooper when crossing into England. It's 152 miles. Pack some sandwiches and refreshments and a flask. And a passport!!! And I hope you've had your jabs!!! 

Heading out of Cardiff, take Rover Way/A4232 and Eastern Avenue/A48 to A48(M) for 13 mins. Follow M4 to Great West Road/A4 in London for 2 hours and 19 mins (137 miles), follow the A4 and A3220 to A3212 for 24 minutes and you've reached your destination.

 

Cemex (Taffs Well), Pentyrch, Cardiff - the site where Jack's concrete tomb was dropped from the top of the cliff and smashed below. It's a quarry site and used quite a few times for Doctor Who, in The End of Time and The Doctor's Wife.

It takes 23 mins to reach this destination of 15.7 miles. Take A4232 and M4 to B4262. Take the exit for A4054/B4262. Take the exit for A4054/B4262 from A470 for 15 mins. Take Main Road and Heol Goch to your destination in 7 mins. CEMEX Taffs Well Quarry, Heol Goch, Taff's Well, CF15 9PN. 

Be aware however that this location has restricted usage and some are on private roads.

 

Cafe Aroma, 120 Crwys Road, Cardiff, CF10 5AL - where Gwen and Rhys meet Lois.

 

It will take 54 minutes to walk, so driving to this location, would be ideal. This route is starting from Bute Place, Cardiff. There are three different routes, this will take 11 minutes and seemed more straight forward.

Head South-west on Bute Place/A470 and continue straight onto Bute Place/A4119. Turn right onto Bute Street. Turn right onto Bute Terrace/A4160, continuing to follow A4160 for 0.5miles. Take a slight turn onto Fitzalan Place/A4160. Continue straight onto West Grove. Continue onto Richmond Road, take a sharp left onto Crwys Road/A469, Cafe Aroma is on your right.

 

Harpur Street - the area where Rhys ditches the car and they leave on foot, to evade their pursuers. 

Via Dumballs Road, which is the fastest route. It will take about 4 minutes to reach your destination. Make sure you pack your compass. Head south-west on Bute Place/A470 and continue straight, as you did before for Cafe Aroma, to A4119. Continue to follow the A4119 for 0.3 miles. Turn right onto Dumballs Road, turn left onto Penarth Road/A4160 and turn right onto Harpur Street. 

Streets are often named after significant people in history. It's quite possible that the street was named after Borough Surveyor, William Harpur, who designed the Cardiff Market, which was opened for business in May 1891.

 

Boulevard de Nantes, Cardiff - as well as being the route Gwen ran from in Everything Changes, after taking retcon, and the area in Dead Man Walking when Owen doesn't see the weevils that are following him. It's also the area where Gwen drives the ambulance.

Takes 8 minutes by car. Is 2.1 miles from Millennium Centre.

Take the Central Link road/A4234 to Knox Road, staying on the road for 1.5 miles. Continue on this road till you reach Newport Road/A4161 for 9.2 miles. Turn left onto Newport Road/A4161 for 0.4 miles.

 

Cardiff Wholesale Fruit Centre, Bessemer Road, Cardiff - the scene where Gwen and Rhys climb into the red truck full of potatoes taking the long journey into London.

The fastest route is by using the A4232. It'll take 7 minutes to get there and is 3.9 miles from Millennium Centre. 

Time to dig out the sat nav. Head south-west on Cardiff Bay Link Road/Queens Gate Tunnel/A4232 for 2.8 miles. Take the B4267 exit towards Industrial Area/Aral Ddiw for 0.2 miles. At the roundabout, take the 4th exit and continue onto Hadfield Road for 0.5 miles. Turn left onto Bessemer Road, and the Wholesale Fruit Centre is on the left.

 

Darwin Drive (play area), Malpas. - where Ianto meets his sister with the laptop and catches up briefly. He also takes her car.

It takes 26 minutes and is 15.8 miles using the M4. 

Take the A470 and Hemingway Road to Cardiff Bay Link Road/Eastern Bay Link Road/A4232 for 0.7 miles. Continue on the Cardiff Bay Link Road/A4232 to Rover Way for 2 minutes, or 0.8 miles. Follow Rover Way to A4232 for 2.0 miles. 

Take Eastern Ave/A48, A48 (M) and M4 to Malpas Road/A4051 in Newport. Take Exit 26 from M4. At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto the A4232 and drive for 1.3 miles before reaching the second roundabout. Take the 3rd exit onto the A48 slip road for 0.3 miles. Merge onto the Eastern Ave/A48 for 2.4 miles. Keep right to continue on the A48(M) and follow signs for M4/Newport/Casnewydd for 2.5 miles. Keep left to stay on the A48 (M). Merge onto the M4, staying on this road for 4.1 mile. At Junction 26, take the A4051 exit to Cwmbran/Newport/Casnewydd/Caerleon. Continue on Malpas Road/A4051 for 1.1 miles. Drive to Darwin Drive. There should be a sign for Play Area. 

Please note, that Darwin Drive is a built-up housing scheme, and if you take the wrong turning, could be driving around Russell Road and Russell Close for some time. Love Google Maps - got lost twice!!! 

The play area is on flat ground, with ample parking ground to the left of the area, with what looks to be a graffitied toilet block or changing area.

 

Black Horse Ltd (Cardiff), St William House, Tresillian Terrace, Cardiff, CF10 5BH - is a bank, (not a pub, as I thought) the cash point where Rhys and Gwen try and get some money out.

 

This will take 4 minutes by car and via Dumballs Road. Head south-west on Bute Place/A470. Continue straight onto Bute Place/A4119 and after 0.3 miles turn right onto Dumballs Road. After 0.8 miles turn left onto Curran Road, the Black Horse Ltd will be on the left.

See you next month