There is nothing quite like stepping into a room and being instantly transported across time and space. Back in December 2013, that’s exactly what happened when I visited the National Media Museum in Bradford.
To celebrate five decades of everyone’s favourite Time Lord, the museum hosted an incredible Doctor Who exhibition. Looking back at these photos brings all that classic sci-fi nostalgia rushing right back. If you missed it—or just want to take a trip down memory lane—here is a showcase of the incredible props, costumes, and memorabilia that were on display.
The Icons of Time Travel: TARDISes and Tech
You can't have Doctor Who without the blue box. The exhibition featured a stunning, full-scale TARDIS prop standing proudly against a vibrant backdrop, showing off decades of faithful service, complete with its iconic textured wood finish and glowing "Police Public Call Box" sign.
Beside the screen-used props, the museum showcased how the show captured the imaginations of collectors. One display featured a brilliant array of vintage merchandise:
Detailed model TARDISes from different eras.
An intricate Doctor Who Chess Set, featuring classic heroes and villains as the pieces.
Dozens of miniature action figures, from Daleks to Cybermen, charting the history of the show's toy lines.
Custom collectibles were also on display, including a brilliant "Who's Alphabet" semaphore poster showing Tom Baker’s Fourth Doctor using his iconic, impossibly long striped scarf to signal letters from A to Z.
Face to Face with the Monsters
The real thrill of any Doctor Who exhibition is getting up close to the creatures that sent generations of kids hiding behind the sofa. The National Media Museum did not disappoint.
The Cybermen
We got to see the fascinating evolution of the silver nemesis. On display were multiple generations of Cybermen costumes, including:
An early classic era Cyberman, complete with its retro chest unit, metallic fabric suit, and ribbed joints.
A later, heavier 80s-era design showcasing the bulkier, bronze-tinted chest plates and updated helmet design.
A Platoon of Daleks
No exhibition would be complete without the Doctor’s ultimate enemies. A fantastic line up showed off the design tweaks of the Daleks across the decades. From the traditional grey and black models to the iconic bronze variants, and even a sleek silver-and-blue design, seeing them lined up side-by-side really highlighted the subtle artistic shifts the show underwent over fifty years.
The Faces of the Doctor
One of the absolute highlights of the gallery was a stunning wall of portrait artwork dedicated to the Doctors themselves.
The beautifully vibrant, cosmic portraits captured the distinct personalities of the Time Lords up to that point. It was the perfect visual timeline, running from William Hartnell’s commanding First Doctor, through Tom Baker’s wide-eyed grin, all the way to Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant, and Matt Smith. Standing in front of that wall in December 2013—right around the time of the 50th Anniversary special—felt incredibly poignant.
Everyone's Favorite K-9
Finally, tucked neatly into the display was a pristine prop of K-9, the Doctor’s faithful robotic canine companion. Seeing the grid of colourful buttons on his back and his sleek silver chassis in person was an absolute joy. He looked ready to roll out of the display casing and start analysing alien data at any second.
Final Thoughts
The 50th-anniversary era was a magical time to be a Doctor Who fan, and the National Media Museum in Bradford put together a spectacular tribute to British television history. Looking back at these photos more than a decade later, it's clear that the magic of the show—and the creativity of the teams who brought it to life—is truly timeless.
"We're all stories, in the end. Just make it a good one, eh?" — The Eleventh Doctor
