Doctor Who TARDIS interiors ranked from worst to best

Doctor Who‘s enduring appeal lies in its simple premise: the Doctor travels anywhere and anytime in the TARDIS. It’s a formula that has consistently worked for the show.

For over six decades, the Doctor has traveled the universe in the TARDIS – a time machine that can go anywhere in time and space. Throughout countless adventures, facing different humans and alien enemies, the Doctor and the TARDIS have remained constant companions, working together perfectly.

The police box, instantly recognizable from the 1950s, is a huge part of what makes Doctor Who so beloved. While the blue exterior has remained mostly consistent, the inside of the TARDIS has changed even more frequently than the Doctor’s different incarnations.

Over the past sixty years, the TARDIS’s control room has received a makeover every few years. These changes happened for various reasons – a new actor taking on the role of The Doctor, damage to the set within the show, or simply because The Doctor wanted to update the style, like getting rid of pillars.

We’re going to look back at every console room and rank them from least to most impressive. We’ll be judging them based on how they look and how much of a mark they left on pop culture, so get ready for a trip down memory lane!

15. War Doctor

We only saw the War Doctor’s TARDIS briefly in the 50th anniversary special, and that was probably for the best.

It’s natural to think this TARDIS design would combine elements from both the original and newer versions of the show, and we definitely appreciate the circular shape. However, the pillars don’t quite work with the white color scheme, and they don’t really suit the portrayal of John Hurt’s Doctor as a troubled and battle-worn character.

Plus, it’s just a bit ugly.

14. Third Doctor – first TARDIS

After the Time Lords left the Third Doctor on Earth, he had to secretly construct a new version of the TARDIS.

The room is divided into two distinct areas: one feels like a typical living room with wallpaper and wood furniture, and the other resembles a garage, featuring metal shelving and a brick wall.

It certainly has a rough, handmade look, but that doesn’t make its messy design appealing.

13. Third Doctor – second TARDIS

In season 9, the Third Doctor did a “spot of redecoration” and got a brand-new console room.

This TARDIS design first showed up in the 1972 serial ‘The Time Monster’ and also appeared in ‘The Master’s TARDIS.’ It was great to see Jon Pertwee back in a classic time machine, but this version replaced the familiar circular panels with plastic bowls that strangely resembled frog eggs.

12. Eleventh Doctor – second TARDIS

I was so heartbroken when Amy and Rory left Doctor Who! But honestly, getting a glimpse of the Doctor’s second TARDIS around the middle of season seven really helped. It felt like a fresh start for him, and it was amazing to see a different version of his iconic ship.

Honestly, this new TARDIS console room just doesn’t feel right. It’s so dark and cold, and it doesn’t really work for me. I get that the Doctor was hurting when he designed it, but all the metal and lack of color make it feel… empty. It definitely doesn’t match the hopeful, energetic vibe of Matt Smith’s Doctor, which is a shame. It just feels really unwelcoming.

11. Fourth Doctor – secondary console room

We understand that interiors from the 70s and 80s often featured a lot of brown, but that doesn’t make this TARDIS’s living room any more appealing.

The design team seemed to be aiming for the luxurious, stately home look that was common during the Fourth Doctor’s adventures with Sarah Jane. However, that vision didn’t quite translate, and the resulting set was a rather simple, dimly lit room that thankfully wasn’t used very much.

10. Thirteenth Doctor

The Thirteenth Doctor brought a lot of fresh ideas to the show, updating classic elements like the sonic screwdriver, the Doctor’s clothes, and even the opening titles.

Plus, Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor never really spends much time in it.

9. Third Doctor – third TARDIS

This Doctor’s TARDIS needed a third redesign! After the one used in “The Time Monster” was damaged in 1972, Jon Pertwee received a brand new version.

Now that the roundels were restored and the room was larger, this console room included a pull-out bed, just like the one featured in ‘Planet of the Daleks’.

8. Fourth Doctor – main console room

The Fourth Doctor’s console room is instantly recognizable as a classic Doctor Who set. Featuring silver walls, circular details, and plenty of lights, it closely resembles the very first TARDIS interior from 1963.

This TARDIS is unique because it includes actual pillars, making it resemble a Greek temple. It also has a redesigned console with a new, red Time Rotor.

We appreciate the new design, but compared to the elaborate spaceship sets they were creating around the same time – like the one in ‘The Ark in Space’ – it feels a little basic. Overall, a more significant overhaul would have been better.

7. Twelfth Doctor

This stylish silver TARDIS is quite similar to the one used by the Eleventh Doctor, but it feels like a better fit for Peter Capaldi’s Doctor.

It’s not surprising to imagine the guitar-playing, sunglass-wearing man who travels in a tank living in this more subdued, metallic version of the TARDIS. The warmer orange lighting is a big improvement over the previous eerie green, and over three seasons, the Twelfth Doctor truly personalized the space with additions like bookcases, chalkboards, and even a hidden drinks cabinet.

6. Fifth Doctor

This Time Lord’s console room was a perfect fit for the 1980s. It was a big step up from earlier versions, boasting a much more elaborate console filled with buttons, lights, and screens.

Even though the rest of the room remained white, the bright new panels and gleaming controls were enough to update the look, and that’s likely why it wasn’t changed again until the TV movie was made.

5. Eighth Doctor

It’s heartbreaking we didn’t get to see more of this Doctor’s adventures. The Paul McGann TV movie finally delivers what fans always imagined Jon Pertwee’s TARDIS should be: a blend of time-traveling machine and comfortable living space.

This TARDIS interior feels surprisingly cozy and lived-in, with comfortable armchairs, warm rugs, and bookshelves covering the walls. The new bronze console and metallic columns give it a magical, otherworldly feel, while still feeling like a place The Doctor would call home.

4. Fourteenth Doctor/Fifteenth Doctor

Yes, we know they’re technically different TARDISes, but let’s face it – they do look very similar.

We’ve been discussing the combination of classic and modern elements, and this TARDIS really excels at bringing them together.

This TARDIS design brilliantly combines the impressive size of Matt Smith’s version with the sleek, alien look of the original set from William Hartnell’s era. It’s a fantastic tribute to the show’s 62-year history and a bold step forward for its future.

3. First Doctor

The TARDIS is essential to Doctor Who’s success. It wasn’t just the first one ever used on the show, but it also has a fantastic and memorable design.

The control room is spacious and open, originally designed for the Doctor and his two companions. The mix of futuristic technology and the Doctor’s old-fashioned collectibles really highlights his unique personality.

I’ll never forget seeing that console – all those buttons and dials, and that incredible, angular design. But it was the time rotor, constantly moving, that really captured my imagination. It wasn’t just a machine from the sixties; standing there, in that room, felt like stepping outside of time altogether. It was truly timeless.

2. Ninth/Tenth Doctor

Who could forget when Billie Piper’s Rose first entered the TARDIS? That single moment perfectly captured everything Doctor Who was, and hinted at its future.

The TARDIS used by the Ninth and Tenth Doctors kept the familiar design of the original series, but with a more natural, slightly wild appearance that captivated a new generation of viewers.

The room’s curved supports and central green pillar created a distinctly otherworldly feel, but it remained inviting and safe for viewers. This design also allowed us a unique look inside the core of the TARDIS.

1. Eleventh Doctor – first TARDIS

Matt Smith’s first TARDIS perfectly captured the idea of a quirky and unpredictable time machine. It felt like a fantastical place, reminiscent of stories like Alice in Wonderland or Narnia, with its confusing layout of stairs and hallways. Yet, it also represented the height of futuristic technology, instantly recognizable thanks to its glass panels, bright lights, and gleaming buttons.

It was great to see so much of the Doctor’s TARDIS in these episodes. It felt spacious, cozy, and really fit the style of this era of Doctor Who. We also learned a lot about its features, like the scanner and zig-zag plotter, which were shown throughout the series. Plus, we finally got to meet the TARDIS itself!

2025-11-21 10:36