Introduction
Doctor Who is a living chronicle of crises, first contacts, and near‑misses that shape Earth and its neighbours. Read here as public history, the timeline follows headline events as newspapers, UNIT files, and alien archives would record them: mysterious sightings around London in 1963, embassy incidents, invasions averted by inches, and breakthroughs that ripple across centuries. Because arrivals do not respect straight lines, dates anchor what the wider world can verify—broadcasts interrupted, museums evacuated, sky phenomena over Sheffield or London—while the mechanics of travel remain off the record.
Each entry focuses on what witnesses can see and institutions respond to: a school reopened after an incident, a hospital coping with the impossible, a negotiated stand‑down between powers who would rather not admit they met. The emphasis stays on public significance—laws altered, agencies formed, and uneasy alliances forged—rather than private destinies. We write in the present tense to keep the immediacy of emergency briefings and declassified minutes, and we keep to spoiler‑free facts so new viewers and longtime travellers can consult the same ledger.
Start with 1963, when unusual activity around a London scrapyard draws official attention. Leap to 2005 as a modern wave of incidents forces governments to formalise protocols. Follow leadership handovers in 2010, anniversaries that reopen old cases, fresh beginnings in 2018, and international celebrations in 2023. Across it all, the question remains the same: how does a single traveller—arriving unannounced, leaving little evidence beyond resolved crises and puzzled witnesses—keep history pointed, however gently, toward survival? This hub collects the key moments, in order, so you can place the alarms, rescues, and diplomatic miracles in their proper place on the calendar.
When does An Unearthly Child take place? (1963) — Timeline
The very first Doctor Who story, set in 1963 London, introduces the Doctor, Susan, Ian, and Barbara.
Open event →When does Rose (Doctor Who) take place? (2005) — Timeline
The Ninth Doctor meets Rose Tyler in modern‑day London, kicking off the revival era.
Open event →When does The End of Time take place? (2010) — Timeline
The Tenth Doctor’s farewell unfolds around the turn of 2009–2010; we use 2010 as the anchor year.
Open event →When does The Eleventh Hour take place? (2010) — Timeline
The Eleventh Doctor crash‑lands into Amy Pond’s life in Leadworth; Series 5 kicks off.
Open event →When does The Day of the Doctor take place? (2013) — Timeline
The multi‑Doctor special intersects with 2013 London (and the Time War), anchored to 2013 here.
Open event →When does The Woman Who Fell to Earth take place? (2018) — Timeline
The Thirteenth Doctor arrives in Sheffield and assembles her new friends.
Open event →When does The Power of the Doctor take place? (2022) — Timeline
The Thirteenth Doctor’s finale culminates in a surprise regeneration twist.
Open event →When do the Doctor Who 60th Anniversary specials take place? (2023) — Timeline
Three specials mark the 60th anniversary with the Fourteenth Doctor and Donna Noble.
Open event →FAQ
Q: What is the Doctor Who timeline order?
A: In short: 1963 (An Unearthly Child), 2005 (Rose), 2010 (End of Time; Eleventh Hour), 2013 (Day of the Doctor), 2018 (Woman Who Fell to Earth), 2022 (Power of the Doctor), 2023 (60th Specials).