Boy: Tales of Childhood is an autobiography by Roald Dahl. As such, it takes place in multiple different settings as Dahl ages and moves locations. It is mostly set in the 1920s and 1930s, when Dahl was a child. He uses his story to highlight the living conditions and school system in England at the time. He begins the story with his family’s ancestry. His father was married before meeting his mother and previously lived in Cardiff, Wales. Dahl started school at Elm Tree Primary School in Cardiff. He later attended Llandaff Cathedral School, also in Cardiff. He goes on to attend St. Peter’s Boarding School in Weston, England. Following this, his mother enrolled him in the Repton School, in Derbyshire, England. He spends his summers in Norway with his family. After graduating, Dahl gets a job working for Shell. In this position, he travels all over England. He travels across Newfoundland and is finally assigned to go to Africa.

For the most part, the setting of Roald Dahl's novel Boy takes place in different schools in the United Kingdom.The first section tells about Dahl's pre-kindergarten and kindergarten years. 

The second section is set at "Llandaff Cathedral School." This school is located in the United Kingdom, north of the Welsh capitol (Cardiff).

The third section is set in "St. Peter’s." This school is also found in the United Kingdom. The actual location of this school is found in Devon.

The fourth section of the novel is set in "Repton and Shell." Repton is located in Derbyshire, in the Midlands of the United Kingdom. Shell could refer to Westminster School (given the shell design on the structures have brought forth the nickname Shell to the school).

Outside of the different school locations, the novel speaks about summers spent in Norway.