Hop all over the world on a House Of The Dragon holiday
Game of Thrones was a legendary TV series for a number of reasons – not least because of its standout cinematography and stunningly beautiful filming locations. From the woods of Ireland to saturated Croatian streets to the snowy wilds of Iceland, filming for the original show occurred here, there and everywhere. Then, earlier this year, the prequel series House of the Dragon finally hit our screens, showcasing the pseudo-Medieval magic of George R. R. Martin’s expansive universe in full force and introducing us all to the Negroni Sbagliato (thanks, Emma D’Arcy). And, scooping up the 2023 Golden Globe for Best Television Series: Drama, House of the Dragon has proved itself as a prequel worth its salt. With it came plenty of incredible filming locations that we are itching to visit. Now that filming for season 2 is officially scheduled to commence in March 2023, here’s a recap of some of the gorgeous settings we saw in season 1.
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House Of The Dragon: Where Was It Filmed & Can You Visit?
Where Was House of the Dragon Filmed?
The majority of House of the Dragon was filmed in Spain, Cornwall and Derbyshire, with most of the show’s action taking place in King’s Landing. Here are some of the key locations you might recognise.
House of the Dragon: Filming Locations
Stepstones: Holywell Beach & Kynance Cove, Cornwall
Extensive early filming for House of the Dragon began in Cornwall in April 2021. A central and significant destination is Holywell Beach, which features in one of the early promotional shots released to the public, picturing Emma D’Arcy as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen and Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen.
Holywell Beach is believed to be the filming location for the Stepstones, a chain of islands that link Westeros and Essos (the eastern continent in Martin’s universe). Kynance Cove appears in the season’s first big battle sequence as a battle camp, brought to life by the location’s natural rocks and caves.
Image (c) Ollie Upton/HBO.
King’s Landing: Cáceres and Trujillo, Spain
Also previously used in Game of Thrones, the producers of House of the Dragon transported George R. R. Martin’s show back to the streets of Spain in order to get enough sun-soaked shots to conjure King’s Landing.
Situated in a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Extremadura, the Old Town of Cáceres is notable for its blend of architectural influences – Roman, Islamic, Northern Gothic and Italian Renaissance all feature – hence making it an ideal site for the similarly multi-influenced Kings Landing. Trujillo – 45 km to the east, and home to a number of medieval and renaissance buildings – also returns to screens for House of the Dragon.
Image: Old town of Cáceres, Spain
King’s Landing Gardens: Santa Clotilde Gardens, Spain
More specifically in King’s Landing, many scenes transpire in the verdant and manicured gardens. The real gardens serving as a filming location are Spain’s Santa Clotilde Gardens, created by the Marquis of Roviralta, Raül Roviralta i Astoul. At age 25, in 1917, he moved to Lloret de Mar in search of land to build an isolated property in contact with nature and open to the sea. Completed in 1926 but extensively improved across the years, these gorgeous gardens are open to the public, making for a lovely stroll. lloretdemar.org
Image (c) Ollie Upton/HBO.
Driftmark: St. Michael’s Mount, Cornwall
At the edge of Kings Landing, there is a large body of water called Blackwater Bay. It houses Driftmark, a castle and home to House Velaryon. It previously featured in Game of Thrones during the Battle of the Blackwater. Lord Corlys Velaryon, also known as the Sea Snake, is a key character in House of the Dragon, sitting on the small council as Master of Ships.
In reality, Driftmark is a medieval church dating back to the 12th century on St. Michael’s Mount, a rocky island housing a small community off the coast of Cornwall, linked to Marazion island by a tidal causeway. stmichaelsmount.co.uk
Image (c) Damian Shields – ‘Sailing’, St Michael’s Mount, Marazion, Cornwall, England. damianshields.com
The Vale of Arryn: Castleton, Derbyshire
The ancient village of Castleton is situated in Derbyshire, at the head of Hope Valley in the heart of the Peak District. With its dramatic landscape, is well-suited to House of the Dragon – particularly the Vale of Arryn, famous for housing the Eyrie in Game of Thrones, where enemies can be shot from above like fish in a barrel, or pushed through the moon door.
A trip to Castleton will surely involve less bloodshed – but the landscape remains very dramatic. With sweeping valleys and expansive cave and cavern systems, Castleton makes for an otherworldly visit. If you prefer to keep your feet firmly planted in this century (and this world, for that matter), long walks, delightful tea rooms and cosy pubs will keep you occupied. visitpeakdistrict.com
Pentos: La Calahorra, Spain
Back to Spain for the ancestral seat of House Targaryen, for which Castillo de La Calahorra acts as the filming location. In Martin’s imagined world, Pentos is a city adjacent to the seas of Westeros (the central continent and home of the Seven Kingdoms in Game of Thrones). The medieval castle Castillo de La Calahorra is situated on the town’s only hill, with a Gothic exterior and a Renaissance-inspired structure, built between 1509-12.
Featured Image by Ollie Upton/HBO.
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