The Targaryens are back for another season of battling it out for the Iron Throne. The return of HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel, House of the Dragon, means more icy blondes, fiery tempers and, of course, the jaw-dropping landscapes.
Although House of the Dragon may be a fictional fantasy series set in the imagined land of Westeros, many of the filming locations are very real. In fact, a number of the show’s rugged mountains, breathtaking coastlines and medieval towns were shot in the UK.
So where was House of the Dragon filmed?
Take some inspiration from Emma D’Arcy and pour yourself a negroni, spagliato, with prosecco in it, and let’s take a peek inside some of this season’s stunning filming locations…
HBO
Gwynedd and Anglesey, Wales
Many of Westeros’ spectacular landscapes were actually shot in Gwynedd and Angelsey, two picturesque regions in the north-west of Wales. Known for their towering, grassy mountains, ancient castles and other-worldly lakes, Gwynedd and Angelsey ere the perfect backdrop for Pentos in the fantasy series.
Production in Wales took place last June and July. Some of the specific locations in Gwynedd include the Trefor Granite Quarry, an ancient ruined quarry that was transformed into Dragonstone Castle, Penmon Point, a coastal location where Targaryen toddlers were seen filming, Beaumaris Castle, where Steve Toussaint, who plays Corlys Velaryon was spotted, Llanddwyn Beaches, which serves as the coastline of Dragonstone, Porth y Cwch, where a scene with a dragon was allegedly filmed, and Dinorwig Quarry, which became a giant battlefield.
Surrey, England
The cast and crew also spent time filming in Surrey’s Bourne Wood, which served as a battle encampment. Men on horseback and in armour were spotted along with a tents and battle banners.
HBO
Castleton, England
The quaint village of Castleton in Derbyshire doubles as the charming Vale of Arryn in the show. This season, the village served as Prince Daemon’s home. Specific locations include Cave Dale, Market Place and Eldon Hill Quarry.
Granada and Cáceres, Spain
House of the Dragon also filmed several scenes in Granada and in Cáceres in Spain. While Croatia’s Dubrovnik served as King’s Landing in Game of Thrones, the prequel filmed its King’s Landing scenes in Spain.
Cáceres has an ancient old town that dates back to the 1st century BC when the Romans constructed the first buildings in the area. Granada’s ancient La Calahorra Castle also appears in several night scenes.
House of the Dragon series 2 is available to watch on Sky Atlantic.