House of the Dragon takes place in a magical world full of strange locations like Dragonstone, King’s Landing, the God’s Eye, and the Vale of Arryn. So where does HBO film in the real world to bring these fantastic landscapes to life? Can you actually visit King’s Landing on your next European vacation? Could you hike the Vale of Arryn like poor Rhaena (Phoebe Campbell)? Can you visit the set of House of the Dragon?
House of the Dragon Season 3 has filmed in many of the same places that past seasons of the HBO hit have, but the new season also has added some breathtaking new filming locations. From the quaint corridors of Cáceres, Spain to the expansive sets at Leavesden Studios in Watford, England, here’s everything you need to know about where House of the Dragon was filmed…
Where Was House of the Dragon Filmed? All About The House of the Dragon Filming Locations:
HBO
House of the Dragon films in multiple cities and countries across Europe, but its studio sets were all built at the iconic Leavesden Studios in Watford. Leavesden is legendary for being where the Harry Potter films were shot, along with Barbie, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, and recent James Bond flicks. Just about all of House of the Dragon‘s gorgeous interior sets — including the multi-story Red Keep set — are there.
Most of the incredible exterior shots you’ve seen so far in Season 3 are new locations in Wales. “Wales provides scope and location that we cannot get anywhere,” showrunner Ryan Condal shared in a recent episode of the show’s official behind-the-scenes docuseries.
HBO
HBO has also revealed that Rhaena’s early Season 3 scenes with Sheepstealer were shot in “Blackhorse Valley,” Capel Curig, Wales. Indeed, whether it’s the banks of the God’s Eye or the sandbanks of the Gullet, chances are House of the Dragon‘s Season 3 version of Westeros is simply Wales.
That said, the show still does have to go to mainland Europe for some of its additional exteriors. While Game of Thrones shot most of their exterior King’s Landing scenes in Dubrovnik, Croatia, Town and Country reports that House of the Dragon has relocated those scenes to Spain. Trujillo’s gorgeous town square and the old town of Cáceres fill in for most of the exterior King’s Landing shots.
HBO
So far, most of the Dragonstone scenes this season have been interiors. In past seasons, Monsanto, Portugal and the famous stone bridge in Gaztelugatxe, Basque Country, Spain have offered striking exterior locations for the island.
According to fan site Redanian Intelligence, House of the Dragon also shot key scenes in Barossa Nature Preserve and Swinley Forest, both in Surrey, England. These locations appear to be doubling for the Riverlands, a key theater in the civil war known as the “Dance of the Dragons.”
While there is a Harry Potter Studio Tour at Leavesden — and a Game of Thrones Studio Tour in Banbridge, Northern Ireland — you cannot currently visit the House of the Dragon sets as a fan. Unless, of course, you hit up some of those exterior locations.
House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 4 comes out this Sunday, July 12 at 9 PM ET on HBO and HBO Max.
