House of the Dragon season 2 reignites our love for the Game of Thrones franchise.
Setting the summer of 2024 ablaze, we’re returned centuries into the past before the original GoT story began. Like its predecessor, we’ve rounded up a list of the season 1 and season 2 House of the Dragon filming locations you can find throughout Europe by train (or dragon).
Harry Collett, Emma D’Arcy, and Oscar Eskinazi in House of Dragon. Image Credit: Theo Whitman/HBO
Where was House of the Dragon filmed?
House of the Dragon was filmed throughout the UK and Europe, but unlike Game of Thrones, it kept its locales limited. Instead of bouncing around Europe from Iceland to Malta and then over to Morocco in northern Africa, House of the Dragon filming locations are easily accessible in England, Spain, and Portugal.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Ventura Carmona. Image Location: La Calahorra, Granada, Spain
House of the Dragon filming locations: season 1
Check out these House of the Dragon filming locations from season 1 that are only a train ride away from London, Madrid, and Lisbon.
La Calahorra, Spain
Closest station: Guadix
Not far from Westeros sits Pentos, where House Targaryen stands tall. In reality, Granada’s Castillo de La Calahorra is this House of the Dragon filming location. This Andalusian castle (circa 1509) is privately owned, but tours can be arranged.
Monsanto, Portugal
Closest station: Fundão
Looking for the Dragonstone? Head to Portugal. Monsanto’s hilltop village is the location for House Targaryen’s ancestral home.
Lloret de Mar, Spain
Closest station: Blanes
If you’re looking for a place to stroll by Spain’s seaside, you’ll find a serene space similar to how Lady Laena Velaryon and King Viserys Targaryen did at Santa Clotilde Gardens in Lloret de Mar.
Cáceres, Spain
Closest station: Cáceres
King’s Landing gets a bit of a makeover between Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon (at least, geographically speaking). Cáceres in Spain takes over from Dubrovnik, Croatia, as the capital of Westeros in some scenes.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Alexey Fedoren. Image Location: St. Michael's Mount Marazion, Cornwall, England
St Michael’s Mount, England
Closest station: Penzance
St Michael’s Mount sits in Mount’s Bay off the southern coast of Cornwall, its medieval castle and Norman church only accessible by a causeway that floods with the tide. You’ll see it in House of the Dragon as Driftmark.
Kynance Cove, England
Closest station: Falmouth Town
House of the Dragon filming locations in season 1 continued along the Cornwall coast to Kynance Cove. This rocky beach on Asparagus Island is where House Velaryon is located.
Castleton, England
Closest station: Hope (Derbyshire)
Castleton in England returns to House of the Dragon season 1 as the Vale of Arryn (in season 1 of Game of Thrones, it was House Arryn). This Peak District village goes up to Peak District National Park, a wonderful place where you can go and have your own little House of the Dragon-inspired quest.
Olivia Cooke in House of Dragon. Image Credit: Ollie Upton/HBO
House of the Dragon filming locations: season 2
Like parts of season 1, season 2’s House of the Dragon filming locations included Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden (aka, the site of the Warner Bros. Harry Potter tour). If you want to check out the facility, Kings Langley outside of London is the closest station.
House of the Dragon season 2 was also filmed in England, Wales, and Spain, revisiting set pieces that season 1 used. You’ll once again see Spain’s Trujillo region, including the city of Cácares, portraying King’s Landing, but a few newer filming locations include scenic spots in England and Wales.
Caesar’s Camp and Bourne Woods, England
Closest station: Aldershot
These quiet areas around Farnham are great for hiking and even better for staging the countryside scenes in House of the Dragon season 2. You might recognize that the beginning of Gladiator by Ridley Scott was also filmed here, as well as the Battle of Austerlitz in Scott’s Napoleon.
North Wales
Closest station: Porthmadog
The area of northern Wales just west of Eryri National Park (aka Snowdonia National Park) and in Anglesey popped up a handful of times in season 2. You’ll spot the Castles of Gwynedd, Trefor Granite Quarry, Dinorwig Quarry, and the lakes of Ogwen Valley in scenes set in Westeros and Dragonstone. In Anglesey, north of Snowdonia, you’ll see Penmon Point, Beaumaris Beach, and Llanddwyn Beach (including Porth y Cwch cove) used for coastal scenes.
Emma D’Arcy in House of Dragon. Image Credit: Theo Whitman/HBO
When does House of the Dragon take place?
House of the Dragon takes place roughly 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones. The prequel series is set about 100 years after the Conquest of Aegon Targaryen and follows the history of House Targaryen, which faces significant turmoil 30 years later during the Dance of the Dragons.
How many seasons of House of the Dragon are there?
Currently, there are two House of the Dragon seasons. Season 1’s 10-episode debut arrived on HBO and Max, the HBO streaming service, between August and October 2022. Season 2 has just hit our screens in June 2024.
How many episodes will House of the Dragon season 2 have?
House of the Dragon season 2 was released on HBO and Max on June 16, 2024, in the US. Unlike season 1, season 2 will only have 8 episodes. New episodes will air every Sunday at 6 p.m. PT / 9 p.m. ET until Aug. 4.
Will there be a House of the Dragon season 3?
House of the Dragon is officially renewed for season 3. Word is that the team behind the Game of Thrones prequel envisions up to four seasons. With another Game of Thrones spin-off, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, currently in production, it makes sense that House of the Dragon may be limited.
Ewan Mitchell in House of Dragon. Image Credit: Theo Whitman/HBO
Who is the Mad King and how is he related to the House of the Dragon characters?
The Mad King is King Aerys II Targaryen, the father of Daenerys Targaryen (played by Emilia Clarke) from Game of Thrones. Although Aerys II is born many generations after the events of House of the Dragon, the series explores the history and lineage of the Targaryen dynasty, providing context for characters like Aerys II. His great-great-great-great-great-grandfather is King Viserys I Targaryen (played by Paddy Considine) from House of the Dragon.
What is the timeline between House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones?
Game of Thrones takes place roughly 172 years after the start of House of the Dragon. The prequel doesn’t sit still, with years passing between many episodes. For example, episode 2 jumps ahead six months from episode 1, episode 3 takes place three years after episode 2, and episode 6 hops 10 years ahead of episode 5.
Is House of the Dragon based on a book?
Yes, House of the Dragon is based on the book Fire & Blood by George R.R. Martin, the author who wrote the A Song of Ice and Fire series that Game of Thrones was based on. Fire & Blood is a fictional history book written by one of Martin’s characters that details the Targaryen reign.
Where can I watch House of the Dragon?
In the US, you can watch House of the Dragon on HBO and on HBO’s streaming service, Max. Just like Game of Thrones, this is the only way to stream the series without buying a digital copy and queueing it up. In the UK, you can catch it on Sky Atlantic and Now.
House of the Dragon family tree explained
The House of the Dragon family tree has its roots in House Targaryen, leading back to Jaehaerys I Targaryen and Alysanne Targaryen. Their grandchildren include Daemon Targaryen (played by Matt Smith), Viserys I Targaryen, and Rhaenys Targaryen (played by Eve Best).
These grandkids extend the family tree, with Viserys I Targaryen marrying Alicent Hightower (played by Olivia Cooke) and Rhaenys Targaryen marrying Corlys Velaryon. Nearly every other major character has lineage to House Targaryen, House Hightower, or House Velaryon. House Strong and some Kingsguard characters do not have direct relations to these three houses.
TL;DR? Check out the visual family tree on HBO’s House of the Dragon Character Guide.
House of the Dragon season 2 trailer
Visit more Game of Thrones filming locations by train
See the Seven Kingdoms with our guide to Game of Thrones filming locations across Europe.
Download the Trainline app and find more filming locations from your favorite series like:
Matt Smith in House of Dragon. Header Image Credit: Theo Whitman/HBO
