Grey studio sound stages beside an empty forecourt under overcast skies, hedgerows and bare winter trees.

Where Was House Of The Dragon Filmed?

House of the Dragon shoots at Leavesden studios in England, with exteriors across Cornwall, Wales, Spain and Portugal.

Check availabilitySee every location

The Short Answer

House of the Dragon is mainly filmed at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in Watford, England, where interiors and key sets are built. Outdoor scenes come from Cornwall (St Michael's Mount, Holywell Bay), Wales (Anglesey), Spain (Cáceres and Trujillo as King's Landing) and Portugal (Monsanto as Dragonstone). Two units filmed at once: one in England, one traveling across Spain and Portugal.

House of the Dragon moved production away from Game of Thrones' Belfast base. HBO built the Iron Throne room and Red Keep sets at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in Watford, and it became the first HBO series to make heavy use of the studio's virtual production LED stage, the V Stage.

Outside the soundstages, the show scattered its exteriors widely. A second unit traveled through Spain and Portugal while the main unit worked in England, which means fans can walk real King's Landing streets in Extremadura, stand on Driftmark's beach in Cornwall, and explore Dragonstone's hilltop castle in Portugal.

Every Location At A Glance

LocationWhereWhat was filmedAccess
Warner Bros. Studios LeavesdenWatford, United KingdomInteriors including Iron Throne room, Red Keep sets, virtual production stage for many scenes across seasonsTicketed
St Michael's MountMarazion, United KingdomDriftmark (High Tide castle and grounds) in Seasons 1-2, including Laena's funeral and other Velaryon scenesTicketed
Cáceres Old TownCáceres, SpainKing's Landing streets, plazas (San Jorge, Santa María, Arco de la Estrella), exteriors for multiple episodes in Seasons 1-2Free to see
Monsanto CastleMonsanto, PortugalDragonstone exteriors including coronation and paths in Season 1Free to see
Trujillo Plaza MayorTrujillo, SpainKing's Landing exteriors including town square and ramparts scenesFree to see
Holywell BayNewquay, United KingdomDriftmark beach and Stepstones war scenes, including Rhaenyra and Daemon beach walk and Aemond claiming VhagarFree to see
Castleton / Cave DaleCastleton, United KingdomVale of Arryn valley scenes including hunt and other Season 1 exteriorsFree to see
Llanddwyn Beach / NewboroughAnglesey, United KingdomDriftmark coastline and sea warfare scenes in Season 3, including Battle of the GulletFree to see

Filming Locations Map

8 locations. The map loads when it scrolls into view.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Location By Location

Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, Watford
Location 01

Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden

Hertfordshire, Watford, United Kingdom Ticketed

Filmed here: Interiors including Iron Throne room, Red Keep sets, virtual production stage for many scenes across seasons

The production hub. The Iron Throne room, Red Keep interiors and many virtual stage scenes across the seasons were shot here, and the site served as base for the Fire unit. The complex is visitable on a ticketed studio tour, which should be booked in advance. It sits in Watford, Hertfordshire, and is the same lot behind the Harry Potter tour.

St Michael's Mount, Marazion
Location 02

St Michael's Mount

Cornwall, Marazion, United Kingdom Ticketed

Filmed here: Driftmark (High Tide castle and grounds) in Seasons 1-2, including Laena's funeral and other Velaryon scenes

This tidal island off Marazion in Cornwall stood in for Driftmark, with its castle and grounds used as High Tide in Seasons 1 and 2, including Laena's funeral and other Velaryon scenes. It is a National Trust site with castle and gardens, reached on foot at low tide via the causeway. Tickets are required, and checking tide times before a visit matters.

Cáceres Old Town, Cáceres
Location 03

Cáceres Old Town

Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain Free to see

Filmed here: King's Landing streets, plazas (San Jorge, Santa María, Arco de la Estrella), exteriors for multiple episodes in Seasons 1-2

The UNESCO-listed old town of Cáceres in Extremadura played King's Landing, with San Jorge, Santa María and Arco de la Estrella among the plazas used across Seasons 1 and 2. The city had already served as King's Landing in Game of Thrones Season 7. The historic center is fully walkable and public, so visitors can wander the same streets and squares freely.

Monsanto Castle, Monsanto
Location 04

Monsanto Castle

Castelo Branco, Monsanto, Portugal Free to see

Filmed here: Dragonstone exteriors including coronation and paths in Season 1

The hilltop village of Monsanto in Castelo Branco, Portugal provided Dragonstone exteriors, including the coronation and paths in Season 1. Castle ruins crown the village and access to many areas is free. It is a strikingly preserved granite settlement, and a day trip from Lisbon is the practical way to reach it, with private tours covering the drive and the village.

Trujillo Plaza Mayor, Trujillo
Location 05

Trujillo Plaza Mayor

Extremadura, Trujillo, Spain Free to see

Filmed here: King's Landing exteriors including town square and ramparts scenes

Trujillo's Plaza Mayor in Extremadura supplied further King's Landing exteriors, including town square and ramparts scenes. The plaza is public space in a historic town about half an hour's drive from Cáceres, making the two locations easy to combine. Sharp-eyed viewers may notice the plaza's statue, which was digitally altered for the show.

Holywell Bay, Newquay
Location 06

Holywell Bay

Cornwall, Newquay, United Kingdom Free to see

Filmed here: Driftmark beach and Stepstones war scenes, including Rhaenyra and Daemon beach walk and Aemond claiming Vhagar

This public beach near Newquay in Cornwall doubled as Driftmark's shoreline and the Stepstones war scenes, including Rhaenyra and Daemon's beach walk and Aemond claiming Vhagar. It is open access and popular for surfing and walks, so it costs nothing to stand where those sequences were filmed. The wide sandy bay is easy to reach from Newquay.

Castleton / Cave Dale, Castleton
Location 07

Castleton / Cave Dale

Derbyshire, Castleton, United Kingdom Free to see

Filmed here: Vale of Arryn valley scenes including hunt and other Season 1 exteriors

The Derbyshire village of Castleton and Cave Dale provided Vale of Arryn valley scenery, including a hunt and other Season 1 exteriors. This is Peak District walking country with public footpaths, so visitors combine a filming location with a proper hike. Cave Dale's limestone gorge below Peveril Castle's ruins is the most recognisable stretch on screen.

Llanddwyn Beach / Newborough, Anglesey
Location 08

Llanddwyn Beach / Newborough

Wales, Anglesey, United Kingdom Free to see

Filmed here: Driftmark coastline and sea warfare scenes in Season 3, including Battle of the Gullet

Llanddwyn Beach and Newborough on Anglesey in Wales took over Driftmark coastline and sea warfare scenes in Season 3, including the Battle of the Gullet. It is a National Trust beach and forest with accessible walks. Season 3 shifted more filming to Anglesey and Gwynedd, with local quarries also used for Harrenhal and Dragonstone exteriors.

Where It Is Set Versus Where It Was Filmed

The story unfolds in the fictional continent of Westeros, but filming took place entirely in the real world: the United Kingdom (England and Wales), Spain and Portugal.

The Studio Side

Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in Watford is the show's production home, replacing the Belfast studios used for Game of Thrones. It was the first HBO series to extensively use the studio's V Stage virtual production LED volume. The site is visitable via the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, The Making of Harry Potter, which requires advance booking, though it is not a House of the Dragon exhibit.

Tours That Visit These Locations

Most House of the Dragon locations are public and free to explore independently, but the Portuguese Dragonstone site at Monsanto is a long drive from anywhere, so guided day tours from Lisbon are the popular option. The tours below both visit Monsanto's castle and village.

Full-Day Private Monsanto Tour

Monsanto (TV's Game of Thrones) Full Day Private Tour from Lisbon

7 reviews

PriceLive on listingCheck availability

Private Lisbon Day Trip

Lisbon: Monsanto (House of the Dragon) Day Private Tour

A private full-day tour from Lisbon that includes Monsanto, the hilltop village whose castle ruins appear as Dragonstone, priced from $157.11.

3 reviews

From$157Check availability

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is House of the Dragon filmed?

Interiors and major sets are built at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in Watford, England. Exteriors are shot in Cornwall, Derbyshire, Wales, Spain and Portugal, with Cáceres and Trujillo playing King's Landing and Monsanto playing Dragonstone.

Can you visit the studio where House of the Dragon is filmed?

Yes, Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden runs a ticketed studio tour, though it is the Making of Harry Potter tour rather than a House of the Dragon attraction. Book in advance.

Where was Dragonstone filmed?

Dragonstone exteriors, including the Season 1 coronation, were filmed at Monsanto Castle in Portugal, a hilltop village in Castelo Branco with free access to many areas. Season 3 also used quarries in Wales for Dragonstone exteriors.

Where was King's Landing filmed?

In Spain. Cáceres Old Town provided streets and plazas such as San Jorge, Santa María and Arco de la Estrella, while Trujillo's Plaza Mayor supplied town square and ramparts scenes. Cáceres had previously played King's Landing in Game of Thrones Season 7.

Where was Driftmark filmed?

Across several sites. St Michael's Mount in Cornwall stood in for High Tide castle and grounds, Holywell Bay near Newquay provided the beach scenes, and Season 3 moved Driftmark coastline and the Battle of the Gullet to Llanddwyn Beach and Newborough on Anglesey in Wales.

Are the House of the Dragon filming locations free to visit?

Many are. Cáceres, Trujillo, Monsanto, Holywell Bay, Castleton and Llanddwyn Beach are all public and free to access. St Michael's Mount and the Leavesden studio tour require tickets.

A realistic fan itinerary pairs King's Landing in Spain (Cáceres and Trujillo are close together) with a Lisbon-based day trip to Monsanto for Dragonstone, while UK visitors can tick off Cornwall's Driftmark sites and the Peak District's Vale of Arryn scenery on foot. All the exteriors are free or ticketed public sites, so the only real planning needed is tide times at St Michael's Mount and advance booking for the studio tour.

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