Westeros is back in the spotlight.
With House of the Dragon returning for its third season this June and fans continuing to discover A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, interest in George R. R. Martin’s world shows no sign of slowing down. For many viewers, that renewed excitement has sparked a desire to visit the place where much of the story began: Northern Ireland.
For more than a decade, Northern Ireland served as the home of Westeros, with coastlines, forests, castles and harbours across the region transformed into some of television’s most recognisable settings. Today, many of those famous Game of Thrones filming locations can still be explored, making the region a must-visit destination for fans of Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms alike.
A journey along the Causeway Coastal Route reveals landscapes that feel as though they’ve been lifted straight from the Seven Kingdoms. The Dark Hedges, Ballintoy Harbour, Cushendun Caves and Castle Ward are just a handful of the locations that helped bring the story to life on screen.
For guests staying at Ballygally Castle, the connection to Westeros begins before you even leave the hotel.
Ballygally Castle is home to one of the famous Game of Thrones Doors, a collection of intricately carved wooden doors created from trees that once formed part of the Dark Hedges. Each door tells the story of a different chapter in the series, and the Ballygally door depicts key moments from season six.
The arrival of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has introduced fans to another chapter of George R. R. Martin’s world, following the adventures of Ser Duncan the Tall and his young squire, Egg, around a century before the events of Game of Thrones. Meanwhile, House of the Dragon continues the story of House Targaryen, with the highly anticipated third season set to premiere in June.
Together, these series have inspired a new wave of visitors keen to explore the real-world locations behind Westeros, and while the stories may continue to evolve, the scenery that brought them to life is waiting to be explored.