All five seasons of Game of Thrones have been based at the show’s production centre in Titanic Studios, Belfast, with filming taking place at some of Northern Ireland’s most spectacular locations. From Winterfell to Dragonstone to Storm’s End, the stunning Northern Ireland countryside has provided the perfect settings for the intricate plots to play out.
There are numerous Game of Thrones experiences to be enjoyed in Northern Ireland, and among them are the McComb five-star-rated location tours, which visit the main filming sites. One of McComb’s tours follows the dramatic Causeway Coastal Route, stopping at Ballycastle, home of Lady Catelyn Stark and Varys, Cushendun where fans can visit the cave where Melisandre gave birth to the shadow baby, and Ballintoy Harbour, which doubles for Pyke Harbour.
The tour also takes one to Larrybane headland (Stormlands) and the iconic Kings Road, which is known locally as The Dark Hedges.
A second McComb’s tour heads to Winterfell, stopping first at Tollymore Forest Park, where visitors can see where the Direwolf Pups were discovered and the infamous White Walker ambush took place. Then it’s on to 12th-century Inch Abbey where Lady Catelyn Stark heard of Ned’s death and Robb was crowned King of The North. The final stop is the magnificent 18th Century Castle Ward Estate. Castle Ward’s historic farmyard is the location of Winterfell’s courtyard, while the wider estate doubled as the Whispering Wood and has featured in many key scenes.
Fans will make a beeline for the Clearsky Adventure archery movie set experience. It’s on the very spot that filming took place. They also have the opportunity to be transported into the realm of Westeros, by dressing up in character costumes from the show and taking up a bow and arrow from a masterful replica of the Winterfell archery range. Clearsky walking tours of Castle Ward take visitors to key filming locations, including Audley’s Castle where Jamie Lannister was held captive, and Audley’s Field which was used for Robb’s camp and filming the capture of the Kingslayer.
Castle Ward offers medieval banquets. Dressed in character costumes, fans can enjoy a banquet of delicious hog roast and Winterfell fare, washed down with pitchers of fine wine and exclusive Winterfell craft beer from the castle’s brewery. There are a number of other tours of Games of Thrones ’ filming locations in Northern Ireland, including the Causeway Coast’s one, a two and three-day self-driving itinerary, cycling tours and boat tours. And in Belfast, there is the opportunity to visit the Paint Hall Studios, one of the largest indoor film studios on earth and where most of the interior filming for the Game of Thrones saga has been shot.
