If you’ve ever dreamt of stepping into Westeros then you need to plan a trip to Ireland and the Game of Thrones Studio Tour.
Linen Mill Studios in Banbridge, Northern Ireland was one of the main production hubs for Game of Thrones, and now fans of the series can visit the studios to get an incredible peek at the props, set pieces, and costumes. Visitors can explore 75,000 square feet dedicated to the show, and see how the production team brought Westeros to life.
Originally a linen mill in the early 1900s, it was transformed for film production in 2011, and Game of Thrones ended up shooting 30% of the series at the location.
Stepping inside the studios is really a bit magical, like walking onto a live set. A good will take at least 2 hours, but hardcore fans may want 3 to 4 hours, to take in everything.
Tickets start at £25, and you can also get ticket packages, like the Targaryen House Pass that includes a green screen Dragon Ride and other goodies, for £55, or travel packages from Belfast for £40.
Walking through Westeros
The studio tour starts with an epic experience that you won’t see anywhere else, inside a theatre that transports you through the series. As the film ends you’ll be transported “Beyond the Wall” with the Night King and his White Walkers, and the Wildlings, including the very impressive Wun Wun the Giant looking down on the whole scene.
Walking through the spaces, there are rooms dedicated to the each of the key locations, with examples of how they made the series, including production design, prostetics, costumes, armour, and more. The iconic destinations you’ll see include Castle Black, Dragonstone, Winterfell’s Hall, and Kings Landing with the characters and scenes brought to life with costumes and props.
What really stands out about the experience is seeing all of these costumes, getting up close with the elements from the series, and seeing how rich and detailed everything looks. There are a lot of very cool pieces, and that even includes King Joffrey’s armour, one of the most awe-inspiring costumes that I’ve ever seen.
Every detail is intricate and authentic, giving depth to this sprawling story and world. There are a lot of impressive spaces throughout the tour, including a few immersive or interactive elements, but my favourites were the Winterfell Crypts and grand hall, and the Hall of Faces where you can add your face to the pillar.
Everything shows you the depth of what it took to bring Westeros and author George R.R. Martin’s novels to life.
My favourite highlights from the Game of Thrones Studio Tour
There is a lot to take in on the tour, but a few things really stood out for me.
Standing next to Wun Wun “Beyond the Wall” is frankly pretty amazing, especially with the fog still lingering when I stepped into the space. I also loved seeing all the pieces from the production design, like the maquettes of key sets and locations, including the Great Sept of Baelor in King’s Landing.
Castle Black was incredibly immersive, with the moodiest lighting, and featuring all of the costumes for the Night’s Watch: from Jon Snow, and Maester Aemon, to Melisandre.
But the Winterfell Crypts really stood out, with statues of the Stark family. The statues are impressive, as is stepping through the next doorway into Winterfell’s Hall with over 20 of the main characters represented. The Starks were always my favourite characters in Game of Thrones, and I loved seeing the costumes as Brienne of Tarth was knighted by Jaime Lannister.
After that space you’ll step into Dragonstone with Daenerys Targaryen’s throne, alongside huge dragon skulls, with the Dragonstone Map Room. It’s one of the biggest spaces on the tour.
And then the Hall of Faces, from the House of Black and White, gives you the chance to relive the moments with Jaqen H’ghar and Arya.
Finally, you’ll visit King’s Landing and the Throne Room with the Iron Throne, set amidst the destruction at the end of the series. I spent a lot of time in the Throne Room, just taking it all in, and trying to get a few selfies. It’s one of the most immersive scenes you’ll experience, complete with moody lighting and sounds.
Leaving the official tour you’ll have a chance to buy some goodies from the gift shop, whether you want clothing, pins, or collectibles. If you have a favourite house, you can even shop items from each one, so naturally I had to take home a Stark pin with the iconic Direwolf head, but the Hand of the King pin was also very cool.
What you need to know about visiting the Game of Thrones Studio Tour
The Studio Tour is a 30 minutes drive from Belfast and a 90 minute drive from Belfast, and you can either drive there, and park in the complimentary Studio Tour car park, or you can book a bus ticket from Belfast.
The Studio Tour website offers bus tour tickets, so you can even book a bus from round trip from Belfast to the Studio Tour, or even take a bus from Belfast to the Linen Mill Studios, and then depart after for Dublin to really explore more of Ireland.
Whatever you choose to do, you need to book your Studio Tour tickets in advance, and I recommend at least four weeks in advance to avoid disappointment. The tour is open from 10:00 AM until 6:00 PM daily, and when you arrive you also need to have the tickets available on your phone to scan, or printed out.
The Studio Tour offers special events throughout the year, like a quiz night, a “Night with the Knights” featuring Ian McElhinney (Ser Barristan Selmy), Ian Beattie (Ser Meryn Trant) and Dominic Carter (Janos Slynt) for a special fan event, and even a Halloween event. (And where better to spend Halloween than in Ireland, the birthplace of Halloween?)
On-site there are rest rooms, two cafes, a store, and you can also purchase a digital audio guide to get the full experience, or it comes with one of the packages that’s available.
Where to stay for your visit
There are a excellent accommodations if you’re planning to visit the Studio Tour and want to enjoy your Irish adventure.
If you plan to take bus transportation from Belfast, you can stay in Belfast, experience the Studio Tour, and then return to Belfast or continue on to Dublin. Some of the top hotels in Belfast include room2 Belfast Hometel, Maldron Hotel, The Fitzwilliam Hotel, and the Grand Central Hotel.
If you prefer to drive through Ireland, which is the best way to really experience the country, I recommend planning a few nights in the area. You can easily spend three nights in Belfast to explore and visit the studio tour, as well as the Causeway Coastal Route, and then plan to spend three or four more days exploring the countryside towards Dublin.
Banbridge is the closest town to Linen Mill Studios, and there are a few hotels there, but the scenic town of Carlingford is also a short drive away, and so is the town of Hillsborough. I highly recommend stops in both areas to explore and enjoy the towns, history, culture, and cuisine.
Watch the video walkthrough
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All photos by W. Andrew Powell/The GATE.
