House of the Dragon Filming Locations
From rugged landscapes and historic sites to otherworldly views, Cornwall shares striking similarities with the fantastical realm depicted in House of the Dragon, the Game of Thrones prequel. It's no wonder they selected our small corner of England as the backdrop of so many scenes in this highly anticipated show.
As we eagerly await the arrival of the second season, explore where House of the Dragon was filmed in Cornwall and discover the real-life settings that brought the epic saga to life on the screen.
Holywell Bay
The expansive, sand dune backed Holywell Bay has had its fair share of tv and movie appearances. Poldark fans will instantly recognise it as Warleggan’s Beach from the second series, while those eagle-eyed viewers may recall its transformation into a North Korean battleground in the James Bond film Die Another Day. A stark contrast to the vast sandy paradise it is known as today.
In House of the Dragon, Holywell Bay is used to portray the beach underneath High Tide castle at Driftmark, the seat of House Velaryon. You may remember this beach as the backdrop for the intense battle between Daemon Targaryen and the mercenaries of the Triachy in the War of the Stepstones. Or, you might recognise Holywell Bay from episode 7, where it features heavily. It’s where Princess Rhaenyra and Prince Daemon walk along the beach by moonlight while, in a pivotal moment, where Prince Aemond claims the largest dragon Vhagar, marking a dramatic turn of events.
Both Matt Smith (Daemon Targaryen) and Emma D’Arcey (Rhaenyra Targaryen) were spotted filming season two of House of the Dragon at Holywell Bay so you can expect to see this infamous beach hit your tv screens once again very soon.
St Michael's Mount
If there is one castle in Cornwall that embodies the dramatic, medieval style of House of the Dragon it’s St Michael’s Mount. It comes to no surprise this ancient fortress was used as the location for High Tide castle on the island of Driftmark. The castle and its grounds feature prominently throughout the series, often serving as a backdrop to climatic action, while dragons soar majestically overhead.
You will most likely remember it from episode 7 where it served as the location for the somber funeral of Lady Laena and later as the backdrop for the dramatic family action between the Targaryens and Velaryons. The causeway leading to St Michael’s Mount also made an appearance in episode 5 as King Veserys Targaryen and Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen travel to High Tide to create a treaty between the Targaryens and the Velaryons.
While you won’t encounter any dragons on your day trip to St Michael’s Mount, you will discover an other-worldly landscape steeped in centuries of legends. Visit St Michael’s Mount and step back in time as you wander through the historic castle grounds. Explore the stunning gardens and savour the incredible panoramic views for a magical day out.
Kynance Cove
The wild, rocky landscape of Kynance Cove famous for its light sand and bright turquoise sea can be seen in episode 3 of House of the Dragon as the territory of the Stepstones, east of Dorne. It’s the location where Daemon Targaryen launches his offensive and is where the Velaryon war council gather to prepare for their battle in the War of the Stepstones.
Set amongst a rural landscape, decorated with rugged rock formations along with the series of jagged islands that jut out of the sea, it’s no surprise that they chose Kynance Cove as their wild location, it truly embodies a Westorian settlement.
The House of the Dragon crew were spotted filming at Kynance Cove for season two in 2021, so you can expect to see more views of this incredible, rugged beach hit your screens very soon.
To get the authentic, rural House of the Dragon experience, we recommend visiting out of season. We don’t suggest visiting in the summer months from July to September as Kynance Cove can get extremely busy and you may struggle to find enough space to lay your towel, let alone to park your dragon. There is also very limited parking during the summer, so it's best for humans, dragons and others to visit in the quieter months!
Cornwall is no stranger to the big or small screens. With its stunning coastline, picturesque villages and rugged landscape, Cornwall has drawn productions spanning generations. Explore more of Cornwall’s TV & Film locations and discover the settings of your beloved shows and movies.
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