House of the Dragon filming locations you can visit in North Wales

Wales has long been a natural stage for storytelling and is a popular filming location for many TV and film productions. Our coastlines, mountains and industrial heritage landscapes provide the kind of settings that translate effortlessly to screen, even before visual effects are added.

The hit HBO series House of the Dragon, a prequel to Game of Thrones, tells its story across a fictional landscape and is filmed in both studios and in real locations. 

Season 1 was filmed mainly in Spain, Cornwall and Derbyshire, with major studio work at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in Hertfordshire. However, the show’s taste for epic landscapes made North Wales a natural fit for filming of the following seasons. 

Ynys Môn's (Anglesey) shoreline provides a varied and accessible introduction to the series’ Welsh locations.

Llanddwyn Beach near Niwbwrch (Newborough) is one of the most recognisable filming locations from the series. The stunning views towards Ynys Llanddwyn and the Eryri mountains beyond mean the area can get extremely busy during the peak season. For a quieter walk with views that are just as spectacular, head along the coast to the Aberffraw stretch of the Wales Coast Path where the broad sandy estuary beach has open views across Caernarfon Bay. On clear days, you can see Yr Wyddfa and the Eryri skyline beyond Pen Llŷn (the Llŷn Peninsula).

Beaumaris Pier is a must-see stop on a visit to the town of Biwmares (Beaumaris), with a classic seaside feel, visitors can walk the seafront with views across the Menai Strait towards Eryri.

Nearby Penmon Point is a more exposed coastal setting, with a lighthouse and open views towards Puffin Island. 

On screen, visual effects may transform these places, but in person their natural beauty is more than enough to make the trip worthwhile.

Above Llanberis the slate landscape of North Wales provided a dramatic backdrop for some scenes in Season 2. 

The area is part of the UNESCO Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales, where working history and mountain scenery meet. To find out about the area’s industrial heritage, head to the National Slate Museum. (The museum is currently undergoing major refurbishment, so check their website for updates before visiting.)

The area is also part of Parc Padarn, where waymarked walking routes provide views across the quarry and Llyn Padarn below.

The Ogwen Valley brings a different sense of scale, with glacial landforms, mountain ridges and lakes. On screen, these landscapes may be adapted or combined, but their underlying character remains recognisable - steep, rugged and shaped by natural forces over time.

It is a popular place to stop, walk or simply take in the view, with routes ranging from short lakeside walks to more demanding mountain routes. 

Near Betws-y-Coed, Penmachno Roman Bridge is much smaller-scale than the region’s larger landscapes. Set over the Afon Machno, its single stone arch and wooded surroundings create a quieter, more contained scene. Despite its name, the bridge is thought to date from the 16th or 17th century. For similarly beautiful woodland scenery, explore the nearby walking routes in Gwydir Forest Park.

Filming locations for Season 3 includes several locations across North Wales but only a small number of have been confirmed - Beaumaris Pier on Ynys Môn, Craig Yr Undeb (Union Rock) in Gwynedd and Ffynon Llugwy, a lake within Eryri.

Each reflects a different aspect of the North Wales landscape - coast, rock and water - and suggests a continued focus on locations that are both visually striking and rooted in the natural environment.

What makes these locations special isn’t just the HBO connection. They have their own stories, scenery and sense of place, providing a chance to step into landscapes that feel legendary, before the film-making transforms them into something even more fantastical.