For the interiors, the production team went back to the good old United Kingdom. Leavesden Studios in London built the Red Keep’s throne room and the endless corridors of power. But the real magic happens outdoors, at Westminster Abbey’s Chapter House—yes, that real, centuries-old building—used for the Dragonpit’s inner chambers.
They also shot at Dover Castle (because, honestly, a giant fortified castle overlooking the English Channel looks exactly like something a Targaryen would live in). Plus, Lake District’s Derwentwater doubled for the Riverlands. No, there weren’t any actual dragons, but the landscape was already dramatic enough to sell the illusion.
A Touch of American Wilderness
Hold up—did you know some of the most intense scenes were filmed in the United States? The eerie, volcanic landscapes of Hell’s Gate in Montana and some spots in New Mexico stood in for the Iron Islands. Cold, inhospitable, and perfect for a people who worship the Drowned God.
Where was ‘House of the Dragon’ filmed? All of the filming locations
And those sweeping shots of the North? A lot of that was actually Scotland and Wales, but the U.S. crew brought their own gritty flavor. It proves that mind-blowing beauty is hiding everywhere—you just need the right script and a big budget to see it.
