BY TIM HEDGLEY, GROUPT TRAVEL EDITOR
NEVER mind “Winter is Coming”, the much-anticipated Official Game of Thrones ™ Studio Tour, Celebrating HBO’s Globally Acclaimed and Award-Winning Television Series, Will Open on 4th February 2022.
We had exclusive access to the tour today and what I can tell you is the public are in for one of the best studio tour experiences out there.
Located at one of the acclaimed series’ original filming locations at Linen Mill Studios in Banbridge, Northern Ireland, the Game of Thrones Studio Tour will transport fans into the very heart of Westeros to see breathtaking imagery, captivating sets, original props and costumes and more behind-the-scenes elements from the hit HBO series.
The brand new 110,000-square-foot interactive experience will allow fans to explore a vast array of original sets, costumes, props and set pieces, with the aim of bringing visitors closer to the Seven Kingdoms than ever before.
Fans can step inside the iconic Great Hall at Winterfell where Jon Snow was proclaimed the “King in the North,” see Daenerys Targaryen’s imposing Dragonstone throne, delve into the incredible props, weaponry, and visual effects of Game of Thrones, and learn more about the skills and craftmanship that helped bring the show to life on screen.
The immersive experience brings Westeros to life and will evoke the show’s epic scale — from King’s Landing, Winterfell, Dragonstone, The Wall and the lands beyond.
What you will be able to see.
- The Great Hall of Winterfell, located at the centre of Game of Thrones Studio Tour, is an original set that has remained in situ throughout the Studio Tour construction, relatively unchanged since the final shots of season 8.
- All of the costumes, weapons, props and much of the sets at Game of Thrones Studio Tour are the originals used in the filming of the show. The tour uses assets from across all 8 seasons of the series, including Jon Snow’s famous sword ‘Longclaw’ and Sansa’s famous wedding dress worn at her marriage to Joffrey.
- When designing and constructing The Studio Tour, many of the original show’s craftspeople and artisans were consulted to ensure that the high production values associated with the show would be replicated.
- The Studio Tour takes guests from the frozen North of ‘The Land Beyond the Wall’ and down to ‘Kings Landing’ and the famous Throne Room. Along the way guests will encounter a variety of iconic sets as well as behind the scenes production areas and immersive interactive pieces.
- The set of Castle Black has remained much the same from filming, with only minor structural changes to protect the long-term use of the set.
- All ‘ship- based’ filming throughout Game of Thrones was shot at Linen Mill Studios, making the Studios, home to one of the largest green screens in the UK. .
- Many key moments from the show were filmed on location at Linen Mill Studios, from Sansa’s Coronation to the Battle of the Blackwater
Game of Thrones Studio Tour –
Preview Theatre
When you are ready to embark on your journey make your way to the theatre entrance and prepare to enter Game of Thrones Studio Tour. You will see a short video about the making of Game Oof Thrones in Northern Ireland and The Studio Tour before you will step into the world of Westeros.
Note: No pictures or filming are permitted in the theatre section of Game of Thrones Studio Tour.
The frozen land beyond the wall awaits you, filled with all manner of monstrous beings. Make your way through the famous ice tunnel and come face to face with fierce wildlings, horrifying White Walkers and even a towering giant.
Castle Black
For eight thousand years, the men of the Night’s Watch have guarded the realms of men. Enter into one of their last surviving barracks and see where characters like Jon Snow and Samwell Tarly spent their days. Take your oath and keep your eyes peeled for key props from the series history in the set and props decoration area.
Winterfell
The Great Hall of Winterfell is the ancient home to the House Stark, the wardens of the North. You will see the stunning original set as well as come face to face with many iconic costumes from the series. The whole of this set is unmoved from filming and is much the same as when the series ended.
Dragonstone
The great ancestral Castle of the mighty House Targaryen, Dragonstone plays home to Daenerys’ invading army as she seeks to reclaim her birthright. See the incredible map room and the imposing Dragonstone throne room. Meet the worst villains and some of the greatest heroes at the heart of Game Of Thrones and perhaps even see the long-forgotten skull of an ancient dragon.
Visual and Special Effects
Look behind the screen and learn how the most incredible effects on TV were brought to life. from fire breathing dragons to gigantic direwolves and the horrifying realism of the prosthetics department. Turn yourself into a White Walker or a shambling wight in incredible interactives.
Hall of faces
Are you brave enough to walk into the home of the dangerous assassins known as the Faceless Man? The House of Black and White is filled with extraordinary relics and hidden secrets too. Add your own face to the wall along with the others and see Arya Stark and Jaqen H’ghar. Do you have what it takes to become No One?
The Armoury
Blades, bows, axes and ballistas, each deadly weapon had to be constructed specially for filming. Learn how they created these and how they filmed the epic fight scenes of the series. Marvel at the iconic hero weapons of your favourite characters. Finally take a stand on the castle walls and fight off the army of the dead yourself.
King’s Landing
To the far south lies the seat of power for the whole realm. In the warmth of King’s Landing many characters struggle for political power all seeking to betray and out manoeuvre one another. See the luxurious quarters of King Tommen and the Small Council chamber where the affairs of the realm are manged. Finally see the grand map courtyard where Cersei made her war plans.
Destroyed Throne Room
End your journey at the very end of the road. Through Fire and Blood you will find yourself standing in the throne room, or what remains of it. It is here that you will learn the truth to the saying ‘when you play the game of thrones you win or you die, there is no middle ground’.
Costs
Admission Ticket and Shuttle Bus transfer to The Studio Tour
Tickets to Game of Thrones Studio Tour include complimentary offsite parking with a shuttle service from The Studio Tour Car Park to the tour main entrance.
This car park is located at The Boulevard Banbridge, BT32 4LF. For more information, please visit the Getting To Us section of our website.
All guests driving to The Studio Tour must park at the complimentary Studio Tour Car Park and take the short shuttle ride to the main tour entrance. Please note, it is not possible to walk from The Studio Tour Car Park to The Studio Tour main entrance. No parking, except for Blue Badge Holders, is available directly at the tour location.
You will find a range of ticketing options below. Individual or family tickets can be purchased for up to 9 guests.
To purchase tickets for 10 or more guests, please click here.
Please select the desired number of tickets followed by the date of your visit. The calendar shows current ticket availability for both website and telephone bookings.
The time you select for your ticket(s) is the departure time of your Shuttle Bus. We recommend that you arrive at least 15 minutes before this time. The journey to The Studio Tour main entrance will take approximately 15 minutes.
All tickets must be booked in advance.
Adult
(16 to 65 years) £39.50
Child (5 to 15 years) (Must be accompanied by an adult aged 18+) £27.50
Students (16+ years) Must present a valid student ID upon request. £31.50
Senior (66+ years) Must present a valid ID upon request. £31.50
Family Ticket (2 adults and 2 children) £115.00
Package Contents
Family Ticket (1 adult and 3 children) £109.00
Accessibility
Assistance Dogs
Only fully trained assistance dogs are welcome in Game of Thrones Studio Tour.
Autism
Areas of Game of Thrones Studio Tour can often be very noisy, especially during busy times. To assist we can provide you with noise-cancelling headphones (£10 deposit). The first and last timeslots of the day may be quieter, although this will not always be the case. Certain parts of the tour have flashing and/or bright lights as well as loud noises. Speak with one of our staff as to the location of these areas. Should you need to bypass a queue, we will endeavour to arrange priority (where possible). Simply notify a member of staff for assistance.
Visually Impaired
Please be aware that certain parts of Game of Thrones Studio Tour have low lighting levels and low visibility. We welcome fully trained guide dogs to accompany you throughout the tour if required.
Touch Tours will not be available because we feature authentic props and original sets from the Game of Thrones television series, which are susceptible to damage.
Wheelchairs and Mobility Scooters/Blue Badge Holders
Game of Thrones Studio Tour has special arrangements in place to support guests who have mobility needs.
The Studio Tour is located on one level and is completely accessible for wheelchairs and mobility scooters. We have a limited number of wheelchairs and scooters available at The Studio Tour for you to use throughout your visit. If you require these please contact our Visitor Services Team on +44 28 40 464 777 or email access@gameofthronesstudiotour.com
If you are a Blue Badge holder visiting The Studio Tour, you should park at the Game of Thrones Studio Tour Car Park at The Boulevard, Banbridge, BT32 4LF. From here you will board a shuttle bus, which takes you directly to The Studio Tour. We can accommodate one wheelchair space per shuttle bus. A member of staff will be there to assist you if required. Unfortunately, shuttle buses do not have capacity for mobility scooters.
We also have a limited number of Blue Badge parking bays at The Studio Tour. To avail of these, you must contact our Visitor Services Team in advance of your visit.
Carer Tickets
We provide one free carer ticket per paying disabled guest. Carer tickets can only be booked by contacting our Visitor Services Team in advance of your visit.
You may be required to provide proof of disability or carer status upon arrival at Game of Thrones Studio Tour.
Should you require a carer ticket you, or your carer, should call our Visitor Services Team +44 28 40 464 777 or email access@gameofthronesstudiotour.com.
Duration of Tour
After admission guests can make their own way through The Studio Tour experience at their leisure.
The Studio Tour has an expected duration of 2-3 hours. Please leave extra time if you wish to have food or visit the Studio Shop.
Hearing Difficulties
Scripts of all digital guide tour content can be provided upon request at the Visitor Services Desk. We ask that you return the script at the end of your visit.
Toilet Facilities
We have fully compliant and accessible toilets on site and throughout the tour.
There are also changing facilities located in the Lobby and Studio Café.
Hidden Disabilities
We welcome anyone with a hidden disability to wear their Sunflower Lanyard and to ask for additional assistance should they require it. Our staff are trained to recognise if you are wearing a Sunflower Lanyard and to ask you if there is anything you need assistance with.
Peter van Roden, Senior Vice President of Warner Bros. Themed Entertainment, said: “We’re incredibly excited to be opening the doors to the first-ever Game of Thrones Studio Tour at Linen Mill Studios. Knowing you are in the very same spot where some of the series’ most memorable moments were filmed is an incredible feeling and we know fans of the franchise will feel the same when they see the rich detail in the sets, costumes and props up close and personal.”
Andrew Webb and David Browne, Executive Directors at Linen Mill Studios, said: “We are thrilled to confirm the 4th February 2022 opening date of Game of Thrones Studio Tour at Linen Mill Studios and to officially launch global ticket sales. This incredible and unique experience is set to bring the making of the show to life like never before and we look forward with much excitement to welcoming fans and visitors from near and far as we throw open the Studio Tour doors and start a new chapter in the Game of Thrones story here in Northern Ireland. After many years as a closed and ‘off limits’ film studio, it is now time for fans from across the world to step inside the Seven Kingdoms and make their own personal journey through the world of Westeros at Linen Mill Studios.”
Niall Gibbons, Chief Executive of Tourism Ireland, said:
Over the past decade, Northern Ireland has welcomed fans from around the globe to the ‘real-world Westeros’ – home to the stunning landscapes, coastlines and mountains that have featured in some of the show’s most memorable scenes. Within easy reach of Dublin and Belfast, the new Game of Thrones Studio Tour will give fans a fantastic opportunity to go behind the scenes and be immersed in the sets, props and costumes used in the series. It will bring the Seven Kingdoms vividly to life, in the place where it all began.”
Guest and staff safety is the number one priority at Game of Thrones Studio Tour. Our aim is to ensure that all guests enjoy the Studio Tour experience safe in the knowledge that effective social distancing and hygiene measures are in place. For more information see www.gameofthronesstudiotour.com
HBO’s Game of Thrones has aired in over 207 countries and territories, culminating in record-setting ratings, and over its eight seasons, the show became one of the biggest and most iconic series in television history. Having recently celebrated “The Iron Anniversary” in April 2021, which marked ten years since the first episode hit television screens, Game of Thrones continues to engage passionate fans and ignite audiences’ excitement with the next iteration of the franchise, House of the Dragon, slated to premiere on HBO and HBO Max in 2022.
“We are really excited about the opening of Game of Thrones Studio Tour at Linen Mill Studios – which will give fans of the show everywhere an extra special reason to book a trip to Northern Ireland in 2022 and beyond.
About Warner Bros. Themed Entertainment
Warner Bros. Themed Entertainment (WBTE), part of Warner Media Global Brands and Experiences, is a worldwide leader in the creation, development and licensing of location-based entertainment, live events, exhibits and theme park experiences based on WarnerMedia’s iconic characters, stories, and brands. WBTE is home to the ground-breaking global locations of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Warner Bros.
World Abu Dhabi, WB Movie World Australia, and countless other experiences inspired by DC, Looney Tunes, Scooby, Game of Thrones, Friends and more. With best-in-class partners, WBTE allows fans around the world to physically immerse themselves inside their favorite brands and franchises.
