Secrets of WESTEROS

From special effects to a new Iron Throne… Our complete guide to the making of House of the Dragon

- SEAN MARLAND

With fire-breathing dragons, epic battles and sprawling medieval cities, few TV shows can rival House of the Dragon for sheer scale and splendour. No expense was spared in creating the world of Westeros, with each episode costing around $20 million and a crew of thousands bringing George RR Martin’s story to our screens.

Here, we go behind the scenes to reveal how it was done…

BLADE RUNNERS

Forged by the first king of the Targaryen dynasty, King Aegon, from the swords of his defeated enemies, the Iron Throne has been given an imposing new look for House of the Dragon, with producers using around 2,500 swords (some of them real) for the build. ‘It’s a time of greater decadence and influence, and the Targaryens are at the apex of their power,’ explains co-showrunner Ryan Condal. ‘That’s why the Iron Throne is so much grander.’

KING OF THE CASTLE

House of the Dragon filmed scenes in Spain and Portugal, but most of the interiors were shot on four sound stages at Hertfordshire’s Leavesden Studios, which was previously home to the Harry Potter movies.

Production designer Jim Clay and his 300-strong team built a host of sets, including the Iron Throne room and the vast interior of the Red Keep –Viserys’ seat of power in King’s Landing – complete with an intricate network of chambers, bedrooms and secret hallways.