Tourism Ireland highlights new Game of Thrones Studio Tour around the world

Fifty top international journalists and influencers – whose combined readers and followers number over 17 million – were invited to Northern Ireland this week, for a preview of the new Game of Thrones Studio Tour at Linen Mill Studios in Banbridge.

The journalists and influencers – from 12 different countries, including GB, the United States, Germany and France – got to experience this outstanding new attraction at first-hand and explore Northern Ireland’s connection with the hugely popular series. They were here as guests of Tourism Ireland and Tourism NI.

During their stay, the journalists and influencers also visited Belfast, where they enjoyed a tour of Titanic Belfast and a walking tour around the ‘Glass of Thrones’ installations.

Niall Gibbons, Chief Executive of Tourism Ireland, said:

“Tourism Ireland was delighted to bring 50 top international journalists and influencers from 12 countries to Game of Thrones Studio Tour at Linen Mill Studios this week, to experience this outstanding new attraction at first-hand.

“Their broadcasts, articles and posts will reach over 17 million people – helping to spread the word about the new Game of Thrones Studio Tour, as well as the many things to see and do here in Northern Ireland.

“As we prepare to restart tourism from overseas this year, the opening of this truly world-class visitor attraction is excellent news for Northern Ireland tourism, helping to give us significant ‘stand-out’ in the very competitive international marketplace.

“It will provide fans of the series and people interested in the making of film and TV with an extra special reason to book a trip to Northern Ireland. We will be pulling out all the stops to promote Game of Thrones Studio Tour and Northern Ireland in our extensive programme of promotional activity around the world, in 2022 and beyond.”

The doors officially opened yesterday, Friday 4 February, to Game of Thrones Studio Tour.

Excited visitors were greeted by fan favourites Isaac Hempstead Wright (Bran), Kristian Nairn (Hodor) and Nathalie Emmanuel (Missandei) who helped to ‘Break the Chains’ to this brand-new global visitor attraction located in Northern Ireland.

Game of Thrones Studio Tour™ is the world's first and only official studio tour, featuring authentic sets from the global hit television series, located at the series' original filming location at Linen Mill Studios in Banbridge, Northern Ireland.

Game of Thrones Studio Tour transports 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 immersive experience utilises cutting edge design and technology to bring The Seven Kingdoms to life and evokes the show's epic scale from King's Landing, Winterfell, Dragonstone, The Wall and the lands beyond.

PREVIEW THEATRE

When you are ready to embark on your tour, make vour 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 of Thrones in Northern Ireland and The Studio Tour before you will step into the world of Westeros.

BEYOND THE WALL

Wun Wun the giant.

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 Nights Watch have guarded the realms of men. Enter 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 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 birth right.

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 light 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 lommen and the Small Council chamber where the affairs of the realm are managed.

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.

Game of Thrones Studio offers fans the most immersive Game of Thrones experience in the world.

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Facts about Games of Thrones Studio Tour

• The Great Hall of Winterfell, located at the centre of Game of Thrones Studio Tour, is an

original set which has remained in situ throughout the Studio Tour construction, relatively unchanged since the final shots or season eight.

• 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 eight 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 shows 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 King’s 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 interacive 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.

For more information and to purchase tickets (all tickets MUST be purchased in advance), please visit:

www.gameofthronesstudiotour.com