It might be the pages of this glossy magazine directing you to New Zealand or a warm beach in the sun. You might go by word of mouth, listening to where your friends have been and sharing their experiences. You might even turn to pop culture, places you’ve seen in films or television shows.
Lots of us did that when Game of Thrones was on television; Dubrovnik became a must-see city in Europe thanks to its appearance as King’s Landing in the popular HBO show. Indeed, The Dubrovnik Times suggests the city was the world’s third-highest earner from film tourism. That has remained the case even after the show ended, which only serves to underline its impact on pop culture.
Since the show ended, fans have searched for similar content to satisfy their desire for the show. Programs like The Last Kingdom were marketed as being ‘like Game of Thrones‘, and they found a big audience. Video games were one area where fans were kept happy; a Telltale Games series called Game of Thrones put players in the middle of Westeros. You could get a Game of Thrones experience from the Gala Bingo Slingo title Slingo Fire and Ice, which played on the book’s original titles and featured iconography, fonts and music that drew from the show. There was also a Game of Thrones: Conquest game for those who couldn’t do without the show. That satisfied people, but the next six months will see fans utterly delighted. To coin a phrase from that series, winter is coming, and with it, there will be some new content to indulge in.
That content is the spin-off show House of the Dragon, and it is set to spark a new tourism boom with a whole new set of destinations et to feature. If you’re a Game of Thrones fan and have already done the sunny city of Dubrovnik, this summer might take you to the southwest of England and Cornwall, where a couple of lovely places are set to feature.
Here are the Cornish locations you can visit from House of the Dragon.
St Michael’s Mount
St Michael’s Mount is one of the major tourist attractions in Cornwall. It’s a privately-owned castle, run partly by the National Trust, which attracts 300,000 visitors annually. Access is unpredictable; high tide cuts off the causeway meaning a boat ride, whilst you can easily walk when the sea is out. There are great mainland views from the top of the castle, whilst the gardens have a tropical feel as they stagger up the cliffside.
It’s believed that the Mount could be the home of Corlys Velaryon, the Master of Driftmark, an island based in Westeros, but it has yet to be confirmed.
Kynance Cove
Kynance Cove has a Westeros feel, with cliffs plunging to a beautiful sandy beach and treacherous waves crashing against the rocks. It is National Trust-owned now, and visitors have a wide choice of cliffside walks or can relax on the beach. There are also several rocky outcrops, including The Bishop, Gull Rock, Asparagus Island and Steeple Rock. Asparagus Island was once connected to the mainland similarly to St Michael’s Mount, but that route has long since washed away.
It is unclear what role it will play in Game of Thrones, but it is unspoiled by commercialization and, therefore, perfect as a backdrop for the action.
Holywell Beach
The kingdom of Dorne featured heavily in Game of Thrones, with a memorable scene featuring Jamie Lannister arriving and walking along a sandy beach. The third Cornwall filming location would be a great pick if Dorne is to appear in House of the Dragon. Holywell Beach is a big sandy expanse surrounded on three sides by rocks. Gulf Rocks stand out in the sea, whilst a 5,000-year-old dune system lays nearby, one of the largest in Britain. Holywell Beach is three miles southwest of Newquay, so it tends to be busy in high season, although it is very much worth a visit and maybe even more attractive when House of the Dragon airs this winter.
