Table of Contents
Where to Stay in London
Budget accommodation in London
Barmy Badger Backpackers, Booking.com rating: 8.3, Price per night: 83 EUR
22 York Street, Booking.com rating: 8.1, Price per night: 99 EUR
Affordable accommodation in London closer to the city center
Curzon Street by Mansley, Booking.com rating: 8.7, Price per night: 343 EUR
Karma Sanctum Soho Hotel, Booking.com rating: 8.3, Price per night: 291 EUR
1. London location: Chislehurst Caves
Game of Thrones location: Jon & Ygritte’s love nest
If the Grjótagjá Cave in Iceland (original filming location) is too long of a flight for you, you can absolutely visit the Chislehurst Caves! The guided tour is only 6 GBP and lasts about 50 minutes (they start every hour). You can explore and immerse in this place – it will totally give you some Game of Thrones vibes!
2. London location: Leeds Castle
Game of Thrones location: Harrenhal
Leeds castle is certainly one of the loveliest castles around London and it can totally teleport you at Harrenhal – one of the gifts Peter Baelish receives for… well, his “services”.
How to get to Leeds Castle
You can book a guided tour to see both Leeds and Dover castles or you can take a southeastern train to Bearsted Station and get a ticket for 26 GBP. The ticket actually lasts a whole year!
Want to explore even more of the city? Take a look at these FREE things to do in London!
3. London location: Highgate Cemetery
Game of Thrones location: Crypt of Winterfell
The Highgate Cemetery has an East part and a West part. The photo above captures the West Cemetery which is stunning! You can only explore it via a guided tour and I guarantee that you will feel like you’ve just entered the Crypts of Winterfell without needing to go to the actual filming location – Doune Castle in Scotland. <3 Click here to find out more about the Highgate cemetery in London.
4. London location: St Dunstan’s Church
Game of Thrones location: Children of the forest home
Saint Dunstan’s church in the East is one of the loveliest hidden gems in London! It’s an “abandoned” church with no roof and you’ll find it so magical, you’ll get the feeling the children of the forest will pop out from behind a wall any second. But if they do – please be kind to them, we don’t want another Night King on our hands! 😀
The church is at the heart of London – it’s walking distance from the Tower of London – you can use Monument or Tower Hill tube stations.
5. London location: Richmond park
Game of Thrones location: King’s road
Richmond park is a perfect way to spend an afternoon around nature in London! You’ll find not only deer roaming freely, but century-old large trees that will make you feel as if you were at the King’s road down from Winterfell. It’s definitely not as dreamy as visiting the spectacular Dark Hedges in Northern Ireland (actual Game of Thrones filming location), but it’s your best London alternative location!
How to get to Richmond Park
Richmond park is pretty huge – I highly recommend using a car when visiting! However, you can also use the train – Richmond Station – National Rail or District Line. Then you should take bus 65 (but there’s still a 15-minute walk afterwards!). The entrance to the park is free, but the parking is still paid, so make sure to get some change with you.
6. London location: Little Venice
Game of Thrones location: Braavos
While the actual filming location of the city of Braavos is Sibenik, Croatia, Little Venice in London will give you the tranquil vibes you just might need. Don’t skip on a canal cruise and bring some bread for the cute ducks! The closest tube station is Warwick Avenue Station on the Bakerloo line.
7. London location: Warwick Castle
Game of Thrones location: Riverrun
The Warwick Castle is right next to the river Avon, so if you’d like to feel as if you were at Catelyn Stark’s childhood home with the Tullys – this is your place! The actual filming location of this castle is Gosford Castle, located in Northern Ireland. The Gosford Castle is actually even for sale, so if you have about a million euros to spend, you can make it your children’s home too 🙂
How to get to Warwick Castle
8. London location: Dover Castle
Game of Thrones location: Dragonstone
The actual filming locations of Dragonstone include San Juan de Gaztelugatxe in Spain (the footbridge), Itzurun Beach in Spain (the beach) and Belfast (the castle and interior is a stage that was built, plus CGI). But if you’d like to get the Game of Thrones vibes from Dragonstone near London, visit the spectacular Dover Castle! You can combine it with a day trip to Leeds Castle, mentioned above.
9. London location: Windsor Castle
Game of Thrones location: Casterly Rock
Windsor Castle is an absolute MUST in London – regardless of whether you’re a huge Game of Thrones fan or not 🙂 If you can’t go to the actual filming location – Castle of Trujillo in Spain, Windsor is perfect to give you these vibes. It is even more spectacular on the inside – with lots of gorgeous tapestry, ceilings and paintings. It’s the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world!
How to get to Windsor Castle
To get to the castle by train, you need to take the South Western trains and get down at Windsor & Eton Riverside station (it’s about an hour and a half from London’s center). If you’re going by car, you’ll find a paid parking close by, but make sure you bring change! You can also book a half-day tour to Windsor from London. The entrance fee to the Windsor Castle is 22.50 GBP and your pass will be valid for a whole year in case you’re thinking about returning.
10. London location: Tower of London
Game of Thrones location: The Red Keep, King’s Landing
The Tower of London is one of the most spectacular attractions in the city center, but bear in mind that the tour around it can go on for about 2-3 hours. There are a few art installations and lots of signs everywhere, so you’d be better off not booking a guided tour. The actual filming location of King’s landing is in Croatia, but the Tower of London totally gave me vibes of the Red Keep – close to the center and houses and right on the Thames, you won’t regret visiting this lovely location.
11. London location: Temple Church
Game of Thrones location: the Great Sept of Baelor
This was one of the most important places in King’s Landing, it’s impossible to miss it in London <3 Or, you know, you can always do a vacation to Malta and see the actual filming location at Marsamxett Harbour! But don’t forget to always be on the lookout for the famous Game of Thrones wildfire (well, at least wear rubber boots!) when visiting either of these two places 😀
12. London location: Horniman museum and garden
Game of Thrones location: Highgarden
Ah, Highgarden! If I’d have to choose where to live in Westeros, this would be my first choice! The pretty flowers everywhere and the company of good old Olenna Tyrell would make for the perfect life. I’d never drink her tea, though. Yup, not touching it. Or wine. Oh well, guess I’ll starve to death 🙁
13. London location: Daunt books (Marylebone)
Game of Thrones location: the Citadel, Oldtown
Source: Bex Walton, Flickr
It’s high time we visited Sam while on training there, isn’t it? Daunt Books on Marylebone is one of the largest and prettiest bookshops in London <3 You will not only get total Game of Thrones vibes, but you’ll also make your inner book nerd happy 🙂
14. London location: Hampstead Pergola
Game of Thrones location: Dorne
Source: Andreas Kambanis, Flickr
A fair warning – don’t try to visit the Pregola if it’s very windy! We were unlucky enough to go there only to see it was closed due to the high winds 🙁 But if the weather is calm and sunny, you will immensely enjoy this London hidden gem! Walking around, you will feel as if Prince Oberyn was walking beside you, hands behind his back, giving you his lusty lusty look, regardless of your gender 😀
