Beyond the Wall - Game of Thrones Studio tour Experience

Earlier this spring, on a chilly April morning that felt straight out of Winterfell, we headed for Linen Mill Studios in Banbridge, Co. Down. This is where much of HBO’s Game of Thrones was filmed, and the site now hosts a fantastic attraction: the Game of Thrones Studio Tour.

We spent a full day exploring every corner - and we’re still buzzing. Here’s what you need to know before you go.

Getting there - The road to Westeros

Reaching the studio is surprisingly effortless. If you’re driving, simply follow the A1 south from Belfast (about 30 minutes) or north from Dublin (around 90 minutes) and park free of charge at The Boulevard outlet village.

From here a branded shuttle bus whisks you the final kilometres to the studio entrance, a transfer that’s included in every standard ticket. Dedicated coach services also depart daily from Belfast’s Visit Belfast Welcome Centre and Dublin’s Molly Malone Statue, putting transport and admission into a single package.

Beyond the Wall

The opening moments of the tour are deliberately under wraps, so we won’t (fully) spoil the surprise. Suffice to say you assemble in near darkness, where a floor-to-ceiling screen comes to life with a montage of everything Game of Thrones. Soon after, you transition beyond the wall through some pretty dense fog. It is an all-senses prologue that resets the line between visitor and participant.

Walking the Sets - From Castle Black to the ruined Throne Room

What follows is a free-flow experience through a succession of original, full-scale sets from beyond the Wall to the Destroyed Throne Room, looking at Castle Black, Winterfell, Dragonstone and King's Landing in between. Each of these locations were accompanied by expansive and intricately designed sets, Bran's bedroom, the Dragonstone meeting room - certain displays were uniquely backlit to simulate different landscapes, like the ocean or life-like greenery.

Most impressively the Throne Room - huge and slightly haunting - as if it was pulled straight from the show. Behind it, a 'window' into King's Landing with Daenerys' dragon flying from one end of the room to the other, accompanied by some pretty intense sound effects.

Each of these features, from the physical set design to sound lend each space a living pulse.

Needlework - The art behind the camera

If one theme dominates the studio experience, it is craftsmanship. Glass vitrines display Cersei’s embossed lion-silk gowns, Arya’s travel-worn leathers and the Night’s Watch’s layered furs; elsewhere, racks of real Valyrian-steel stand-ins bristle above workbenches crusted with wax, dye and chain-mail offcuts.

Read the placards and you discover that a single coat of Northern plate took more than forty hand processes, from hand-punching rawhide to applying iron oxide patina. It is the show’s hidden army of tailors, armourers and prop sculptors who emerge as the backbone of the show.

Interactive magic - Green screens, motion capture and archery drills

The tour is not all glass cases and passive viewing. You’re invited to try on armor or lift a real-weight replica of Longclaw for a green-screen selfie. Kids (and not a few adults) queued to “defend Winterfell” with digital crossbows, while a motion-capture booth revealed how wights earned their rattling gait. These stations strike a smart balance - they decode the wizardry of 21st-century production without puncturing the spell!

Feasting like a lord - The Mess Hall and Lobby Café

Mid-way through, the tour funnels into The Mess Hall, a large dining room where the menu is based on the lore, like the Frey Pie - roast chicken leg, leek and Bushmills whiskey pie with creamy mash and savoy cabbage, or Hodor's Club Sandwich with hand cut chips.

The ingredients here are all locally sourced, and the menu is designed to suit all tastes and dietary requirements with tons of dishes to try. Dishes are priced between £7-17, suitable for every budget.

Time-pressed visitors can grab a sweet treat and coffee in the Lobby Café at the entrance, but if you can spare an hour, an upgrade to the Seven Kingdoms Afternoon Tea includes miniature 'Sansa' lemon cakes, oat-crusted pies and Red Keep scones all presented on theme. This experience is priced at £30 per person, but we believe it's well worth it.

The world’s largest Game of Thrones shop

No pilgrimage to Westeros ends without loot, and the Studio Shop knows it. Billed as the largest dedicated GoT store on earth, the retail hall stocks everything from keyrings to exclusive art prints. A photo counter is also available and lets you take green-screen portraits on the Iron Throne with accompanying robes. Budget an extra half-hour; you will need it.

Essential information

• Opening hours: Daily 10:00–18:30.

• Standard ticket: Adult £29.50; Student/Senior £24; Teen (13–15) £12; Child (5–12) £5; under-4s free. All include parking and shuttle transfer from The Boulevard. Seasonal offers are also available, where children were able to eat certain dishes in The Mess Hall for free. Keep an eye out on these offers to make the most of you trip!

• Transport add-on: Belfast coach package from £45 adult; Dublin coach from £55 adult, covering return transport and admission.

• Duration: We spent just over three hours on the main circuit, plus browsing time in the shop. Allow 4–5 hours door-to-door from Belfast, longer if you opt for afternoon tea.

Booking: Advance booking is recommended, which you can do online here.

Northern Ireland already offers Game of Thrones locations along the Causeway Coast, but the Studio Tour is next‑level. We went in as curious travellers and came out plotting our next rewatch. Trust us: Winter (and the studio shuttle) is coming, and you won’t want to miss the ride.