How Welsh locations and production support brought House of the Dragon to Wales

House of the Dragon is one HBO's biggest shows. It is a major global production that has filmed across multiple locations in Spain, Portugal and the UK with it's main production base at Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden.

Securing a five-week HBO shoot for House of the Dragon Season 2 in 2023 was a major achievement for Wales, creating opportunities and international exposure for the Welsh screen industry.

Following the success of Season 2, HBO returned to Wales to film the next chapter, House of the Dragon S3.

Filming took place on location across North Wales once again, transforming dramatic landscapes into the fictional world of Westeros. Read on to find out how, with our support, the production created jobs, trainee placements and skills opportunities in the region.

Wales is becoming a destination of choice for home-grown and international film and television productions thanks to a combination of striking locations, experienced crews and tailored production support.

For House of the Dragon, the landscapes of Anglesey, Gwynedd and Eryri offered the scale and atmosphere needed to bring Westeros to life. Rugged coastlines, sweeping beaches, dramatic quarries and mountain scenery provided the perfect backdrop for one of television's biggest productions.

The production team recognised not only the visual appeal of Wales, but also the support available on the ground through our Wales Screen service and production funding. 

Where are the exact locations? We don't want to spoil the magic but suffice to say, visitors to Anglesey and Gwynedd do not have to go far to spot the rugged and beautiful landscapes used in the series.

Securing major international productions requires more than great locations. Productions need financial support, industry expertise and access to experienced local talent.

Through our Production Fund and Wales Screen service, we worked closely with HBO to help streamline filming across North Wales. Our support included funding, location advice and connections to local crew networks and trainee providers, helping ensure the production had the best shoot possible whilst maximising the investment in Wales.

Our investment in season three alone is expected to generate £6.7 million for the Welsh economy and help reinforce Wales' reputation as a leading production destination.

During the season two shoot, more than 250 local people were employed in production roles. Working alongside partners including CrewHQ at Warner Bros. Studios, we also helped support trainee and development opportunities for more than 30 people through entry-level and upskilling placements.

When HBO returned to Wales for season three, twelve paid trainee placements were created across departments including costume, camera, sound, props and set decoration. A further five people took part in upskilling placements, while six participants joined the First Break shadowing scheme. All placements were delivered via Screen Alliance Wales, Screen Skills, Sgil Cymru and CrewHQ. Hear from returning trainee Aaron in this article.

We were so pleased to see that the production also supported Welsh language sessions for crew members and a Location Marshals bootcamp, helping local people develop skills and access future employment opportunities.

Together, these initiatives are helping strengthen Wales' talent pipeline, making sure that local crews and trainees can build sustainable careers here in Wales.

Season 2 aired in Summer 2024, amassing over seven million viewers during its finale, showcasing Wales around the World. Season 3 is currently streaming on HBO max and it remains one of the network's biggest series.

By attracting global productions and securing repeat investment with our world class locations and production support we are helping create jobs, support skills development and grow the TV and film industry in Wales.