Which TV show features the continent of Westeros?

Music & Film By 1 min read

Quick answer

Westeros is the fictional continent in HBO’s Game of Thrones (2011–2019), based on George R. R. Martin’s fantasy novels A Song of Ice and Fire. It’s home to the Seven Kingdoms, ruled from the Iron Throne in King’s Landing. The prequel House of the Dragon is also set there.

Westeros is a land of feuding noble families, dragons, ice zombies and winters that can last for years. The battle for its throne drives the whole story.

The great houses

HouseSeatSigilWords
StarkWinterfellDirewolf“Winter Is Coming”
LannisterCasterly RockLion“Hear Me Roar!”
TargaryenDragonstoneThree-headed dragon“Fire and Blood”
BaratheonStorm’s EndStag“Ours Is the Fury”
GreyjoyPykeKraken“We Do Not Sow”
TyrellHighgardenRose“Growing Strong”

Geography of Westeros

  • The Wall: a giant ice wall in the north, guarded by the Night’s Watch
  • The North: ruled by the Starks
  • King’s Landing: the capital
  • Across the Narrow Sea lies Essos, a separate continent where Daenerys Targaryen’s story begins

The shows

SeriesYearsSetting
Game of Thrones2011–2019The war for the Iron Throne; 8 seasons, 73 episodes, a record 59 Emmy Awards
House of the Dragon2022–About 200 years earlier, during the Targaryen civil war
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms2026About 90 years before Game of Thrones, following the knight Dunk and his squire Egg

Real-world filming locations

  • Northern Ireland: much of the North, including the Dark Hedges road
  • Croatia: Dubrovnik as King’s Landing
  • Iceland: lands beyond the Wall
  • Spain and Morocco: Dorne and parts of Essos

For other TV worlds, see the fictional town of Hawkins. Croatia’s capital has its own landmark too: Zagreb’s main square.

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