Leveraging the massive global success of Games of Thrones, the campaign was designed to attract international visitors to Northern Ireland. It featured 10 intricately carved doors, made from 200-year-old beech trees from the much-photographed Dark Hedges in County Antrim, which appeared as The Kingsroad in the show in Season 2.
Some of these trees blew down during Storm Gertrude in 2016 but this piece of ‘Thrones’ history was saved for fans by fashioning them into doors with elaborate engravings depicting scenes from Season 6.
The ‘Doors of Thrones’ are now hanging in pubs, inns and hotels near key film locations across Northern Ireland, giving fans an exciting Game of Thrones trail to follow. A Journey of Doors souvenir passport which can be stamped at each location is also available.
With Northern Ireland being the epicentre for the making of Games of Thrones, there is an array of experiences and tours on offer that ooze mystery, fantasy and the medieval.
Guided coach and taxi tours can take fans set jetting around key film sites featuring Games of Thrones favourites such as Winterfell, The Wall and Dragonstone. Self-drive itineraries and cycle tours also let you explore them at your own pace.
Special Seven Kingdoms memories are available through a Winterfell tour at Castle Ward, a National Trust property just 30 miles from Belfast that doubled as the ancestral home of the Stark family in Season 1.
Here you can meet the actual dogs that starred as direwolves in the show, don character costumes and enjoy archery at the exact spot where Jon Snow and Robb Stark taught young Bran the art of shooting an arrow.
A real taste of Westeros can also be savoured in anything from medieval banquets to Game of Thrones afternoon tea, while you can pick up some Game of Thrones-inspired gold and silver of your own at The Steensons jewellery workshop in Glenarm, County Antrim.
The Steensons have collaborated with HBO to craft many pieces of intricate jewellery for the show, including the crowns worn by the new King and Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, Joffry Baratheon and Margaery Tyrell, during their royal wedding.
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