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22 May 2019

Game of Thrones Kingdom-wide Takeover

Doune Castle in Stirlingshire renamed to celebrate the legacy of HBO's Game of Thrones.

Doune Castle on a sunny day with a sign saying "Winterfell" in front of it.

Following the most anticipated finale in television history, Doune Castle, along with three other places in the UK, has been transformed into the World of Westeros to mark the Digital Download release of Game of Thrones: The Final Season.

In this Kingdom-wide takeover, Doune Castle, Essex, Blackpool and London’s Covent Garden have all pledged their allegiance to the legacy of the show by unveiling signs with their new names, encouraging members of the public to find them. 

For one week, Doune Castle will be renamed Winterfell after being used as the filming location for the Stark family home in the pilot episode.

Thrones-fever has been ever present throughout the UK since the show’s opening episode in 2011. People up and down the country now have the opportunity to relive and celebrate the fictional locations we have all grown to know and love with the following signs being unveiled:

  • Winterfell – formerly known as Doune Castle, Stirlingshire, Scotland
  • Highgarden – formerly known as Covent Garden, London
  • Castle Black-pool – formerly known as Blackpool
  • Essos – formerly known as Essex

Gillian Macdonald, Head of Business Development and Enterprise at Historic Environment Scotland, said:

We are delighted to be involved with the Game of Thrones takeover. Doune Castle was featured as the location for Winterfell in the pilot episode so it’s fantastic to be chosen as the much-loved Westeros location now that the TV series is coming to an end.

"We hope fans of Game of Thrones across the country will visit Doune Castle and enjoy walking in the footsteps of Jon Snow and the Starks!”

The signs will be available to visit for a limited time to mark the Digital Download release of Season Eight.

Fans around the UK are challenged to find the signs and encouraged to post a selfie, tagging @HBO_UK (Twitter) / @HBOUK (Instagram) with the hashtag #GoTTakeover.

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For further information, please contact:

Stacey Dent
Historic Environment Scotland Media Office
Direct line: 0131 668 8097
Mobile: 0755 748 9322
communications@hes.scot

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