A £24 million Game of Thrones attraction is being built in Northern Ireland😱
Our GOT drought has been hydrated
Last updated 4th Sep 2020
When Game Of Thrones came to a nail-biting finish last year, fans were left with a huge GOT hole in their lives. But despite coronavirus throwing 2020 into turmoil, there is a least one good thing to come out of it - the announcement that plans have been approved to build a Game Of Thrones studio tour in Northern Ireland.
It is going to be based at the Linen Mill Studios in Banbridge, Northern Ireland, costing a humongous £24 million to build.
Much like the Harry Potter studio tour in Watford, England, the new attraction will allows visitors to explore some of the show's most iconic sets, including Winterfell, Castle Black's Mess Room, Cersei's Courtyard in King's Landing and Dragonstone's Throne Room and Map Room.
Alongside this, fans will also be able to have a look at costumes, props and weapons used throughout the show.
Plans of the tour were announced last year, yet they have only just been given the green light by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council.
The BBC has reported the councils involved in the planning commission say they hope the studio tour will attract up to 600,000 visitors a year, created 200 new jobs, as well as generate up to £400 million in tourism revenue.
Andrew Webb, managing director at Linen Mill Studios, said the studio is excited to be the home of the only official Game of Thrones tour in the world.
Speaking about the plans being approved, he added, "The authenticity of the Game of Thrones studio tour at Linen Mill Studios is the essential connection with the show, which has been such a part of the Banbridge area for so many years."
It's not yet clear when the studio will open, but let's hope it's soon, because we simply can't wait!
Take a trip down memory lane to see what the cast of Game of Thrones looked like then vs. now...
Kit Harington (Jon Snow), Season 1
Kit Harington plays the broody Jon Snow - illegitimate son of Ned Stark... Or so we thought. Kit was 25-years-old when he took on the role of Jon Snow, and despite being from London, was able to do a pretty passable Northern accent.
Kit Harington (Jon Snow), Season 8
Now, Kit is 32-years-old and married to former co-star Rose Leslie, who played the wildling Ygritte - his character's former love. Did anyone else's heart actually break when she died? No? Just us? Sob.
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime Lannister), Season 1
Danish actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau's Jaime Lannister was a bit of an arrogant weirdo in the first season - not only was he having an affair with his actual twin sister, but he was just an all-round not nice guy.
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime Lannister), Season 8
Fast forward to season 8, and fans are seriously conflicted over Jaime. On the one hand, he's still in a relationship with his twin sister. On the other hand, he seems to be a much better person than he was in season 1... Other than that, he's aged like a fine, fine wine.
Lena Headey (Cersei Lannister), Season 1
The aforementioned sister of Jaime is an absolute nutcase. In season 1, it seemed as though Cersei was just fiercely determined to stay on the throne and make her father Tywin proud.
Lena Headey (Cersei Lannister), Season 8
However, by the time we got to the penultimate season, Cersei has gone a little more mad than before. Probably on account of being locked in a tower for months on end and tortured, before being forced to walk naked through the streets. She looks so normal in real life!
Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen), Season 1
Emilia Clarke's character Daenerys Targaryen began life on the show as a meek young girl at her elder brother's beck and call, when Emilia was 25-years-old.
Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen), Season 8
However, after much hardship and a lot of learning - as well as a couple of dragons under her belt - Daenerys is now basically taking on the world as she battles for the Iron Throne.
Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark), Season 1
Sophie Turner was just 15-years-old when she began starring in Game of Thrones. Her character, Sansa, was quite simply an annoying little girl to begin with, and her obsession with Joffrey was hard to watch.
Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark), Season 8
Now 23 - and engaged to none other than Joe Jonas - Sophie has blossomed into a fantastic actress with a lead role in upcoming X-Men films. As Sansa has also been through a pretty rough time, viewers have warmed more to her than before, and she's also a frontrunner in the race for the crown.
Maisie Williams (Arya Stark), Season 1
Sophie's younger on-screen sister Maisie has possibly undergone the biggest transformation - but that's not hard when she started life on the set at the age of just 13!
Maisie Williams (Arya Stark), Season 8
Maisie is now a hugely accomplished actress, and the growth of her character is a testament to how much her skills have come on during her time on the show. Plus, we are loving the pink hair!
Alfie Allen (Theon Greyjoy), Season 1
Singer Lily Allen's brother Alfie has starred as Theon Greyjoy throughout the series. Theon started out as a disillusioned member of the Stark family, having been raised by them after a battle with own family saw him accepted as the Stark's ward.
Alfie Allen (Theon Greyjoy), Season 8
Although he was an arrogant character, he certainly didn't deserve all the torture that befell him thanks to the twisted Ramsay Bolton, played by Iwan Rheon.
Isaac Hempstead Wright (Bran Stark), Season 1
Isaac was just 12-years-old when he took on the role of Bran Stark, and whose actions acted as a catalyst for the whole upheaval, really. If he hadn't have been climbing up the tower, he wouldn't have seen Cersei and Jaime together - they wouldn't have pushed him and basically, everything wouldn't have kicked off.
Isaac Hempstead Wright (Bran Stark), Season 8
Now, he's 19, and Bran has become the Three-Eyed Raven, shedding his former identity and taking on the role of the all-seeing, all-knowing being. There are even whispers that he might secretly be the Night King somehow, but that remains to be seen.
Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister), Season 1
Tyrion started life on the show as a near-alcoholic philanderer with a penchant for visiting brothels. When he was accused of killing his nephew, Joffrey Baratheon, he fled Westeros and was captured by Ser Jorah Mormont.
Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister), Season 8
Then, he was taken to Daenerys Targaryen and vowed to assist her on her quest to reclaim the throne, as her father had been the last true king.
John Bradley (Samwell Tarly), Season 1
Samwell Tarly is probably one of the nicest characters on the show, having been taken under the wing of Jon Snow when both boys joined the Night's Watch together.
John Bradley (Samwell Tarly), Season 8
Since then, he's fallen in love with Gilly, become adoptive father to her baby and even killed a White Walker - something unheard of in their time.
Carice van Houten (Melisandre), Season 2
Melisandre joined the show in Season 2, played by Dutch actress Carice van Houten. The character started on the show utterly convinced that Stannis Baratheon was meant to be king, but after he was killed she became a bit lost.
Carice van Houten (Melisandre), Season 8
She's now joined the side of Daenerys Targaryen, and is helping her in her fight to return her family's name to the throne.
Joe Dempsie (Gendry), Season 1
Former Skins actor Joe plays Gendry the blacksmith in Game of Thrones, the secret son of King Robert Baratheon, who was unfortunately killed in the first season.
Joe Dempsie (Gendry), Season 8
Gendry has been avoiding capture since then, especially with the help of Ser Davos Seaworth, and has now joined Team Targaryen.
Hannah Murray (Gilly), Season 2
Joe's fellow Skins co-star Hannah Murray is also part of the cast, playing Gilly, daughter and wife of the horrible Craster, who thankfully gets killed. She escapes with her son/brother, and befriends Samwell Tarly.
Hannah Murray (Gilly), Season 8
Romantic feelings have, of course, developed between Samwell and Gilly, and now they're quite in love and are co-parenting her baby/brother together.
Gwendoline Christie (Brienne of Tarth), Season 2
Gwendoline Christie's character Brienne of Tarth is an absolute icon. Not only does she refuse to be held to anyone else's standards, but she also kicks some serious butt.
Gwendoline Christie (Brienne of Tarth), Season 8
Since her first appearance in Season 2, Brienne has now sworn fealty to Sansa Stark, fallen in love with Jaime Lannister and is also fighting off the advances of wildling Tormund Giantsbane.
Nathalie Emmanuel (Missandei), Season 3
Former Hollyoaks actress Nathalie Emmanuel has been playing the character of Missandei since 2013. Missandei was originally a slave who acted as a translator for her previous owner, Kraznys, before Daenerys freed her and she chose to serve her instead.
Nathalie Emmanuel (Missandei), Season 8
Missandei is now Daenerys' most trusted advisor, friend and also a lover of Grey Worm.
Jacob Anderson (Grey Worm), Season 3
Jacob Anderson plays Grey Worm, captain of the Unsullied army in Game of Thrones, but he also makes music under the name Raleigh Ritchie.
Jacob Anderson (Grey Worm), Season 8
Grey Worm initially couldn't speak any other language, both has slowly been learning with the help of his now-lover, Missandei and is completely devoted to working for Daenerys.