Westeros is largely based or otherwise inspired by the United Kingdom and Europe. There are many places and historical events that George RR Martin pulled from to dream up and write his story. Not all the places in his world are from the UK, e.g. the Dothraki are inspired by the Mongols (or Huns), while the Iron bank is inspired by the Genoese or Venetians. But there are many things that are solidly set in Britain - including the accents, those from the North have northern English accents.
The War of The Roses
The Wars of the Roses was one of the bloodiest and most destructive English civil wars in history. This succession crisis was so bad that it was one of the reasons King Henry VIII had six wives and was so determined to have a male heir. The Wars of the Roses was fought between two rival houses the southern House of Lancaster and the northern House of York. Think House of Lannister and the House of Stark.
- Date: 1455 to 1487
- Houses: Compare House Of Lancaster and York with Lannister and Stark
- Visit: Fortheringhay Castle in Northamptonshire
- Visit: The City Of York
The House of York stronghold was the northern city of York. The castle stronghold that they held was Fotheringhay Castle in Northamptonshire - that inspired Winterfell. This is also where Mary, Queen of Scots was imprisoned and beheaded in 1587. Meanwhile, London in the south inspired King's Landing - the capital.
Furthermore, Joffrey resembles the bloodthirsty Edward of Lancaster. He was supposedly the illegitimate son of King Henry VI was married to the beautiful and yet ruthless Margaret of Anjou (think Cersei). She never trusted Richard of York (think Ned Stark). The similarities go on.
Hadrian's Wall
The ancient Roman wall that divided Britain for hundred years was the inspiration for the "wall". The Romans built the wall to keep the wild and free Picts (later Scots) out of England in a similar way the "Wall" kept the Wildlings out of the Seven Kingdoms. It divided the island more or less separating what would become Scotland from Roman Britain. One can visit Hadrian's Wall today and also the old Roman fort of Vindolanda (kinda like Castle Black).
According to the BBC, George R. R. Martin also admitted that Hadrian's Wall gave him the idea for "The Wall".
- The Wall: 300 Miles Long And 700 Feet Tall
- Hadrian's Wall: 73 Miles Long And 20 Feet Tall (At its Highest Point)
The Knights Templar And The Night's Watch
The Night's Watch is more based on the Knights Templar than the Roman forts garrisoned on the wall. The Knights Templar was a Catholic military order with strict Templar Order. This consisted of some 72 clauses that defined their way of life. These included what to wear and eat and that they were forbidden from any physical contact with a woman. The Night's Watch's oath of forbidding marriage, family, and land ownership clearly mirrors these oaths.
- Visit: The Temple Church in London - It Was the Knights Templar's English Headquarters and it is Open to Visitors.
The Red Wedding
The Red Wedding is easily one of the most shocking scenes in an already brutal television series. But it has a real inspiration. Seeing the heartbreaking betrayal of the Starks at the hands of the Frays and Boltons was heartbreaking. It was lifted from two events in Scottish history. The Black Dinner and The Glencoe Massacre.
- Red Wedding: Inspired By The Black Dinner and The Glencoe Massacre In Scotland
- Visit: Edinburgh Castle
The Black Dinner happened in 1440 in Edinburgh Castle. Two young heirs of the powerful Douglas class were dining with the King by invitation. They were treacherously seized and executed. Visiting Edinburgh Castle in Scotland is a must today, and it is built on a volcano.
More horrifying was the Glencoe Massacre where, in 1692, members of the Douglas clan were guests of the Campbell clan. Despite strict laws of hospitality, the Douglas men brutally murdered their hosts. They murdered 38 men in their sleep and drove 40 women and children out into a blizzard. George R.R. Martin has also said these are inspirations for the Red Wedding.
Battle Of The Blackwater
Stannis Baratheon's siege of King's Landing is likely inspired by the Second Arab siege of Constantinople (now Istanbul) in 717-718 then the capital of the Byzantine Empire. The Arabs were defeated with the use of "Greek Fire" that ignited on touching the water and burning the ships (even today the exact ingredients remain unknown). Sound like "wildfire?"
- Visit: Istanbul
- Ironborn: Inspired By The Vikings
On other notes Aegon the Conqueror was based on William the Conqueror, while the Ironborn are based on the Vikings. The full list of events and places that inspired the series is not possible to write here. But there are more places fans should put on their bucket lists than just the filming locations.