When an HBO producer heard the name of a town announced while waiting for a train at a station in London, he got a great idea.
On February 17, the historic town of Kings Langley in Hertfordshire, England, will be officially renamed for seven days to match the fictional capitol of the Seven Kingdoms on HBO’s Game of Thrones.
Kings Landing, as it will be called for that week, hopes to boost tourism with businesses and restaurants offering special options and menus. Posters will be displayed in shop windows and the two main signs of the village will be altered to give them a GOT theme.
Alan Anderson, borough and parish councillor, said, “This re-naming is a great opportunity to put Kings Langley and Dacorum on the map.”
Anderson added, “You can’t ignore the parallels between Kings Langley’s own rich history and the themes in the show such as battling kings and warring families.”
Around 1276, a palace was built on a hill above the village for Queen Eleanor, giving the village its link to royalty. The town was first named Langley Regina, then changed to Langley Regis, then years later, Kings was added as an epithet. Today, little remains of the palace above ground level.
According to UPI, the village’s brief 2014 name change coincides with the release of the popular show’s third season on DVD.
Fans who travel to Kings Langley (aka Kings Landing) between February 17 and 23 and get their photo taken with the sign can win a Blu-Ray copy of all three Game of Thrones seasons. All they have to do is tweet the image to @HBO_UK using the hashtag #KingsLandingUK.
Now this is funny thank you my village #KingsLangley or should I say #KingslandingUK http://t.co/2kE7dU5Ffg
— Sebastian Giambrone (@TheOfficialSeb) January 6, 2014
The fourth season of Game of Thrones, based on still-unfinished series of books by George R.R. Martin, is set to air later this year.
Image via Wikimedia Commons