⚡️ Harry Potter Filming Locations You Can't Miss ⚡️

Grab some Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans and sit back as we take you on a magical tour of must-see Harry Potter locations.

Here’s a quick map to guide you, but below we’ll give you all the details on each stop.

London

Get ready for some magic, because London holds some of the most iconic Harry Potter spots – and we’ve got them listed for you!

1. The Warner Brothers Studio Tour
   The ultimate Harry Potter experience! Explore the Great Hall, visit Hagrid’s hut, step into the Weasley’s cozy kitchen, wander through Diagon Alley, and even take a peek inside Gringotts. It's not just the movie sets—you’ll also see real props and costumes from the films.
   
   Pirate Tip 🦜: Book your tickets in advance, especially during peak seasons—they sell out fast!

2. King’s Cross Station
   No Harry Potter tour is complete without visiting King’s Cross. This is where the Hogwarts Express departs from Platform 9¾.
   
   Films: All of them
   Fun Fact: The filmmakers renumbered Platforms 4 and 5 to 9 and 10 to recreate the platform from the movies. Today, you can visit Platform 9¾ and snap a photo with the trolley halfway through the wall!

3. Millennium Bridge
   Remember when Death Eaters destroy this bridge in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince? You can visit it in real life!
   
   Film: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
   Fun Fact: Construction of this bridge started in late 1998 and was completed on June 10, 2000. The movie was released in 2009.

4. Claremont Square
   In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the row of houses in Claremont Square stood in for Grimmauld Place. Who knows? You might even spot Number 12 magically appearing among them!
   
   Films: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Deathly Hallows Part 1
   Fun Fact: The number 12 house, which was hidden from Muggles, was digitally added to the row of houses, making it one of the most secretive spots in the wizarding world. It’s the perfect mix of real and magical!

5. Piccadilly Circus
   When Harry, Hermione, and Ron are on the run from the Death Eaters, they apparate to this iconic London location.
   
   Films: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
   Fun Fact: Piccadilly Circus is home to one of the world’s largest video displays, which can be seen in the film when Harry and Hermione appear in the busy square. But here’s the twist—while the movie makes it look like a quiet, eerie place, filming actually took place at night to capture the magic of a seemingly empty London, far from the usual bustling crowds!

6. St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel
   This stunning hotel served as the exterior of King’s Cross Station in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
   
   Film: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
   Fun Fact: This building has been featured in several movies, including 102 Dalmatians, Batman, and Richard III, among others.
   
   

Lacock Abbey

If you visit this place, be sure to bring a copper cauldron to brew Felix Felicis, as this abbey was used for Professor Snape’s Potions class. Its stunning cloisters also appeared in the films, becoming the iconic hallways of Hogwarts, while other rooms served as classrooms within the castle.

And while you're in Lacock village, don’t miss the house of Lily and James Potter, located at the end of Church Street, which was featured in the first movie of the series.

Films: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

How to Get There: You can take a train from London. The nearest station, Melksham, is less than 2 hours from London Paddington, but you'll need to change trains in Swindon.

Gloucester Cathedral

"The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the heir, beware!"

As you wander through the cathedral’s cloisters, you'll feel like a Hogwarts student yourself, on edge, wondering if you’ll stumble upon a pool of water and find someone petrified by the monster of Slytherin. These very cloisters served as the backdrop for several iconic Hogwarts interiors in the films, making every step feel like a scene from the wizarding world.

Films: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

New College, Oxford

Remember the scene where Harry faces off with Malfoy, who’s sitting under a giant oak tree, only to be transformed into a ferret by Mad-Eye Moody? That very tree is located in the cloisters of New College. But don’t worry – there’s no risk of turning into a ferret when you visit!

Film: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Oxford is home to numerous locations featured in the films, as well as many others that served as inspiration.

The Bodleian Library is one of the most notable, with the ceiling of the Divinity School doubling as the Hogwarts infirmary. The Duke Humfrey’s Library was used as part of the Hogwarts library, where Harry stealthily searches for books under his invisibility cloak.

Christ Church College also served as the setting for several scenes throughout the saga, and the Tudor Great Hall was the inspiration for the iconic Great Hall of Hogwarts.

Durham Cathedral

This cathedral hides several corners of Hogwarts Castle. Think snow, slugs, and Transfiguration class...

The cathedral’s cloisters appear in the first film, blanketed in snow during winter, when Harry releases Hedwig, who flies over the snowy grounds of the school.

They also serve as the backdrop for the scene where Ron, thanks to his broken wand, causes himself to vomit an endless stream of slugs in the second film. 🤢

The Chapter House is the classroom where Professor McGonagall teaches the students how to turn animals into water goblets. Will you master the spell? Or end up with a goblet with a tail, just like Ron?

Films: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban.

Alnwick Castle

Grab your broom and repeat after me: "Up!" because we're about to take our first flight. The gardens of this castle were used for the scene where the first-year students learn to fly on broomsticks. It's also where Harry learns the basic rules of Quidditch.

In the second film, you’ll spot the gardens again when Harry and Ron fly to school in the flying car and crash into the Whomping Willow.

Films: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets.

Pirate Tip 🦜: The castle is only open from April to October, so if you're visiting in the winter, you won’t be able to tour it. But don’t worry, the gardens are open all year round!

Scotland

Scotland is not only home to several filming locations from the Harry Potter series, but it also inspired the author in creating this magical world. That’s why, if you visit Edinburgh, you'll find plenty of references to the saga and themed tours.

The Highlands are the stars of the filming locations, but here we’ll focus on two of the most iconic.

1. Hagrid's Hut
   
   If you search "Hagrid’s Hut" on Google Maps, you'll find the exact location where they filmed several scenes of the hut in the movies. While the set is no longer there, you can still visit the surrounding forest and imagine Hagrid, the Hogwarts gamekeeper, emerging from between the trees.

2. Glenfinnan Viaduct
   
   Can you hear that distant rumble? It’s the Hogwarts Express making its way toward you. Blink, and it might be gone, so don’t take your eyes off the track!

   If you want to catch the train crossing the viaduct, be sure to plan your visit ahead of time. The train only runs seasonally (from May to October) and doesn’t pass by often. Make sure to check the official website for schedules so you can be in the right place at the right moment.

   Films: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
   

Mischief managed! That’s a wrap on our tour of the various Harry Potter filming locations. Ready to grab your wand and start planning your own magical adventure?