The Harry Potter Fandom has always looked forward to knowing and visiting the locations where some of their favorite scenes of the series were shot. After watching the series, one cannot help but wonder if it was all made up, or if the locations were at least real.
The good news is that many of the Harry Potter scenes were shot in real locations.
On top of that, there are also cool sites to visit where the legendary scenes have been built for tourism purposes. These locations cut across England, Scotland, and a few across Europe. If you are all saddled to travel to these locations, then saddle up and read to the end!
There is a saying that those who travel get to live many lives in one!
If you are a fan of the Harry Potters series and the Hogwarts castle, here are the real-life locations you can go to feel the action and experience the magic.
1. The Alnwick Castle
This is the closest you will ever get to seeing Hogwarts castle live.
Expert analysts identified this castle as where most of the outdoor actions took place in the Harry Potters series and it was later confirmed by the filmmakers to be true.
When you visit the location, you will find that there were serious magical permutations made to transform the Alnwick castle into the legendary impenetrable Hogwarts castle.
The Alnwick castle dates back to the 11th century and currently sits as the most toured castle in Northumberland (Trust Harry Potter fans to always light up the place).
Some of the fan’s favorite scenes which were shot at the Alnwick castle include:
- The Quidditch scenes where the tournaments were played.
- The scene where Harry and Ron crashed their flying car
- The inside courtyard scenes where students went back and forth
- The place where Madam Hooch taught Harry and other students how to fly on broomsticks, etc.
As you experience the outside landscape, you will realize that CGI may have played a serious role in embellishing the castle with high-end turrets and the final polished looks.
2. The Australian House and the Durham Cathedral
The Gringotts Bank was shot in the Australia House while professor McGonagall’s classroom scenes were shot at the Durham Cathedral.
Did you also know that the Hogsmeade village train is the Jacobite Steam train? You can take a ride on Hogwarts Express/ Jacobsite Steam Train and enjoy the fun.
3. The Seventh Century Gloucester Cathedral
This is where the corridor shots (that is, the Gryffindor corridor) were made and the place where moaning myrtle flooded the toilet (the Harry Potter Lavatorium scene).
The Seventh Century Gloucester Cathedral is located in the West of England is quite a stunning sight.
4. Oxford University
Oxford University isn’t only legendary for its reputation. Its halls served as the location for many of the Harry Potter Scenes. It was its interiors that were used to shoot the hall scenes where Harry, Ron, Hermione, and their lots were received into Hogwarts.
The hall was supported with a skylike roof where the children marveled upon entry.
Its interior also served as their dining room where children often talked about strange happenings in the Hogwarts castle or their next plans.
5. New College Oxford
This is the location for some of the courtyard scenes.
It was used in the Goblet of Fire when Harry was teased and in the Oaktree scene where mad Eye Moddy turned Malfoy into a ferret.
This is a great location to go to relieve some of the Harry Potter scenes live.
6. Bodleian Library, Oxford
The Hogwarts castle was a school for witches, so that justifies why many of its interior scenes were shot in universities and locations with ancient decors.
The Bodleian Library, Oxford was used in most of the library scenes such as;
- The Hogwarts library was filled at Duke Humfrey’s library (Hermione is seen reading there many times in the series).
- The Hogwarts infirmary was shot at the 1488 English Gothic Room of the Divinity School.
7. Lacock Abbey and Village
The Lacock Abbey dates back to the 13th century and that gives it an eerie old and unique look; one which was exploited by the Harry Potter’s filming team.
The Godric’s Hollow and Harry’s family cottage scenes were filmed in Lacock village.
It is very easy to recognize the cloisters in the village and you can find the giant cauldron that Professor Quirrell used in his defense against dark magic classes in Lacock Abbey’s warming room.
Likewise, the Chapter House was used to film the location where harry saw the Mirror of Erised in The Philosophers stone part.
8. London’s Leadenhall Market
In the Philosopher’s stone, the Leadenhall market made a fundamental shooting scene. This Victorian-like marketplace with its ornate roof and cobbled floors is where some of the leaky cauldrons and Diagon Alley scenes were shot.
It is open to the public, for free.
9. Kings Cross Station, London
No one can forget the Hogwarts Express scene where Harry struggled to find platform 9 ¾ where he would commute to Hogwarts.
Unfortunately, there is no such platform 9 (at least not one that our muggle eyes can see), however, a corner has been dedicated to fans of Harry Potter, where you can find a trolley like the one Harry used.
People often line up to take shots there as if they were on their way to Hogwarts.
10. Harry Potter Studio Tour in Leavesden
Last but not least on this list is the Warner Bros Harry Potter Studio Tour where many of the indoor scenes have been shot and some of the scenes have been represented for tourism purposes.
You can find the image of Professor Dumbledore and a handful of other participants in the studio.
If you noticed, most of the locations are scattered across London, and mostly Scotland, that is because J. K. Rowlings confessed to having imagined Scotland in most of her writings of the Harry Potter Series.
Thanks for sticking to the end! Watch this space for more historical facts about the Harry Potter series.