Board any commuter train in the late 1990s and at least three passengers per carriage were reading a Harry Potter book. It was – and is – absolutely massive. Luckily for us the movies were filmed in the UK and there are a load of places to visit where it happened. In this article we take a tour of some of the nation’s favourite Harry Potter movie locations, along with day tour suggestions you’ll love
Board the North Yorkshire Moors Railway’s Hogwarts Express
The North Yorkshire Moors are home to the famous Hogwarts Express to Hogsmeade Station, otherwise known as Goathland. But you start the North Yorkshire Moors Railway journey at pretty Pickering railway station, at the heart of a picturesque market town that’s worth exploring in itself. Think nostalgic 1950s charm and you get the picture. The station also stars in the 2016 Dad’s Army film, so it’s no stranger to celebrity.
Once on board you’ll love the gorgeous Hogwarts Express carriages, restored to a gleaming perfection that whisks you back to the films. The train stops at Levisham, Newtondale Halt, Goathland and Grosmont. It ends up at the quaint seaside town of Whitby where Dracula allegedly washed up, whose legendary body is not actually buried at the ruined abbey on top of the cliffs, which you reach from the town via a set of 199 worn stone steps!
The moorland will blow your mind, however you feel about Harry Potter. Non-Potter-fans fall truly, madly and deeply in love with the enormous, empty, bleak rounded hills seen from the lush green stream-filled valleys the train chuffs its way through. This really is the ultimate in Instagrammable landscapes.
Goathland Station, AKA Hogsmeade station in the Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone film, is the place where Harry Potter departs the Hogwarts Express, and the final scene of the film when Hagrid is waving the youngsters goodbye. Stop for a photo opportunity – then move on.
The village is very pretty and there’s a pub right next to the station as well as one in the village itself. Bearing in mind the name, there are no goats in this village. Instead the main street is home to free-styling sheep who nibble at the grassy verges, clambering on top of the drystone walls to look down, munching, on passers-by. Wander the main street and the road will quickly spit you out into open moorland at either end, with yet more sheep everywhere you look and awe-inspiring views.
David Holmes, Daniel Radcliffe’s stunt double on the Harry Potter movies, broke his neck during the filming of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1. The documentary about him, David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived, brought Goathland even more attention. But before the 21st century Potter frenzy the village was already famous thanks to the TV series Heartbeat. The Goathland Hotel, AKA the Aidensfield Arms in the series, is where many scenes were filmed, and the cops chased many a baddie across the famous railway bridge.
The Watercress Line in Hampshire – And loads more Harry Potter locations
If you want to see more Harry Potter filming locations, hop on board a train at the other end of England – the Watercress Line. The Watercress line dates back to 1865, built to transport locally grown watercress to London and beyond. The train takes you from Alton to New Alresford with stops at Ropley and the curiously named ‘Medsted and Four Marks’, a 45 minute journey. Ropley is home to the iron bridge where Harry gets his train ticket in Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone.
Hogwarts itself is actually dramatic Alnwick castle, way up north in Northumberland, showcased in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in 2001 and the 2002 film Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. They flew their broomsticks from the Outer Bailey of the castle, and this is where Harry learned Quidditch. But other scenes outdoors were filmed at Gloucester Cathedral and the school’s Great Hall is almost exactly like the one at Christ Church in Oxford. More about Oxford later…
The Dursley family home, where Harry goes when his parents die, was filmed in the town of Bracknell in Berkshire. Respecting the privacy of the people who live there, we’ll keep the address to ourselves. The infamous Platform 9 3/4 was filmed in King’s Cross station, platforms 4 and 5. There’s a luggage trolley embedded in the wall, a funky photo opportunity, although there’s usually a queue to see it. The bridge Harry and Hagrid walk over was filmed at York railway station.
Diagon Alley was filmed at Leadenhall Market in the City of London, on Gracechurch Street. Hagrid’s Hut was filmed at Clachaig Gully in Glencoe, Scotland, but the hut isn’t there now. It’s just endless towering mountains. And Snape’s potions classroom is at Lacock Abbey in Wiltshire.
A quick diversion into Leadenhall Market…
Let’s swerve Harry Potter for a paragraph or two and talk about Leadenhall Market. It dates way back to 1321, a relative youngster in terms of London’s great age. Set in the heart of what was once Roman London it originally sold meat, poultry and game. Now it’s posh, home to wonderful boutiques, eateries, cafes, wine bars, and a brilliant award-winner of a pub.
In fact the whole of the Square Mile, the City of London, makes a fascinating experience, especially at weekends when the city workers are at home and the whole area is really quiet. There are so many incredible sights here, from the Lloyd’s of London building to the Bank of England herself. This is where the Great Fire of London kicked off. If you love urban hiking it’s a memorable experience.
Day tours in Oxford
The city of Oxford plays a starring role in Harry potter films. The Hogwarts Infirmary and library were filmed at the Oxford University Divinity School and Duke Humfrey’s Library, part of the Bodleian Library at the University. Some of Hogwarts’ lovely hallways were actually filmed at the Cloisters of New College Oxford. Christ Church College and the Bodley Tower staircase turn up in the scene where Harry first arrives at Hogwarts and again in the second film. No wonder fans enjoy the Harry Potter walking tour of Oxford, so popular you have to pre-book.
But there’s more to Oxford than Harry Potter. A potter around the city’s stunning ancient streets is enough to whisk you back in time, dating back more than 800 years, home to royalty and more than its fair share of geniuses. A bustling cosmopolitan city, there are enough historic buildings, colleges and museums to keep culture vultures happy, along with world-class eating out, excellent bars and gastro-pubs, and fantastic independent shopping.
The iconic Bodleian Library, Carfax Tower, the ancient Covered Market, loads of great art galleries and exhibitions, theatres, cinemas, nightclubs and comedy clubs, all in a setting so spectacular it looks like a movie set.
The Warner Bros Studio Tour – The Making of Harry Potter
The ultimate Potter experience, the Warner bros studio tour reveals the sets, the tech, the costumes and the props. You’ll experience the magical Cupboard Under the Stairs, the Great Hall, Platform 9¾, the famous embedded luggage cart, and Hogwarts Express. You’ll ride on a broomstick, see Dumbledore’s office, the Gryffindor common room, the door to the Chamber of Secrets and more.
Choose a magical UK day tour
Whether you love Harry Potter or not, the places the movies were filmed all have a charm of their own. Where will you take a day tour first?
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