The Harry Potter wordmark.

Harry Potter is a series of fantasy novels, written by J. K. Rowling, and made into a series of eight films from 2001 to 2011.

Understand

The Harry Potter stories are set in a fictional version of the United Kingdom, where some locations are inaccessible or invisible to muggles (people without magical abilities).

It is possible to visit many of the places that inspired the books. The series was filmed in a variety of locations around the UK at the behest of J.K. Rowling.

Starting from 2016, a new prequel film series entitled Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is being made, with J. K. Rowling herself making her screenwriting debut for the series. The first film in the series went on to win an Academy Award for Best Costume Design, achieving what had eluded all eight films in the original series (which received a total of 12 Oscar nominations, but never won).

Get in

United Kingdom

At J. K. Rowling's insistence, the original eight films were produced almost entirely in the United Kingdom.

By plane

• 1 Heathrow Airport (LHR ^IATA). The largest airport in the UK and serves many international destinations through its 5 terminals. (updated Oct 2023)

There are many buses, trains, coaches and car rental facilities which makes it a convenient starting place. Particularly, for visiting London-based attractions such as Warner Bros. Studio Tour and King's Cross train station. As well as Oxford which is only about 50 miles west of Heathrow.

• 2 Edinburgh Airport (EDI ^IATA). Also well-connected to the city centre via buses and trams to visit the inspirational places J. K. Rowling used when writing the original seven books. (updated Oct 2023)

By train

London St Pancras International has the Eurostar from Paris Gare Du Nord.

London Victoria is on the London Underground Victoria  VIC  line to King's Cross St. Pancras (for both train stations). About 100 yards from the station is the Victoria Coach Station which offers a coach to just about every city in Britain.

London King's Cross has connections from Heathrow Airport via the London Underground Piccadilly  PIC  line.

Watford Junction is on the London Overground line to...

Oxford has connections from London Marylebone

• 3 Edinburgh Waverley. Has connections from London King's Cross. Most of the places where J. K. Rowling stayed when working on Harry Potter is within walking distance. (updated Oct 2023)

Ireland

See the Cliffs of Moher listing below.

As of 2023, the only location in Ireland that was used for the Harry Potter films was the Cliffs of Moher on the west coast between Galway and Limerick.

• 4 Dublin Airport (DUB ^IATA). Main airport for the Republic of Ireland with domestic and international destinations. (updated Oct 2023)

Themed attractions

“ You're a wizard, Harry. ”

—Rubeus Hagrid

All these themed locations are home to souvenir shops where you can purchase Harry Potter memorabilia. These are also the only four locations where you can drink a real-world version of butterbeer, a drink that is featured in the books and movies. Unlike the book version, real butterbeer is not alcoholic.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour

Entrance to Warner Bros. Studio Tour

The Great Hall

• 1 Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter, Watford, near London, England, WD25 7LR. Leavesden is a former aircraft factory that was converted into a film studio. All of the Harry Potter films were made here, starting in 2000. Many of the original film sets and props were stored and can now be viewed as part of the exhibition. from £53.50. (updated Oct 2023)

Prebooking tickets on the Warner Bros. Studio Tour website is vital as this is a very popular attraction.

The Warner Bros. Studio Tour can be easily reached from the Watford Junction and London Victoria train stations with regular shuttle coaches. During the ride, there is an introductory video from Tom Felton who portrayed Draco Malfoy in the films.

You see the different sets, costumes and props at your own pace. You can grab a passport and find each of the embossed stamps also find all the hidden golden snitches.

On-site catering is overpriced, so it is a good idea to eat lunch before visiting. Do try a sweet non-alcoholic butterbeer before visiting the external sets including the Dursley house at 4 Privet Drive, Surrey and the Night Bus.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Themed areas at Universal Studios parks:

• 2 Universal Studios Florida & Islands of Adventure (Universal Orlando, Orlando, Florida). (updated Mar 2017)
• 3 Universal Studios Hollywood (Universal City, Los Angeles, California). (updated Mar 2017)
• 4 Universal Studios Japan (Universal Studios Japan, Osaka, Japan). (updated Mar 2017)

Film locations

Steam train crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct

Scotland

• 1 Glenfinnan Viaduct, West Highlands. A large railway viaduct, crossed by the Hogwarts Express train in several films. During the summer you can travel on The Jacobite, a similar style of steam train which runs from Fort William to Mallaig. (updated Dec 2016)
• 2 Glen Nevis, Near Fort William. Impressive scenery including Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the UK, used as the backdrop for several Quidditch games. (updated Dec 2016)
• 3 Glencoe. A backdrop for several scenes, including Hagrid's Hut, the set was built on the hillside close to the Clachaig Inn. (updated Dec 2016)
• 4 Black Rock Gorge, Evanton, near Dingwall. A narrow, steep-sided gorge, appears in the Goblet of Fire. (updated Dec 2016)

England

London

• 5 King's Cross Railway Station, Euston Rd, Kings Cross, Camden, London N1 9AL (London), ☏ +44 20 7431-4001, info@cp-plus.co.uk. The station where Harry and his friends boarded the train to Hogwarts. Of course, platform 9 ¾ does not actually exist, and the filming was actually done between platforms 4 and 5, as the real platforms 9 and 10 are separated by tracks. The magical entrance to platform 9 ¾ has been recreated at the station entrance for fans to have their photos taken, but figure on spending at least 2 hours in the queue with throngs of other fans. A Harry Potter souvenir shop is also located in the station for fans to purchase memorabilia. Free.  
• 6 St Pancras railway station, Euston Rd, Kings Cross, Camden, London N1 9AL. The exterior shots of King's Cross in the film were not filmed using the real King's Cross Railway Station but rather were filmed using the adjacent St Pancras Railway Station, which is far more elaborate and impressive than the relatively plain King's Cross. (updated Oct 2023)
• 7 Millennium Bridge, City of London/Southbank, London, SE1 9JE (Next to Tate Modern). Pedestrian bridge across the River Thames. In Half-Blood Prince it is attacked by Death Eaters and collapses. Free. (updated Feb 2017)
• 8 Surbiton Station, South London. While the film hardly shows its best side, this art-deco South London station was used to film the opening scene where Harry meets Dumbledore in Half-Blood Prince. Free. (updated Jul 2022)

Oxford

Oxford is a popular destination for students and tourists alike. As such it's well-connected by public transport, especially from London.

By train: You can reach Oxford train station in the city centre via London Paddington.

By coach: There is the Oxford Tube from London Victoria to Gloucester Green bus station in the centre of Oxford.

• 9 Christ Church, University of Oxford, St Aldate's, Oxford OX1 1DP (Oxford), ☏ +44 1865 276492, tourism@chch.ox.ac.uk. One of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford, founded in 1546. The staircase in front of the Hall was used as a filming location for the staircase leading to the Great Hall of Hogwarts in the films. While not actually used for the filming, the Hall itself served as the inspiration for the design of the Great Hall of Hogwarts set for the films. £7.  
• 10 New College, University of Oxford, Holywell St, Oxford OX1 3BN (Oxford), ☏ +44 1865 279253 (summer), +44 1865 279555 (winter). 11am - 5pm. Despite its name, the New College is actually one of the older constituent colleges of the University of Oxford and was founded in 1379. The cloisters of the college were used to film some of the Hogwarts cloisters scenes in the movies. £4.  

Others

• 11 Alnwick Castle, Northumberland. Used as exteriors for Hogwarts School. (updated Dec 2016)
• 12 Goathland Station, North York Moors. A station on the preserved North Yorkshire Moors Railway, appears as Hogsmeade station. (updated Dec 2016)
• 13 Gloucester Cathedral (Cathedral Church of St Peter and the Holy and Indivisible Trinity), 12 College Green, Gloucester GL1 2LX (Gloucester), ☏ +44 1452 528095, reception@gloucestercathedral.org.uk. Completed in 1499, this Gothic building has a beautiful design and heritage. It was used for filming in several of the Harry Potter movies. Free.  

• 14 Durham Cathedral. M-Sa 7AM-6PM, Su to 5:30PM, late Jul-Aug daily til 8PM. Durham cathedral was used to film some of the exterior shots, cloisters and Transfiguration class in the first two movies. Suggested donation £3. (updated Dec 2020)
• 15 Lacock Abbey, Lacock, Chippenham, SN15 2LG. A former Augustinian nunnery in the county of Wiltshire whose cloisters were used for the filming of some of the Hogwarts cloisters scenes in the movies. Some of the rooms were also used to film some of the Hogwarts classroom scenes. Free.  
• 16 Malham Cove (Malham). Several scenes in the first Deathly Hallow film were shot on the limestone pavement here. Free.  
• 17 Hardwick Hall, Doe Lea, Chesterfield S44 5QJ (Chesterfield). Used for the exterior shots for Malfoy Manor in the Deathly Hallows films, albeit in a digitally altered form. £15.15 (adult), £7.60 (child).  

Wales

Freshwater West is rural and the best way to reach there seems to be by car. There are two car parks though they can be very busy during surfing season.

• 18 Freshwater West, Pembrokeshire, Wales (about 8 miles west of Pembroke). The beach that stood in for the "Cornish" beach where Dobby transported Harry and his friends to escape from Malfoy Manor in the first Deathly Hallows, where Dobby died in Harry's arms and was later buried. Free.  

Ireland

The Cliffs of Moher are in a rural spot between Galway and Limerick. You can drive the N67 road to the cliffs or take the 350 bus which runs 6 times a day from Galway.

Galway itself no longer has an airport, but there are frequent trains and buses from Dublin.

Alternatively, there are coach tours which take you directly to the Cliffs of Moher and back again.

• 19 Cliffs of Moher. In Half-Blood Prince the cliffs are shown as the location of the horcrux cave. (updated Aug 2019)

Edinburgh inspiration

J.K. Rowling lived in Edinburgh while writing many of the books, and several locations in the city may have provided inspiration, especially around the historic Old Town.

All of these inspirational places are within walking distance of Edinburgh Waverley train station.

• 20 The Elephant House, 21 George IV Bridge. This cafe claims to be the "birthplace of Harry Potter". Rowling wrote many of the early books here. (updated Feb 2018)
• 21 Spoon Café Bistro, 6A Nicolson Street, EH8 9DH. Previously Nicolson's Cafe, another location where Rowling wrote the first book. (updated Feb 2017)
• 22 The Balmoral Hotel, 1 Princes Street, ☏ +44 131 556-2414, reservations.balmoral@roccofortehotels.com. Luxury hotel, overlooking Waverley Station. Rowling stayed here in 2007 while writing Deathly Hallows, the last book in the series. It is possible to stay in that room, number 552, now named the "J.K. Rowling Suite".  
• 23 Greyfriars Kirkyard (Off the Southwest corner of George IV Bridge, close to the National Museum). Historic graveyard and church, close to The Elephant House cafe. It contains the grave of Thomas Riddell, which may have provided the name of Voldemort. Nearby is the grave of the poet William McGonagall, whom Professor Minerva McGonagall was named after. Also famous for the story of Greyfriars Bobby.  
• 24 George Heriot's School, Lauriston Place, ☏ +44 131 229-7263, enquiries@george-heriots.com. Prestigious private school in the city centre, may have been an inspiration for Hogwarts. The Gothic-style building has several impressive towers. It is not open to the public but can be viewed from Lauriston Place or Greyfriar's Kirkyard. (updated Feb 2017)
• 25 Victoria Street (Between George IV Bridge and the Grassmarket). A curved cobbled street, with tall buildings and a variety of colourful shops, cafes and pubs. It may be the basis for Diagon Alley. (updated Feb 2017)
• 26 J. K. Rowling Handprints (City Chambers quadrangle, off the Royal Mile). In 2008, Rowling was presented with the Edinburgh Award, from the city council. In honour of this, a cast was taken of her handprints, and set in stone in front of the city chambers. (updated Feb 2017)

Buy

• 1 MinaLima, 157 Wardour Street, Soho, London, ☏ +44 20 3214-0000, house@minalima.com. A shop and gallery showcasing the work of the designers who create the letters, signs, newspapers, and many other props and graphics in the Harry Potter movies. Lots of prints and souvenirs available for purchase. (updated Oct 2020)
• The Harry Potter Shop at Platform 9 ¾, Kings Cross Station, London. Buy yourself a wand, house robes, and plushy owl, before getting your picture taken pushing a trolley laden with trunks through the solid brick wall which hides the Hogwarts Express. Muggle money accepted, though the exchange rate means extortionate price tags. (updated Oct 2020)

Learn

Parseltongue, the language spoken by the various characters when talking to snakes, is, perhaps surprisingly, not just gibberish but an actual language that was constructed by University of Cambridge linguistics professor Francis Nolan for the films. Given the limited amount of Parseltongue dialogue in the film, the vocabulary is, of course limited, but there are nevertheless several Harry Potter fan groups who have dedicated significant resources towards learning and studying the language, and several online translators to Parseltongue are available. As snakes do not know how to write, there is, of course, no written language for Parseltongue.

See also

J. K. Rowling maintains the Pottermore website dedicated to the Harry Potter universe with several fun activities to keep fans occupied.