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While Hogwarts Castle itself may be a figment of imagination, you can still explore the staircases, grand hallways, and many other details of this fictional structure that exist in real life at locations in Oxford and London.
The Great Hall in the Harry Potter movies is a real-life location (Image: Internet).
Moreover, there are plenty of theme parks where you can enjoy pumpkin juice, pick your favorite wand, and snap a few photos next to a wanted poster of Sirius Black. Below are 10 must-visit destinations for die-hard fans of the legendary Harry Potter saga.
1. King’s Cross Station in London, England
This is where young witches and wizards board the train to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (Image: Internet).
If you ever visit the capital of the land of mist, take some time to stop by King's Cross Station and snap a picture of yourself stepping into Platform 9 3/4. It's a famous spot, so you might encounter crowds, but it's worth capturing a memorable moment.
Platform 9 3/4 inside King's Cross Station (Image: Internet).
When visiting here, Harry Potter fans often don attire reminiscent of Hogwarts and grasp the cart partially protruding from the wall, pretending to traverse through it as if truly walking through a wall. You can find many such images online, such as the video below:
In addition, this location also boasts a specialty store selling items related to the magical world of Harry Potter, truly a dreamland for fans of the series!
Souvenir shop at Platform 9 3/4 (Photo: Internet).
2. The Elephant House Café in Edinburgh, Scotland
The frontage of The Elephant House café, renowned as the birthplace of the Harry Potter series (Photo: Internet).
Edinburgh serves as the backdrop for most events in J. K. Rowling's series, being the convergence point of many Harry Potter-related locations. One such place is The Elephant House café.
A photograph bearing J. K. Rowling's signature adorns the walls of The Elephant House café (Photo: Internet).
Established in 1995, this café gained fame as it became a haven for many writers seeking inspiration. According to the café's website, J.K. Rowling penned many passages in the early Harry Potter volumes while seated in the rear room of The Elephant House, overlooking Edinburgh Castle.
3. The Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh, Scotland
If the cafe Nhà Voi marks the beginning of the story, then Balmoral Hotel is where it all concludes (Image: Internet).
The majestic hotel resembling a castle in Edinburgh is where J.K. Rowling completed the final installment of the series – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – in 2007. Being a hotel, you can even rent the exact room Rowling stayed in: room number 652. Inside this room, you can still find the notes she left on a plaster statue.
This room has become a legend in 21st-century popular culture (Image: Internet).
The statue holds the signature of the literary genius inside room number 652 (Image: Internet).
Exploring the enchanting scenery inside Greyfriars Kirkyard cemetery (Image: Internet).
What surprises travelers the most is the presence of a grave belonging to a man named Thomas Riddell, who inspired the name of the ultimate antagonist in Harry Potter. This real man passed away in 1806 at the age of 72, and today many fans of the series consider it Voldemort's grave, leaving behind small notes and gifts as offerings.
The real man's grave is named Thomas Riddle (Image: Internet).
Adjacent, you can also find another grave named William McGonagall, the very inspiration behind the character Professor McGonagall.
Scenes of broomstick riding lessons were filmed at Alnwick Castle (Photo: Internet).
A location within the castle grounds known as the 'Lion Archway' was used as the entrance to Hogwarts and leads to Hagrid's 'house'.
The Lion Archway serves as the connection point between the castle and the outer garden (Photo: Internet).
6. The Jacobite steam train in Scotland
This scenery might just remind you of the legendary train journey of the wizarding world! (Image: Internet)
The Jacobite train has appeared in numerous scenes of Harry Potter, most notably remembered as the train gliding over the bridge of Hogwarts School. In real life, the Jacobite train runs on a route from Fort William to Mallaig, covering a distance of 135km with ticket prices around 30 British pounds.
The real-life scenery along the train route is also breathtakingly beautiful. (Image: Internet)
However, besides buying tickets to board the train, you can opt for a more relaxed approach to enjoy the stunning scenery by walking to an observation point to catch a glimpse of the train passing over the bridge. This spot offers spectacular views, perfect for capturing some memorable snapshots.
Exploring the Enchanted Black Park in England
A mesmerizing forest path in Black Park (Photo: Internet).
Black Park serves as the backdrop for the Forbidden Forest and Hagrid's hut. In fact, the first scene of the Forbidden Forest in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was filmed here, although some later scenes used constructed sets instead of natural surroundings.
A scene filmed within the Forbidden Forest (Photo: Internet).
Harry Potter fans will be thrilled to know that Black Park is actually a renowned outdoor filming location. Besides the wizarding world, numerous other films have been shot here including Robin Hood, Goldfinger, Batman, Sleepy Hollow, Bugsy Malone, and Captain America: The First Avenger.
A scene from Captain America was filmed at Black Park (Image: Internet).
8. The Catholic Church in Oxford, England
Exterior view of the Catholic Church in Oxford (Image: Internet).
Oxford, renowned for its ancient universities, holds a special place in the hearts of Harry Potter enthusiasts. The most enticing spot, perhaps, is the Catholic Church. If you find yourself here, take a moment to explore the staircase where Professor McGonagall first encountered the trio of Harry, Ron, and Hermione in the inaugural film installment.
The staircase served as a backdrop in the film (Image: Internet).
Another significant highlight of the Catholic Church is the Great Hall. While not featured in the movies, this is where J.K. Rowling found inspiration to create Hogwarts' Great Hall in her novels.
It's almost as grand as the Great Hall in the movies, wouldn't you agree? (Image: Internet).
The chambers of the Abbey were once transformed into classrooms of Hogwarts, including Professor Snape's Potions class and Professor Quirrell's Defense Against the Dark Arts class. The Lacock Abbey also features a spot known as the Chapter House, where Harry discovers the Mirror of Erised.
Scenes were filmed at the Chapter House (Photo: Internet).
Additionally, visitors can reminisce about the past at other locations surrounding Lacock Abbey used as settings in the film, such as Lily and James Potter's home, Slughorn's residence, or the village of Budleigh Babberton.
10. London Zoo in England
London Zoo is one of the earliest settings introduced in the story (Photo: Internet).
This is where Harry has his first conversation with a snake in The Philosopher's Stone, a pivotal scene that sets the course for the entire narrative becoming a landmark in contemporary literature.
The scene where Harry discovers his extraordinary ability was filmed at the snake enclosure (Photo: Internet).
Walking through London Zoo, you can visit the Burmese Python enclosure, famously featured in the movie, located within the reptile house. Inside this python enclosure, there's even a plaque providing information about the iconic film shot here.
Did you know how to speak snake language?
An unnoticed fact: although this place is used as a backdrop in movies, in the original Harry Potter novel, Harry himself never visited the London Zoo!
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Posted by: John Doe
Keywords: 10 must-visit Harry Potter landmarks not to miss while traveling in the United Kingdom!
