The Best Harry Potter Film Locations for Tourists
Harry Potter enthusiasts from across the globe will relish the chance to follow in the footsteps of the famous wizard. Even muggles can get a glimpse inside the secret world of Hogwarts and beyond by paying a visit to some of the distinctive destinations where the fantasy novels of JK Rowling were turned into the most successful movie franchise of all time.
While Daniel Radcliffe may have grown up from his role as the spellbinding schoolboy, fans and movie lovers will not forget the screen magic he and his co-stars served up. For a true taste of movie magic, here are four of the best locations around the UK used in the making of the Harry Potter films:
Durham Cathedral, Durham
While you won’t exactly stumble across Hogwarts School itself, you can set foot in a number of the places which were used to create it, with the awe-inspiring Durham Cathedral being one of the most dramatic. The cathedral’s cloisters became the school’s recognisable quadrangle while you may also recognise the chapter house as Professor McGonagall’s classroom.
Leadenhall Market, London
London is awash with famous sights and film locations and provided a rich variety of sets for the Harry Potter films, so many in fact that tourists can enjoy full-on Harry Potter experience days touring around some of the film’s most famous spots. Irrespective of its film connections, the fantastically preserved Victorian Leadenhall Market is worth a visit in its own right, but a shopping trip will be made even more special for eagle-eyed Potter fans who may spot the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron pub – a rather more sedate opticians most of the time.
King’s Cross Station, London
No hunt for Hogwarts would be complete without seeking out the famous Platform 9 3/4, the spot where would-be wizards board the train for Hogwarts. The brick wall which they must pass through is actually the arch in between platforms 4 and 5, which were renamed for filming. As a lasting tribute to the film, a Platform 9 3/4 sign has been installed elsewhere in the station, complete with a trolley embedded halfway in the wall for the perfect photo moment. King’s Cross also has the honour of having a chapter of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows named after it. The station wasn’t deemed attractive enough for the external station shots in the films however, it was St Pancras not far away which had that honour.
Alnwick Castle, Northumberland
If you’ve ever fancied trying your hand at Quidditch then why not head to the spot where Harry learned his skills? The striking Alnwick Castle is in one of the most beautiful areas of northern England and has played host to a variety of film crews, including during the making of Star Trek: The Next Generation and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. Harry Potter was added to that list when the grounds outside the castle were used as the spot where the young magicians learned to ride their broomsticks and play the wizard’s sport of Quidditch.
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