Harry Potter Filming Locations You Can Visit in Real Life

(Image credit: Everett/Getty)

published 26 December 2019

Sadly for all of us Harry Potter fans, Hogwarts only exists on the page/screen (and in our minds!). But the sets and locations that brought the movies to life do very much exist. The movies were one big love letter to the U.K., and many of these locations are available to at least walk around. You might even be able to find a Potter-themed tour, while you're at it. Here are the filming locations to visit that'll satisfy all your cravings for movies, muggles, and magic. Accio!

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Picket Post Close, Bracknell

Also known as the "Harry Potter house," this actual residence was used as the set for No. 4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging, in the first two films. It was auctioned off in 2003; It's probably still a private residence, so we wouldn't recommend asking to go inside, but you can certainly walk around.

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London Zoo's Reptile House, London

Harry frees a python and realizes he can talk to snakes in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Both inside and outside the real-life Reptile House were used for this scene.

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Big Ben, London

It's just for a moment, but Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament are two landmarks in the background when Harry first travels to London with Hagrid.

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Leadenhall Market, London

This famous covered market in London is where Hagrid takes Harry to the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron Pub (42 Bull's Head Passage, in real life).

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King's Cross Station, London

Hagrid takes Harry to King's Cross so he can board a train to his new wizarding home.

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King's Cross Station, London

At the time of shooting, platforms 4 and 5 were apparently temporarily re-numbered 9 and 10. There actually is still a Platform 9 3/4 sign to this day (although you can't board the Hogwarts Express, sadly) with a cute disappearing trolley.

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King's Cross Station, London

King's Cross was also used in other Harry Potter films, all the way through Deathly Hallows.

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Glenfinnan Viaduct, Glenfinnan

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Goathland Train Station, Goathland

And this station served as the location of Hogsmeade Station, where the students get off for Hogwarts.

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Alnwick Castle, Northumberland

In the first and second Harry Potter films, Alnwick Castle acted as the set for Hogwarts; A number of other productions have also filmed there, including Downton Abbey and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.

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Alnwick Castle, Northumberland

The location is stunning and expansive. It also (if you happen to be a fan of the Royal Family as well) was the location for Prince William's BFF Thomas van Straubenzee's wedding to Lady Melissa Percy.

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Gloucester Cathedral, Gloucester

The cathedral doubled as the inside of Hogwarts on multiple movies, including The Sorcerer's Stone, The Chamber of Secrets, and The Half Blood Prince.

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Gloucester Cathedral, Gloucester

Including when Harry and Ron spot an enormous troll down a long hallway.

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Gloucester Cathedral, Gloucester

And here's a shot of the late Alan Rickman (a treasure, gone too soon) shooting The Half-Blood Prince.

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Harrow School, Harrow

Professor Flitwick teaches Harry how to use a wand in the Harrow School's Fourth Form Room (the classroom dates all the way back to 1615). The Crown has also apparently shot at Harrow School. There are public tours, but check to see when.

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Duke Humfrey's Library, Oxford

The scenes in the Hogwarts Library—where Hermione reads, where Harry steals a restricted book—was one of a few locations filmed at Oxford.

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Divinity School, Oxford

In The Half-Blood Prince, Ron recovers in the infirmary after being poisoned—which was actually shot inside the Divinity School.

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New College Cloister, Oxford

In The Goblet of Fire, Mad-Eye Moody transforms Draco Malfoy into a ferret, right in this courtyard.

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Christ Church Dining Hall, Oxford

And, even though filming actually didn't take place in this iconic dining hall, it was the inspiration for the Great Hall at Hogwarts.

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Lacock Abbey, Wiltshire

The abbey served as another set for Hogwarts. Harry is chosen for the Quidditch team and attends Snape's classes here. Yes, you can take tours of the abbey.

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Durham Cathedral, Durham

And Durham Cathedral also contributed exterior and interior locations for various scenes in the early films...

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Durham Cathedral, Durham

...including one where Harry walked with Hedwig through a snowy, secluded courtyard.

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Glencoe, Highlands

This Scottish village was used for many an outdoor shot—the bridge to Hogwarts and Hagrid's hut, to name a couple. It's as close as we'll probably get to an actual Hogwarts campus.

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Virginia Water, Windsor

Meanwhile, this was the set of Hogwart's Lake when Harry rode on a hippogriff, as well as scenes between Harry, Ron, and Hermione in The Goblet of Fire.

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Loch Shiel, Highlands

Several Scotland lakes (lochs) were used in The Prisoner of Azkaban (where Harry finally summons his Patronus). Loch Eilt and Loch Morar were also used.

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Warner Bros. Studio, Leavesden

When the cast and crew weren't headed off to a historical location, they shot primarily at the studio in Leavesden. Here, for Goblet of Fire, tents were set up for the Quidditch World Cup (they likely don't exist anymore, but there's plenty more at the studio).

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Warner Bros. Studio, Leavesden

The studio now has a very detailed Harry Potter tour, with sets, costumes, and all sorts of props from the various films.

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Warner Bros. Studio, Leavesden

Oh yeah, and Kate Middleton, Prince William, and Prince Harry all visited for the opening of the attraction in 2013. Here's the set used to depict Diagon Alley.

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Warner Bros. Studio, Leavesden

Here, Prince Harry visits the set of The Burrow (the Weasley house).

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Warner Bros. Studio, Leavesden

And the trio visit the Great Hall of Hogwarts (so impressive)!

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Warner Bros. Studio, Leavesden

Also included in the tour, models of important buildings like Hogwarts...

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Warner Bros. Studio, Leavesden

...and some of the (creepy) makeup effects and prosthetics.

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Warner Bros. Studio, Leavesden

It's a Potterhead's dream, basically.

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Borough Market, London

This bustling area served as the updated locale of the Leaky Cauldron (IRL: The Market Porter Pub) in The Prizoner of Azkaban.

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London Eye, London

During The Order of the Phoenix, the Order flies over London on broomsticks; the London Eye's just one of the landmarks you can spot in the background.

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Buckingham Palace, London

And you can spot Buckingham Palace in the background, as well as Big Ben and the Tower Bridge.

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Millennium Bridge, London

In one of the most horrifying scenes of the series, the Millennium Bridge is attacked by Death Eaters in The Half-Blood Prince and collapses into the Thames River.

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Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire

Hardwick Hall was used for interior and exterior shots of Deathly Hallows—Part 1 for Malfoy Manor, the Death Eaters'/Voldemort's home base.

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Piccadilly Circus, London

This bustling square was the site of a particularly key scene in Deathly Hallows—Part 1...

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Piccadilly Circus, London

...where Death Eaters attack Harry, Hermione, and Ron in a diner in London.

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Swinley Forest, Windsor

Windsor's Great Park served as the location of Harry, Hermione, and Ron's refuge when they're on the run from Death Eaters and Voldemort.

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De Vere House, Lavenham

This picturesque house was used in Deathly Hallows—Part 2 for Harry's family home in Godric's Hollow—where Harry's parents died and where the trio is attacked by Nagini. It's unclear if you can go inside, but the village is gorgeous.

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Freshwater West, Pembrokeshire

This was the location of Shell Cottage, the house of Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour (sadly it's now been dismantled). The cast and crew, seen here, filmed at the nearby beach. In this scene, the characters have just jumped off a dragon after escaping Gringotts in Deathly Hallows—Part 2.

So you can literally walk in Harry Potter's/Daniel Radcliffe's footsteps, if you so choose.

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Katherine’s a Boston-based contributor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestyle—from “Clueless” to Everlane to news about Lizzo. She’s been a freelancer for 11 years and has had roles with Cosmopolitan and Bustle, with bylines in Parents, Seventeen, and elsewhere. It’s “I go to dinner,” not “Her huge ego,” but she responds to both.