The magical world of Harry Potter, though largely fictional, is brought to life through the use of stunning real-world locations across Britain and Ireland. From bustling London streets to the serene Scottish Highlands, these places served as the backdrop for some of cinema’s most enchanting moments. While some iconic sets like Diagon Alley were created within the walls of Leavesden Film Studios, many breathtaking scenes were filmed in locations you can actually visit. For fans eager to step into the wizarding world, let’s explore where Harry Potter was filmed, revealing the real-life magic behind the movies.
London: Stepping into the Muggle and Magical World
London, a city steeped in history and brimming with iconic landmarks, plays a significant role in the Harry Potter film series, representing both the Muggle and magical worlds.
One of Harry’s first encounters with his magical abilities occurs at the London Zoo’s Reptile House. It’s here, in this very real reptile exhibit, that young Harry speaks Parseltongue for the first time in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Visiting the London Zoo allows fans to stand in the same spot where Harry realized he was different.
Image alt text: A view of the Reptile House at London Zoo, showcasing the enclosure where the scene of Harry Potter talking to the snake was filmed.
To experience the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron, head to Leadenhall Market, a Victorian-era covered market in the City of London. 42 Bull’s Head Passage in this market was used as the exterior of the pub in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Although the Leaky Cauldron is described in the books as being on Charing Cross Road, this picturesque market provided a more visually appealing location for the film.
Image alt text: The ornate entrance to Leadenhall Market in London, highlighting the Bull’s Head Passage which served as the filming location for the Leaky Cauldron entrance.
The journey to Hogwarts begins at King’s Cross Station. While the exterior shots for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets actually feature the grand facade of St. Pancras International Station next door, it is within King’s Cross that you can find the famous Platform 9 ¾. A pedestrian sky bridge within the station was where Hagrid hands Harry his Hogwarts Express ticket. Today, Platform 9 ¾ is a popular photo spot, complete with a luggage trolley seemingly disappearing into the wall and a dedicated Harry Potter shop.
Image alt text: A photograph of the Platform 9 3/4 installation at King’s Cross Station in London, featuring the luggage trolley disappearing into the wall and fans posing for pictures.
In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the Leaky Cauldron’s exterior shifts to Borough Market. Specifically, Stoney Street at the edge of the market, near The Market Porter pub, was used for its more rugged, less polished look. En route to this location in the film, the chaotic Knight Bus is famously squeezed between red double-decker buses on Lambeth Bridge, offering a thrilling London chase scene with the Houses of Parliament and Tate Britain in the background.
Image alt text: A red double-decker bus crossing Lambeth Bridge in London, capturing the iconic bridge and the surrounding cityscape, reminiscent of the Knight Bus scene in Harry Potter.
Further scenes showcasing London’s landmarks include Westminster Underground Station, where Mr. Weasley struggles with Oyster card readers in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. City Hall and the Millennium Bridge feature in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, with the latter dramatically collapsing in a Death Eater attack. Piccadilly Circus makes a brief appearance in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 during a frantic escape scene. The stately buildings of Whitehall stand in for the exterior of the Ministry of Magic, although the iconic red phone box entrance was a prop added for filming in Scotland Place.
For those wanting a comprehensive exploration of London’s Harry Potter locations, consider joining a guided walking tour. Companies like London Walks offer specialized Harry Potter-themed tours, providing insights and behind-the-scenes information.
Near Bath: Exploring Hogwarts’ Cloisters
Venturing outside of London, the area near Bath offers a glimpse into the more mysterious and historical parts of Hogwarts.
Gloucester Cathedral, located about 50 miles north of Bath, with its magnificent fan-vaulted cloisters, served as various corridors within Hogwarts throughout the film series. Its gothic architecture and serene atmosphere perfectly embody the ancient and magical feel of the school.
Image alt text: A view of the stunning fan-vaulted cloisters at Gloucester Cathedral, highlighting the architectural details that made it a recognizable Hogwarts filming location.
Lacock Abbey, approximately 13 miles east of Bath, is another key location. This 13th-century abbey was used for multiple Hogwarts settings in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. The abbey’s historic halls are where Harry is selected for the Gryffindor Quidditch team, and one of its rooms, with peeling plaster walls, became Professor Snape’s Potions classroom. Mad Max Tours provides visits that include Lacock Abbey for fans wanting an organized experience.
Image alt text: The picturesque courtyard of Lacock Abbey, showcasing the historic architecture and tranquil setting used for filming various Hogwarts scenes, including Snape’s Potions class.
Near Brighton: The Dramatic Coastline
Heading south towards Brighton, the dramatic Seven Sisters chalk cliffs make a striking appearance at the beginning of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. These iconic white cliffs by the sea are where Harry and his friends arrive via portkey for the Quidditch World Cup, providing a breathtaking and memorable entrance to the event.
Image alt text: A panoramic view of the Seven Sisters chalk cliffs in Sussex, England, emphasizing the dramatic white cliffs and coastline that served as the Quidditch World Cup arrival location.
Oxford: University Settings for Hogwarts
The prestigious University of Oxford provided several locations to represent the grandeur and academic atmosphere of Hogwarts.
Christ Church College is perhaps the most recognizable Oxford location. The stone staircase leading to Christ Church’s Great Hall is featured in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone as the staircase Hogwarts students ascend upon arrival. While the actual Hogwarts Great Hall in the films is a studio set inspired by Christ Church’s dining hall, visiting Christ Church gives a tangible sense of the Hogwarts atmosphere.
Image alt text: The grand stone staircase inside Christ Church College, Oxford, famous for its appearance in Harry Potter films as the Hogwarts arrival staircase.
The Bodleian Library complex offered several locations. Duke Humfrey’s Library within the Bodleian served as the Hogwarts Library in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, where Harry uses his invisibility cloak. The Divinity School, also part of the Bodleian, with its impressive windows, became the Hogwarts infirmary, where Harry awakens after various adventures. New College cloister is another Oxford location, featured in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire as the spot where Mad-Eye Moody famously turns Draco Malfoy into a ferret.
Image alt text: The interior of Duke Humfrey’s Library in Oxford, showcasing the rows of books and historic architecture used to represent the Hogwarts Library in the Harry Potter films.
Durham and Northeast England: Castles and Cathedrals
Moving further north, Durham and Northeast England offer more dramatic castle and cathedral settings for Hogwarts.
Durham Cathedral, a magnificent Norman cathedral, was used extensively throughout the Harry Potter series for various Hogwarts scenes. Its cloister, in particular, is seen in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone as a snowy Hogwarts courtyard where Harry walks with Hedwig.
Image alt text: A snowy scene of the cloisters at Durham Cathedral, emphasizing the gothic architecture and serene winter atmosphere as seen in Harry Potter films.
Alnwick Castle, located about 30 miles from Newcastle, served as the exterior of Hogwarts in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. The castle’s outer bailey is where Harry has his first flying lesson. Today, Alnwick Castle embraces its Harry Potter connection, offering broomstick-riding lessons to visitors.
Image alt text: A wide exterior shot of Alnwick Castle, highlighting its impressive stone walls and towers, used as the iconic exterior of Hogwarts in the early Harry Potter films.
Scottish Highlands: The Majestic Hogwarts Landscape
The rugged and breathtaking Scottish Highlands provided the sweeping landscapes and dramatic backdrops that define the exterior world of Hogwarts and its surroundings. The area around Fort William and Glencoe is particularly prominent.
The Jacobite Steam Train, operating on the line between Fort William and Mallaig, is the real-life Hogwarts Express. The train journey includes crossing the iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct, a stunning arched viaduct seen in multiple films, most notably in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire when Dementors attack the train.
Image alt text: The Glenfinnan Viaduct in Scotland with the Jacobite Steam Train crossing, showcasing the iconic viaduct and steam train as featured in the Hogwarts Express scenes.
Nearby lochs, including Loch Shiel, Loch Eilt, and Loch Morar, stood in for the Great Lake surrounding Hogwarts in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Steall Falls, located at the base of Ben Nevis, is the dramatic location for the Triwizard Tournament in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
Image alt text: A scenic view of Loch Shiel in the Scottish Highlands, capturing the tranquil waters and mountainous landscape used as the Great Lake in the Harry Potter films.
The desolate beauty of Glencoe provided the setting for Hagrid’s hut and the general outdoor scenery in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. The village of Glenfinnan and the wider Glencoe area were also used for exterior shots in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
Ireland: The Edge of the Wizarding World
While primarily filmed in Britain, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince features a location in Ireland: the majestic Cliffs of Moher. Seen from the water, these dramatic cliffs represent the exterior of the cave where Harry and Dumbledore search for a Horcrux, adding a sense of foreboding and isolation to the scene.
Image alt text: A dramatic coastal view of the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland, highlighting the towering cliffs and the ocean below, representing the Horcrux cave entrance in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
Leavesden Film Studios: The Heart of the Magic
No exploration of where Harry Potter was filmed would be complete without mentioning Leavesden Film Studios. While not a real-world location in the traditional sense, these studios, located just north of London, were the primary production base for all eight Harry Potter films. It is here that iconic sets like Diagon Alley, the Hogwarts Great Hall (the actual filming set), and many other interior scenes were constructed and filmed. Today, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter at Leavesden offers fans the chance to walk through these sets, see props and costumes, and experience the filmmaking magic firsthand.
Image alt text: The entrance to Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter, inviting visitors to explore the sets and behind-the-scenes magic of the Harry Potter films.
From bustling cityscapes to serene natural landscapes and studio-built wonders, the locations where Harry Potter was filmed are as diverse and captivating as the wizarding world itself. Visiting these sites offers fans a unique opportunity to connect with the magic of the films and discover the real-world beauty that brought the Harry Potter universe to life.
