You may not have received your letter from Hogwarts but that doesn’t mean you can’t experience a bit of the Harry Potter magic for yourself. Whether you grew up with the story or are just experiencing it for the first time, these incredible destinations in Europe must be on your to-see list.
Glennfinan Viaduct, Scotland
If you’ve seen the Harry Potter movies, in particular, the second one, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, you are sure to recognize this viaduct right away. Nestled in a gorgeous Scottish valley, this train trestle is so magical that it’s no surprise that it was featured in the movies. And, while you can’t ride the Hogwarts Express, you are able to ride a Jacobite Steam train along this route, or you can stop to take pictures of the train as it passes. Tip: Make sure to check the train schedule in advance if you want to see it pass!
London, England
London is home to some of the most famous locations in the Harry Potter books and movies. Starting with King’s Cross station, which is where most of the stories start. You will find a Platform 9 ¾ sign as well as a trolley disappearing into the wall for a fun photo when the shop next to it is open. Another fun location is Leadenhall Market. It was one of the inspirations for Diagon Alley and was the location for the Leaky Cauldron in the first movie. Piccadilly Circus is famous in its own right, but is also the place Harry, Ron, and Hermione apparate after they’ve escaped the Death Eaters at the start of the seventh movie. The London Zoo is also home to the Reptile House, featured in a famous scene in the first movie. But don’t worry, no disappearing glass this time! London is also a great place to catch a showing of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, the play that continues to follow the adventures of the world’s most famous wizard. Be prepared to spend some time as it’s shown in two parts.
Warner Bros Harry Potter Studio Tour, Leavesden, England
About an hour North of London, you’ll be able to visit the place where the magic actually happened: the studios where they filmed most of the movies. There is nothing more magical than walking through Diagon Alley, the Great Hall, the Gryffindor dormitories, etc. and to see the props and costumes used in the movies yourself. Tip: Make sure to pace yourself, the studios are huge with lots to see, so take time to enjoy a butterbeer midway through.
Alnwick Castle, Northumberland, England
In the North of England lives one of the castles used to stand in for Hogwarts in the Harry Potter movies. While you’ll need to use your imagination, you’ll recognize the outside of the castle as the place where Harry learned to ride a broomstick for the first time and where Harry and Ron crashed the flying car at the beginning of Chamber of Secrets. Tip: When you first arrive, register for broom flying lessons, they are available first-come, first served and fill up quickly.
York, North Yorkshire, England
If visiting the walkable city of York, look for the Shambles, a medieval street once filled with butcher’s shops that is said to be the inspiration for Diagon Alley. While it’s days as a meat market are long over, it’s easy to see why it would inspire J.K. Rowling with leaning houses that nearly touch and ancient cobblestone pavers, it looks like it was taken right off the page.
Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, England
The impressive dining room of this Oxford college was used as inspiration for the Great Hall. And the staircase leading to the dining room was used as a filming location in some of the movies. If you want to imagine what life would really have been like at Hogwarts, Oxford University comes pretty close.
These are just a few of the many incredible locations you can visit which either inspired locations in the book or where scenes from the movies were filmed. Hopefully, you can find a bit of magic.
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