Magical Harry Potter Film Locations in the UK You Can Visit
The best Harry Potter film locations UK are some of the most magical places you can visit, from historic cathedrals to dramatic coastal landscapes. The enchanting world of Harry Potter, with its wizards, witches and breathtaking settings, continues to captivate fans of all ages. What many people don’t realise is that you can visit many of these magical locations in real life. During our travels around the UK, we visited several iconic filming locations and I’m excited to share them with you.
Whether you’re a die-hard Potterhead or simply love historic architecture and stunning landscapes, these spots offer a magical glimpse into the wizarding world.
Harry Potter Film Locations in the UK (Quick List)
If you’re short on time, here are some of the most magical Harry Potter filming locations in the UK:
Gloucester Cathedral – Hogwarts corridors
Lacock Abbey – Hogwarts classrooms
Christ Church College – Great Hall inspiration
Alnwick Castle – Flying lessons
Goathland Station – Hogsmeade Station
Freshwater West – Shell Cottage & Dobby’s grave
Glenfinnan Viaduct – Hogwarts Express
Loch Eilt – Dumbledore’s tomb
- Kings Cross – Platform 9¾
- Leadenhall Market – Leaky Cauldron
South-West England Harry Potter Film Locations
South-West England is home to some of the most memorable Hogwarts scenes. These locations are historic and just a short drive or train ride from London.
Lacock Village and Abbey – Multiple Hogwarts Scenes
Lacock Village in Wiltshire looks as though it has been frozen in time, with its cobbled streets and historic cottages. Plus, Lacock Abbey, on the edge of the village, was used extensively for Hogwarts interiors:
1. James and Lily Potter’s House – A flashback shows where Harry’s parents lived (private residence). You’ll find this pretty cottage next door to the village church.
2. Horace Slughorn’s Hideaway – The secluded cottage from Half-Blood Prince.
3. Chapter House (Mirror of Erised) – Harry discovers the enchanted mirror here.
4. Lacock Abbey Cloisters – Hogwarts corridors for various films.
5. Sacristy (Professor Snape’s Potions Classroom) – Where Harry learns about the Draught of Living Death.
6. Warming Room (Professor Quirrell’s Defense Against the Dark Arts Classroom) – Historic room used in The Philosopher’s Stone.
7. Sign of the Angel Pub (Babberton Arms) – Used in Half-Blood Prince as a quaint village pub.
Visitor info: Lacock Abbey entry is £14/Winter for adults or £21/Spring-Autumn; £7.00/Winter for Children or £10.50/Spring-Autumn, or free with a National Trust membership.
Gloucester Cathedral – Hogwarts’ Corridors
Gloucester Cathedral, a medieval masterpiece dating back to 678 AD, provided the perfect backdrop for Hogwarts’ corridors. Its soaring vaulted ceilings, intricate stonework, and cloisters were featured in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and Chamber of Secrets.
Walking through the cloisters, it’s easy to imagine students hurrying between classes or encountering magical surprises.
Check out where Harry Potter was filmed in the Cloister using the info hub or a Magic, Monks and Mystery Guide.
Visitor info: Entry to Gloucester Cathedral is free with a suggested £5 donation. Visit early to avoid crowds.
Oxford
Oxford, with its “City of Dreaming Spires,” offers stunning historic architecture and several Harry Potter filming locations.
Christ Church College – Bodley Staircase and Dining Hall
Christ Church College inspired Hogwarts’ Great Hall, with its grand dining hall, long wooden tables, and stained glass windows. The Bodley Staircase, which visitors climb on the way to the dining hall, was featured in The Philosopher’s Stone when Professor McGonagall leads first-year students to be sorted.
Visitor info: Guided tours from £20 for 40 minutes, or an audio tour from £22.50. Book in advance.
North-East England Harry Potter Filming Locations
Alnwick Castle – Flying Lessons
Alnwick Castle in Northumberland is famous as the location for Harry’s first flying lesson in The Philosopher’s Stone. It’s also where he learns to play Quidditch. The castle is steeped in history and offers beautiful gardens to explore.
Visitor info: Alnwick Castle open between April – October. Entry fees £22/Adults (online), £11.60/Child, Under 4’s FREE. Online tickets are automatic annual passes, valid for 12 months from your first visit, with unlimited re-visits during opening hours. Tickets bought at the Castle can be upgraded on the day at no extra cost.
Goathland Station – Hogsmeade Station
This charming station at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway was used as Hogsmeade Station in the first Harry Potter film.
When the Hogwarts Express arrives, students step off the train here before heading to Hogwarts.
The station has a wonderfully old-fashioned feel and there is a small café where visitors can stop for tea.
South-West Wales Filming Location
Freshwater West, Wales – Shell Cottage and Dobby’s Memorial
Freshwater West beach in Pembrokeshire was used as the location for Shell Cottage in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
This is where Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour live and where Harry, Ron and Hermione regroup during the final part of their journey.
The beach is also where fans say goodbye to one of the series’ most beloved characters, Dobby the house-elf.
Although the film set for Shell Cottage was temporary and later removed, visitors have created a touching memorial nearby.
In the dunes you’ll find a pile of stones marking the spot where Dobby was buried in the film. Fans frequently add their own stones, shells, or painted pebbles, and we did the same when we visited the beach.
Freshwater West is a stunning beach even without the Harry Potter connection, with dramatic waves and stunning views along the Pembrokeshire coast.
Harry Potter Filming Locations in Scotland
Scotland provided some of the most breathtaking scenery used in the films.
The Jacobite Steam Train – The Hogwarts Express
The Jacobite Steam Train travels between Fort William and Mallaig through the Scottish Highlands.
This scenic journey crosses the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct, which appears multiple times in the Harry Potter films.
Watching the train cross the viaduct in real life feels incredibly magical (even though it wasn’t the Jacobite Steam Train when we visited in February). The Jacobite Steam Train (Hogwarts Express) runs between April and October.
Loch Shiel – The Black Lake
Loch Shiel is one of the most recognisable Harry Potter film locations in Scotland. This dramatic Highland loch was used as the setting for Hogwarts’ Black Lake, which appears in several scenes throughout the series. Its wild, misty landscape makes it easy to see why it was chosen to represent the grounds around Hogwarts.
Fans may recognise Loch Shiel from scenes including Buckbeak’s flight in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and the arrival of the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
Visitor info: Loch Shiel can be admired from several viewpoints in the Glenfinnan area, making it easy to combine with a visit to the Glenfinnan Viaduct and the Jacobite Steam Train.
Parking: National Trust for Scotland car park (PH37 4LT) has limited spaces and fills up quickly in peak months.
If you’re planning a Scottish adventure, don’t miss my guide to the best things to do in Glencoe and Glenfinnan with kids, including the Glenfinnan Viaduct and other magical Highland stops.
Loch Eilt – Dumbledore’s Tomb
Loch Eilt appears in the films as the location of Dumbledore’s final resting place. The small island in the loch served as the setting for the white tomb seen in Half-Blood Prince.
Victoria Street – Inspiration for Diagon Alley
The colourful buildings along Victoria Street are widely believed to have inspired Diagon Alley.
The street is now home to several Harry Potter themed shops and is one of Edinburgh’s most photographed locations.
Greyfriars Kirkyard – Tom Riddle’s Grave
While not a filming location, Greyfriars Kirkyard is famous among Harry Potter fans because several names in the graveyard appear to have inspired characters in the books.
Visitors can even find a gravestone with the name Tom Riddle.
Visiting these Harry Potter film locations around the UK is a brilliant way to combine travel with a bit of movie magic.
Harry Potter Filming Locations in London
London is packed with Harry Potter filming locations, and many are easy to visit in a single day.
King’s Cross Station – Platform 9¾
One of the most famous Harry Potter locations, this is where students board the Hogwarts Express. Platforms 4 and 5 were renumbered 9 and 10 for filming and the Platform 9¾ photo spot is located in the station concourse. It’s free to visit, plus there is a Harry Potter gift shop there too.
Leadenhall Market – The Leaky Cauldron
This beautiful covered market was used as the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron in The Philosopher’s Stone. The distinctive architecture makes it a great place for photos.
Millennium Bridge – Death Eater Attack
The Millennium Bridge features dramatically in Half-Blood Prince when it is destroyed by Death Eaters. Walking across it gives you fantastic views of the River Thames.
Claremont Square – Grimmauld Place
This quiet residential square was used as the exterior of 12 Grimmauld Place, home of Sirius Black. It’s not signposted, so it feels like a hidden gem.
Australia House – Gringotts Bank
The interior of Australia House was used as Gringotts Wizarding Bank in the first film. While you can’t go inside, it’s still worth seeing from the outside.
Nearest Tube: Temple
The Reptile House at London Zoo – Harry Talks to a Snake
One of Harry Potter’s earliest magical moments was filmed at the Reptile House in London Zoo, where Harry speaks Parseltongue for the first time in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
This is the scene where the glass vanishes and Dudley ends up in with the snake. It is a fun stop for fans, especially if you are visiting London with children, and it adds another recognisable Harry Potter film location in the UK to your list.
Visitor info: London Zoo is in Regent’s Park and standard entry tickets apply.
The Warner Bros. Studio Tour, London
While visiting the filming locations is magical, the best place to see original props, sets and costumes from the films is the incredible Warner Bros. Studio Tour London: The Making of Harry Potter.
Here you can walk through the Great Hall, explore Diagon Alley, see the Hogwarts Express and step inside the Forbidden Forest.
If you’re planning a visit, you can read my full review here: Harry Potter Studio Tour London Review, with tips and what to expect on the day.
We can’t recommend highly enough, going at Christmas time if you can, Hogwarts in the Snow is definitely worth the trip. We’ve visited twice during the festive season and was a brilliant family treat both times.
Final Thoughts on Harry Potter Film Locations UK
From ancient cathedrals to dramatic Highland landscapes, the UK is full of magical places that helped bring the Harry Potter films to life.
Whether you’re visiting Hogwarts corridors at Gloucester Cathedral, exploring the historic streets of Lacock, or watching the steam train cross Glenfinnan Viaduct, these locations make it easy to step into the wizarding world.
For Harry Potter fans, visiting these real-life filming locations is about as close as you can get to receiving your Hogwarts letter.
If you’re planning a family trip to London, you may also enjoy our guide to the best things to do around London Paddington Station with kids.
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Disclaimer: Whilst we endeavour to provide accurate information, please always check the details with the venue before you leave in case there are any changes or closures.
