Black Park In England
Black Park was used as a filming location for the Forbidden Forest and Hagrid’s hut. The first scenes of the Forbidden Forest in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone;take place in the;Black Park. However, certain scenes were on a built set rather than in the park.
The park is actually a popular outdoor filming location. It has been used for other films such as Robin Hood, Goldfinger, Batman, Sleepy Hollow, Bugsy Malone, Captain America: The First Avenger, and Monty Python’s;And Now for Something Completely Different.
Leadenhall Market As Diagon Alley
One of Londons most iconic places Leadenhall Market is a sight to behold with its ornate 19th-century painted roof and cobbled floors. This is the place where several exterior shots of Diagon Alley were filmed. Hogwarts students used to stop here to buy school supplies in the film. Touted as one of the oldest markets in London, this covered Victorian market attracts not only Harry Potter fans but thousands of tourists who marvel at the antiques and rustic charm this place flaunts.;
Movie:;Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
Fee:;Free
Scene:;Exterior for Diagon Alley and the Leaky Cauldron.
Leadenhall Market, in London, is where some of the exterior Diagon Alley scenes were filmed.
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Visiting The Hogwarts Hospital Wing
While in Oxford, you can also pop into the Hogwarts infirmary, which filmed on location at the Oxford Divinity School with its exquisite fan vaulting.
Scenes at the Infirmary for the first two films were shot on location .
It also makes a small cameo appearance in Goblet of Fire, in the scene where McGonagall has to teach the students how to dance leading up to the Yule Ball.
The infirmary was subsequently recreated at Leavesden Studios for its later appearances from the Prisoner of Azkaban onwards.
I got to sneak a peek at this while I was in Oxford and while it looks very different than in the film , it was still a gorgeous stop.
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Harry Potter Destinations You Can Visit In Real Life
J.K. Rowling probably couldnt have imagined how successful the Harry Potter series would be, and even though the series has ended, many people are still totally obsessed with Harry Potter. If youre a true Potterhead , you absolutely have to check out these Harry Potter destinations so you can tap into your inner wizard.
Tours Of Harry Potter Filming Locations
We have yet to find a tour which covers all the Harry Potter filming locations in the UK. However, there are plenty of tours which cover at least some of the above, which we think you will be interested in. Some suggestions we recommend are as follows.
- This walking tour of some of the key locations in London from the films
- A;fully guided tour of the WB Studio;which include return transport from London, entry, and a guided tour through the studios
- This tour that includes a visit to the Harry Potter Studio as well as time in Oxford
- A walking tour of the Harry Potter filming locations in Oxford
- A full day private tour of both Lacock Abbey and Gloucester Harry Potter locations
- A full day tour from Edinburgh to Alnwick Castle, as well as other stops in the Scottish Borders and northern England
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The Clock Tower Courtyard
This set really blew me away the first time I saw it in Prisoner of Azkaban, when Harry couldnt go on the Hogsmeade field trip because he didnt have his guardians permission or later when Hermione and Harry help Sirius escape.
This gorgeous courtyard, dotted with odes to the films time motif, also features a fountain with eagles and serpents like in the Mexican coat of arms, a nod to director Alfonso Cuaróns roots. This was all a set, but a gorgeous one!
Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone
Hogwarts in Philosopher’s Stone
In the Philosopher’s Stone film, only the parts of the castle that were needed for the film were created. This means that many areas of Hogwarts were missed. Areas of the castle included in the film were:
Hogwarts Castle in Chamber of Secrets
In the Chamber of Secrets film, there are a few small changes:
- The Training Grounds tower‘s design has been changed, it now looks similar to the Clock Tower, only without the clock.
- The Training Grounds have been redesigned to have a more ruined aged design.
- The Greenhouses are added to the east corner of the castle below the Bell towers.
- The Whomping Willow is added to the Training Grounds. It is possible that it was there in Philosopher’s Stone, but it was never shown.
- A new staircase to the ground similar to the Boathouse staircase is added to the left side of the Chamber of Reception. It is possible that it was there in Philosopher’s Stone, but it was never shown.
- A trench is added to the Quidditch stadium.
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Harry Potter Tours Brit Movie Tours
If;your looking for a guided Harry Potter tour, we run a number of tours which can be found here. ;We have a number of tours to suit everyone. ;If you are just in London for the day and fancy a walking tour then our Harry Potter London Walk tour is the one. ;If you want to see the Warner Bros Studio as well as locations around London and oxford we offer a couple of tours.;;All of our Harry Potter Tours are operated by us;and;are not official Harry Potter events and are not endorsed, sanctioned or in any other way supported, directly or indirectly by Warner Bros Entertainment Inc, the Harry Potter book publishers or J.K.Rowling.
Not sure whether to book with us? ;Read our reviews on Trip Advisor here before making your decision. We look forward to welcoming all muggles, wizards and witches on our;magical tours.
Option A: The Landscapes Surrounding Hogwarts
Many of the dramatic backdrops in the Harry Potter films were inspired, shot and made from composites of unique landscapes in the Scottish Highlands.
According to Harry Potter: Magical Places from the Films, Production Designer Stuart Craig was greatly inspired by Glencoe, and sent the team up there many times to get photography for background shots and inspiration.
While the end of product was more of a dramatic, idealized version of reality , they DID film on location for a few weeks in Glencoe for Prisoner of Azkaban,;the most extensive on location shoot they did in Scotland for the entire franchise.
So, if you want to visit the landscapes surrounding Hogwarts in real life, Glencoe is your place!
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Harry Potter Uk Filming Locations By Scene
In this guide Ive listed the Harry Potter locations by real world filming locations. However, if you would prefer them listed based on the scene of each film, heres a list to help you do just that. This includes entries from this guide, as well as our comprehensive guide to Harry Potter filming locations in London and in Scotland.
- Diagon Alley Leadenhall Market, London. Borough Market, London
- Platform Nine and Three Quarters Kings Cross Station, London
- Gringotts Bank Australia House, London
- Ministry of Magic Scotland Place, London
- Hogwarts Infirmary Divinity School, Oxford
- Hogwarts Library Duke Humfreyâs Library, Oxford
- Hogwarts Hallways New College & Christ Church College , Oxford. Gloucester Cathedral, Gloucester. Durham Cathedral, Durham. Lacock Abbey, Lacock.
- Hogwarts Exteriors Alnwick Castle, Northumberland
- Broomstick lessons at Hogwarts Alnwick Castle, Northumberland
- Hogwarts Classrooms Lacock Abbey, Lacock, Durham Cathedral, Durham
- Lily and James Potterâs House in Godricâs Hollow Lacock
- Budleigh Babberton Lacock
- Harry and Hermiones Camp Malham Cove, North Yorkshire
- Hogsmeade train station Goathland Train Station, Yorkshire
- Hogwarts Express Scenery Glenfinnan Viaduct, Scottish Highlands
- Hagridâs Hut Clachaig Gully, Glencoe, Scotland
- Dobbys Grave Pembrokeshire Coast, Wales
- Dumbledores Grave Loch Eilt, Scotland
Option A: Professor Quirrells Defense Against The Dark Arts Classroom
Remember Professor Quirrells classroom in Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone?
Well, thats a Hogwarts set location that you can easily visit in real life! This classroom filmed in the Warming Room in Lacock Abbey, whose cloisters and other rooms also featured in the film.
NOTE: The Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom used in later films was rebuilt as a set at Leavesden Studios. Interestingly, they adapted the set dressing to the personality of each of the different professors, which is why it always looks different in each film! Quirrells was the only one to be shot on location.;
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Hogwarts In Edinburgh George Heriots School
The University of Glasgow bears a striking resemblance to Hogwarts in the films, but George Heriots School is actually the school that inspired J. K. Rowling for her books. It was visible from her preferred writing spot in The Elephant House café .
George Heriots School is a beautiful old building with turrets that make it look a lot like a castle, and it dates back to the early 1600s. Rowling has also said that she based Hogwarts different houses on the house system used at George Heriots.
The school isnt usually open to visitors, but you can certainly get a good look at it from The Elephant House café.
Quidditch Confrontation And Rons Slug Spell Goes Wrong
I love this scene from Chamber of Secrets for a lot of reasons.
Firstly, it looks like the Gryffindor and Slytherin Quidditch teams are about to challenge each other to a dance-off.
Also, the dramatic reveal of Malfoy as the new Slytherin seeker is way too much and well, Rons chivalry gets him puking slugs in the end.
Its all just a wonderful scene, set in the beautiful green courtyard of Durham Cathedral, with the cloisters making an appearance as well.
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Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2
- The exterior model fixes the Great Hall’s corresponding window issue by switching the positions of the smaller and larger sets of windows. However, the interior film set did not change from the previous versions and thus does not include these windows, which should now be visible below the ceiling.
- Students from a house in which the dormitories are located on the east side of the castle are shown marching to the Great Hall through the Viaduct Courtyard, even though the viaduct bridge that connects the two areas together was removed.
- The redesign of the Grand Staircase shows that the area of the stairs far exceeds the area of the Marble Staircase Tower.
- There is no tower that supports the shape and windows of the narrow staircase that leads up to the Ravenclaw Common Room.
- The cloister where Harry talks to the Grey Lady does not appear to correspond with any of the model’s courtyards. It might be a new elevated cloister surrounding the Quad, but its size is too small and its nearby windows do not match up with that Quad.
Option B: Hogwarts Great Hall At The Warner Bros Studios In Leavesden
If you want to see the real Great Hall, as in, where they did all the filming, you need to once again hop on the Warner Bros Studio Tour in Leavesden.
As I mentioned, this set was modelled heavily after the Great Hall in Christchurch, however the design is a composite of various inspirations from iconic UK buildings like the Houses of Parliaments Westminster Hall, which supposedly inspired the unique Great Hall ceiling.
NOTE: Keep your eyes peeled on the official Warner Bros Studio Tour website. Sometimes they have special events they host in the Great Hall like special breakfasts, etc. so you can spend more time on the set rather than just walking by for photos!
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Harry Potter Studio Tour Leavesden
Without doubt, if you are only going to do one Harry Potter related activity when you visit the UK, we think you should make it this a visit to the Harry Potter Studio.
This is where the majority of all eight of the Harry Potter movies were filmed. Following the shooting being completed, Warner Bros. decided to turn much of the property into an attraction that you can visit today.
Unlike the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme parks in the USA and Japan though, this isnt somewhere you come to take rides. This is more of an experience where you can learn all about what went into making the movies.
Expect to visit original sets, like the Great Hall, Diagon Alley, and the Forbidden Forest. Youll learn all about the green screen technology and digital art that went into creating the Harry Potter world, as well as the models, costumes, and props that brought it all to life.
There is so much to see here it is quite overwhelming. Thankfully theres also butterbeer available for purchase to calm you down.
The tour is, for the most part, self-guided, and it will last you in the region of 3 4 hours to see everything.
In terms of the practicalities of visiting, the Harry Potter Studio Tour is found in Leavesden, just to the north of London. You can get here by public transport, or you can take a guided tour like this which includes transport.
Wed suggest reading through our detailed guide to the Harry Potter Studio Tour for more information and to make the most of your trip.
Other Locations On The Third Floor
- Main article:Restricted Section
The Restricted Section was an area in fourth floor section of the Hogwarts Library closed off by a rope and only accessible to students with permission from a professor. In order to enter, they had to present a signed note from a professor. The books within the Restricted Section typically discussed the Dark Arts or other information not for the general public or young children. They could be studied by older students for Defence Against the Dark Arts.
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Greyfriars Kirkyard Cemetery In Edinburgh Scotland
If you are up for a spookier destination, the Greyfriars Kirkyard Cemetery is where J.K. Rowling got inspiration for Tom Riddle’s character. There is a real grave of a man named Thomas Riddell, which inspired Voldemort’s real name. The real man died in 1806 and was 72 years old. Many fans now consider it as Voldemort’s grave and leave little notes and other goodies on it.
Nearby there is also a grave of a William McGonagall, who inspired Professor McGonagall.
Other Locations On The Ground Floor
- Main article:Grand Staircase
The Grand Staircase was a massive structure in Hogwarts Castle, mainly used to access each floor of the castle, including the dungeons. There were hundreds of Portraits covering the walls in this tower, some of which concealed secret passages to other areas within the school. The multiple staircases in the Grand Staircase led from platform to platform and went as high as the seventh floor where they came to an end.
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Option B: Snapes Potions Classroom
In Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone, the Sacristy at Lacock Abbey was chosen as the filming location for Snapes Potions classroom at Hogwarts.
The set was then reconstructed at the Leavesden Studios for subsequent films.
Ive visited both and to be honest, the set at the studio is much more interesting because you can see the details and it actually looks like what you see in the films, whereas the Sacristy was changed and dressed up quite a bit for the film so seeing it in real life is a bit underwhelming.
Heres a photo in case youre curious:
Harry Potter Tourism: 10 Real
Attention all Potterheads! Looking to experience the real magical world of Harry Potter? These real-life locations need to be seen at least once!
Fans of the Harry Potter franchise may never get over the disappointment of not receiving their Hogwarts letter on their 11th birthday. Attending the magical school is the dream of young Potterheads everywhere, but never fear. Although fans can’t attend the real School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, they can get pretty close by visiting the many;Harry Potter;themed;tourist attractions;that have been cropping up over the years.
Potterheads can finally taste butterbeer, sleep in dormitories similar to the Gryffindor common room, and enjoy the view that Harry would have on the Hogwarts Express. These are some of the best tourist destinations where Potterheads can experience the magic.
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The Durham Cathedral Chapter House
The second Durham Cathedral location used in the Harry Potter films is the Chapter House, which served as the setting for Hogwarts Transfiguration class.
It makes its first appearance in The Philosophers Stone, then again in Chamber of Secrets with considerably grander decor.
You might remember it better as the place where McGonagall explains the Chamber of Secrets to an over-eager Hermione, or where shes teaching everyone how to turn animals into goblets ?
NOTE: The Chapter House isnt usually open to the public so visiting it isnt as simple as just visiting the Cathedral. Visiting seems to be restricted to group tours and come at an additional cost. .
This old photo shows just how little the room has changed though! Look familiar?
Hogwarts In The Scottish Highlands
In the Harry Potter books, Hogwarts is set in the Scottish Highlands, which is one of the main reasons why there are so many Scottish locations in the films.
If you see a beautiful vista in one of the films, with rolling hills or jagged mountains, chances are its in the Scottish Highlands. Loch Arkaig, Clachaig Gully, and Glencoe all served as filming locations for the Harry Potter movies.
There are extraordinary hiking trails in the Highlands, as well as scenic drives and jaw-dropping viewpoints. Keep an eye out for Hogwarts wherever you go! Its supposed to have a secret protective barrier around it to keep it hidden from muggles, but you never know
We have a pre-packaged Scottish Highlands tour if youre keen on seeing this epic scenery, but we can also adapt any of our tour itineraries to include a trip to the Highlands.
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