Monday, March 25, 2024

Where Was The Harry Potter Movies Filmed

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Freshwater West Beach Aka Home To Shell Cottage

Harry Potter And The Cursed Child (2022) Teaser Trailer | Warner Bros. Pictures’ Wizarding World

Appeared in: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 and 2

This Welsh beach in Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is where Shell Cottage is set. It appears in the two Deathly Hallows movies, notably during a very sad scene that is so sad I cant even type it out.

Unfortunately, the cottage isnt there anymore for you to explore. In fact, due to bad weather, they had to build the cottage somewhere else and then lug it over just before filming. That said, its still a beautiful beach, and for a time, you could even visit Dobbys actual grave here.

What Has Been Filmed At Alnwick Castle Aside From Harry Potter

Of course there are plenty more places for movie buffs beyond the Alnwick Castle Harry Potter filming locations.

Alnwick Castle has been the location for a number of films and TV shows. The most recent is the ITV period drama, Downton Abbey. It portrayed Brancaster Castle in two Christmas specials.

I LOVE the comedy Blackadder and this was the location where they shot the exteriors of the castle in the first series.

Fans of Tom Hardy will love that The Virgin Queen was filmed here, it was one of his very early roles as Robert Dudley.

Other Hollywood movies that have used Alnwick Castle are A Knight In Camelot, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Elizabeth as well as Transformers: The Last Knight.

You can find out where they have filmed everything and some behind the scenes gossip during the FREE Alnwick On Location Film Tour that takes place throughout the day.

Real Life Harry Potter Destinations You Can Visit

If you love ‘Harry Potter,’ you just might be happier than a Muggle with a new wand after you go through this list. What better way to indulge your Potter fantasies than by visiting some of the actual places made famous by the films? Check out these spots and start planning your Harry Potter adventure today!

Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal Studios, Florida

Live out all of your wizard fantasies at Universal Studios Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Immerse yourself in magic, Harry Potter myth and lore, or practice some restraint and take a spin on a Potter-themed amusement park ride, like the Dragon Challenge rollercoaster. You can even buy all of your Hogwarts school supplies, and other knick-knacks in the many shops that inhabit this magically inspired world.

Alnwick Castle, Northumberland, England

Alnwick Castle is the location used for Hogwarts Castle in ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ and ‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.’ It has been featured in other famous films as well, like ‘Elizabeth’ and ‘Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.’ The castle is a lovely place for an afternoon stroll and offers wizardry and broomstick “flight” training, if you’re so inclined.

Glencoe, Scotland

‘Harry Potter: The Exhibition,’ Various Locations

Glenfinnan Viaduct, Lochaber, Scotland

Millennium Bridge, London, England

King’s Cross and St Pancras Stations, London, England

London Zoo, London, England

Leadenhall Market, London, England

Christ Church, Oxford, England

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Other Things To Do At Alnwick Castle

As well as the magical Harry Potter experiences, dont leave without checking out all that Alnwick Castle has to offer you.

In the Inner Bailey, they often have archery lessons if you wanted to try your hand at it like Robin Hood. Or, you can watch Jousting in the North during the summer!

Nearby is Dragon Quest that is also included in your ticket where you can help Henry Hotspur and the Dragon Catcher. Youll battle mystical forces and a terrifying dragon.

Dress up in medieval clothes, play medieval games and perfect your ancient crafting skills in the Artisans Courtyard.

Or, treat yourself to some lunch in the Courtyard Café.

A new thing that they have started doing is firing a replica Napoleonic cannon on select days of the year. This was something that would happen daily in the Georgian Era at the castle.

The Alnwick Castle staterooms are completely magnificent and they have some of the most gorgeous paintings and artefacts inside. The Percy family history dates back 700 years and so there are lots to see. Unfortunately, no photography is allowed.

Oh and keep your eyes peeled for the Alnwick Vampire! Legend has it that a servant who worked for the lord of the castle caught his wife having an affair. He jumped off the castle and broke his neck. They buried him but he was spotted walking around the town!

They have some spooky events to honour their haunted halls around Halloween.

Have Dinner At The Treehouse Restaurant Aka Weasleys Burrow

I Watched The 8th Harry Potter Film With Absolutely No Context

There is nothing better than ending a magical day with dinner at the Treehouse Restaurant. This place is like something out of a storybook!

Youd definitely be forgiven for mistaking this restaurant as the Weasleys Burrow in Harry Potter!

Located high in the treetops of Alnwick Forest, youll walk over canopies to reach it. Once inside, you can eat your meal while youre surrounded by tree branches and fairy lights.

The dishes that have been specially prepared with organic produce from the gardens and local farmers. Plus, you can drink their specially brewed Alnwick beer made with homegrown hops on the grounds!

A big tip I would have is to book WELL in advance. This place books up quick for lunch and dinner, so make sure you enquire a few weeks before you plan to dine.

The Treehouse restaurant

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Diagon Alley And The Leaky Cauldron

After Harry’s life is turned upside down with the revelation that he is a wizard, the 11-year-old is taken by Rubeus Hagrid to Diagon Alley to get school supplies. The entrance to the magical alley is at the back of a wizarding pub called the Leaky Cauldron. Arriving at the cobblestone alley, Harry bears witness for the first time to the secret world of magic he had never known about but always belonged to.

Diagon Alley is another iconic landmark for “Harry Potter” fans, and the place so many dream of visiting so they can buy their own magic wand from Mr. Ollivander’s shop, visit Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes to get some gag gifts, or maybe even visit Gringotts Wizarding Bank just to see the goblin workers. In reality, much of what you remember of Diagon Alley was created in studios and later dismantled.

However, many of the exterior shots for the Leaky Cauldron and Diagon Alley were taken near Leadenhall Market in London. Leadenhall serves as a “covered market” area located on Gracechurch Street. You can roam around the market for free, shopping for strange knicks-knacks and pretend you are gathering supplies for a trip to Hogwarts.

Loch Etive & Glen Etive

Loch Etive, known in Scottish Gaelic as Loch Eite, is a sea loch in the Argyll and Bute area of Scotland. The loch is fairly narrow and shaped a bit like a snake, stretching over 30 miles . The loch is located within Glen Etive which is a scenic glen that is popular with outdoor enthusiasts.

Glen Etive and Loch Etive were used as a filming location for at least two Harry Potter films. In the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 movie, Loch Etive is the lake where Harry, Ron and Hermione end up being deposited after jumping off the back of a dragon following their daring escape from Gringotts in London.

The northern section of Loch Etive in Gualachulain was also the setting for the camp that the trio set up near the lake in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1. After Ron leaves following the argument with Harry, Hermione ties a scarf around a tree near the lake to let Ron know they left if he returned.

The Glen Etive area is a scenic one and offers great hiking opportunities. The River Etive and other local rivers here are popular with kayakers. Many people stop by on their way to visit the coastal town of Oban.

A couple of attractions around Loch Etive are Dunstaffnage Castle and Bonawe Historic Iron Furnace . Both are open to visitors and run by Historic Scotland. There is a fee to visit but they are free to Historic Scotland members.

The nearest train stations to the loch are in Taynuilt and Connel, and buses run to both of these villages as well.

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Malham Cove North Yorkshire

Malham Cove is a massive limestone formation near to the village of Malham in North Yorkshire. It was formed over 12,000 years ago at the end of the ice age, and is in fact what is left of a massive waterfall.

Its a very picturesque location that is popular with walkers, and the large area at the top of what was the waterfall will be very familiar to Harry Potter fans.

This area was used in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, when Harry and Hermione are travelling together in an effort to destroy the Horcruxes. The top of Malham Cove is where they camp for the night after being abandoned by Ron.

Malham Cove is free to visit, and the walking trail from Malham Village to the foot of the cove is around a mile each way. You can also climb to the top from a footpath at the base, which is quite steep. However, the views from the top are spectacular and this is the actual Harry Potter filming location so is worth the effort. Overall, its around 30 minutes each way to the top.

If you have time, there are lots more natural attractions to see in the area and plenty of walking trails, including a lovely loop trail that continues from Malham Cove to Goredale Scar. You can see more on visiting as well as tips for walks, on this community website.

The Jacobite Steam Train

Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts | Official Teaser | HBO Max

The Hogwarts Express is a real train, and you can take a trip on it!

The Hogsmeade village train station was filmed in the picturesque Yorkshire village of Goathland, but when the Harry Potter train is seen travelling over the rail bridge to Hogwarts in the films, it’s actually the world-famous Jacobite Steam Train that you’re seeing on its way over the magnificent 21-arched Glenfinnan Viaduct, in the Scottish Highlands.

In real life, the route taken by the train has been described as the greatest railway journey in the world, and is wonderfully scenic, passing many of the beautiful Harry Potter filming locations in Scotland.

You can take the ride of a lifetime on this magical steam train for the 42 miles between Fort William and Mallaig on the West Highland Railway Line. You’ll enjoy breathtaking views and perhaps partake of a Butterbeer Hot Chocolate or a Dementor’s Kiss from the trolley

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The Lion Arch The Path To Hagrids Hut

As you approach the castle from The Alnwick Garden, youll see the Lion Arch.

Youll instantly recognise it as the location where Harry, Ron, and Hermione walk down to see Hagrid in his hut within the Forbidden Forest.

There were some pretty awesome special effects made to make Robbie Coltrane who plays Hagrid to be that much taller than Harry and his friends!

The Lion Arch at Alnwick Castle

Lavenham Aka Godrics Hollow

Appeared in: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1

Ah yes, the birthplace of both Harry Potter and Dumbledore. Thats a pretty star-studded alumni list

The quaint and adorable village of Lavenham can be found in Suffolk, and was the real-life inspo for Godrics Hollow thanks to its half-timbered Tudor style architecture . According to Harry Potter: Magical Places from the Films, the production team wanted something quintessentially English so that they could get a nice contrast with the Gothic styles of Hogwarts, and well, looks like they found it!

NOTE: Before you get too excited, apparently no cast members actually filmed here. Instead, Harry and Hermione were added into Lavenham shots through the magic of CGI, as most filming took place in-studio . A lot of the scenes were actually shot at Pinewood Studios because it had a beautiful garden and cedar tree in which they set up the set for the graveyard.

Oh, and if youre a curious cat like me, you can of the inside of Harrys birth home. Its gorgeous, and was on sale for about 1 million last year . Supposedly it has the most photographed door in England, second to only 10 Downing St.

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Harrow School Aka The Charms Classroom

Appeared in: Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone

Swish and flick!

This is Professor Flitwicks Charms classroom, and yes, its located in an actual real school, in the Fourth Form room of Harrow School to be precise. You can book tours of it, although its a little out of the way in London. But, can you resist visiting the very space where Hermione uttered her iconic line its leviOsa, not levioSAAAA.

PS: the oak walls of this classroom have signatures lovingly carved in from former students.. including some you may know, like Winston Churchill.

Warner Bros Studios Where Harry Potter Was Filmed

Harry Potter 8

Want to see more? A must-visit Harry Potter filming location for any true fan is the Warner Bros. Studios in London. Here youll discover Snapes potions classroom, the fearsome Dolores Umbridges office, a giant replica of Aragog, 4 Privet Drive, Hagrids hut Youll be amazed!

During your visit, you can also try the famous butterbeer or buy items from this magical universe, including chocolate frogs, dragees of all flavours or choose your favourite wand.

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The Bailey Tower Where Neville Longbottom Loses Control Of His Broom

Look out for the huge tower in the Outer Bailey, you may recognise it from a hilarious scene in the first movie.

In the flying lesson with Madam Hooch, Neville Longbottom loses control of his broom!

He flies over the castle, under the archway and right up through the bailey tower. Eventually, his cloak gets caught on one of the statues nearby.

He got away with a broken wrist. Poor Neville, he never seems to get a break.

Borough Market Harry Potter

Borough Market has a buzzing atmosphere that gives you a sense of the British culture so deeply embedded in the lives of Londoners. Walking through the many passageways and in between the stalls is a real adventure!

In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Diagon Alleys entrance to the Leaky Cauldron moved from Leadenhall Market to Borough Market.

Find what is now the Chez Michele flower shop to see where Harry enters the Leaky Cauldron pub in the movie. While walking through the Borough Market, be sure to take your time and browse the stalls.

Theres a wonderful selection of delicious food and interesting trinkets for sale that would be a shame to miss, its one of my favourite street food markets in London.

Click here for the exact location.

One of the fresh fruit and vegetables stalls at Borough Market, London

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Near Abbotsbury Swannery Aka The Area Near The Burrow

This is a very random filming location because only about 2 minutes of footage was shot here, using entirely body doubles because the actual scenes where you can see the actors was shot in the studio BUT nonetheless, I wanted this list to be complete. This big field of reeds stood in for the land on which the Burrow is built, you know just before it gets burnt to the ground .

According to the Dorset Echo, filming took place in November 2007 for this short clip, a feat that required 100 production staff present! If thats not a hint at just how big these film budgets were, I dont know what is

Glenfinnan Viaduct In Scotland

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001) Official Trailer – Daniel Radcliffe Movie HD

Believe it or not, the Hogwarts Express is actually a real train. While it’s obviously not called the Hogwarts Express and doesn’t come equipped with a trolley serving chocolate frogs and jelly beans that taste scantly of boogers, it is a real-life train that visitors can ride. The Glenfinnan Viaduct is famous all on its own and travels through the picturesque landscape that was seen in the movies and the train car itself, the ‘Jacobite,’ is an actual steam train that Harry Potter was seen traveling on in the movies. Visitors can explore the train line for themselves or take up hiking in the valleys surrounding the tracks, which is equally as stunning as taking a ride on the Hogwarts Express – er, we mean the Glenfinnan Viaduct.

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Swinley Forest Aka One Of The Forests They Camp In

Appeared in: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

Parts of Swinley Forest in Bracknell were used for miscellaneous scenes in Deathly Hallows Part 1, like when theyre being chased by Snatchers but most of them used green screens to add more dramatic landscapes, so I wouldnt go out of my way to see this place.

That said, I found this hilarious news article about how the crew kept denying that they were filming Harry Potter there, until a 10 year old boy literally just found a callsheet in the bushes that had ALL THE ACTORS ON-SET TIMES, where they would be, and a map of the locations! Luckily, he only found this after the filming wrapped up, otherwise it would have made fangirl stalking a little too easy.

Lacock Abbey Exterior And Interior Of Hogwarts

If youd like to imagine yourself in Professor Snapes potions class, then the Warming Room at Lacock Abbey in Wiltshire is where you want to go. Some of the exterior shots of Hogwarts were filmed here too.

In fact, the village of Lacock has become known as Harry Potter village because it was used for various locations, including Horace Slughorns house.

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