England
2018 marks the 20th anniversary of the first Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. So, grab your Nimbus 2000 and your Phoenix feather-wand, give a hearty Wingardium Leviosa! and let’s explore some of the Harry Potter locations you can visit today throughout England.
The Dursleys’ house, Yew street (the home of the Dursleys, where Harry lives in a closet under the stairs before being invited to Hogwarts school).
Australia House/Gringott’s Bank (For Harry, that bank was Gringott’s, or as the Maggles call it: Australia House. Gringott’s Bank was featured in the very first Harry Potter movie, when Hagrid picks up the young Harry and comes here to meet with the goblins).
Leadenhall Market/Diagon Alley and The Leaky Cauldron (Lovely Leadenhall Market was one of the inspirations for Diagon Alley, where Harry shops for his wizardous school supplies in the first book and movie).
Platform 9 ¾ and the Hogwarts Express (This is where Hogwarts students catch their train up to Scotland at the beginning of the term and travel back down on when the school year is over).
Gloucester Cathedral (The Cathedral’s Cloisters are used as various settings for Hogwarts’ interiors).
Durham Cathedral (Durham Cathedral has been used to shoot various exterior and interior shots of Hogwarts).
Alnwick Castle (Alnwick Castle has been used for exterior shots of Hogwarts).
Hogwarts Library /Bodleian Library (Both Hogwarts Library and the Hogwarts Hospital Wing scenes were filmed here at the Bodleian Library, which is the primary research library for the University of Oxford).
Reptile House, London Zoo (Exterior and interior shots where Harry learns that he can speak to snakes and liberates the Burmese python).
St.Pancras and King’s Cross Stations (In Harry Potter and Chamber of Secrets, Harry and Ron fly their magical Ford Anglia over the expansive and elegant Victorian Gothic-styled St.Pancras Station. St.Pancras Station is also, of course, where one transports from the Muggle world to the wizarding world, via Hogwarts Express).
Hardwick Hall (Hardwick Hall is the main setting for the Malfoy Mansion, the Deatheaters’ main hideout).
Seven Sisters Country Park (the Seven Sisters cliffs were used for spectacular shots where Harry Potter walks up the hill to find the boots that transport him to the Quidditch World Cup).
Ashridge Wood (The Woods where the Quidditch World Cup is held).
Malham Cove (The rocky camp where Harry and Hermione hide from Voldemort).
Virginia Water (Virginia Water was used to represent Hogwarts’ lake where Harry rode on the Hippogriff in the Prisoner of Azkaban and where Hermione passed on messages to Harry and Ron in the Goblet of Fire).
