10 Best Harry Potter Locations in the World

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Looking for the most magical Harry Potter locations around the world? These are my 10 favourite places!

If you, like me, have ever dreamed of getting that letter on your 11th birthday, then you’ll know how exciting visiting Harry Potter locations actually is!

A series that’s literally taken over the world, I admire JK Rowling so much. It’s amazing how she had such a simple thought of a wizarding school and then woven the most brilliant tale of love, magic, good, and evil that touched everyone’s hearts. 

Love by millions of people over the world the Harry Potter series has sold over 500 million copies worldwide. Imagine if you could get that by waving your wand! Obviously, it’s become no wonder that people want to walk the steps that Harry trod.

Hence the theme parks, filming location walking tours, and countless experiences that are available nowadays. Even over 10 years since the last book was written and the last film was released, the series is still immensely popular. It probably will be for years to come. 

Here are the best Harry Potter locations that any fan would love.  

The Best Harry Potter Locations in the World

1. Warner Bros Studio Tours, Leavesden, England

Just 20 minutes outside the centre of London, this is the ultimate Harry Potter day out. You can literally walk through so many Harry Potter filming locations during the Warner Bros Studio Tour.

See the sets of the Gryffindor common room, the boy’s dormitory, see Dumbledore’s office and the Great Hall. Wonder through the Forbidden Forest with a life-sized Aragog and sit in the giant furniture in Hagrid’s Hut. 

Stroll down Privet Drive with identical cars and perfect lawns. Gawp at the remains of Harry’s first home, and the damage caused by He Who Must Not be Named.

See the giant purple Night Bus and gangly Stan Shunpike, the deep emerald halls of the Ministry of Magic with their ghastly ‘Magic is Might’ statue. See the intricate Floo network and the long table where Charity Burbage said her last words. 

You can ride on Hagrid’s motorbike, and see the Whomping Willow and the Weasley’s car.

You can also see all the real props from the movies including the locket, cup, goblet of fire, Riddle’s diary, all the wands and broomsticks and the costumes of the actors. Hermione’s Yule Ball dress is just gorgeous!

Furthermore, they show you how they did the makeup for the goblins, Grawp, made dragons look real and made Dobby’s death so heartbreaking. 

It’s a long tour – but worth it!

It’s ideal to do as a day trip from London. The entire tour will take you between 3 and 4 hours to look around but honestly, the time will fly. If you need a bit of a breather, head to the cafe for a frothy glass of butter beer and a pumpkin pasty! 

My overall favourite part was right at the end. They showed you how they filmed Hogwarts castle. It was a model, certainly not life-size but pretty huge.

They actually filmed some of the shots by zooming right into this castle. I found it spellbinding. I could have stood there imagining what it would be like to be a Hogwarts student for a long longer than I did!

It was such an incredible day, one of the best Harry Potter locations in the world, and I would visit again in a heartbeat. If you do want to visit, however, I recommend booking in advance. Tickets sell out really quickly!

✅ Book tickets to the Warner Bros Studio Tour from London, here.

2. Diagon Alley, Orlando, USA

Of course, this technically isn’t one of the Harry Potter filming locations. Nonetheless, when it comes to Harry Potter locations, you can’t get much better than this!

Even though you’re in the Universal Resort in Orlando, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter literally transports you to another world. Walk down the cobbles of the hidden street in the middle of London, stroll down the halls of Gringott Bank and see the goblins at work, and pay a visit to Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes! 

The slight difference here is that there are roller coasters involved. But this just means you can actually experience some of the things Harry would’ve done.

My favourite was ‘Flight of the Hippogriff’ which is not exactly extreme (I’m a bit of a wuss when it comes to rollercoasters). But nevertheless, so much fun to fly through the air on the back of an imaginary Buckbeak! We went on this twice! 

The Harry Potter section of the theme park is becoming so popular that they’ve spread it across 2 parks. It’s a little cheeky because it forces you to pay for both if you want to see it all. But if you’re a Potter fan, it’s worth it. Plus you can take the Hogwarts Express from one park to the other.

The icing on the cake was the Disney-like light display from Hogwarts Castle. It was beautiful and the perfect end to a perfect day!

3. King’s Cross Station, London, England

I love playing Potter when I go to London. There’s a small section of the King’s Cross-Platform in London that is perfect for Harry Potter fans. Here, you’ll be able to run through the barrier to Platform 9 3/4s. Pose with your scarf flying backwards and your wand raised high.

Bear in mind that the attraction has become so popular in recent years that there’s almost always a large queue to actually get a photograph on the trolley. But, if you’re desperate to see Harry Potter locations, it’s worth the wait. As is the little shop next door.

Get your wand, jumper, Hogwarts scarf, Bertie Bots Every Flavour Beans – you name it! And if that’s not enough for you, be sure to go to London’s West End and watch Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in the theatre. 

It’s a magical experience (pun intended) and one I highly recommend to any Potter fan!

4. Shambles, York, England

A curious little street in York is the last place you’d expect to be one of the best Harry Potter locations. However, it was used as the inspiration for Diagon Alley. It’s a small, quaint street with an old-fashioned feel to it and is one of York’s best free attractions. It’s just lovely to stroll down.

The people who own shops here have taken full advantage of this resemblance. You’ll find the street scattered with potion shops, wand stores, and wizarding sweet shops full of all sorts of goodies.

There is even a ‘Shop That Must Not Be Named’! The street is always bustling with tourists and is a great place to pick up some Harry Potter memorabilia. Definitely don’t miss this place when you visit York.

5. Millennium Bridge, London, England

For a slightly more alarming trip down memory lane, Millennium Bridge in London is the place to go. One of the official Harry Potter filming locations, this bridge gets demolished by Death Eaters in The Half-Blood Prince. It’s definitely a strange feeling standing on it and knowing that!

Nonetheless, the views of London from the bridge are stunning, as is St. Paul’s Cathedral which you can see in the distance. It’s well worth a visit even if you’re not a Harry Potter fan, but if you are, it’s an incredible experience.

6. Bodleian Library, Oxford, England

I love Oxford and, in cities like this, I always feel a slight connection to old England and a slight resemblance to the wizarding world. But I feel it even more in the Bodleian Library.

It’s one of the oldest libraries in Europe. It’s just an incredible place to walk around in, regardless of whether you’re a Potter fan or not.

The library was used as a Harry Potter location for several films and was used as both the Hogwarts infirmary and Professor McGonagall’s office.

If you take a tour of the library, you might even get to see some of the filming locations for yourself. It’s a great place to visit and is sure to be a hit with Potterheads and non-Potterheads alike! It’s also one of the top things to do if you have a day in Oxford.

7. The Glenfinnan Viaduct & The Jacobite Steam Train, Scotland

This is where it all started for Harry. The Hogwarts Express departs from London and makes its way up north to the Scottish Highlands. It’s such a beautiful journey and one that has always been on my travel bucket list.

The Glenfinnan Viaduct is the most famous part of the journey and was used in several Harry Potter films. It’s a stunning piece of architecture and is definitely worth a visit, even if you’re not a Potter fan.

You can also take a ride on the Jacobite Steam Train which is very similar to the Hogwarts Express and departs from Fort William. It’s one of the greatest railway rides in the world.

It’s a great way to see the Scottish Highlands and is sure to be a hit with Potterheads!

✅ Book a trip to the Scottish Highlands from Edinburgh, here.

8. Alnwick Castle, England

If you want to relive Harry’s first flying lesson then Alnwick Castle is the place for you! It was used as the filming location for Hogwarts in the first two films and is an absolutely stunning castle.

The castle is situated in the town of Alnwick in Northumberland and is well worth a visit. It costs £20.50 to enter the castle.

But as well as seeing the spectacular filming location, you also get to see the impressive State Rooms, go for a walk around the grounds, have a go at archery, and, in light of the filming location,

Alnwick also offers Broomstick training for witches and wizards.

9. Goathland Station, England

This is another of the top Harry Potter filming locations that can be found in North Yorkshire, about an hour from the city of York. You’ll recognise Goathland Station as the Hogsmeade Station in the film series. It’s a great place to visit if you want to relive the magical journey to Hogwarts.

The station is situated in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by stunning countryside. You’ll instantly recognise it as where Hagrid greeted Harry when he first got off the Hogwarts Express. It’s definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area.

10. The Elephant House, Scotland

Last but not least, while the Hogwarts Express might’ve been where it all started for Harry, Elephant House is where it all started for J.K. Rowing.

This is the café in the centre of Edinburgh where she wrote the first Harry Potter book. It’s now become a bit of a pilgrimage site for Potterheads from all over the world.

It’s definitely worth a visit if you’re spending some time in the Scottish capital, as it’s such an important part of literary history.

Final Thoughts on the Best Harry Potter Locations…

So, there you have it, the best Harry Potter locations and filming locations around the world! If you’re a Potter fan, I hope I’ve inspired you to visit some of these magical places for yourself.

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