Are You a True Potterhead? Check Out These 7 Filming Locations You Can Visit

Few literary franchises have influenced modern pop culture as profoundly as Harry Potter. With over 500 million copies sold, it stands as the best-selling book series in history. The seven books that make up Harry Potter were adapted into eight highly successful films (the final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, was divided into two movies) that amassed a staggering $7.7 billion at the box office.

While the storyline is undeniably enchanting, the filming locations that brought Harry’s fantastical vision of the United Kingdom and Ireland to life are even more magical. From the Warner Bros. Studio lot in London to the historic halls of Oxford, here are seven filming sites featured in the Harry Potter films that you can visit.

1. Warner Bros. Studio Tour London

Location: Leavesden, Watford, England

During the decade of production for the Harry Potter film series, filming took place at a studio in Watford, a quaint town northwest of London. At this Warner Bros. Studio, visitors can explore iconic sets such as the Forbidden Forest, the Great Hall of Hogwarts, and Diagon Alley. The studio also features a variety of props, including 950 potion jars from Professor McGonagall’s classroom, 900 memory vials from Dumbledore’s office (each labeled by hand), and cat portraits that decorated Dolores Umbridge’s office. The Hogwarts Express, which transported countless students to and from Hogwarts, is also on display. After exploring the exhibits, fans can visit three different souvenir shops offering replica wands, Harry Potter-themed sweets, and plush toy owls. Tickets begin at $55 per person.

2. Durham Cathedral

Location: Durham, England

You might recognize Durham Cathedral from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, the first film in the series. During their classes, Harry, Ron, and Hermione stroll through the halls of Hogwarts—these were actually the stunning cloisters of Durham Cathedral, built in the 11th and early 12th centuries to honor the remains of Saint Cuthbert and the Venerable Bede. A replica of Durham Cathedral was created for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, used in the scene where Harry liberates Dobby the house elf with a sock. The chapter house, which serves as a meeting space for cathedral officials, also appeared in the first two films as Professor McGonagall’s office.

Durham Cathedral is more than just a Harry Potter filming site: It is also a UNESCO World Heritage site and is hailed as the finest and largest example of Norman architecture in England. Additionally, it boasts the oldest surviving building featuring a large-scale, stone-vaulted ceiling. Admission to the cathedral is free, but visitors are encouraged to leave a $5 donation to support the church and its grounds.

3. Oxford’s Bodleian Libraries

Location: Oxford, England

The Bodleian Libraries at Oxford University are among the most renowned in the world, boasting a collection of over 12 million printed works, including rare manuscripts and ancient papyri, along with historic buildings that have been in continuous use since the Middle Ages. With its imposing architecture, the Bodleian Old Library was a natural choice to portray the Restricted Section of the Hogwarts Library. When Harry slips into the Restricted Section wearing his invisibility cloak in Sorcerer’s Stone (seeking clues about the enigmatic Nicolas Flamel), he is actually wandering through Duke Humfrey’s Library, a reading room within the Bodleian Old Library. Visitors must purchase a ticket for the Bodleian Library and Radcliffe Camera tour (starting at $11 per person) to gain access to the location.

4. Alnwick Castle

Location: Alnwick, Northumberland, England

In the initial two Harry Potter movies, Alnwick Castle in Northumberland was used for the exterior shots of Hogwarts Castle. You may recall the outer bailey as the location where Harry learned to fly for the first time, while the inner bailey is where he and Ron crash-landed the Weasleys’ flying car. Alnwick itself is over 950 years old and is the second largest inhabited castle in the U.K. Since its establishment in 1309, it has functioned as a temporary refuge, a military base, and a teaching institution. Alnwick Castle is currently closed for renovations but is scheduled to reopen on March 31. Tickets start at $21 per person.

5. King’s Cross Station

Location: London, England

Recall that enchanting scene in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone where Harry watches Ron vanish through a wall at Platform 9 ¾ in King’s Cross Station? This iconic moment was filmed at the bustling train station, and fans can now visit the exact location. A luggage trolley is set into the wall at the spot marked for Platform 9 ¾, allowing visitors to take memorable photos. Close by, the Harry Potter Shop offers a variety of merchandise, including replicas of Ollivander’s wands, time turners, and Hogwarts robes.

6. The Jacobite Steam Train

Location: Tom-na-Faire Station, Scotland

While the Harry Potter universe is filled with soul-sucking demons, wailing mandrakes, and time-traveling devices, few experiences are as magical as the journey Harry and his friends embark on from King’s Cross Station to Hogwarts. In reality, the Hogwarts Express is the Jacobite steam train, operated by West Coast Railways. This 84-mile round trip offers travelers breathtaking views of Scotland’s picturesque landscapes, including Loch Morar, the deepest freshwater loch in Europe; Fort William, the largest town in the Scottish Highlands; and the iconic 21-arched Glenfinnan viaduct, made famous by the Harry Potter films.

7. Cliffs of Moher

Location: Liscannor, County Clare, Ireland

In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (the sixth film in the series), Harry and Dumbledore venture to a secluded cave on a rugged coastline—implied to be the shores of Germany—in search of Slytherin’s locket, one of Voldemort’s horcruxes. However, the rocky cliffs and caves seen in the film are actually the renowned Cliffs of Moher in Ireland, famous for their stunning vertical cliffs. This iconic filming location has also appeared in The Princess Bride and Leap Year. The easiest access to the Cliffs is through the village of Liscannor, where entry tickets can be purchased for $7 (online tickets are also available).