Where is Harry Potter Filmed?: All Locations

You’ve undoubtedly loved seeing some of the stunning vistas, scenery, and properties on the screen if you’ve seen the Harry Potter movie. You may be wondering Where is Harry Potter Filmed and if you can visit these locations in the UK.

So, we’re here to assist! We’ve seen several of the real-life Harry Potter filming sites in England and Scotland, as well as the actual filmmaking studio where the other sequences were assembled.

Based on our experiences, we wanted to share some of our favorite Harry Potter filming sites with you to help you plan your magical adventure.

Where is Harry Potter Filmed?

Where is Harry Potter Filmed? The Harry Potter movies were shot in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Many real-world sites were utilized in the films, including Hogwarts, Diagon Alley, and others. Other sequences were shot and digitally assembled at the Warner Bros. film studio just outside of London.

England has a plethora of Harry Potter filming sites, including London, southern England, and Yorkshire. Much of the countryside surrounding Hogwarts was shot in Scotland.

There were additional scenes shot in Wales, such as the Shell Cottage scene in Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows. Ireland was also mentioned, with the Cliffs of Moher shown briefly in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

In addition to real-world settings, all eight Harry Potter films were shot in a UK film studio. This was the Warner Brothers Studio in Leavesden, near London, which is now open for tours. For fans, this is a must-see attraction!

The rationale for shooting in the UK was large because all of the books were set there. Furthermore, when J.K. Rowling sold the picture rights, one of the conditions was that the key cast members be British.

So, with British locales and a British cast, filming in the UK was a no-brainer!

Where is Harry Potter Filmed: Harry Potter Filming Locations in the United Kingdom

This list includes what we believe to be some of the most significant and outstanding Harry Potter filming sites in the United Kingdom.

There are many more spots than we have mentioned here, but we believe that these are a good picture of what you may see.

If you want to see even more Harry Potter filming sites, check out our extensive guides to Harry Potter filming locations in London and Harry Potter filming locations in Scotland.

Leadenhall Market, London

Then it’s over to London, which has several Harry Potter movie sites. There are so many that we put prepared a comprehensive guide of Harry Potter filming sites in London to help you plan your trip here.

However, in this piece, we will highlight some of our favorite Harry Potter filming sites in the city, beginning with Leadenhall Market.

Leadenhall Market is a lovely covered market in the heart of the City of London. It dates from the 14th century and is one of London’s oldest markets.

The magnificent roof, which originates from the late 1800s, is unquestionably the highlight of a visit. It also features beautiful antique cobblestone floors.

Of course, knowing that this was the filming site for some of the Diagon Alley sequences is the true draw for Harry Potter enthusiasts. The entryway to the Leaky Cauldron, in particular, was filmed here in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. This site is in Bulls Head passage, and the Leaky Cauldron is an optician.

Leadenhall Market is a public space that is open to the public and free to enter. Gracechurch Street is the major entrance. You may also join a Harry Potter walking tour to visit this and other locations from the films.

Kings Cross Station, London

One of our favorite movie sequences is when Harry initially arrives at Platform 9 3/4 to catch the Hogwarts Express.

This location is mentioned in the novels and films to be at Kings Cross station, one of London’s principal train terminals that handle most trains traveling north. This makes sense given that Hogwarts is depicted in the literature as being located in the north of the United Kingdom.

Where is Harry Potter Filmed? In the film, Harry visits the magical platform 9 3/4, which is inaccessible to non-magical people. However, if you want to visit the filming area, you should go to platforms 4 and 5, which are where the original movie’s sequence was shot.

Another perk at Kings Cross railway station is the presence of a station luggage cart, as shown in the novels, cleverly placed on

the wall as a picture opportunity. This was once a hidden gem, but those days are long gone, and you can now expect to wait for up to an hour if you want your photo taken here.

Instead, we recommend continuing on our tour of Harry Potter filming locations in the UK to the next stop, where you may have the same picture opportunity but with much less of a wait.

Google Maps Link – King’s Cross Station

Harry Potter Studio Tour, Leavesden

Without a doubt, if you only undertake one Harry Potter-related activity while visiting the UK, we believe you should make it a visit to the Harry Potter Studio.

This is where the majority of the eight Harry Potter films were shot. Following the completion of the filming, Warner Bros. opted to repurpose much of the land into an attraction that is still open today.

Unlike the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme parks in the United States and Japan, however, this is not a place to go for rides. This is more of an experience where you can learn everything about how the movies were made.

Expect to see authentic sets like the Great Hall, Diagon Alley, and the Forbidden Forest. You’ll learn about the green screen technology and digital art used to create the Harry Potter universe, as well as the models, costumes, and props that made it all come to life.

There is so much to see and do here that it might be overwhelming. Fortunately, butterbeer (a non-alcoholic beverage that is equally suitable for children) is available for purchase to help you relax.

The trip is mostly self-guided, and it should take you around 3 – 4 hours to see everything.

In terms of accessibility, the Harry Potter Studio Tour is located in Leavesden, just north of London. You may use public transportation or a guided tour like this one that includes transportation.

If you opt to drive yourself to the Studios, keep in mind that you must purchase a ticket in advance from the official website. Tickets are not available on-site, and there are only a limited number of them available each day to avoid overcrowding. It’s a very popular attraction, so if you want to go, please reserve well in advance to ensure you obtain a ticket.

If you can’t acquire tickets, you can take a guided tour, which has a different allocation. We recommend this trip, which includes transport from London to the studio.

There are many more trips to select from in addition to the ones mentioned above, depending on your interests and budget. Here’s a decent variety of excursions to consider, and here are some more.

For more information and to make the most of your visit, we recommend reading our full guide to the Harry Potter Studio Tour.

Oxford University, Oxford

Oxford is one of our favorite little towns in the United Kingdom. It’s a simple day trip from London, or you might spend a few days visiting the various attractions on offer.

Of course, some of the locales are Where is Harry Potter Filmed locations?. The bulk of these places is located within various Oxford university buildings, some of which are available to the public.

The Divinity School, which is part of the University of Oxford, is one of our favorite Harry Potter filming locations in Oxford.

The Divinity School served as the setting for the Hogwarts Infirmary, which appeared in several sequences in the films, notably when Harry Potter recovers in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the Divinity School is also where Ron had a lovely dancing lesson with Professor McGonagall, to his dismay. It was a shame he never got to use what he had learned!

The Divinity School boasts a stunning medieval interior, and it’s easy to see why it was chosen as a filming site. It was built in 1427, and the ceiling is exceptionally beautiful, as our images should demonstrate.

The Divinity School is available to the public, although it may only be seen on guided tours, which cost money. Tours are available year-round, with occasional exceptions for public holidays, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

You may schedule a tour of the Bodleian Library here. Alternatively, you may join a Harry Potter walking tour of Oxford, which includes a visit to the Divinity School as well as several other filming locations.

As previously stated, where is Harry Potter Filmed locations? several Harry Potter movie locations were shot at Oxford. Duke Humfrey’s Library, New College, and sections of Christ Church College are among them.

In Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,

Duke Humfrey’s Library served as the genuine Hogwarts Library, and it was the first location he utilized his Cloak of Invisibility. The Divinity Library Tour includes a stop here.

New College, which, despite its name, is one of Oxford’s oldest institutions, was featured in several sequences.

Some of Hogwarts’ passageways were inspired by the Cloisters of New College. As you’ll see throughout this post, a variety of sites were selected to shoot hallway sequences, and a common trend is that they’re all extremely ancient medieval-looking structures.

The New College Cloisters were especially utilized in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire’s halls. In one scene, Harry pushes his way past a crowd of his classmates who have turned against him and are wearing “Potter Stinks” badges. This was shot in the cloisters of New College.

Another scene recorded in New College occurred in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, as Harry informs Cedric about the antagonist they would face in their first task. The scene was shot in the New College Courtyard.

New College can be visited; however, there is a modest fee that must be paid at the time of admittance. The tour is self-guided. It should be noted that colleges do periodically close for examinations or other reasons.

Finally, Christ Church College was used as a filming site. The cloisters were first utilized for, you guessed it, Hogwarts hallway sequences. The moment in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone where Harry looks at his father’s quidditch trophy was filmed here.

The magnificent Bodley Tower staircase at Christ Church College was also utilized as a filming site in the first two films, particularly the moment in which Harry first arrives at Hogwarts.

Google Maps Link – Oxford

Gloucester Cathedral, Gloucester

Gloucester, located in the west of England about two hours by rail from London, is home to the magnificent Gloucester Cathedral. Although the current cathedral was completed in 1089, it has been a center of worship since 678.

The Cathedral is most renowned for its magnificent Cloister. This beautiful fan-vaulted design comes from the end of the 14th century. So where is Harry Potter Filmed locations? Many of the Harry Potter sequences were also filmed here.

In reality, three Harry Potter films were filmed at Gloucester Cathedral. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince were the titles.

When the troll rampages through Hogwarts in the first film, he passes through the north side of the Gloucester cathedral cloisters.

The south side of the cloisters was used as a Gryffindor hallway in the same film, while the door at the west end of the cloisters was used as the Gryffindor common room. Because there is no longer a painting of a lady asking for a password here, the door no longer leads somewhere amazing.

One of the major scenes in the second film is when the words “The Chamber of Secrets has been unlocked” emerge on a Hogwarts wall, painted in the blood vary dramatically. This was filmed at the east end of the cathedral’s north path. The spot where Moaning Myrtle filled the toilets is close.

Finally, the cathedral was used to film sequences from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. A ledge beside the cathedral’s coffee shop is where Harry and Ron stood during one of the scenes. Furthermore, Harry was hiding in the Lavatorium when he overheard Snape discussing the Unbreakable Vow.

Gloucester Cathedral was utilized in several other scenes in the preceding three films, primarily for Hogwarts hallways.

Gloucester Cathedral is open 365 days a year. It is free to visit, although they do ask for a gift of £5 per guest to help with cathedral care, which we believe is a little amount to pay.

Google Maps Link – Gloucester Cathedral

Lacock Abbey, Lacock

Lacock is a little village in the Cotswolds, one of England’s most attractive places.

There are several charming tiny towns here that appear like they’re right out of the 14th century, and for many, this is how England should look.

Such postcard beauty naturally attracts both visitors and filmmakers, and Lacock is no stranger to the film industry. This is because the town has been masterfully conserved throughout the years, and modern conveniences such as electrical poles and satellite dishes are visibly lacking even today.

As you might expect, this attracts historical dramas, and a number of them, including Cranford, Downton Abbey, and Pride and Prejudice, have been filmed in the area.

But, of course, Where is Harry Potter Filmed locations. Lacock featured in both Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince for a brief moment.

It served as the site for both Lily and James Potter’s House in Godric’s Hollow and Budleigh Babberton, where Professor Slughorn lived.

Lacock Abbey, however, is the true pleasure of a visit to Lacock for Harry Potter aficionados.

This house, which was established in the 13th century as a nunnery, was transformed into a private dwelling in the 16th century.

The cloisters of Lacock Abbey were utilized in some sequences in the films, most notably in the first two films, when they served as Hogwarts hallways.

However, in the early movies, the cloisters had another duty – that of classrooms. The Sacristy chamber was used to shoot Snape’s potion classroom in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. The Warming Room at Lacock Abbey serves as Professor Quirrell’s Classroom in the same film.

The Warming Room even contains a massive cauldron that appears to be a leftover item from the movies. It was used in the movies, but it wasn’t a set piece — this is authentic 16th-century cuisine that belonged to the filmmakers.

Finally

, Lacock Abbey’s Chapter House was employed as a filming site. In Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Harry discovers the Mirror of Erised and spends a lot of time peering into it.

The identical chamber of the Chapter House was also utilized as a revising site in the film Chamber of Secrets.

The National Trust manages Lacock Abbey, as well as the bulk of Lacock. The hamlet itself is free to visit, but Lacock Abbey costs a ticket. It is free for National Trust members.

Lacock can also be visited as part of a tour. Several trips leave from London that includes Lacock, generally as part of a day trip that also includes Stonehenge. Many of these trips, however, just include a brief picture stop in the hamlet rather than time to explore the Abbey.

If you wish to see the Abbey as well, we recommend organizing your transportation or booking a private trip like this or this, where you may customize the schedule to your liking.

Another option is to take a private trip from London that visits both Oxford and Lacock Abbey.

Malham Cove, North Yorkshire

Malham Cove is a large limestone structure in North Yorkshire near the hamlet of Malham. It was formed about 12,000 years ago at the end of the ice period and is the remnants of a gigantic waterfall.

It’s a very gorgeous place that’s popular with walkers, and Harry Potter aficionados will recognize the enormous space at the top of what used to be the waterfall.

This region was featured in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 when Harry and Hermione are on a journey to eradicate the Horcruxes. After Ron abandons them, they spend the night at the top of Malham Cove.

Malham Cove is free to explore, and the walking route from Malham Village to the cove’s entrance is about a mile long either way. You may also ascend to the peak by a difficult pathway at the bottom. The views from the summit, however, are amazing, and this is the original Harry Potter movie site, so it is well worth the effort. It takes around 30 minutes each trip to the peak.

Malham Cove is free to explore, and the walking route from Malham Village to the cove’s entrance is about a mile long either way. You may also ascend to the peak by a difficult pathway at the bottom. The views from the summit, however, are amazing, and this is the original Harry Potter movie site, so it is well worth the effort. It takes around 30 minutes each trip to the peak.

Goathland Train Station, Yorkshire

Goathland train station was another filming site for Harry Potter in Yorkshire. This was the filming location for the Hogwarts railway station, Hogsmeade, and was located in the North York Moors in the village of Goathland (near the town of Whitby).

The station made an appearance in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. When the train arrives at the station, we can see Hogwarts in the distance (sadly, computer-created!). Here, Hagrid greets the first-year students and leads them to the boats that will carry them to the school.

It also appears at the end of the same film, as the kids return home after their first year of adventures at Hogwarts.

Durham Cathedral, Durham

Durham Cathedral, which dates from 1093, is one of the oldest cathedrals in the United Kingdom and a magnificent structure to see. It is located in Durham, as the name indicates, around 10 minutes by train from Newcastle Upon Tyne.

The cathedral commands a commanding hilltop position and is a prominent feature of Durham’s skyline.

Durham Cathedral was featured prominently in two Harry Potter films, The Philosopher’s Stone and The Chamber of Secrets.

The church, with its medieval appearance, was an ideal site for filming numerous Hogwarts scenes.

The cathedral’s cloister is where Harry releases Hedwig during the icy winter sequence in the first Harry Potter film. He stands beside the stone basin in the cloister’s center (a former monks’ washing place) and releases Hedwig, with the cloister visible in the backdrop.

The cloister is also employed in the Chamber of Secrets, this time when Ron’s amazing magic backfires and he ends up vomiting slugs.

The Chapter House of the Cathedral also appears in this film as the setting for Professor McGonagall’s class on animal transmogrification. This chamber isn’t available to the public, but you can see what’s inside by peering through the keyhole!

Durham Cathedral is open to the public for free, with a suggested gift of £3. Climbing the north tower and attending any special displays are both subject to a cost.

Alnwick Castle, Alnwick

Alnwick Castle, located in the county of Northumberland in the north of England, is no stranger to the worlds of cinema and television. Everything from Downton Abbey to Transformers to Robin Hood has been shot here.

So it’s no surprise that this castle, which originates from the 11th century and serves as the family home of the Duke of Northumberland, has also been used as a Harry Potter movie location.

Alnwick Castle, in particular, appeared in the first two Harry Potter films.

I’d think the most memorable sequence was from the first film when Harry and his friends learn to fly a broomstick. These sequences were shot at the castle’s Outer Bailey.

Following their run-in with the Hogwarts Express in their flying vehicle in the second film, Harry and Ron crash-landed their flying car at Hogwarts. The Inner Bailey was used to capture this scene.

Finally, in the first two films, the Lion Arch, or the main gate of the castle, served as both an exit and an entrance to Hogwarts. When Harry and his companions visit Hagrid’s Hut, they may be seen passing through this entryway.

Other common shots of kids strolling around the hallways of Hogwarts were also shot here.

In addition to exploring the castle and gardens and seeing the numerous Harry Potter filming sites, the castle provides many interactive experiences, such as broomstick flying instruction. This is what we did, and we had a terrific time!

Google Maps Link – Alnwick Castle

Glenfinnan Viaduct, Scottish Highlands

Harry’s train ride to Hogwarts is one of the most memorable moments in Harry Potter. This is a voyage that has been shown in a lot of films, but it is maybe most remembered in the first two.

In the first film, Harry takes the train for the first time, and we see Platform 9 3/4 for the first time. We also find out about chocolate frogs!

Dobby’s malicious tactics cause Harry and Ron to miss the train in the second film. They instead “steal” a flying automobile and attempt to catch the train.

I’d say that the highlight of both of these sections of the film is when we see the Hogwarts Express in full flight, barreling past beautiful countryside and through a spectacular curving bridge.

Even better, the viaduct can be seen in person! In reality, this is the Glenfinnan Viaduct, which is located in the northwestern Scottish highlands, about a half-hour drive from Fort William.

It’s about a 5–10 minute hike up the valley from the parking lot to where you can view the viaduct.

Services vary depending on the season, but there is at least one train every day from May to September.

So you have two options. You may plan your visit to the Glenfinnan Viaduct to coincide with a train crossing. It usually arrives at the viaduct 30 minutes after departing Fort William. Alternately, you can take the train yourself.

The greatest views of the railroad crossing are from the hills immediately up and past the viaduct for the former. Simply follow the walking trail from the parking lot that goes under and up to the left of the viaduct.

If you only wish to visit Glenfinnan Viaduct without taking the train, we recommend this private full-day excursion from Edinburgh. This covers several Harry Potter locations in Scotland, such as Glenfinnan Viaduct, Loch Shiel, Loch Eilt, and Glen Coe!

We are certain that you will enjoy your visit to Glenfinnan Viaduct and the Jacobite steam train in whatever way you select.

Glencoe, Scottish Highlands

Glencoe is another of our favorite Harry Potter filming sites in Scotland. This is one of Scotland’s most attractive and well-known valleys, with spectacular mountains and landscapes, and it’s a popular destination to visit whether or not you’re a Harry Potter fan.

However, if you’re reading this, you’re probably curious about which scenes Glencoe was in Harry Potter.

The answer is quite a few!

Glencoe was utilized as a filming site for several Harry Potter films. Perhaps most notably, it served as the set for Hagrid’s Hut in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

It was here that Hagrid’s hut was built, and it was also where the outside sequences of Hagrid’s pumpkin patch where Buckbeak was chained up were shot. Many more scenes from the film were shot here as well, with the exact real-world site being Clachaig Gully, right across the street from the Clachaig Inn.

Glencoe is a renowned tourist destination. It may be accessed by automobile in around 2.5 hours from Edinburgh, 2 hours from Glasgow, and 2.5 hours from Inverness.

If you don’t have a car, there are a variety of day excursions and multi-day tours available from Edinburgh and Glasgow to Glencoe.

Freshwater West beach, Pembrokeshire Coast, Wales

Freshwater West beach, located on Wales’ gorgeous Pembrokeshire Coast, is the final spot on our list of Harry Potter filming locations in the UK.

This is where Harry, Ron, and Hermione bury Dobby the House Elf after their battle at Malfoy Manor at the end of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1. It’s merely the first scene of Deathly Hallows Part 2.

This was the filming location for the outside of Shell Cottage as well as Dobby’s burial place. The cottage was constructed on this site and was utilized for exterior shots.

Nothing of the cottage survives now. For a long time, there existed a real-life Dobby’s Grave on this site, built by admirers. Unfortunately, the number of visitors to this place began to cause erosion, thus it was decided to remove it to safeguard the fragile ecology here.

Map of Harry Potter Filming Locations in the United Kingdom

We’ve mapped out all of the filming sites, which you can see in the image below or on Google Maps here.

Where is Harry Potter Filmed locations? Harry Potter UK Filming Locations By Scene

In this guide, I’ve divided the Harry Potter locales into real-world filming places and fictional filming locations. However, if you’d rather have them listed by the scene in each film, here’s a list to assist you to accomplish just that. Our contains items from both this book and our complete guide to Harry Potter filming sites in London and 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 Humfrey’s 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 Potter’s House in Godric’s Hollow – Lacock
• Budleigh Babberton – Lacock
• Harry and Hermione’s Camp – Malham Cove, North Yorkshire
• Hogsmeade train station – Goathland Train Station, Yorkshire
• Hogwarts Express Scenery – Glenfinnan Viaduct, Scottish Highlands
• Hagrid’s Hut – Clachaig Gully, Glencoe, Scotland
• Dobby’s Grave – Pembrokeshire Coast, Wales
• Dumbledore’s Grave – Loch Eilt, Scotland

Where is Harry Potter Filmed locations reachable from London?

London is an excellent starting point for exploring Harry Potter locations. There are some filming spots in the city, as well as a number that can be reached on easy day excursions from the city. These are some examples:

• The market of Leadenhall (Diagon Alley)
• Platform 9 3/4, Kings Cross Station
• The Harry Potter Production Company
• The University of Oxford (multiple scenes and locations)
• Gloucester Cathedral (multiple scenes and locations)
• The Abbey of Lacock (multiple scenes and locations)

What Harry Potter Sites can I visit from York?

While York was not a Harry Potter production location, it can serve as a suitable base for a variety of Harry Potter places that may be visited on a day trip. These are some examples:

• Cove of Malham
• The railroad station in Goathland (Hogsmeade)
• Durham Cathedral (multiple scenes and locations)

What Harry Potter Sites can I visit from Edinburgh?

There’s a widespread misperception that Edinburgh was used as a filming site for Harry Potter.

Edinburgh has a significant Harry Potter link because it was (and still is) J.K. Rowling’s home. None of the Harry Potter films, however, were shot in Edinburgh.

Having said that, Rowling wrote the majority of the novels in Edinburgh, and several locations in the city are said to have inspired locales and even characters in the books.

To help you discover them, we’ve put up a map of the important Harry Potter places in Edinburgh, as well as a guide to the cafes where Harry Potter was written in Edinburgh.

However, as previously stated, none of the films were shot in Edinburgh.

Day excursions from Edinburgh, however, may be taken to several of the genuine Harry Potter production locations. Glenfinnan Viaduct, Alnwick Castle, Loch Shiel, Loch Etive, and many others are among them.