Welcome to Hogwarts! 15Harry PotterDestinations You Can Visit IRL

Mar. 15, 2025

From left: Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley and Emma Watson as Hermione Granger in 2001’s ‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’.Photo:Peter Mountain/ Warner Bros.

Peter Mountain/ Warner Bros.

Escapists at heart, manyHarry Potterfans would love nothing more than to wave a wand, shout “Apparate!” and magically appear in their favorite spots from the films. Well, good news! You don’t need to cast spells like the characters ofJ.K. Rowling’s beloved book series to make that happen.While many of the iconic sets featured across the eight film adaptations were produced in Warner Bros. studios, severalHarry Potterscenes were filmed in real-life locations, from King’s Cross Station in London to Christ Church in Oxford, England — all open for Muggles to visit. However, that’s not all there is; you can also step inside the Wizarding World at official studio tours ortheme parkswhere the magic comes to life.So, grab your broomsticks (or your butterbeer), here are 15Harry Potterspots you can experience firsthand.

Escapists at heart, manyHarry Potterfans would love nothing more than to wave a wand, shout “Apparate!” and magically appear in their favorite spots from the films. Well, good news! You don’t need to cast spells like the characters ofJ.K. Rowling’s beloved book series to make that happen.

While many of the iconic sets featured across the eight film adaptations were produced in Warner Bros. studios, severalHarry Potterscenes were filmed in real-life locations, from King’s Cross Station in London to Christ Church in Oxford, England — all open for Muggles to visit. However, that’s not all there is; you can also step inside the Wizarding World at official studio tours ortheme parkswhere the magic comes to life.

So, grab your broomsticks (or your butterbeer), here are 15Harry Potterspots you can experience firsthand.

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Warner Bros. Studio, Tokyo

A photo of the Marble Staircase at ‘Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo — The Making of Harry Potter’ taken during a press preview on June 14, 2023.KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP via Getty

KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP via Getty

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12 Picket Post Close, Bracknell, U.K.

A photo on July 22, 2003, of the house where Harry Potter lived in Bracknell, England, from the 2001 film ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’.Warren Little/Getty

Warren Little/Getty

While you can’t step inside, you can still wander past the real-life house where Harry Potter lived with the Dursleys seen inHarry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone(2001) andHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1(2010) andPart 2(2011).

03of 15Leadenhall Market, LondonA photo of shops and Victorian architecture in Leadenhall Market in London.GettyFancy a stroll down Diagon Alley? Head to Leadenhall Market in London, the inspiration behind Rowling’s fictional shopping street. This historic location also appeared in the firstHarry Potterfilm, standing in for the path that leads to the iconic wizarding pub, The Leaky Cauldron.

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Leadenhall Market, London

A photo of shops and Victorian architecture in Leadenhall Market in London.Getty

Getty

Fancy a stroll down Diagon Alley? Head to Leadenhall Market in London, the inspiration behind Rowling’s fictional shopping street. This historic location also appeared in the firstHarry Potterfilm, standing in for the path that leads to the iconic wizarding pub, The Leaky Cauldron.

04of 15Great Hall at Hogwarts, LondonThe Great Hall at Hogwarts seen in the ‘Harry Potter’ films.Warner Bros.Step inside the magical setting atThe Warner Bros. Studio London, where every December, visitors are welcome to attend theirannual Dinner in the Great Hall event. Guests can dine amongst props featured in the first 2001 film,Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, andguzzle down some butterbeerand delicious food. Did we mention each patron gets a souvenir gift?!

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Great Hall at Hogwarts, London

The Great Hall at Hogwarts seen in the ‘Harry Potter’ films.Warner Bros.

Warner Bros.

Step inside the magical setting atThe Warner Bros. Studio London, where every December, visitors are welcome to attend theirannual Dinner in the Great Hall event. Guests can dine amongst props featured in the first 2001 film,Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, andguzzle down some butterbeerand delicious food. Did we mention each patron gets a souvenir gift?!

05of 15Alnwick Castle, EnglandAn image of the Alnwick Castle in Northumberland, United Kingdom.DeAgostini/GettyTheMedieval Alnwick castlewas used as a set for the fictional Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the first twoHarry Potterfilms. You’ll see Alnwick in familiar scenes likeHarry’s first broomstick flying lessoninHarry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stoneor Ron’s (Rupert Grint) flying car crash in 2002’sHarry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

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Alnwick Castle, England

An image of the Alnwick Castle in Northumberland, United Kingdom.DeAgostini/Getty

TheMedieval Alnwick castlewas used as a set for the fictional Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the first twoHarry Potterfilms. You’ll see Alnwick in familiar scenes likeHarry’s first broomstick flying lessoninHarry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stoneor Ron’s (Rupert Grint) flying car crash in 2002’sHarry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

06of 15Christ Church, University of Oxford, EnglandA photo of the Great Hall empty at Christ College at the University of Oxford in Oxford, England.Hoberman Collection/UIG/GettyWhen it comes toHarry Potter, few sights are as iconic as Hogwarts' Great Hall. In the film, young witches and wizards from each house gather around long tables for meals and ceremonial events — much like the students atChrist Church, a college at the University of Oxford. Visitors can get a peek at the real thing during a visit to the college … if there isn’t an educational event happening, of course.

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Christ Church, University of Oxford, England

A photo of the Great Hall empty at Christ College at the University of Oxford in Oxford, England.Hoberman Collection/UIG/Getty

When it comes toHarry Potter, few sights are as iconic as Hogwarts' Great Hall. In the film, young witches and wizards from each house gather around long tables for meals and ceremonial events — much like the students atChrist Church, a college at the University of Oxford. Visitors can get a peek at the real thing during a visit to the college … if there isn’t an educational event happening, of course.

07of 15The Jacobite, ScotlandThe Jacobite train traveling on the Glenfinnan Viaduct in Lochaber, Scotland, U.K.Archive Photos/GettyLooking for an attraction that will scratch yourHarry Pottersight-seeing itchandsatisfy your travel companions? TryThe Jacobite, a steam train that runs along the western coast of Scotland, giving travelers a gorgeous view of the Scottish countryside — and make you feel like you’re riding the Hogwarts Express in real life.Fans should keep their eyes peeled for theGlenfinnan viaduct, the 21-arched overpass seen in the film.

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The Jacobite, Scotland

The Jacobite train traveling on the Glenfinnan Viaduct in Lochaber, Scotland, U.K.Archive Photos/Getty

Looking for an attraction that will scratch yourHarry Pottersight-seeing itchandsatisfy your travel companions? TryThe Jacobite, a steam train that runs along the western coast of Scotland, giving travelers a gorgeous view of the Scottish countryside — and make you feel like you’re riding the Hogwarts Express in real life.

Fans should keep their eyes peeled for theGlenfinnan viaduct, the 21-arched overpass seen in the film.

08of 15Black Park Country Park, EnglandAn image of Black Park Country Park in Iver, England, circa 1993.Collection/Rex USAThrill seekers can findHarry Potter’s Forbidden Forest come to life at theBlack Park in Iver, England. The spiders, however, won’t come in larger-than-life forms… we hope!

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Black Park Country Park, England

An image of Black Park Country Park in Iver, England, circa 1993.Collection/Rex USA

Thrill seekers can findHarry Potter’s Forbidden Forest come to life at theBlack Park in Iver, England. The spiders, however, won’t come in larger-than-life forms… we hope!

09of 15King’s Cross Station, LondonPeople waiting outside of the Hogwarts Express at King’s Cross Station in London.Mail On Sunday/Rex USAPerhaps one of the best-knownHarry Potterattractions, this iconic train station has a Platform 9 3/4 sign, complete with a cart appearing to be halfway through the wall. The “platform” may be a fake, but Potter still travels through the realKing’s Crossin the film, so it’s doubly worth a trip.However, don’t make like a wizard andactuallyrun your cart into the wall; you’ll just end up with flying luggage and a headache.

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King’s Cross Station, London

People waiting outside of the Hogwarts Express at King’s Cross Station in London.Mail On Sunday/Rex USA

Perhaps one of the best-knownHarry Potterattractions, this iconic train station has a Platform 9 3/4 sign, complete with a cart appearing to be halfway through the wall. The “platform” may be a fake, but Potter still travels through the realKing’s Crossin the film, so it’s doubly worth a trip.

However, don’t make like a wizard andactuallyrun your cart into the wall; you’ll just end up with flying luggage and a headache.

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US Quadball Cup

A member of the Oklahoma Baptist University team throws the quaffle through the hoop for 10 points during the Quadball World Cup in Myrtle Beach, S.C., on April 5, 2014.Richard Ellis/Getty

Unlike in the book, fortunately, the real-life US Quadball Cup is held annually.

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Millennium Bridge, London

Works of art are pictured behind the Millennium Bridge on the river facade of the Tate Modern in London on May 23, 2008.Shaun Curry/AFP/Getty

In reality, the bridge still stands today and is the perfect path fromSt Paul’s Cathedralto theTate Modern.

12of 15Wynott’s Wands, Salem, Mass.Witches and warlocks shop at Wynott’s Wands during Halloween on Oct. 31, 2019, in Salem, Mass.Joseph Prezioso/afp/gettyPotterfans may not be able to visit Olivander’s Wand Shop in real life, butWynott’s Wandswill get them pretty close. Visitors say that the teeny shop feels just like something out of Rowling’s imagination and is located in the magical capital of America:Salem, Mass.

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Wynott’s Wands, Salem, Mass.

Witches and warlocks shop at Wynott’s Wands during Halloween on Oct. 31, 2019, in Salem, Mass.Joseph Prezioso/afp/getty

Joseph Prezioso/afp/getty

Potterfans may not be able to visit Olivander’s Wand Shop in real life, butWynott’s Wandswill get them pretty close. Visitors say that the teeny shop feels just like something out of Rowling’s imagination and is located in the magical capital of America:Salem, Mass.

13of 15The London Zoo, EnglandA Sumatran Tiger looks at visiting children from its enclosure during the ZSL London Zoo’s annual stocktake of animals on Jan. 5, 2015.Dan Kitwood/GettyTheLondon Zoodoesn’t appear on-screen inHarry Potterfor long — but the scene it does appear in is significant. Harry communicates with a snake, later revealed to be due to his ability to speak parseltongue, which becomes a fairly significant plot throughout the series. Visit the reptile enclave at the London Zoo to see where it all began.

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The London Zoo, England

A Sumatran Tiger looks at visiting children from its enclosure during the ZSL London Zoo’s annual stocktake of animals on Jan. 5, 2015.Dan Kitwood/Getty

TheLondon Zoodoesn’t appear on-screen inHarry Potterfor long — but the scene it does appear in is significant. Harry communicates with a snake, later revealed to be due to his ability to speak parseltongue, which becomes a fairly significant plot throughout the series. Visit the reptile enclave at the London Zoo to see where it all began.

14of 15Durham Cathedral, Durham, EnglandThe congregation listen to a service held in Durham Cathedral during the inauguration service for the Right Reverend Paul Butler in Durham, England, on Feb. 22, 2014.Ian Forsyth/GettyRemember that snowy courtyard Harry walked through with his pet owl, Hedwig, inHarry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone? You can take your own stroll through the same spot during a visit to theDurham Cathedralin Durham, England.

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Durham Cathedral, Durham, England

The congregation listen to a service held in Durham Cathedral during the inauguration service for the Right Reverend Paul Butler in Durham, England, on Feb. 22, 2014.Ian Forsyth/Getty

Remember that snowy courtyard Harry walked through with his pet owl, Hedwig, inHarry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone? You can take your own stroll through the same spot during a visit to theDurham Cathedralin Durham, England.

15of 15Harry Potter World, Orlando, Fla.General view at the Grand Opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando on June 17, 2010.Gustavo Caballero/GettyIf you don’t want to cross the Atlantic but have a hankering for a day (or two!) full ofHarry Potter, head down to theWizarding World of Harry Potter, a theme park in Orlando, Fla., which isexpanding in 2025. Parkgoers can explore Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, the Hogwarts Express and Diagon Alley, all with a butterbeer in hand.

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Harry Potter World, Orlando, Fla.

General view at the Grand Opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando on June 17, 2010.Gustavo Caballero/Getty

If you don’t want to cross the Atlantic but have a hankering for a day (or two!) full ofHarry Potter, head down to theWizarding World of Harry Potter, a theme park in Orlando, Fla., which isexpanding in 2025. Parkgoers can explore Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, the Hogwarts Express and Diagon Alley, all with a butterbeer in hand.

source: people.com