If you are a fan of the Harry Potter series, you will definitely want to see the filming locations of the films – Scotland and Great Britain was the inspiration for J.K. Rowling. Scenes for such a famous and popular blockbuster were created here. Pay attention to a magical train that was moving on a real bridge, i.e. the Glenfinnan Viaduct located in Scotland. Check out where other Harry Potter movies were filmed!
The Jacobite Steam Train (Hogwarts Express) – Glenfinnan Viaduct -Scotland
West Coast Railways supplied the engine and carriages used in the filming of the “Harry Potter” films.The Hogwarts Express as it is more commonly known, but christened 5972 Olton Hall is on show and available for all to see at Warner Bros Studio Tour in London.In the movies Harry and his pals travelled in vintage MkI carriages on a 42 mile stretch of line between Fort William and Mallaig, known as the greatest railway journey in the world passing a list of impressive extremes including Britain´s highest mountain, shortest river, most westerly station and deepest sea Loch at Mallaig, also crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct made famous by the Harry Potter films.
The Glenfinnan Viaduct is a renowned feat of Victorian engineering and the longest concrete railway bridge in Scotland. It takes the West Highland Railway over the River Finnan 100ft below, on its journey between Fort William and Mallaig – and is one of the most picturesque train rides in the world. Built in the 1890s by ‘Concrete Bob’ McAlpine, the viaduct’s 21 huge arches were constructed using pioneering technology at the time.
Loch Shiel – Scotland
Loch Shiel is a freshwater lake and the fourth longest loch in Scotland. This loch can be seen briefly in all the movies but it is most recognized for being the scene of the underwater stage of the Triwizard Tournament in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. It’s also recognisable from the scene where Harry rides Buckbeak the hippogriff in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
Loch Shiel has many beautiful trails to see. You can see some great attractions while cycling or hiking.
King’s Cross Station
King’s Cross Station, a Muggle railway station in London. Students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry traveled to school by train from Platform 9¾ at this station. To get on the train, you need to run into the barrier between platforms 9 and 10. At 11 a.m. the crossing closes. The station is also used by Muggles wishing to travel to North London, Yorkshire and Scotland, where Harry first met the Weasley family.
King’s Cross Station is a major railway and Underground station in London. The train station is in central London, close to King’s Cross and Bloomsbury.
Rannoch Moor – Scotland
Rannoch Moor -If you have a keen eye, you’ll probably recognise it from the films as the Hogwarts Express travels across this landscape. Specifically, this is where the Death Eaters board the train in Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 1.
There are a few scenic viewpoints just off the A82 road where you can stop to take in the beauty of the moor.
The Dursley house – Privet Drive 4 – England
4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging is the Dursley home where the saga begins. This is a real Berkshire home, located at 12 Picket Post Close, Bracknell. For the film adaptation of the first book, a real urban location was chosen (Picket Post Close, Winkfield, Bracknell) to imitate Privet Drive. Harry’s childhood home is worth a lot and has been put up for sale by a British property management company.
Steall Falls in Glen Nevis – Scotland
The falls were also used as a filming location for a number of the Harry Potter films. As well as the waterfall and Glen Nevis acting as a stunning backdrop in the film, the waterfall is also the place where Harry takes on the Hungarian Horntail dragon in the Goblet of Fire.
The spectacular Steall Falls and get there is an adventure. Explore the magic of Glen Nevis and the beautiful Steall Falls on a guided family adventure with an experienced scottish hill walking guide.
Alnwick Castle – England
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone filmed on location at Alnwick Castle in autumn 2000. The following year, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (the second film in the series) used Alnwick Castle for shooting. Harry and his classmates learned to fly broomsticks on the Outer Bailey, which is also where Harry learned to play the wizarding sport Quidditch. Walk around the castle’s courtyards and baileys, and try and spot where Harry and his friends walked to class, where Ron crashed his dad’s flying car, and their route to Hagrid’s hut and the Forbidden Forest.
Alnwick Castle is the second largest inhabited castle in the country and has been home to the Duke of Northumberland’s family, the Percys, for over 700 years.
Durham Cathedral – England
Durham Cathedral’s ancient cloisters doubled as a film location for Hogwarts in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone back in 2001. Against a snowy backdrop, the cloisters became the snow-covered quadrangle where Harry magically releases Hedwig the owl from his hands. Harry and friends returned to Durham’s UNESCO World Heritage Site the following year for the Chamber of Secrets sequel, with the breath-taking building once again providing the setting for Harry, Ron and Hermione being taught how to turn animals into water goblets.
Built in 1093 to house the Shrine of St Cuthbert, Durham Cathedral is renowned for its magnificent Romanesque architecture and spectacular location.
Leadenhall Market – England
It was in Leadenhall Market that the scenes taking place in Diagon Alley were filmed. Every Harry Potter fan can visit this place, admire the beautiful Victorian architecture and enjoy seeing the scenery from the movies with their own eyes. Leadenhall Market featured in the very first Harry Potter movie as the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron!This is where Harry Potter and Hagrid enter and make their way to Diagon Alley, the magical shopping street of the Wizarding World.
Admire the ornate roof and cobbled floors at Leadenhall Market, a covered market full of eateries and shops, in the City of London. The glorious wrought iron and glass market was designed by Sir Horace Jones in the 19th century, but there’s been a market on this site since the 14th century. Today, you can shop here for jewellery, watches and books, or explore the delicious options of this popular foodie destination filled with upmarket eateries, wine bars and coffee shops.
Bodleian Library – University of Oxford – England
Do you reeber scene, depicting Harry in the Restricted Section of Hogwarts’ library ? Comes from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. It was filmed at the Bodleian Libraries, in Duke Humfrey’s Library, oldest reading room in Oxford Uniersity.
The Bodleian Libraries at the University of Oxford is the largest university library system in the United Kingdom. It includes the principal University library – the Bodleian Library – which has been a legal deposit library for 400 years; as well as 30 libraries across Oxford including major research libraries and faculty, department and institute libraries. Together, the Libraries hold more than 12 million printed items, over 80,000 e-journals and outstanding special collections including rare books and manuscripts, classical papyri, maps, music, art and printed ephemera.
