No Potterhead can surely come to the UK without notching up a few Harry Potter filming locations in the UK en route. Places all over London, Scotland, England and Wales either featured on the silver screen or provided inspiration for J K Rowling when she created the characters and wrote the stories.
From where to find the Harry Potter shop in London to a range of Harry Potter locations in Scotland, Wales and the rest of England, this guide will point you in the direction of all the key Harry Potter places to visit in the UK.
If you can’t put a good Harry Potter book down or stop watching the movies, don’t plan your UK itinerary before reading this guide to Harry Potter sites in London and places where Harry Potter was filmed in Scotland and elsewhere.
Head north to beautiful, beachside Northumberland to see one location that served as the real Hogwarts Castle in England, or take a trip to the Harry Potter shop in London Kings Cross to stock up on an exclusive range of official memorabilia.
Other Harry Potter sites in England can be found in York, Wiltshire and Oxford, while in Wales a certain Pembrokeshire beach has become a Mecca for fans of Harry’s favourite elfin pal.
As for Scotland, it’s long been associated with the boy wizard and his school chums, as author J. K. Rowling was residing in the city when she penned the series of novels.
Continue reading so you can plan your perfect Potter-y UK itinerary! The following list includes 18 of the finest Harry Potter places in England, Scotland and Wales. Beginning just as the boy himself did, with the Harry Potter train station in London.
- 18 of the Best Harry Potter Filming Locations in the UK
- Which Harry Potter locations in the UK will you visit?
- London Travel Guide & Itinerary Planner (+ 4 bonus ebooks)
18 of the Best Harry Potter Filming Locations in the UK
10 Harry Potter film locations in London
King’s Cross station
London King’s Cross is number one among Harry Potter London locations. Here you can snap a selfie at the ‘Platform 9 & ¾’ sign and browse the wares sold at the Harry Potter shop. This Harry Potter station in London is easy to get to from all over the city by Underground. It’s also featured on many London walking tours, like this recommended one.
Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square is one of the key Harry Potter places in London for two reasons. J. K. Rowling, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson stood on stage here before the final film premiere.
Trafalgar Square is also one of the main Harry Potter filming locations in London as it was shown as the Death Eaters flew overhead during the the Half-Blood Prince movie.
Piccadilly Circus
This is one of those Harry Potter places to visit in London that you’re bound to see anyway. It’s featured in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, when Harry, Ron and Hermione apparate close by.
The Millenium Bridge
The Millenium Bridge starred in the later movies when the Death Eaters ran riot across the London skies. It doubled up as the Harry Potter bridge in London from the Half-Blood Prince film, and was destroyed by Voldemort’s followers.
Borough Market
Borough Market is one of London’s top markets and a favourite foodie destination. The market and Stoney Street also served as Diagon Alley and the Leaky Cauldron in the movies. Another Harry Potter market in London is Leadenhall Market, which was also used for some scenes.
BT Tower
While you’re in the vicinity of the Thames, look out for another of the Harry Potter locations in the UK – the BT Tower. It was seen when Harry and Ron flew over it in a Ford Anglia during Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
St Paul’s Cathedral
London’s mighty cathedral belongs on most London itineraries anyway. While you’re there, don’t miss the staircase within one of the front towers that was used as the route to Harry’s Divination classroom. It’s one of those Harry Potter spots in London that you can easily glimpse while exploring the city.
London Zoo
A commemorative plaque marks the spot here as one of many Harry Potter attractions in London. It’s in the Reptile House, where the zoo scenes with Harry and Dudley were filmed during the making of the first movie.
Claremont Square
Located in Islington in north London, Claremont Square doubled up as Grimmauld Place for the films featuring The Order of the Phoenix headquarters.
The square was used during filming to represent Sirius Black’s former home, and as such is one of the main Harry Potter sites in the UK.
You can visit it on this bus tour of the key locations.
Read more – Complete Guide to Harry Potter film locations in London | Best Harry Potter themed bus & walking tours of London
4 Harry Potter film locations in England
Oxford
Historic Oxford is home to several Harry Potter places in the UK. The Bodleian Libraries were used as the Divinity classroom and Hogwarts library, while Draco Malfoy was transformed into a ferret by an oak tree in the New College Cloisters.
The halls and staircases of Christ Church College were also used for several scenes at Hogwarts. If you’re looking for a tour, try this walking one that includes Christ Church College or this combined studios and Oxford day trip.
Lacock Abbey
Lacock Abbey was used in The Philosopher’s Stone and Chamber of Secrets films. Located in Wiltshire in the Cotswolds, the interiors stood in for various parts of Hogwarts.
You can visit Lacock as part of various tours, including this one to Stonehenge and Bath.
York
The Shambles in the small, historic northern city of York are linked to the Harry Potter films, and you only need to wander down the street to see why.
The ancient buildings and cobblestones make you feel like you’re in another, more magical world. Explore the city by taking this Potter-themed tour.
Alnwick
Harry Potter fans travelling to Scotland won’t want to miss Alnwick as they pass by. This charming Northumbrian town is home to Alnwick Castle – plus a few cobbled streets of its own. Exterior scenes were shot at the castle when the Hogwarts students learn to fly.
A tour from Edinburgh like this one is another way to see Alnwick.
3 Harry Potter film locations in Scotland
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is synonymous with the boy wizard, and The Elephant House cafe is famously where J. K. Rowling wrote some of the series. A fire on the historic George IV Bridge has meant it’s closed for now, however.
Other Harry Potter filming locations in Scotland to be found in the capital include Greyfriars Kirkyard, where a real-life Thomas Riddle lies. Like York’s Shambles, the Grassmarket in Edinburgh is also said to have inspired Diagon Alley.
You can also see J. K. Rowling’s golden handprints at the Edinburgh City Chambers, or discover why Heriot’s School might have also provided inspiration. Why not take a walking tour if you want to explore Harry Potter sites in Edinburgh?
The Jacobite
The London train station in Harry Potter might be where the Hogwarts Express departs from, but if you want to ride the steam locomotive then you’ll need to book a seat on The Jacobite.
Find out all about it in this post – or take an all-inclusive day trip from Edinburgh, including the Scottish Highlands.
Glen Coe
Breathtaking Glen Coe is one to add to your list of Harry Potter destinations in the UK. The Highland town was used when filming outside during the making of The Order of the Phoenix, The Goblet of Fire and The Half-Blood Prince.
A spot just above the Clachaig Inn, meanwhile, is where Hagrid’s Hut was positioned for The Prisoner of Azkaban. You can see Glen Coe and ride The Jacobite on this Scotland tour.
1 Harry Potter film location in Wales
Pembrokeshire
Freshwater West in the coastal Welsh country of Pembrokeshire has attracted many Potter fans since The Deathly Hallows films were released. Shell Cottage was also at the site, but alas Bill and Fleur’s home is now long gone.
Where Dobby was buried on the beach is now a place to find memorials left behind by keen fans. Typical items include painted pebbles, flowers, socks, gnomes and messages.
Which Harry Potter locations in the UK will you visit?
There are plenty of Harry Potter filming locations in England, Wales and Scotland to see – and there are also lots to discover in London itself. Including, of course, the Wizarding World to the north of the city.
From the exterior Alnwick Castle filming locations for Harry Potter and his pals learning to ride a broomstick or the Hogwarts Express to ‘Dobby’s beach’ or the dreaming spires of Oxford, finding your own Harry Potter alley in London or another historic city can be a real highlight of your trip to the UK.
And what better excuse to watch the movies once more – or re-read the books – before you set foot on British soil?
For more inspiration, don’t miss our posts on Harry Potter London locations, the best bus and walking tours of the capital and how to get to the Warner Bros. Studios. As well as where to board the real-life Hogwarts Express!
London Travel Guide & Itinerary Planner (+ 4 bonus ebooks)
