The Best Harry Potter Filming Locations and Inspiration Sites Around the World

Harry Potter has fans of all ages who dream of stepping into the Wizarding World. If you love the magic created by J.K. Rowling, you’ll want to visit these iconic Harry Potter filming locations and inspiration sites. From real-life castles and lakes to train stations that inspired Hogwarts sets, these destinations bring the magic to life, no broomstick required.

Many Harry Potter filming locations were actual filming sites, while others inspired the incredible sets used in the movies. Fans can ride the Hogwarts Express, pose at Platform 9¾, or explore castles and landscapes that shaped the Wizarding World.

Millennium Bridge, London

This pedestrian bridge, seen in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, was used in filming for the Millennium Bridge collapse scene. Today, it’s a beautiful London landmark with great views, making it a must-see Harry Potter filming location.

Kings Cross, London

King’s Cross Station is one of the most famous Harry Potter filming locations, home to Platform 9¾. While the scene was filmed between platforms 4 and 5, the location is now a magical photo stop with a trolley and an official shop for fans. The scene was actually shot between platforms 4 and 5, but if you want to visit the location, you’ll need to buy a train ticket. While there is no barrier between Platforms 9 and 10, you can capture a Platform 9¾ photo opportunity in the station.

Cliffs of Moher, Ireland

In The Half-Blood Prince, Dumbledore takes Harry to a sea cave where he thinks they’ve found one of Voldemort’s Horcruxes. Although the interior scenes were computer-generated, the exterior scenes were filmed at the Cliffs of Moher. The Cliffs of Moher are located on the west coast of Ireland along the Wild Atlantic Way, about an hour from the quaint town of Galway. Rising nearly 400 feet above the ocean, The Cliffs of Moher is a must-see for fans of the Harry Potter movies.

Alnwick Castle, England

Alnwick Castle, dating back to the 11th century, was the place where Harry and his friends first learned to fly their broomsticks in the movie Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. The castle grounds were also where Harry learned the rules of Quidditch from Oliver Wood. Alnwick Castle was a filming location for the first two Harry Potter movies, The Sorcerer’s Stone and The Chamber of Secrets.

Used for broomstick lessons and Quidditch training in The Sorcerer’s Stone and Chamber of Secrets, Alnwick Castle is a real filming site and a fan-favorite Harry Potter filming location.

London Zoo, England

The London Zoo holds the title of the world’s oldest scientific zoo. One of its popular attractions is the Reptile House, where Harry Potter conversed with a Burmese python using Parseltongue in the Sorcerer’s Stone. The enclosure used in the film is actually home to the black mamba, a highly venomous snake from Africa. Along with snakes and reptiles, the zoo offers various animals, from tigers to bears.

Loch Shiel, Scotland

The breathtaking Loch Shiel doubled as Hogwarts’ Black Lake in several films. It’s an authentic filming site and one of the most scenic Harry Potter filming locations in Scotland. In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Buckbeak dipped his feet in the lake while Harry rode on his back. The lake appeared at the end of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, where Harry and Hermione looked across Hogwarts Lake from the Astronomy Tower. Visitors are not advised to swim in Loch Shiel as Scottish lochs are frigid even in summer. 

Lacock Abbey, England

Lacock Abbey, located in Chippenham, was used as on of the Harry Potter filming locations for several interior scenes of Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films. Harry’s potion classes with Professor Snape take place at Lacock Abbey. The foreboding medieval architecture is the perfect setting for Professor Snape’s classroom. The abbey also serves as the setting for some of Hogwarts’ grand corridors and the room where Harry discovers the mysterious Mirror of Erised. Harry Potter fans will find a visit to Lacock Abbey essential to their fandom.

Glenfinnan Viaduct, Scotland

The scene where Harry and Ron miss the train to school and take Ron’s flying car was filmed alongside the Glenfinnan Viaduct in the Scottish Highlands. Most photographs of this magnificent 18th-century viaduct are taken from its northwest side. You can also book a ticket on the Jacobite Steam Train to ride the Hogwarts Express along the Glenfinnan Viaduct. The train runs from Fort William to Mallaig and will take you across the bridge to Hogwarts.

Glencoe, Scotland

Glen Coe is a famous spot among tourists for its stunning views. Fans of Harry Potter movies will recognize this location as the backdrop for Hagrid’s Hut and the wooden Hogwarts Bridge in Prisoner of Azkaban. Glen Coe is a Highland valley between two mountains, with the famous Three Sisters peaks. Glen Coe can be explored by hiking or stopping along the roadside at one of several official viewpoints.

Glencoe’s dramatic landscape was used in films as the backdrop for Hagrid’s Hut and Hogwarts Bridge. This is a real filming location fans can explore, making it on of the must-see Harry Potter filming locations.

Goathland Station, England

This train station was the final stop for students attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The Hogsmeade train station was filmed at the Goathland train station in North Yorkshire. This scene occurs at the beginning and end of Scorcer’s Stone as students journey from Hogsmeade station to Hogwarts. Experience the magic of Harry Potter with steam train excursions from Pickering to Goathland. Follow in the footsteps of Harry, Ron, and Hermione as they arrive at the station for their new school year.

Christ Church, Oxford

Christ Church’s Great Hall inspired the impressive Hogwarts Dining Hall. However, the Hogwarts Great Hall in the films was constructed on a private set for filming purposes. When you visit Christ Church, you may also notice the staircase where Professor McGonagall first met Harry, Hermione, and Ron. There are numerous similarities between Oxford and Hogwarts, such as the figures lining the walls of the college buildings that resemble the statues Professor McGonagall uses to defend Hogwarts during the Battle of Hogwarts.

Bodleian Library, Oxford

The Divinity School at Oxford was featured in the first Harry Potter movie as the Hogwarts Infirmary. In the film, hospital beds are arranged along the walls, and Harry lies in one after his encounter with Voldemort. Another scene, where Harry sneaks into the Hogwarts Library under his invisibility cloak to steal a book, was filmed in Duke Humfrey’s Library, which is part of the Bodleian Libraries. This library can only be accessed through a private tour. This historic library remains a key Harry Potter filming location, accessible via guided tour.

Planning Your Magical Harry Potter Adventure

Visiting these incredible Harry Potter filming locations and inspiration sites is a dream come true for any fan, but planning a trip to multiple countries can be overwhelming. From booking flights and trains to arranging accommodations near castles, lakes, and film sites, there’s a lot to coordinate.

That’s where I come in! As a travel agent, I specialize in creating seamless, magical trips for Harry Potter fans. I can help you plan every detail from touring Hogwarts-inspired sites in England to exploring the stunning landscapes of Scotland and Ireland so you can focus on the magic.

Whether it’s reserving tickets for the Jacobite Steam Train over the Glenfinnan Viaduct, arranging guided tours of Oxford’s historic libraries, or finding the perfect castle stay near Alnwick, I make sure your trip is stress-free and unforgettable. Any Harry Potter fan would agree—this is a must-do adventure!

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