Are you a Harry Potter fan who loves travelling? This article is perfect for you then!
You will discover all the Harry Potter places in the world.
From England to the USA, we tell you everything!
The Harry Potter books were written by the British author JK Rowling. Although she was English, she also spent a great deal of time in Portugal and Scotland.
When the rights for the Harry Potter films were bought, one of her conditions was that everything would be filmed in the UK.
It’s also important to note that Warner Studios, the movies’ producer, belongs to an American company, Universal. England, Scotland, Portugal, USA… all these places had an influence on the Harry Potter books and movies.
This means that if you want to discover all the Harry Potter places in the world, this is where you will want to go!
In this article, we will discover the main Harry Potter filming locations, places of inspiration for names, the real version Diagon Alley, the Warner Bros Studios and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!
So are you ready little Potterhead? Let’s dive right in!
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost for you!
Harry Potter Locations in Scotland
If you love the original Harry Potter stuff and by that I obviously mean the Harry Potter books, then Scotland is the place for you!
J.K Rowling spent most of her life in Scotland and this is where she wrote all the Harry Potter books. She used to go walk around Edinburgh with her daughter and a lot of things in Edinburgh inspired her!
School, graveyard, shops, streets… there are so many Harry Potter places to see in Scotland.
Later on, when the movies started to be produced, loads of places in Scotland were chosen as filming locations, including the Hogwarts Express!
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the birthplace of Harry Potter. Although JK Rowling got the idea in a 4 hour delayed train from Manchester to London, it’s in Edinburgh that she shaped the story and characters.
If you love the Harry Potter books, Edinburgh is where you want to go!First of all, let’s set the space! JK Rowling is not Scottish.
She is from England and lived for a while in Porto, Portugal, with her ex-husband and her daughter, Jessica. In 1993, she leaves her abusive husband and decides to move back to the UK. Her sister was living in Edinburgh at the time and as we all know, when things go wrong we want to be with people we love.
Even though she didn’t really know Edinburgh, she moved up there.
She got to Edinburgh with her daughter, pretty much broke, 3 chapters of Harry Potter and more important with many dreams in her head.
She explored the city more than most people would and her attention to detail was a big part of her inspiration for the books. She discovered the streets, the graveyard and many other places when she was going out for a stroll with her daughter.
She also tried to understand the Scottish culture and folklore.
By doing this, she picked up on names, mythical creatures, architecture styles…All of this combined with what she already knew about places like London or Porto was then beautifully put together in the Harry Potter books.
The first books were mainly written in cafes such as The Elephant House or Spoon (fka Nicolson’s café).
If you go to Edinburgh, it’s a return to the sources that you will get. You will just get to see all these little things that inspired her and more importantly realise how impressive her attention to detail and observation skills are.
If you want to discover Harry Potter in Edinburgh, there are many places you can check including:
- The Elephant House
- Spoon Café
- Potterrow
- Greyfriars Kirkyard
- Royal Mile
- Victoria Street
You can also opt for the following activities:
- Harry Potter walking tour of Edinburgh. You’ll be with a local guide who will bring you to all the main sites and tell you everything you need to know about J.K Rowling and the books. The tour lasts a couple of hours and is great value for money. See prices here.
- Take a day trip to the other Harry Potter locations in Scotland. Many tour companies organised HP trips around Scotland from Edinburgh. It’s very convenient. Click here to see the latest prices.
Pro tip: Edinburgh is perfect for people who love the Harry Potter books! I would highly recommend to re-read them or Buy the Harry Potter books before your trip!
Glenfinnan
Have you ever dreamt of going on the Hogwarts Express? Well, that dream is just about to come true!
The real-life version of the Hogwarts Express is named the Jacobite Steam Train. It travels from Fort William to Mallaig along the West Highland Line.
The train is very similar to the Hogwarts express, itself inspired by the old Scottish steam trains. But it’s not the only thing you will get to see!
The outside scenes of the train in the movies were filmed in Scotland, on that exact same train route. By taking the Harry Potter train you will travel over the magnificent Glenfinnan Viaduct and enjoy views of Loch Shiel from your window, another key location in the films. The ticket costs between ÂŁ36 and ÂŁ65.
If you don’t wish to go on the train journey, you can still see the train the on the viaduct in Glenfinnan.
Glenfinnan Viaduct is located in the small village of Glenfinnan. You can easily get there by car and walk up to the viewing platform. From there, you’ll get to see both the Harry Potter bridge and the train!
HOW TO GET THERE: If you want to organise everything by yourself, you can go on the Jacobite train website and book from there. The other options are to:
- go on a day trip from Edinburgh
- go on 2-day Highlands tour with Hogwarts Express
- go on a 3-day Highlands tour with Hogwarts Express and the Isle of Skye
Other Harry Potter locations in Scotland
Although Edinburgh and Glenfinnan Viaduct are the most famous Harry Potter places in Scotland, there are another few that are worth mentioning:
- Glencoe, home to Hagrid’s hut and pumpkin patch
- Loch Eilt. Dumbledore’s tomb and where Hagrid was skipping stones after Buckbeak was sentenced.
- Loch Shiel. The lake above which Harry Potter was flying on the Hippogriff in the Prisoner of Azkaban.
- Steal Falls in Glen Nevis. These waterfalls were used in the background of the scene where Harry fights against the Hungarian Horntail.
Harry Potter Places in England, UK
If you are a fan of the Harry Potter movies, England will be your paradise!
Why, you ask? Because you will get to discover some amazing filming locations and the studios! As a matter of fact, Harry Potter films were all filmed in the UK, exclusively!
That was one of the conditions JK Rowling had! You will get to re-live some legendary scenes such as the one when Harry, Ron and Hermione are fleeing from the Death Eaters in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (yep! That was in London!)
So are you ready? Let’s discover the best Harry Potter things to do in England!
London
Harry Potter in London is a completely different experience than in Edinburgh. In Edinburgh, you can feel the story behind the books. In London, you get to see everything about the movies. It’s not about the feel, it’s about seeing and doing.
When the Harry Potter movies starting to be produced, JK Rowling made sure all actors would be British and everything would be filmed in the UK. And sure enough, that’s exactly what happened!
Many filming locations are in central London. This includes the following places:
- London Bridge and the Tower of London
- Piccadilly Circus
- Kings Cross station and St Pancras International
- London Zoo
- Millennium Bridge
- Charing Cross Road
- Leadenhall Market
- Australia House
- Westminster Tube Station
- Lambeth Bridge
But the rest of the movies were mainly filmed in the Warner Bros Studios in Watford, North London. For almost a decade these studios became the crew’s home. Most sets were built there.
The studios are now open to the public. You can easily book your ticket online or opt for a tour with transfer from Central London. Click here to see the latest prices.
You will get to see the main sets such as:
- The dining hall
- Hogwarts castle
- Gryffindor common room
- Gringotts Bank
- Diagon Alley
But also the costume, the CGI studios and many other things.If you are a fan of the Harry Potter movies, this is where you want to go! It’s a wonderful experience. You will get to discover not only the aesthetic aspects but see and understand the behind the scenes.
London West End is also home to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child the play. Located near Piccadilly Circus, The Cursed Child is an amazing show. The actors, the stage, the costumes, the special effects… are just brilliant! A must-do!
You can buy tickets for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on the official website!
Here are another few Harry Potter things you can do in London:
- Harry Potter walking tour of London. See prices here.
- Potion making workshop at the Cauldron.
5. Oxford
Oxford is also one of the main filming locations of the Harry Potter movie. Perfect as a day trip from London, it’s a great opportunity to discover a real-life version of Hogwarts.
Most colleges in Oxford actually do look like Hogwarts and are still in use which means that Oxford students are pretty much muggles going to Hogwarts. Quite cool right?
The main Harry Potter filming locations in Oxford are the Bodleian, New College and Christ Church.
How to get there: If you are staying in London, you can book a Harry Potter day trip to Oxford. Alternatively, if you choose to catch a train to Oxford, you can go on a HP walking tour once there.
Malham Cove
Located in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales National Park, Malham Cove was used as a Harry Potter filming location in the 7th movie (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1).
When Hermione and Harry leave Ron, they go camping on a rocky cliff. This is it!
This is one of the most underrated Harry Potter locations in the world. It’s often overlooked but yet, should be on everyone’s bucket list.
Malham is a quaint village and home to many amazing walks.
HOW TO GET THERE: It is a pretty remote location so the best way to get there is by car. You can park at the National Park visitor centre and walk up to Malham Cove from there. It’s a short 30 minutes walk.
Alternatively, if you are staying in Liverpool, you can opt for a day tour of Yorkshire that includes Malham Cove. See prices here.
Other locations in England
London and Oxford are the main Harry Potter locations in England. However, there are other places you can visit.
These Harry Potter filming locations were only used once or twice in the movies but they are awesome too!
- Hardwick Hall
- Alnwick Castle
- Goathland station
- Lacock
- Gloucester
- Durham
Harry Potter location in Wales
We had to wait until the 7th movie to see a scene filmed in Wales but there is one!
Remember in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 when they land on a beach and Dobby dies? Yes, this is it! Shell Cottage filming location is in Wales!
Dobby’s grave is located on Freshwater West Beach. Part of Pembrokeshire Coastal National Park, one of the most beautiful national parks in Wales, the beach is easily accessible by car. It will take about 2 hours from Cardiff.
HOW TO GET THERE: The best way to get there is by car. Pembrokeshire National Park is a beautiful place to see and there are a lot of things you can do around.
Harry Potter locations in Portugal
Portugal is one of the most interesting Harry Potter places in the world in the way that there is nothing that is directly related to Harry Potter but yet everything else is!
Before moving to Scotland, J.K. Rowling lived for a few years in Portugal and this place became a big source of inspiration.
It is believed that she shaped the foundations of her magical world in Portugal before she even had the idea of Harry Potter!
Porto
As previously mentioned, before moving to Edinburgh, JK Rowling was living in Porto.
Although she didn’t write anything else than the first 3 chapters there and none of the movies took place in Porto, there is plenty of Harry Potter things to discover in Porto.
Porto is where Harry Potter came to life in JK Rowling’s imagination and we can see the influence of that beautiful city in the books.
In Porto, the streets are colourful and shops quirky. There are cute cafes and bookshops. Perfect to get inspired! Here are a few things you should check out:
- Majestic cafe
- Livraria Lello
- Escovaria de Belomonte
- Fonte dos Leões
If you want to know more about Harry Potter in Porto, you can go on a walking tour.
The guide will tell you everything you need to know about Harry Potter and its relationship with the Portuguese capital. It’s a beautiful addition to the ones in London and Edinburgh. Click here to see the latest prices.
Harry Potter places in the USA
So, I know I mentioned before that JK Rowling got inspired in Portugal, wrote her books in Scotland and then filmed the movies in England mainly. So why are the States here? I hear you ask!
This is a good question and here is the answer! Harry Potter was produced by Universal and as you may already know, Universal has 2 main theme parks in the USA, in Florida and California.
Once Harry Potter cast his spell on the world, it was only normal for the producers to open not only one but two Wizarding Worlds of Harry Potter in the Universal Studios!
Orlando, Florida
Like everywhere else in the world, Harry Potter was a massive success in the USA. Warner Bros, who produced the movies, is an American company.
Being part of the Universal group, it was only normal to add Harry Potter world to Orlando’s Universal Studios.Orlando is the world’s theme park capital and if you are a Harry Potter fan, Universal Studios are a must-do in Orlando!
Inside, you will get to discover the wizarding world of Harry Potter and explore the corridors and classrooms of Hogwarts.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is made up of two lands:- Hogsmeade located in Islands of Adventure – Diagon Alley located in Universal Studios Florida They are connected by an actual working Hogwarts Express!
Quite cool right?
HOW TO GET THERE: You can easily fly to Orlando from anywhere in the world. You can even find some really good deals when it comes to flights. See the fares here.
HOW TO GET TICKETS: You will need to book your tickets in advance. Make sure to book the one with both parks! The Wizarding World is split between the two so you need access to both.
- For US and Canada residents, prices here.
- For Europe, Middle East, Africa residents, prices here.
- For UK, Ireland and Australia, prices here.
California, USA
Although the one in Florida is much bigger, there is another Wizarding World of Harry Potter in the USA!
You will find it in California, in the Universal Studios Hollywood.
This time, it’s only one land, very similar to Hogsmeade. You will get to discover the Hogwarts Castle and go on many rides.
The amazing thing about the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in California is that it’s easily doable in one day, unlike the one in Florida.
HOW TO GET TICKETS: Tickets are not available at the gate so you need to make sure to book in advance. Click here to see the latest prices.
New York City
NYC is famous for many things but Harry Potter usually isn’t one of them. Yet, there are quite a few HP things you can do in New York City!
Firstly, you can see the play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Lyric Theatre. It’s one of the 7 cities in the world where you can see this performance.
As a theatre lover, I can assure it’s well worth your time and money.
Click here to see the latest prices.
New York City is also home to a few Harry Potter bars including the Cauldron (like the one in London) where you can do a Potion Making workshop.
Finally, you can find the largest Harry Potter shop in NYC. It’s located on Broadway and is a true paradise for all muggles out there.
You’ll find loads of products but also many photo opportunities.
Harry Potter locations in Japan
This may come as a surprise for many but Japan is also home to a couple of Harry Potter locations!
Osaka
The third Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park is located in the Universal Studios Japan, in the city of Osaka.
Similar to the ones in the USA, you will find there an incredible replica of the world of Harry Potter.
This includes Hogwarts Castle and Hogsmeade.
It’s a great place to visit for any Harry Potter fan as you’ll find roller coasters, shows, restaurants and shops
HOW TO GET TICKETS: The best thing about Universal Studios in Japan is that it is cheaper than the ones in the US. You can book your tickets online. See prices here.
Tokyo
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is planned to premiere in Tokyo in 2022. It will be at the TBS Akasaka ACT Theater.
Maps of the Best Harry Potter Sites in the World
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