HOW WAND-ERFUL

The top 10 Harry Potter filming locations you can visit in the UK

Kara Godfrey

Published: 9:01, 7 Nov 2021
Updated: 16:51, 5 Nov 2021

WITH Christmas round the corner, Harry Potter fans can look forward to the popular films being back on their TV screens.

Luckily, most of the scenes in the eight movies were filmed across the UK.

It's been 20 years since the first Harry Potter film airedCredit: Getty - Contributor

And this year, the films celebrate their 20th anniversary since the first one, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, was aired.

To celebrate, has revealed the top Harry Potter filming locations across the UK, according to TripAdvisor and Instagram.

Here are the places to add to your bucket list if you want to visit the real-life locations from the films.

1. Warner Bros. Studios, Hertfordshire

Perhaps the most well-known in the UK, Warner Bros Studios now offers tours and behind-the-scenes visits.

All eight of the films were shot at the studios at some point, including the interior of the Great Hall.

The Warner Bros Studios is the most popular location for fansCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd

Scenes such as the Great Hall were filmed thereCredit: Warner Bros. Studio Tour London

2. Glenfinnan Viaduct, Lochaber

This well-known filming location is famous for being the journey when students take the Hogwarts Express.

While you can't take the magic train yourself, many fans head to the area to watch normal trains go by - with more than a third of the reviews coming from Harry Potter enthusiasts - although police previously warned passengers not to walk on the line to get pictures.

The Lancashire viaduct was used to film the Hogwarts ExpressCredit: Alamy

Fans often visit the area to watch trains go byCredit: Alamy

3. Gloucester Cathedral, Gloucestershire

Gloucester Cathedral was used for many scenes throughout Hogwarts, including the hallways and exterior scenes.

The great Cloister appeared in a number of films including the Philosopher’s Stone and the Chamber of Secrets.

Gloucester Cathedral was used for the first two filmsCredit: Alamy

Many of the scenes featuring Harry were in the cathedralCredit: Warner Bros

4. Alnwick Castle, Northumberland

Alnwick Castle used as the filming location for Madam Hooch’s broomstick flying lesson in the earlier films.

Even better, lessons are still available there today for excited visitors.

Alnwick Castle was used for filming the broomstick lessons from the first few filmsCredit: Alamy

The castle even offers broomstick lessons - just like the filmsCredit: Warner Bros

5. Glencoe, Argyll

This stunning Scottish nature reserve is home to Hagrid’s hut, which you can still see today on a visit, as well as being the background for Quidditch matches and elements of the Triwizard tournament.

If you fancy staying in a real life replica of Hagrid's Hut, you can, if you head to the North York Moors.

The Glencoe landscape featured in the background of some of the Quidditch matchesCredit: Alamy

Hagrid's Hut was also in GlencoeCredit: Alamy

6. Lacock Abbey, Wiltshire

This 13th century abbey is another place where the iconic Hogwarts hallways were filmed.

In the film, Harry can be spotted here in his invisibility cloak, only just avoiding being seen by Snape.

Lacock Abbey featured in some of the Harry Potter films tooCredit: Alamy

Scenes from the earlier films were filmed at the Wiltshire property

7. Oxford University, Oxfordshire

The beautiful setting of Oxford University doubles as a number of Hogwarts’ rooms.

This includes the Bodleian library as the Hogwarts library, where Harry sneaks around in his invisibility cloak and New College providing shots for the hallways, where Mad-Eyed Moody turns Draco Malfoy into a ferret.

Oxford University is just one of the universities used for filming scenes at HogwartsCredit: Alamy

The library at Hogwarts was filmed at Oxford UniversityCredit: Warner Bros

8. Durham Cathedral, Durham

Professor McGonagall’s classroom is set at Durham Cathedral, the location where Ron gets the dreaded Slug vomiting curse.

It’s one of a number of locations that played a part in the Hogwarts hallways, with Harry’s owl Hedwig spotted in this particular hall.

Another cathedral used in the films is in DurhamCredit: Alamy

Professor McGonagall's class was filmed in Durham Cathedral

9. Black Park, Buckinghamshire

Black Park in Iver Heath doubles as the Forbidden Forest, a place off limits to students.

On one of Harry’s visits he is accompanied by Hagrid, who shows him the dragons and provides a hint as to what the next challenge in the Triwizard tournament may be.