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Where was Harry Potter filmed?

HARRY Potter is one of the most popular film franchises.

Fans continually fill the Harry Potter studio tour that runs at Warner Bros studios in order to have a glimpse what went on behind the scenes.

Harry Potter is known for its magical locations
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Harry Potter is known for its magical locationsCredit: Alamy

Where was Harry Potter filmed?

These are some of the film series' most iconic locations.

Many locations were filmed at or created in Warner Bros. Studios.

Hogwartz

Hogwartz wasn't filmed at just one location
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Hogwartz wasn't filmed at just one locationCredit: English Heritage Trust

Hogwartz is arguably the most iconic film location, given that it features in every film.

There sadly isn't just one spot for it.

In the Philosopher’s Stone and the Chamber of Secrets, Alnwick Castle was used for the magical school.

It's located in Northumberland and post-covid can be visited.

However, some of the route used by the witches and wizards in many of the films was Glenfinnan Viaduct, Scotland and it's a trial you can actually do.

Ron's car almost crashes in this location in the Chamber of Secrets.

So really, Hogwartz as a whole isn't a real location - rather it was made up using a series of spaces.

Diagon Alley

Various locations inspired and were used to created Diagon Alley
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Various locations inspired and were used to created Diagon AlleyCredit: Handout

Diagon Alley was partly set in studios, a creation of which you can see on the Harry Potter tour.

However, if you want to see the real Diagon Alley used in the Philosopher's Stone, head to Leadenhall Market, London.

For the Prison of Azkaban, film makers relocated the entrance to Diagon Alley to Borough Market, London.

Leaky Cauldron

The Exeter pub that people believe JK Rowling based The Leaky Cauldron on
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The Exeter pub that people believe JK Rowling based The Leaky Cauldron on

Nearby Diagon Alley, the Leaky Cauldron was filmed in Leadenhall Market too.

It's a restored Victorian market in the capital, giving it a suitable vibe for Diagon Alley and the Leaky Cauldron.

Then in the third film, Leaky Cauldron is actually a Mexican restaurant called Tacos El Pastor while a pub called the Market Porter was used to film the interior of the magical drinking spot.

Separately, it's believed that JK Rowling was inspired by a pub in Exeter called the Firehouse when imagining how the Leaky Cauldron would look.

The Ministry of Magic

The entrance to the Ministry of Magic was also filmed in London, using Great Scotland Yard, a street in Westminster.

This street is seen in the Order of the Phoenix and also in Deathly Hallows Part 1.

As claimed on a , the filmmakers had to GCI the telephone box into the landscape that transports witches and wizards to the Ministry - so you won't be able to spot it in real life.

Godric's Hollow

Lavenham was the village used for Godric's Hollow
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Lavenham was the village used for Godric's Hollow

De Vere house is located in Water Street in Suffolk and it was used for Godric's Hollow in Deathly Hallows Part 1.

Lavenham Guildhall was used for when Harry and Hermione go to see his parent's graveyard in the same film.

Platform 9 and 3/4

Fans can take a picture in King's Cross station with the famous sign
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Fans can take a picture in King's Cross station with the famous signCredit: Rex Features

Platform 9 and 3/4 is the imaginary platform witches and wizards need to access to get on the train to Hogwartz.

In London's King's Cross station there is a photo opportunity for fans by the Harry Potter gift shop.

For filming, platforms 4 and 5 at the real life station were renamed 9 and 10 - this is where 9 and 3/4 is meant to be.

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NINTCHDBPICT000004094809Credit: Rex Features

4 Privet Drive

The house in Privet Drive is key to the start of the Prisoner of Azkaban
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The house in Privet Drive is key to the start of the Prisoner of AzkabanCredit: Rex Features

This is Harry Potter's childhood home with his unloving aunt, uncle and cousin.

At the beginning of the The Prison of Azkaban, the house is the location for a key scene in which Harry uses magic outside of school grounds and balloons up his uncle's sister.

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Though you can see a recreation of the house in the Warner Bros tour, Privet Drive is actually a street in Little Whinging, Surrey.

say the house was probably built in the 1930s.

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