The Complete Guide to Harry Potter Film Locations (Around the Muggle World!)

As Harry Potter learned while attending the Quidditch World Cup, the Wizarding World is a much bigger place than he imagined: wizards live in secret all over the world, in places as far-flung as the Americas and Africa.

When it comes to the Harry Potter films, you might be surprised to learn that some of the places where each movie was shot are equally diverse. Sure, the studios in Leavesden were one of the primary Harry Potter film locations, but they also filmed across London, England, the U.K., and even a few places further than that!

In this post, I’ll share a complete list of all the Harry Potter film locations I could find. Some were used in only one film – or only one scene – but they all have something a bit magical about them, which is surely what the location scouts saw when picking them.

There are 35 film locations on my list, but I’m sure there are others too. How many have you been to, or do you know others? Be sure to share your NEWT-level wisdom and experiences in the comments!

This post was originally published in September 2021, and was updated in May 2023.

Harry Potter Film Locations in London

Many places in London have served as real-life filming locations for the Harry Potter movies. So much so, that all Harry Potter movies include at least one scene that has London locations as the backdrop. Check out the list below to discover eleven Harry Potter film locations you can visit in London.

1. Australia House 

Seen in: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

The main entrance hall to the Australia House, or the Australian High Commission as the locals formally know the building, served as Gringotts Wizarding Bank. Inside, the grand hall has the same towering marble pillars, floor, and crystal chandelier. All that is missing are the grumpy goblins working in line. Sadly, this is one of the Harry Potter film locations that are not open to the public.

2. Borough Market

Seen in: Prisoner of Azkaban

Of all the Harry Potter film locations, this is the easiest one to find. 

Borough Market is the best (and most popular) food market in London, and it is also the real-life location of the Leaky Cauldron. There’s a small fun taco shop that served as the exterior for shots of the Leaky Cauldron in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban when Harry gets off the Knight Bus. To find the little shop, just stroll down Stoney Street.

3. Claremont Square

Seen in: Order of the Phoenix

In real life, Claremont Square is a beautiful British residential square in Islington. But in Harry Potter, the exteriors of the lovely houses served as the headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix. While fans have engaged in heated debates on the exact location of No. 12 Grimmauld Place, J.K. Rowling herself stated that in the magical world, it is in the London borough of Islington, which is exactly where you find Claremont Square!

4. Great Scotland Place

Seen in: Order of the Phoenix; Deathly Hallows, Part I

Boasting iconic London architecture, Great Scotland Yard is a street in Westminster that served as the entrance to the Ministry of Magic in the Harry Potter films. The film crew opted for this location as it was less popular among tourists.

The street makes the first appearance in the world of Harry Potter when Mr. Weasly and Harry enter the Ministry of Magic in Order of the Phoenix and then in the Deathly Hallows, Part I, when Harry, Ron, and Hermione break into the Ministry. You can stand on the corner where the iconic red phone booth is in the films – but it’s not there today.

5. Lambeth Bridge

Seeing in:  Prisoner of Azkaban

Many of the gorgeous bridges that cross the Thames make an appearance in Harry Potter movies. Lambeth Bridge in West London was the first one featured. 

Do you remember when Harry is riding the triple-decker Knight Bus, and it squeezes between two of London’s red double-deckers? Well, at that exact moment, the Knight Bus is driving over Lambeth Bridge!

6. Leadenhall Market

Seen in: Sorcerer’s Stone

Leadenhall Market, a  gorgeous Victorian market with its cobbled floors and ornate 19th century painted roof, was the film location for some of the original exterior shots of Diagon Alley and the Leaky Cauldron. The crew’s most memorable scene here is when Harry and Hagrid go shopping for wands, and Hagrid buys Hedwig as a late birthday gift for Harry.

The beautiful architecture makes this marketplace worth visiting even if you’re not a Harry Potter fan. 

7. Millennium Bridge

Seen in: Half-Blood Prince

The Millennium Bridge is the film location for one of the most horrific attacks in the muggle world. The moment takes place when Fenrir Greyback and a small group of Death Eaters attack Millennium Bridge, causing it to fall into the Thames below, at the opening scene of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

8. Piccadilly Circus & Shaftesbury Ave

Seen in: Deathly Hallows, Part I

Sharp readers might have noticed that when Hermione apparates herself with Harry and Ron from the wedding of Fleur Delacour and Bill Weasly at the Burrow in the Deathly Hallows book, she brings them to Tottenham Court Road. 

However, to shoot the scene for the Deathly Hallows film, the crew chose Shaftesbury Ave, a central London street that runs north-easterly from bustling Piccadilly Circus. That’s why the three wizards appear on Shaftesbury Ave in the film, where a double-decker bus almost runs over them. 

HP fan or not, there’s a very high chance you’ll visit Piccadilly Circus as it’s one of London’s most iconic landmarks. 

9. Reptile House at The London Zoo

Seen in: Sorcerer’s Stone

Reptile House at The London Zoo was the first non-studio HP film location. The scene filmed at Reptile House seems random at first, but then Potterheads discover the event taking place there is highly relevant. Inside, Harry meets a boa constrictor and speaks to it in Parseltongue, an ability that later proves he’s a Horcrux. We’re not sure the same boa constrictor is still there; however, there are plenty of other amphibians and serpents to see.

10. St. Pancras & King’s Cross Station

Seen in: Sorcerer’s Stone

St. Pancras & King’s Cross Station is probably the most Instagrammable HP film location. Visiting King’s Cross Station means seeing Platform 9¾, which looks exactly like it does in the movie. It also takes fans back to when Hagrid leaves Harry to find his way to Platform 9¾. 

St Pancras station is right next to King’s Cross and is where Harry walks through to get to Platform 9¾ in King’s Cross Station.

11. Westminster Bridge

As Potterheads know, film producers decided to include several scenes that don’t appear in the books. That’s the case of the opening scenes that the crew shot in the Palace of Westminster and Westminster Bridge. 

Right after Harry learns the Ministry has expelled him from Hogwarts, the Order comes to take him to Number 12, Grimmauld Place, Sirius’ childhood home and headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix. 

On their journey, the wizards fly past the riverside windows of the Palace of Westminster and also fly right under Westminster Bridge. 

Harry Potter Film Locations in Oxford

As you’ll see in a minute, Oxford has provided many film locations in Harry Potter films. Here are five wizarding film locations you can visit in Oxford. 

12. Bodley Tower Staircase

Seen in: Sorcerer’s Stone, Chamber of Secrets 

All Harry Potter fans would recognize the Bodley Tower staircase at a glance as this might be the most recurrent film location in the Harry Potter movies. This is where the famous entrance scene where Professor McGonagall meets Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

Tudor Great Dining Hall, which this staircase leads up to, was Hogwarts Dining Hall’s main inspiration. Make sure you notice the resemblance when you visit this spot. 

The Bodley Tower staircase is inside Christ Church in Oxford, which you’ll need to visit on a tour.

13. Christ Church Cloisters

Seen in: The Sorcerer’s Stone, Half-Blood Prince

The film crew transformed Christ Church Cloisters into Hogwarts hallways. It’s hard to spot them in the movies since the film crew has included the cloisters several times and in several films. The most spottable moment is after the Gryffindor quidditch team chooses Harry as their seeker. Here, Hermione convinces Harry that being a seeker runs in his blood, showing him all the trophies that James Potter won during his time in Hogwarts.

Don’t forget: you’ll need a tour ticket to visit Christ Church!

14. Duke Humfrey’s Library

Seen in: Sorcerer’s Stone, Half-Blood Prince

Do you remember the scene where Harry sneaks into the Hogwarts library hidden under his invisibility cloak to steal a book? The Hogwarts Restricted Section is Duke Humfrey’s Library. 

You’ll love this HP film location as this library has a magical atmosphere on its own. You can even find ancient books of spells and witchcraft among its more than 80 miles of bookshelves. 

Similar to Christ Church, you’ll need a tour ticket to visit Duke Humfrey’s Library. Be sure to arrange it in advance.

15.-16. New College Cloisters & Courtyard

Seen in: Goblet of Fire 

Many of the most recognizable Harry Potter film locations in New College Cloisters & Courtyard come from Goblet of Fire. Director Mike Newell chose various cloisters around the campus to film the corridor scenes within the film two famous scenes, Harry warns Cedric about the dragon’s task of the Triwizard Tournament and where Professor Moody transfigures Malfoy into a ferret.

Visitors don’t need any special permission or tour to visit New College and stroll along the Cloisters. The Courtyard is also open to the public.

17. The Divinity School

Seen in: Sorcerer’s Stone, Goblet of Fire, Prisoner of Azkaban

With its unique construction and a stunning grand hall, it’s no wonder that several scenes from Harry Potter took place in The Divinity School. 

The stunning hall served as Hogwarts Infirmary, and you can recognize it by the fantastic ceiling– the same that Harry looks at when he wakes up after confronting Voldemort in the first movie. Another fantastic yet awkward scene the crew shot here is when Professor McGonagall teaches the Gryffindors to dance before the Yule Ball in Goblet of Fire.

The Divinity School is at the Bodleian Library. So, you’ll need to book a timed ticket to visit here as well.

Other Harry Potter Locations in theh U.K.

While London and Oxford were the most popular Harry Potter film locations by far, the production team used other parts of the United Kingdom to bring the Wizarding World to the silver screen. Here are 18 more Harry Potter film locations across the U.K.

18. Alnwick Castle, England

Seen in: Sorcerer’s Stone, Chamber of Secrets

It’s impossible to miss the uncanny resemblance between Hogwarts and Alnwick Castle. The castle, its courtyards, and baileys appear several times as the setting where students perform their daily activities. Still doesn’t ring a bell? 

Well, you certainly should remember Madam Hooch’s broomstick flying lesson in the first film. That exact scene takes place in the Outer Bailey of medieval Alnwick Castle. 

Not only can fans visit and take a look at this stunning castle, but they can also engage in many fun HP activities, like broomstick training! They can also see wizardry magic shows or join a tour with a costumed guide regaling behind-the-scenes stories from when the Harry Potter crew was filming. 

19. Ashridge Wood, England

Seen in: Goblet of Fire

Ashridge Wood is one of the spookiest Harry Potter film locations in England. Ashridge Wood starred as the Quidditch World Cup location in Goblet of Fire. Don’t let fear hold you from visiting, though. In real life, Ashridge Wood is far from being a spot where dark encounters take place. 

Locals know the woods as a sprawling green space full of flowering plants and perfect trails for family walks. You’ll find Ashridge Wood halfway between Newbury station and Didcot station. Travelers can easily access it via the A34 and a 15 min drive. Taxis are available at both stations, and it shouldn’t cost you more than £20.

20. Durham Cathedral, England

Seen in:  Sorcerer’s Stone, Chamber of Secrets

Many spots within Durham Cathedral served as a film location for Hogwarts in Harry Potter. The Cathedral’s Chapter House became the classroom where Professor McGonagall taught Harry and his classmates the art of transfiguration. Durham Cathedral’s ancient cloisters starred as the snow-covered quadrangle where Harry sets Hedwig the owl free in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. The same cloisters are where Ron Weasely attempts to curse Draco with the slug vomiting charm, but the charm backfires on him instead in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. 

21. Freshwater West, Wales

Seen in: Deathly Hallows I & II

Freshwater West is among the Harry Potter film locations you’ll find in Wales.

This stretch of golden sand doubled as the location for Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour‘s Shell Cottage in ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.’ 

However, most Harry Potter fans travel to this area to visit Dobby’s grave. The production used Freshwater West to shoot the sad scene where Dobby takes the prisoners from Malfoy Manor and dies in Harry’s arms after Bellatrix Lestrange fatally wounded him with her knife. 

22. Glencoe, Scotland

Seen in: Sorcerer’s Stone, Chamber of Secrets, Goblet of Fire, Prisoner of Azkaban

Scotland is among the most critical places where Harry Potter films were shot and inspired. 

The production decided to film several scenes on location in Glencoe. It makes total sense as the fantastic scenery of the Scottish Highlands is impossible to replicate in any studio. 

During the spring of 2003, the production built three sets in Glencoe. The most impressive was Hagrid’s Hut. Located on the bottom of Clachaig Gully, Hagrid’s Hut left passers-by who looked at the Hut, complete with a pumpkin patch and smoking chimney, in total disbelief. The crew also built the set for the Sundial Garden and the turreted gatehouse in Glencoe.

23. Glenfinnan Viaduct, Scotland

Seen in: Chamber of Secrets, many 

Glenfinnan Viaduct experiences some very magical moments during the filming of Harry Potter. The film crew captured this viaduct, which runs 100 ft above ground, in several Harry Potter films on the route to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. 

Taking a train that crosses the Glenfinnan Viaduct is probably the most realistic experience HP fans can have. The Jacobite steam train, which stars as the Hogwarts Express, runs from here to Fort William and Mallaig in the summer months. 

If you embark on this wizardry adventure, see if you can spot where, in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Arthur Weasley’s baby blue flying Ford Anglia lands on the viaduct. The head of the Weasley family modified it to fit eight people, six trunks, two owls, and one rat.

24. Gloucester Cathedral, England

Seen in: Sorcerer’s Stone, Chamber of Secrets

Gloucester Cathedral has appeared in two Harry Potter films – Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. 

The film production transformed the historic cathedral cloisters into the corridors of Hogwarts. They then decided to film in the scene where Harry and Ron hide from a giant troll behind the pillars in the cathedral’s Lavatorium – where ancient Abbey monks did laundry,

It’s worth getting a tour guide to see and understand the huge work the production got into to leave no trace of religious motifs. For example, there are nearly 100 tombstones scattered around the cloister floors, which the production disguised during filming. 

25. Goathland Station, England

Seen in: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Charming Goathland Station became Hogsmeade Station in one of the first and the final scenes of the first Harry Potter film. To refresh your memory –it’s been 20 years!– the lovely station is where Harry and Ron first get off the Hogwarts Express. Then, the location appears again when Hagrid gives Harry the photo album at the end. 

Goathland Station is one of those Harry Potter film locations you wouldn’t see unless you were looking for it. And perhaps that seclusion is what attracted the HP production team. Hidden in North Yorkshire Moors National Park, the station still boasts bold red and green shades and has steaming trains running through its rails.

26. Hardwick Hall, England

Seen in: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I & II

Hardwick Hall played a pivotal role as the primary setting for the Malfoy Mansion, the headquarters for Lord Voldemort, and the Death Eaters.

Hardwick Hall was one of the first buildings to feature Renaissance style, and its owner originally built it to display his financial wealth.

Slytherins who want to visit Hardwick Hall can get there via car or train. Adults have to pay £12.60 and children a small fee of £6.30. 

27. Lacock Abbey, England

Seen in: Sorcerer’s Stone, The Chamber of Secrets, The Half-Blood Prince

Lacock is a picturesque, quintessential English village whose 13th-century architecture captured the attention of Harry Potter location scouts. You can easily spot a brick house that served as Horace Slughorn’s hideout during his time on the run from the Death Eaters.

The Abbey is perhaps the most recognizable film spot in Lacock. The cloisters served as the corridors in Hogwarts on many occasions, and Abbey’s Warming Room, which contains a giant cauldron, starred as Professor Quirrell’s Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. Many other spots in the Abbey served as locations as well. The Chapter House is where Harry discovers the Mirror of Erised, and the Sacristy is where Professor Snape’s Potions Class took place. 

28. Leavesden Studios, England

Much of Harry Potter’s filming took place on location– we’ve mentioned several in this article. However, most of the filming occurred in the Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden.

Warner Bros’ Studio offers award-winning tours to experience the magic of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, explore spectacular sets from the Harry Potter movies, and discover what it took to bring the Harry Potter films to life at Warner. Potterheads will also learn all about the fascinating behind-the-scenes and visual effects the studio used to create the magical story along the ten years of filming.

29.-31. Lochs Arkaig, Elit & Morar, Scotland 

Seen in: Prisoner of Azkaban, Deathly Hallows Part I

A freshwater loch in Lochaber, Eilean na Moine served as the location for one of the most somber moments of Harry Potter. Loch Eileen became the final resting place of Albus Dumbledore, from which Voldemort steals the Elder Wand. Meanwhile, Loch Eilt starred as the sad setting where Harry and the gang find Hagrid skimming stones over the water following the trial of his beloved Buckbeak in Prisoner of Azkaban.

To add even more magnificence to both scenes, the film production digitally added Loch Arkaig to Loch Elit and Eilean na Moine’s surroundings, creating an overwhelming landscape.  

32. Malham Cove, England

Seen in: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

Located 1km north of the village of Malham in the Yorkshire Dales, Malham Cove is a huge curving amphitheater-shaped cliff formation of limestone rock. The top of this natural wonder served as the rocky hideout where Harry and Hermione spend the night while they search for Horcruxes. 

Understanding the magic of CGI is the best part of getting to the top of Malham Cove. Once you get there, you’ll be able to see that the deep grooves between each rock make it virtually impossible to set and stake a tent, like Hermione and Harry did in the movie. 

The stunning natural beauty makes Malham Cove worth visiting on its own. So, whether you’re an HP fan or not, Malham Cove is a place you should include in your itinerary.

33. Seven Sisters, England

Movie: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

One of the most striking landmarks in Sussex, this isn’t the first time that the Seven Sisters cliffs appear as the background in a movie. You’ll see them when Harry Potter walks up the hill to find the boot that transports him to the Quidditch World Cup in the Goblet of fire. 

The Seven Sisters are near Eastbourne, and Potterheads can get there by train on one of the regular rail services from London to Brighton, Seaford, and Eastbourne. The Seven Sisters Country Park is only 10 min away from Seaford by car if you are driving. To access the park, you have to pay a small fee of £3.50 for the day.

34. The Cliffs of Moher, Ireland

Seen in: Half-Blood Prince

There are lots of cliffs in the U.K. However, none are as sheer as The Cliffs of Moher, with its striking height and those eight dramatic headlands rolling off into the distance. 

No wonder the Harry Potter production scouted The Cliffs of Moher to shoot the cave scene, as most fans know it. Dumbledore apparates himself and Harry Potter to an unrivaled vantage point with huge black cliffs, crashing seas, and untamed winds. This particular point is The Cliffs of Moher.

By the way, the outside/exterior of the Harry Potter cave is real, but the interior where Harry goes to find the Horcruxes is a set. 

35. Virginia Water, England

Seen in: Order of the Phoenix, Prisoner of Azkaban, the Goblet of Fire

You wouldn’t believe how many scenes the HP crew filmed in Virginia Water. The crew used Virginia Water first in the Prisoner of Azkaban to represent Hogwarts’ lake, where Harry rode on the Hippogriff. Then, they came back in 2005 to shoot the scene where Hermione passed on messages to Harry and Ron in the Goblet of Fire.

That same year, the film built a jetty and rope pulley system at Virginia Water Lake to shoot scenes of the second Triwizard task. Finally, in 2007, the edge of Virginia Water Lake served as the location where dozens of dementors swoop down on Harry in the Order of the Phoenix.

Okay that was a lot! of Harry Potter film locations; did you know them all? Do you know of any others I missed? Let me know any questions about these Harry Potter film locations or share your favorites in the comments.

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