Explore the UK Like Harry Potter

The Hogwarts Express, which first takes Harry to wizarding school, was filmed in King’s Cross Station, London. Though there’s no actual Platform 9¾, you can find the sign along with a trolley half-disappearing into a wall outside the Harry Potter gift shop in the concourse of King’s Cross station.

Owing to its popularity, you’ll likely have to queue for your photo with the disappearing trolley. While you wait, you can explore the gift shop, which is filled with all sorts of magical merchandise and memorabilia from the Harry Potter series. 

Leadenhall Market, London is a beautiful Victorian shopping arcade near the Monument Tube station. It’s also the scene of Diagon Alley. In the movies, this is where the young wizards come to find supplies, as well as visit The Leaky Cauldron for a glass of butterbeer. In real life, the pub is an optometrists’ clinic.

You’ll find a nice selection of restaurants and shops here, but avoid midday as the whole arcade is overrun with office workers looking for lunch. 

The Warner Bros. Studio Tour in London suburbs is probably the best place to visit if you’re a diehard fan of the films. You can discover how the movies were made, walk through many sets and see original costumes worn by the cast. There are also special effects demonstrations and many scale models of the sets.

The tour also offers interactive exhibits, including the chance to 'fly' a magical broomstick, making it an unforgettable experience for fans of all ages.

Oxford University has many stunning period buildings, but if you visit Christ Church College, you can see where Harry and his friends ate their meals while at Hogwarts.

This 16th-century building has a period charm, and you can tour it yourself to soak in the atmosphere. Who knows, if your children study hard enough, perhaps they too could be dining there some day. The college’s unique blend of historical charm and magical allure make it a must-visit on your Harry Potter tour.

Alnwick Castle in Northumberland, Northern England, is a stunning castle that played an important role in the Harry Potter movies. You can see exactly where Harry learnt to play Quiddich, and you can even take part in Broomstick Training yourself; it’s the perfect photo opportunity if you're able to time your jump just right.

This iconic castle has been used in numerous other film and television productions, such as Downton Abbey and Robin Hood. Whether you're a Harry Potter fan or a history buff, the castle's cinematic legacy and grandeur are sure to captivate you.

Durham Cathedral in Northern England is one of England’s most beautiful medieval buildings and a must-visit for Harry Potter fans. It was featured in several iconic scenes from the movies, most notably when Harry, Hermione and Ron turned animals into goblets of water with an incantation of 'Vera Verto'. The quadrangle in the centre of the cathedral was also featured.

Visitors can purchase a guided tour of the cathedral on most days, where knowledgeable guides will happily point out various sets from the movie.

Goathland Train Station, known to Harry Potter fans as Hogsmeade Station, is a charming village rail stop in the North Yorkshire Moors, near the picturesque seaside town of Whitby. The station was built in 1865 and retains a period charm. Steam trains still run on the 24-mile (39-km) track between Pickering and Whitby, and you can enjoy a scenic ride yourself.

This delightful station, with its historical ambiance and cinematic legacy, offers a unique experience for visitors and fans alike.

Glencoe in Argyll, Scotland served as the location for Hagrid’s cottage in the third movie, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Though the set has since been removed, the view from the Clachaig Inn, overlooking the glen, will certainly ring some bells for Potter fans.

You can have a meal at the mountain inn while enjoying the rugged and breathtaking landscape. The area offers a unique blend of dramatic scenery and cinematic history, providing an unforgettable experience for all who visit.

The stunning granite Glenfinnan Viaduct runs close to Loch Shiel in the highlands of Scotland. It’s a popular hiking spot that’s overlooked by rugged mountains, but Harry Potter fans will no doubt recognise the landscape as the iconic train line that runs between London and Hogsmeade.

The viaduct stands 100 ft (30 meters) tall and is still a functioning railway line. This picturesque spot is often included as a small stop-off on tours to Loch Ness, offering visitors a chance to see the famous structure up close.

Though the stunning George Heriot's School isn’t shown on screen, it holds an important place in the hearts and minds of Harry Potter fans. This private school is widely believed to have inspired J.K. Rowling’s vision for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Rowling wrote the first novels in Edinburgh cafés close to the school.

Visitors to Edinburgh can take Harry Potter-themed tours around the city, which highlight various places of inspiration for the writer, including the school, the cafés where she wrote and other iconic landmarks.