There are different types of travelers. Some people enjoy exploring old buildings and absorbing the city's history. Some people like to wander through museums and learn about culture. Some people like to visit places related to Harry Potter. Can you guess what type of traveler I am?
A few years ago I spent some time studying in the North East of England and, as you can imagine, I was very excited to be in the birthplace of Harry Potter. I've made it my mission to visit as many Harry Potter locations as possible, whether they were filming locations or just places that inspired some aspect of the series. Sure, it's fun to visit a theme park or visit a studio, but I wanted the real deal: I wanted to see where the magic happens (literally!).
I've been lucky enough to visit many of the places below (I'm the woman looking ecstatic in many of the photos), but some of them are still on my bucket list. Try not to buy a plane ticket to the UK if you can help it, but I certainly wouldn't blame you if you caved. In fact, take me with you!
Durham Cathedral, Durham, UK
Does this courtyard look familiar? (Ignore the grumpy girl in this photo, that's my sister.) If you've seen Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and/or Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets , you should be screaming right now stand up. ("Malfoy, eat the slugs!") Located in Durham Cathedral, this courtyard and its adjacent corridors are iconic for fans of the Harry Potter films. Certain interior rooms were also used for filming classroom scenes.
Elephant House, Edinburgh, Scotland
All Harry Potter fans know the story of the Elephant Room: JK Rowling would sit at a table in the back room of this café drafting the early Harry Potter novels. While I'm sure Rowling could have written these novels without the caffeine and pastries of the Elephant Room, I can't help but think we owe this cafe something. Stop for a snack and be sure to check out the bathrooms, where fans have covered the walls with Harry Potter-themed graffiti.
Alnwick Castle, Northumberland, England
Alnwick Castle is basically Hogwarts. The castle, which is still in use (yes, the Duke of Northumberland still lives there part of the year!) has been used to film many scenes in Harry Potter, including scenes in the Forbidden Forest, Hogwarts ’s exterior shots, and most famously Harry Potter’s first scene, flying lessons. If you find a particularly nice employee and explain that you're a huge Harry Potter fan, sometimes they'll let you borrow a broomstick from "Flying Lessons" and teach you how to look like you're flying !
Greyfriars Kirk, Edinburgh, Scotland
Remember when we were talking about how Rowling sat in an elephant room and wrote? Well, from the back of the cafe you can see Gray Friar Kirk and George Heriot School, which is said to have been the inspiration for Hogwarts. If you wander around that church, as Rowling did in the past, you'll start to see some familiar names, including Professor McGonagall and... Thomas Riddle?
London King's Cross Station Platform 9 3/4
Yes, Platform 9 3/4 is real now, and yes, you can take photos by pretending to run over the obstacles. Isn’t it super tacky and touristy? Of course it is, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it! In fact, if you're a Harry Potter fan in London, you should be asked to visit Platform 9 3/4 and appease your inner child by pretending you have to run to catch the Hogwarts Express.
Shambles, York, UK
So technically, this isn't Diagon Alley, but it sure looks like it, right? The Shambles is a shopping street in York that is said to have inspired the narrow, winding roads of Diagon Alley. While you can't actually buy the wands and spell books you need here (trust me, I tried), it's definitely worth stopping to take a photo and pretend you're on your way to pick up an owl.
Scotland's West Highland Line
Ever wanted to ride the Hogwarts Express? Why am I asking this question? Of course there is. Well, if you find yourself in Scotland, you can get pretty close. Movie fans will recognize the bridge that the Hogwarts Express passes over on its way to Hogwarts. It's actually the Glenfinnan Viaduct and if you hop on the West Highland Line you can cross it yourself and pretend you're going to learn some magic.
Picture: Shaun Fitzpatrick (5), Harry Potter shop at Platform 9 3/4, The Telegraph, Troy Jarrell/Unsplash
