Here’s a little something for all you poor souls who have been waiting for Hogwarts letter since you’ve been eleven. I am head to toes Potter fan. To visit some of the filming locations was just a little bit of magic I needed. I’m not going to talk about Warner Bros Studios, but real world locations. You can fuse them with amazing nature and cities that surrounds them and you’ve got an amazing trip.
Let’s start at the beginning. JK Rowling began plotting HP in the early 90’s. Ideas came to her while sipping tea in different cafes across Edinburgh. Self proclaimed birth place of HP is Elephant House Cafe, although first chapters were written in Spoon caffe.
JK always imagined Hogwarts lying somewhere in Scotland althoug this was never really confirmed. I’ve seen Scotland and I read the books and I totally agree. And it would also be logical why Hogwarts Express cross Glennfinan viaduct. We parked at the Glennfinan Monument center (free parking is available few meters away, but we didn’t see it) and took a short hike to get a great view on the bridge. It takes around 15 minutes and it’s a bit uphill but it’s very easy hike, even for children. For sure the most recognizable scene is from Chamber of Secrets, when Harry and Ron chase the train in flying Ford Anglia. In Prisoner of Azkaban the train is stopped here by dementors. The Viaduct is still active, you can cross it with Jacobite Steam Train, that rides between Fort William and Mallaig. Across the road from the parking lot you can see the lake that was also used in the movies (Harry riding Buckbeak for the first time, second challenge in Goblet off Fire).
While traveling from Edinburgh back south we stopped at Alnwick castle. Not Quite like Hogwarts from far away, but when you enter the yard, all you want to do is grab a broom and fly around. The castle was mostly used in the first movie. Not a lot was changed for production so you can see magical scenes everywhere. Interesting fact: after Windsor this is the second largest inhabited castle in England.
OK. I rode the train, I know how to fly, its time to take a quick look inside Hogwarts. Scenes that took place in gorgeous Hogwarts hallways were mostly filmed at Glouchester Cathedral. I choose scenes from 6th movie.
The last stop on my list is of course.. London. You can find a lot! filming locations here, since I didn’t have much time I only visited two. First is probably the most iconic in all of the movies: Kings cross station. You can wait in line and take Picture with trolley that goes halfway into the brick or you can go to platforms and look for actual location like I did. The real platform 9 and 3/4 is actually 4 and 3/4. The best part of the station is official Harry shop, where I could easily live. As you step outside you can see St. Pancras station used in movies many times as the exterior of the train station. Second location I saw was the street with entrance to Ministry of Magic. Sadly the phone booth does not exist, but if you compare photos you can see I was in the real place. IRL Great Scotland Yard is near, that’s how you can find it.
Andreja Pongračič 