British Vacation - Harry Potter Theme Vacations

If you are disappointed at the delay to the 6th Harrywhich is also well worth a visit.
Potter movie, Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince,Glenfinnan Viaduct - Train Journey to Hogwarts
comfort yourself by planning a British vacation to tourHarry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets has a
some of the amazing locations used during the filmingfantastic scene with the Hogwarts Express train
of the earlier movies. Here are a few of the mostcrossing this viaduct. The viaduct is located in the
memorable scenes and where they were filmed.Scottish Highlands. It also appeared in two subsequent
Christ Church, Oxford - Hogwarts Dining HallHarry Potter films, The Prisoner of Azkaban and The
Christ Church is a college at Oxford University. AGoblet of Fire and has a strong association with the
double of the Great Hall was used as Hogwart's Diningseries. Glenfinnan Viaduct is a railway viaduct on the
Hall where the sorting ceremony took place. As HarryWest Highland Line in Glenfinnan, Lochaber, Highland,
enters Hogwarts for the first time, the students areScotland. It was built between 1897 and 1901. The
greeted by Professor MacGonagall. This scene was21-arch viaduct was one of the largest engineering
shot on the 16th century staircase which leads up toundertakings using concrete when it was built by Sir
the Great Hall. J.R.R. Tolkien, author of The Lord of theRobert McAlpine. West Coast Railway Company
Rings and C.S Lewis, author of The Lion, The Witchsupplied the engine and all carriages for the film.
and The Wardrobe and the Chronicles of Narnia alsoGoathland Station - Hogsmeade Railway Station
attended Oxford (at the same time...in fact they wereThe station at the pretty North Yorkshire village of
good friends). Lewis Carroll, author of Alice inGoathland, in the north of England was transformed
Wonderland also had a a long association with Christinto Hogsmeade Station by changing the names on the
Church.signs on the platform and benches and raising the
Gloucester Cathedral, Gloucester - Hogwarts Interiorheight of the exterior wall. The station buildings have
A church has existed on the site of Gloucesterbarely changed since they were built in 1865. The
Cathedral for more than 1300 years. The presentvillage has a population of around 450 and has a
cathedral is famous for its awe-inspiring Gothicvillage Post Office, a village school, and several village
architecture and its' cloisters are regarded as one ofpubs. Glendale House is a small bed and breakfast,
the most beautiful architectural features in Britain. Theright in the centre of the village where visitors can stay
cathedral provides the setting for several scenes in thewhile exploring the area.
Harry Potter movies. The cloisters are seen in the GirlsBlack Park, Buckinghamshire
Lavatory door in the Troll scene in the film. Pupils fromBlack Park is adjacent to Pinewood Studios where
King's School, which adjoins the cathedral, were usedmost of the Harry Potter sets were created. The park
as extras. The scene in 'Harry Potter and theis set within 530 acres of attractive woodland,
Chamber of Secrets' when the message written ingrassland and heathland with a 13 acre centerpiece
blood is discovered was also filmed here.lake just north of Pinewood Studios in
Bodleian Library, Oxford - Hogwarts Hospital/HogwartsBuckinghamshire, not far from London. The scene in
LibraryGoblet of Fire in which Hagrid shows Harry the
The historic Bodleian Library is the main researchdragons prior to the First Task was shot at Black Park
library of Oxford University. Both Duke Humfrey'sin mid-February 2005. Also, the scenes near and in
Library and the Divinity School were used as some ofHagrid's Hut in the first and second Harry Potter films
the interiors at Hogwarts. The Divinity School, with itswere shot here.
stunning Gothic vaulted ceiling was used as thePlanning a Harry Potter Tour
Hogwarts infirmary/hospital in several scenes. DukeWith half the locations in Scotland and the other half in
Humfrey's Library was used as the setting forSouthern England (and one in between!), you need to
Hogwart's own library.plan at least a two center vacation if you want to see
Alnwick Castle - Hogwarts Castle Exterioreverything. There are plenty of specialist tour
Alnwick Castle is located in the far north east ofcompanies who run escorted Harry Potter tours
England, close to the Scottish border. It is the secondannually during the summer. These can be quite
largest inhabited castle in England after Windsor Castle,expensive and places are very limited.You can also
and has been home of the Earls and Dukes ofplan your own Harry Potter vacation, which would be
Northumberland since 1309. It has featured in many filmconsiderably cheaper. The best way to do this would
and television productions over the years, and wasbe to fly into London and spend a few nights in the
seen recently in the movie 'Elizabeth'. The castlearea. Oxford and Lacock are within driving distance of
grounds are used as the location for some ofLondon if you rent a car. You could then drive north to
Hogwarts' exteriors, for example the scene whereEdinburgh which would serve as your base for visiting
Harry and his classmates have their first flying lessonGlenfinnan and Alnwick. You could also stop at
with broomsticks.Gloucester and Goathland on your journey up to
Lacock Abbey - Hogwarts Castle InteriorsScotland (or on your return journey to London). Book
The beautiful medieval village of Lacock, is in theflights, hotels and rental car in advance and plan your
county of Wiltshire, just west of London. It is is theitinerary carefully before you leave.
location of picturesque 13th-century Lacock Abbey. AIf you only want to devote one or two days to Harry
historic manor house. Lacock Abbey retains itsPotter, there are opportunites for day or overnight
medieval cloisters as well as later Tudor features. Theexcursions from London (although these obviously
Abbey was the setting for various interior scenes atwon't include the Scottish or Yorkshire locations).
Hogwarts School. It is near the historic city of Bath,