Admit it: you too would have loved to go to the famous Hogwarts School of Magic together with Harry Potter. Just a dream? Well, almost! You might not learn to fly on a broomstick, but Hogwarts Castle really exists, and guess what: it's open to the public! Yes, you got that right! So pack your bags, because you might be about to embark on that magical journey to the Potterian world, exploring the locations featured in the film series based on the 7 fantasy novels written by J. K. Rowling.
Let's be clear that I'm not just talking about taking a trip to Universal's studios, but to the actual castle; OK, maybe Hogwarts isn't its real name, but it is a real physical castle, the one where several scenes from the first two Harry Potter films were filmed. But then what is the name of this castle? And most importantly, where is it located?
Alnwick Castle: the real Hogwarts Castle
As you may have deduced from the title of this paragraph, the name of the very famous Hogwarts Castle is actually Alnwick Castle: it is a structure that laid its foundation stone in 1096 at the behest of Yves de Vescy, Baron of Alnwik, who by erecting it intended to defend the northern borders of England, at that time threatened by Scottish rivals. In 1309 the castle was sold by Anthony Bek, Bishop of Durham to Henry de Percy, becoming the property of the Percy family, first Earls and then Dukes of Northumberland. To this day, after more than 700 years, the Percy family still owns it. Before Harry Potter, the castle had already been selected as a set in other films such as Becket, Blackadder; Robin Hood - Prince of Thieves, and others.
How to get there
As mentioned in the previous paragraph, Alnwick Castle is located in the Northumberland region, more specifically in the town of Alnwick from which it takes its name. This magical destination, particularly suitable for group visits, is located about 1.5 km from the A1 which connects Newcastle to Edinburgh; the castle can be reached directly fromNewcastle International Airport in 40 minutes by car in the absence of traffic, proceeding on the same A1.
Harry Potter Tour: other places to visit
If you want to explore more of the places that have been the setting for scenes from the Harry Potter films, here's a list of places you won't want to miss:
Glencoe (Scotland): Glencoe is a famous valley in Scotland, which was the set of Hagrid's retreat in the film Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. It is possible to reach the valley on foot; many come to trek around this magnificent natural area.
Millennium Bridge (London): this is a futuristic footbridge suspended over the River Thames, and connects the Bankside area with the City. It was used as a set in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, a film in which special effects beat it to a pulp.
King's Cross and St Pancras St ations (London): both of these London stations, which lie side by side, have been locations for the Harry Potter films. St Pancras was used for filming outside the station, while the interior shots were filmed in King's Cross, where you can see a wall identifying the famous '9 3/4' platform. If you want, you can try to cross the wall by taking a good run-up (we personally do not recommend it).
Leadenhall Market (London): this is an indoor market, adopted for filming as an outdoor part of Diagon Alley and the Magic Cauldron. The market itself is a great place to grab a bite to eat and shop, or just stroll around.
Christ Church (Oxford): is one of the constituent colleges ofOxford University. What makes it one of the first choices as a film set is its grandeur: it was not only adopted to become the famous'Great Hall' in Harry Potter, but has also been used for scenes in other well-known films, such as Alice in Wonderland and Lewis Carrol.