Alnwick Castle starred as the magical Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry during the 2001 film, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, and the 2002 film, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone filmed on location at Alnwick Castle in autumn 2000.
Where is the Hogwarts Castle located in real life?
Shots: Alnwick Castle has been used for exterior shots of Hogwarts. Fact: Alnwick Castle is the second largest inhabited castle in England. It has been home to the dukes of Northumberland for over 700 years.
In the novels, Hogwarts is somewhere in Scotland (the film Prisoner of Azkaban says that Dufftown is near). The school is depicted as having numerous charms and spells on and around it that make it impossible for a Muggle to locate it.
It could be in the West Highlands, which extend all the way up the west side of Scotland from Loch Lomond north to Sutherland. It could be in the Grampian Highlands/Cairngorms/Strathspey area, which occupies a swathe of east-central Scotland.
JK Rowling has said in interviews that she always imagined Hogwarts to be in Scotland, so it's appropriate that some of the most stunning scenes depicting the grounds of the Harry Potter Castle were filmed in the beautiful Scottish Highlands.
Since 2012, visitors have been able to explore the real sets. A special attraction is the giant model of Hogwarts - the Harry Potter castle - actually used in the film. It's a model - so you can't stroll through it of course, but you can wander around these extraordinary sets: The Great Hall.
Many of the movies' exterior shots — especially scenes of the Hogwarts grounds — were filmed in the craggy, cloudy Highlands of Scotland (mostly in the Fort William/Glencoe area). The Hogwarts Express runs along the actual Jacobite Steam Train line (between Fort William and Mallaig).
Diagon Alley is a high street located in London. It is accessible to the wizarding world, to which it is something of an economic hub, but hidden from Muggles (non-magical people).
Rowling said in an interview that Dumbledore was about 150 years old. However, on her website, she states that Dumbledore was born in 1881, making him either 115 or 116 at the time of his death. On 19 October 2007, Rowling was asked by a young fan whether Dumbledore finds "true love".
When visiting the various lochs and locations featured in the Harry Potter films throughout the Scottish Highlands you'll be submerged into magnificent magical surroundings that provide more than just the site in which the movies were filmed, but opportunities to hike, take boat trips, train rides and so much more.
Shot: The interior shots of Gringotts, the wizard bank run by goblins, were filmed inside Australia House. Fact: Australia House was opened by King George V in 1918 and is the home of the Australian High Commission.
Are you even a fan if you don't experience these Harry Potter filming locations for yourself? Check out the tours below for a chance to ride the Hogwarts Express or visit Alnwick Castle (AKA Hogwarts) and learn to fly a broom on our 1-day castles and broomsticks tour...
In the books, Pansy Parkinson has a schoolgirl crush on Draco, and they went together to the Yule Ball. However, there was no true love between them. In the Cursed Child, Draco Malfoy's wife is Astoria Greengrass.
Harry Potter had a few love interests during his time at Hogwarts. Though he eventually settled down with Ginny Weasley, he also had a thing for Cho Chang in his earlier school years. Then, of course, there's his secret love for Draco Malfoy… Wait, what?
J.K. Rowling says Draco doesn't have a patronus because he never learned the spell but I think it's because he doesn't have any powerful happy memories to use.
The famous island used for Harry Potter in Loch Eilt is called Eilean na Moine. It was used as Dumbledore's grave, which was later digitally placed on Loch Arkaig.
Loch Morar is used for the close-up shots of Hogwarts Lake as well as a number of background pictures. Located in Lochaber, it is the fifth largest lake in Scotland, covering 10 square miles. It is also the deepest freshwater lake in the British Isles, with a maximum depth of 1,017 feet.
Lacock Abbey was used for many interior shots, most notably Professor Snape's Potions class. The hallway is where Harry first hears the basilisk. Lacock was founded in the early 13th century as an Augustinian nunnery. Today the abbey is a quirky house with a variety of architectural styles.
Hogwarts Castle appears as abandoned ruins to any Muggles close enough to see. Although wizarding society lives for the most part directly alongside Muggles, the interaction between the two communities is virtually non-existent since the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy was introduced in 1692.
Ravenclaw. Ravenclaw was founded by Rowena Ravenclaw, a witch noted for her intelligence and creativity. The house of Ravenclaw, just like Rowena, values intelligence, knowledge, curiosity, creativity and wit, and it corresponds to the element of air.
Where was Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Filmed? Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was filmed in Ashridge Park, Bodleian Library, Dark Forest, Eastbourne, Glenfinnan Viaduct, New College, Pinewood Studios, Shepperton Studios, Steall Waterfall, Virginia Water and Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden.
Fans of Harry Potter may want to add this UK destination to their travel list! In the Yorkshire countryside, you can visit Goathland Station, which served as the setting for the fictional Hogsmeade station, serving both the village of Hogsmeade and the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy, in Harry Potter films.
