On November 4, 2001, the world got to see the installment of the now-famous Harry Potter saga at the Odeon Leicester Square in London: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Based on the acclaimed book series, written by J.K. Rowling, the movie was able to capture the magical essence of the story, being able to make millions of viewers fall in love with the universe of the boy who lived.
With a talented cast that resembled well-known characters, such as Harry Potter, Hermione, Draco, and Dumbledore, a spectacular direction (Chris Colombus) and screenplay (Steve Kloves), as well as breathtaking sets, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone secured worldwide critical acclaim as well as a loyal fan community, the Harry Potter fandom.
However, as much as we’d like to play a quidditch game in the air or substitute a muggle class for a charms lesson, the magical places are shown in the movie stay on a fictional level. Even so, anyone can still visit the locations that were the settings for the first Harry Potter movie.
While waiting for your Hogwarts’s letter to arrive, here are some places that you may like to visit where the wizarding world came to life for the first time 20 years ago.
London King’s Cross
Located in the capital city of England, London King’s Cross, also known as King’s Cross Railway Station, is an actual terminal that many people use daily. This place is situated in the northeast of downtown, in Camden District.
From being known as an active station for Eurostar service and the London Underground, nowadays London King’s Cross came to be recognized as the place where Harry took the memorable Hogwarts Express at Platform 9¾, where his journey to the magical school would begin.
Fans can even purchase official merchandise of the wizarding world at The Harry Potter Shop at Platform 9¾, located inside the station, and take a picture with Harry’s trolley going through the wall.
The Jacobite Steam Train
Speaking of trains, this tourist line is part of the West Highland Line of Scotland. The Jacobite, a steam locomotive, has been contributing to maintaining the gorgeous Scottish scenic route. In fact, this line is considered one of the top rail journeys in this world.
Due to this, The Jacobite was chosen to portray the Hogwarts Express, the train where we saw Harry and Ron’s friendship blossom, Hermione’s first appearance, and crave the sweets from the Honeydukes’ food trolley. Who doesn’t want to enjoy a chocolate frog while admiring the beautiful Scottish Highlands?
Leadenhall Market
Every wizard and witch must buy their supplies at the right shop. What better place to find these magical items than Diagon Alley? This cobblestoned alley was the area in which Hagrid took Harry to get some wizard’s money, purchase his first wand, and get the lovely Hedwig as a present from Hagrid.
To create Diagon Alley, Rowling was inspired by two Scottish streets: Candlemaker Row and Victoria Street. Yet, for the principal photography, Leadenhall Market was used as the exterior for Diagon Alley and the Leaky Cauldron. This covered area is situated in Gracechurch Street, London, and is one of the city’s oldest markets. It’s also part of the Harry Potter Bus Tour of London.
Alnwick Castle
This 11th-century building is found in the historic county of Northumberland in North East England. Alnwick Castle belongs to the Percy family, who currently live there, and is the second-largest inhabited castle in England. Before the pandemic, the construction had welcomed almost 800,000 visitors per year.
Alnwick Castle became more popular after it served as a film location for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, even though it had already been used as a setting for other movies, such as Elizabeth and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. You can immediately recognize the field where Hogwart’s students took their flying lessons. The castle even carries out Harry Potter-inspired events.
Gloucester Cathedral
Formally named as Cathedral Church of St Peter and the Holy and Indivisible Trinity, this sanctuary in Gloucester, England, dates back to 1089, even though it was dissolved by King Henry VIII. This cathedral stands out for its grand Gothic architecture, which became an idyllic scenery for Hogwart’s interiors.
Gloucester Cathedral served for different scenes, such as the portrait entrance to Gryffindor’s common room, the hallways that the students had to walk by to get to their classes, and so on. While visiting this majestic cathedral, beware not to run into a troll just like the golden trio did.
