Harry Potter Filming Locations Guide
Wizarding World film series
Explore 79 iconic filming locations from Harry Potter. Our comprehensive guide includes detailed maps, visiting information, photo opportunities, and insider tips to help you plan the perfect Harry Potter filming location tour.
Explore Harry Potter Filming Locations
Discover 79 iconic destinations where the magic happened
Plan Your Harry Potter Film Tourism Adventure
Every Harry Potter fan dreams of visiting the real-world locations where their favorite scenes came to life. Our comprehensive filming location guide makes it easy to plan your ultimate fan pilgrimage, whether you're exploring locally or planning an international film tourism adventure.
What's Included in Our Guide
- • Exact filming locations with GPS coordinates
- • Scene-by-scene breakdown and photo opportunities
- • Public transport and driving directions
- • Opening hours, admission fees, and accessibility info
- • Best times to visit for photography
- • Insider tips from fellow Harry Potter fans
Perfect for Film Tourists
- • Solo travelers and fan groups
- • International visitors planning Harry Potter tours
- • Local fans discovering nearby locations
- • Photography enthusiasts and content creators
- • Families looking for unique vacation experiences
- • Film students and industry professionals
All Locations
69 locations found
Alnwick Castle – Broomstick Training Area
Famous beyond Downton Abbey for its Harry Potter connections, the Broomstick Training Area at Alnwick Castle offers visitors a unique outdoor experience within the castle's ancient walls. This expansive courtyard area, surrounded by medieval stone fortifications, provided the production team with versatile outdoor filming opportunities. The open space allowed for elaborate period carriage arrivals and outdoor gatherings that required the grandeur of a noble estate. Today, visitors can participate in broomstick training sessions while imagining the same courtyard bustling with period drama activity. The area showcases excellent examples of medieval defensive architecture, with its high walls and strategic positioning offering protection while maintaining an elegant appearance suitable for aristocratic residence filming.
Alnwick – Pastures & River Aln View
The Pastures are a rolling stretch of parkland north of Alnwick Castle, landscaped in the 1700s by Capability Brown to frame sweeping views of the castle and its reflection in the River Aln. The open meadows, bordered by mature trees and the Lion Bridge, were designed as a picturesque foreground for the castle’s silhouette and have hosted everything from World War I training camps to the Olympic torch relay and Alnwick’s annual Shrove Tuesday football match. Today they offer visitors a peaceful spot for picnics, walks and photography, with the castle’s towers rising beyond the river. The Pastures form part of the wider North Demesne of the Percy family estate and remain a tranquil contrast to the busy courtyards inside the castle walls. Their natural beauty and strategic landscaping make them a favourite viewpoint for capturing the castle in its landscape setting.
Ashridge Estate – Frithsden Beeches
Frithsden Beeches is an ancient pocket of the National Trust’s Ashridge Estate in Hertfordshire. For more than a century the beech trees here have been left unpollarded, creating fantastically gnarled trunks and wide‑spreading limbs. The most famous specimen was a giant Queen Beech, estimated to be 350–400 years old and known locally as the ‘Harry Potter Tree’ because of its screen appearances. Although widely (and incorrectly) rumoured to be the Whomping Willow, the estate did serve as the backdrop for the Quidditch World Cup portkey scene in *Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire*. Today the Queen Beech has split and lies across the forest floor, but the forest remains magical with twisted trunks and dappled light, offering visitors a glimpse of untouched English woodland.
Australia House (Interior – Gringotts)
Australia House is a Belle Époque‑style landmark on the Strand, designed by Alexander Marshall Mackenzie and built from 1913 to 1918 as the first major public building of the new Commonwealth of Australia. Opened by King George V, it is the oldest continually occupied diplomatic building in London and serves as the Australian High Commission. The marble‑lined Exhibition Hall, with its soaring columns and chandeliers, doubled as Gringotts Wizarding Bank in the Harry Potter films, though the hall is usually reserved for official functions. The building is an architectural jewel and a symbol of enduring kinship between Australia and the United Kingdom. Visitors cannot enter, but weekday glimpses through its glass doors reveal the opulent banking hall where goblins once welcomed wizards on screen.
Black Park Country Park (forest edges)
Windsor Great Park is a 2,020‑hectare Royal Park stretching south of Windsor Castle. Once the private hunting ground of Saxon kings, it has evolved into a public landscape of lawns, ancient oak forests, ornamental gardens and open heath. Ancient trees like the 1,300‑year‑old King Offa’s Oak stand alongside red deer that still roam the park. The Long Walk, a straight avenue flanked by plane trees, leads three miles from the castle gates to the Copper Horse statue of George III. Other highlights include the Valley Gardens, Savill Garden and Virginia Water Lake. The park is owned and managed by the Crown Estate and is free to enter, though some gardens charge admission.
Bodleian – Convocation House
Convocation House forms the lower storey of the westward addition to Oxford’s Bodleian Library and Divinity School, built between 1634 and 1637. Created as a permanent meeting place for the university’s legislative body, it adjoins the 15th‑century Divinity School and the Sheldonian Theatre. Its stone‑vaulted ceiling (completed in 1758–59) and rows of carved oak benches give it the feel of a 17th‑century courtroom. During the English Civil War the chamber served as the House of Commons for the Royalist Parliament—both Charles I and Charles II sat in its chair—and the adjacent Chancellor’s Court handled university legal proceedings. Today the space is still used for university ceremonies and is available for weddings and events.
Bodleian Library – Divinity School
The Divinity School is a breathtaking 15th‑century hall adjoining Oxford’s Bodleian Library. Built between 1427 and 1483 in the Perpendicular Gothic style, it is the oldest surviving purpose‑built teaching room at any university. Its lierne‑vaulted ceiling features 455 carved bosses, and the tall arched windows flood the stone hall with light. Originally used for theological lectures and oral examinations, the room later hosted university ceremonies and is now reserved for events and guided tours. Its grandeur and historical significance make it an architectural gem within the Bodleian complex.
Borough High Street Approaches
Borough High Street has served as the main southern approach into London since Roman times. By the 1700s it was a chaotic thoroughfare; stalls and livestock from Borough Market clogged the only route into the city from the south until an Act of Parliament moved the market off the roadway. Today the street is lined with centuries‑old inns, railway arches and modern shops, leading visitors toward the bustling Borough Market. As one of Southwark’s oldest streets it still conveys the gritty energy of London traffic and history, making it a natural setting for cinematic chases.
Borough Market (7 Stoney Street)
Borough Market, London’s oldest food market, has traded for more than 900 years. Originally held in the middle of Borough High Street, the market caused such congestion that an Act of Parliament in 1756 moved it off the road. Today its maze of stalls sits beneath railway arches, offering artisan produce and street food. The quiet corner at 7 Stoney Street houses a small shopfront that became a film landmark—the exterior of the Leaky Cauldron in the third Harry Potter film. Visitors browse under wrought‑iron canopies, passing florists, cheesemongers and bakers in a space that feels both timeless and vibrant.
Burnham Beeches (woodland filming)
Burnham Beeches is an ancient woodland and National Nature Reserve in Buckinghamshire. The City of London bought the 540‑acre site in 1880 to protect it from development. Today its veteran beech pollards, heathland glades and moss‑covered hollows form one of the finest remaining examples of ancient woodland in Britain. Visitors are asked to stay on main paths to reduce disturbance to wildlife. Because of its beauty and proximity to Pinewood Studios, Burnham Beeches has been a popular filming location for decades.
Cannon Street/City Alleyways (vicinity)
Narrow lanes similar to those used for urban chase cutaways.
Cecil Court (themed bookshops; inspiration)
Atmospheric lane often associated with magical shopping inspiration (not a filming site).
Christ Church – Cloisters & Quadrangle
Tom Quad is the largest quadrangle at Christ Church College, laid out in the 17th century. It sits behind the Porter’s Lodge and centres on a grassy lawn with a fountain topped by a statue of Mercury. Two notable towers overlook the square: Tom Tower, designed by Sir Christopher Wren, houses the great bell Great Tom which has marked the hours for over 300 years; and the Bodley Tower, which contains the staircase leading to the Great Hall. Lewis Carroll lived in rooms facing the quad and wrote part of *Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland* here. The harmonious proportions and historic architecture make Tom Quad a quintessential Oxford scene.
Christ Church College – Staircase
The Bodley Staircase at Christ Church was built in 1805 and leads up to the college’s Great Hall. Although the ceiling above the stairs looks Tudor, it was added later in 1638 and features elaborate fan‑vaulted plasterwork. The staircase is flanked by stone balustrades and lit by tall Gothic windows, giving visitors a sense of ascending into a grand medieval hall. Today it is one of Christ Church’s most photographed features and an essential stop on Harry Potter tours.
Christ Church Meadow Paths
Scenic meadow paths adjacent to college; often used by guided tours between sites.
Claremont Square (Grimmauld Place)
Claremont Square is a quiet Georgian square in the Islington district of London. Its central green mound hides an old reservoir built between 1821 and 1828 and now part of the Thames Water Ring Main. The square is lined with early‑19th‑century terraced houses of yellow brick and cast‑iron balconies, with the south side facing Pentonville Road. Mature trees and iron railings enclose the central mound, giving the area a secluded feel despite its proximity to busy King’s Cross.
Claremont Square Mews (wider area)
Adjacent streets offering wider views of the Grimmauld Place setting.
Cliffs of Moher – Cliff Viewpoints
The White Cliffs of Dover are a symbol of Britain, standing up to 110 m high along the Kent coast and composed of brilliant white chalk streaked with flint. Facing the English Channel, they have greeted travellers for millennia and played a strategic role in wars. The National Trust manages walking trails along the cliff tops, offering views of passing ships and the French coast on clear days. Rare plants like sea kale and chalk grassland wildflowers thrive on the cliffs, which are home to nesting fulmars, kittiwakes and peregrine falcons.
Durham Cathedral – Chapter House
Dominating the skyline above the River Wear, Durham Cathedral is a masterpiece of Norman Romanesque architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Construction began in 1093; by 1133 the nave and transepts were largely complete, creating a monumental stone fortress on a rocky peninsula. The western towers, added around 1200, rise 44 m and flank the nave while the central tower—rebuilt in two stages in the 15th century—soars to 66 m. Massive buttresses and arcaded galleries give the exterior a fortress‑like appearance, softened by later Gothic additions. From Palace Green and Prebends Bridge visitors can view the full sweep of towers and cloisters reflected in the river, a sight that inspired early concept art for Hogwarts.
Durham – Cloister Quadrangle Lawn
Durham Cathedral’s 14th‑century cloisters are a quadrangle of covered arcades surrounding a grassy garth. Built for the Benedictine monks’ exercise, teaching and study, they are among the best‑preserved medieval cloisters in England. Each walkway is lined with stone tracery and rib vaulting, opening onto the central lawn and the river beyond. The peaceful garth, once used for quiet reflection, now occasionally hosts events and conjures images of Hogwarts’ corridors. The cloisters link the cathedral church, Chapter House and other monastic buildings, providing a seamless journey through centuries of history.
Freshwater West Beach (Shell Cottage site)
Freshwater West is a broad, windswept beach on the Atlantic coast of Pembrokeshire. Backed by dunes and red sandstone cliffs, it is renowned for its strong surf and rocky reef at the south end; the waves here make it one of Wales’s top surfing spots. The beach’s tranquillity belies its role in history: it was a landing site for 19th‑century smugglers and today lies within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. Parking is limited and camping or barbecues are discouraged to protect the fragile dune ecosystem.
Freshwater West – Dobby Memorial Spot (now removed)
Beach area where fans left tributes; authorities manage/limit memorials.
Glencoe – Clachaig Gully Area (Hagrid’s Hut area)
Area used for hut exterior set/backdrops in later films.
Glen Etive – Roadside Viewpoints
Loch Etive is a long, narrow sea loch snaking for more than 30 miles (18 km) through the dramatic Glen Etive in Argyll and Bute. The glen’s steep hills, waterfalls and pine forests make it a favourite with hikers, kayakers and wild campers. The northern end of the loch near Gualachulain is particularly scenic, with views down the winding waterway toward the mountains. Nearby attractions include Dunstaffnage Castle and the Bonawe Historic Iron Furnace. The area’s wildness and remoteness have preserved a sense of solitude perfect for cinematic adventures.
Glenfinnan – Monument Shoreline
Shoreline near the monument with views toward the viaduct and loch.
Glenfinnan Viaduct Viewpoint
Spanning the valley of the River Finnan on Scotland’s West Highland Line, the Glenfinnan Viaduct is an engineering marvel. Built between 1897 and 1901 by Robert McAlpine & Sons using pioneering mass‑concrete techniques, the viaduct measures 381 metres long, stands 30 metres high and comprises 21 graceful arches. It carries trains between Fort William and Mallaig, making it the longest concrete railway bridge in Scotland. After its appearance in four Harry Potter films, the bridge gained global fame as the ‘Harry Potter Bridge’, attracting thousands of visitors and prompting safety warnings not to trespass on the active line. Surrounded by loch and mountain scenery, the viaduct offers some of the Highlands’ most photogenic views.
Glen Nevis – Steall Falls View
Steall Falls (An Steall Bàn), tucked deep into Glen Nevis near Fort William, is one of Scotland’s highest waterfalls. The cascade drops roughly 120 metres (390 feet) and has been carving its rocky amphitheatre for more than 10,000 years. Surrounded by ancient Caledonian woodland, the glen is a Site of Special Scientific Interest rich in alpine plants and wildlife. Visitors follow a 2.2‑mile trail that weaves through mossy gorges and across a grassy meadow before a dramatic finale: a single‑span wire bridge over the River Nevis, beyond which the waterfall tumbles in a silver ribbon. The setting feels wild and remote, framed by towering mountains and vibrant greenery.
Gloucester Cathedral – Chapter House
Gloucester Cathedral began life as the Abbey of St Peter, founded in 1089. Its exterior blends Norman Romanesque architecture — seen in the massive nave pillars and crypt — with later Gothic additions such as the soaring east end and 15th‑century tower. The most striking feature is the Great East Window: at 22 metres high and 12 metres wide, it is the size of a tennis court and was the largest window in the world when installed in the 1350s. Today this glass, along with the ornate Lady Chapel and King Edward II’s tomb, makes Gloucester Cathedral a highlight of English medieval architecture and a popular backdrop for films and TV. Although the Harry Potter production used the cloisters for Hogwarts’ corridors, the exterior itself appears mainly in establishing shots, lending its ancient towers and buttresses to the wizarding world’s atmosphere.
Gloucester – Cathedral Close Gardens
Green space adjacent to filming cloisters; good for family breaks.
Goathland Station (Hogsmeade in first film)
Goathland Station lies on the preserved North Yorkshire Moors Railway in the North York Moors National Park. Opened in 1865 on the Whitby and Pickering line, its stone buildings and tall footbridge have changed little in more than a century. The station and nearby village are also famous as ‘Aidensfield’ in ITV’s long‑running series *Heartbeat*. Visitors can wander the platforms, browse the converted goods shed tea room and gift shop, and explore walking trails to waterfalls and heather‑clad moors. The heritage steam railway runs daily in season, making Goathland one of England’s most atmospheric rural stations.
Great Scotland Yard / Scotland Place
Great Scotland Yard is a narrow street tucked behind Whitehall and only a few steps from Trafalgar Square. Once the site of a royal Scottish lodging and later the address of London’s Metropolitan Police, it now holds hotels, offices and a branch of the Ministry of Defence. Despite its unassuming appearance, film crews transformed the street into the magical visitor entrance to the Ministry of Magic. The junction with Scotland Place, fringed by brick buildings and metal shutters, is where wizards and witches dial into a lift disguised as a red telephone box.
Hardwick Hall (Malfoy Manor exterior)
Hardwick Hall is one of England’s finest Elizabethan houses, built between 1590 and 1597 for Bess of Hardwick, who rose from modest beginnings to become the second richest woman in Britain after Queen Elizabeth I. The mansion is famous for its large windows – giving rise to the saying ‘Hardwick Hall, more glass than wall’ – and for its imposing symmetry and rooftop banqueting rooms. Today the National Trust cares for the estate, which includes landscaped gardens, a deer park and a collection of tapestries and textiles. Its honey‑coloured stone and dramatic silhouette made it the perfect inspiration for Malfoy Manor on screen.
King’s Cross Station (Platform 9¾ photo point)
King’s Cross is one of London’s busiest rail termini, opened in 1852 to serve the Great Northern Railway. Its Victorian train shed of wrought‑iron arches was designed by Lewis Cubitt, and a modern glass roof now covers the concourse. While the exterior shots of ‘King’s Cross’ in the Harry Potter films were actually filmed at the neighbouring St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, the interior platform scenes were shot inside King’s Cross itself. Between platforms 4 and 5 lies the brick wall that provided the secret entrance to Platform 9¾ in the early films.
King’s Cross – St Pancras Road Facades
Victorian façades adjacent to station seen in establishing cuts.
Lacock Abbey – Interior Corridors & Classrooms
Lacock Abbey was founded in 1232 as an Augustinian nunnery and later became a country house; many of its medieval rooms survive intact. Inside, visitors can explore the Chapter House with its stone vaults and 13th‑century carvings, the Warming Room with a huge centuries‑old cauldron, and the Sacristy where nuns once prepared for services. These atmospheric spaces provided authentic backdrops for the earliest Harry Potter films. Beyond their cinematic fame, the rooms tell stories of monastic life and later Tudor and Georgian owners.
Lacock – Church Street Junction
Recognizable village junction appearing in early-film exteriors.
Lacock Village – Streets
The village of Lacock is a time‑capsule of medieval and Georgian England. Its streets are lined with timber‑framed cottages, stone houses and ancient inns, many dating from the 15th to 18th centuries. The National Trust maintains much of the village, preserving its cobbled lanes and absence of modern street furniture. Church Street winds past St Cyriac’s church toward the Abbey, and the surrounding houses remain private homes despite their fame. Visitors can stroll through the village to experience historic architecture that has featured in countless period dramas and wizarding adventures.
Lambeth – Albert Embankment Viewpoints
Riverside views used in establishing/night sequences in later films.
Lambeth Bridge
Tower Bridge is one of London’s most famous landmarks, built between 1886 and 1894 as a combined bascule and suspension bridge across the River Thames. Its twin Gothic‑style towers are connected by high‑level walkways and house the hydraulic machinery that once lifted the bascules to let tall ships pass. Located next to the Tower of London, it quickly became an icon of Victorian engineering and a symbol of the city. Today visitors can walk across the bridge for free or explore the Tower Bridge Exhibition inside the towers to see the engine rooms and enjoy glass‑floored walkways with views over the river.
Lambeth Town Hall vicinity (as stand-in streets)
Area used for urban exterior shots in later films.
Lavenham – De Vere House (Godric’s Hollow exterior)
Lavenham is a well‑preserved medieval wool town 15 miles west of Ipswich, known for its timber‑framed houses and crooked lanes. Once one of England’s richest villages, its prosperity waned after the cloth trade declined, leaving a skyline of leaning half‑timbered cottages and a towering 16th‑century church. The village features in films and TV dramas for its authentic Tudor appearance. Visitors stroll through Market Place past the Guildhall, Little Hall and De Vere House while soaking up the ambiance of a bygone era.
Leadenhall Market (Bull's Head Passage)
Leadenhall Market is an ornate Victorian covered market in the City of London. The current cast‑iron and glass structure was designed by Sir Horace Jones in 1881, though a market has operated here since the 14th century. The roof’s coloured panels, wrought‑iron arches and cobbled walkways create an atmosphere reminiscent of a bygone era. Today the market hosts luxury shops, pubs and restaurants and acts as a public thoroughfare between Gracechurch Street and Lime Street. Its eclectic architecture makes it a popular filming location and a real‑world Diagon Alley.
Lemon Rock – Sea Stack (composited)
Offshore sea stack used in composite shots for cave exteriors.
Loch Arkaig – Shore Composite View
Loch Arkaig is a remote 12‑mile (19 km) freshwater loch north of Fort William. It is fringed by Caledonian pine forest and hills and contains several islands, one of which has a ruined chapel dedicated to St Columba. Local lore claims a cache of French gold (the Jacobite treasure) lies buried here. The loch’s isolated beauty drew filmmakers seeking wilder scenery than nearby Loch Eilt; the director blended shots from both lochs to depict Dumbledore’s island grave. Away from the screen, Loch Arkaig offers birdwatching, deer‑spotting and walks through ancient pinewoods.
Loch Eilt – Eilean na Moine (islet)
Loch Eilt is a small freshwater loch between the villages of Glenfinnan and Lochailort on the West Highland Line. Dotted with tree‑covered islets and backed by rugged hills, it epitomises the wild beauty of the Highlands. The loch is easily viewed from the road and train but has no developed visitor facilities. Its most famous island is Eilean na Moine, a tiny, pine‑clad hummock at the loch’s western end. This quiet spot became one of the series’ most poignant locations: the final resting place of Albus Dumbledore.
Loch Etive – Gualachulain Shore
Shoreline used in later-film journey sequences.
Loch Shiel – Church Viewpoint (Glenfinnan)
Classic viewpoint over the loch often associated with school lake backdrops.
London Zoo – Reptile House
Opened in 1828, the Zoological Society of London’s zoo is the world’s oldest scientific zoo. Its Reptile House, built in the 1920s, features carved reptilian motifs above the entrance and showcases snakes, lizards, frogs and crocodiles in terrariums. The zoo was the first to open a dedicated reptile house in 1849, and the current hall retains an Art Deco feel. Today the building is both an educational exhibit and a piece of heritage, drawing visitors to learn about cold‑blooded species from around the globe. A plaque marks its role in Harry Potter history.
Malham Cove – Cliff Amphitheatre
Malham Cove is a towering limestone amphitheatre on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The sheer cliff, around 260 feet (80 m) high, was carved by meltwater from the last Ice Age over 12,000 years ago. At its top is a unique limestone pavement of eroded blocks separated by deep fissures, offering sweeping views over Malham village and the surrounding dales. A gentle 0.6‑mile path from the village car park leads to the base of the cove, while stone steps climb to the pavement above. The combination of geological spectacle and accessible walking makes it one of the park’s most visited sites.
Malham – Limestone Pavement (top of cove)
Limestone pavement atop the cove seen in wide shots.
Millennium Bridge
The Millennium Bridge is London’s first new river crossing for more than a century, opened in June 2000 to link St Paul’s Cathedral with Tate Modern. Designed by architect Sir Norman Foster and engineers Arup, it uses eight lateral suspension cables and three spans (81 m, 144 m and 108 m) to achieve a lightweight, 325‑metre pedestrian deck. Nicknamed the “Wobbly Bridge” after unexpected lateral movements on opening day, it was closed for two years and retro‑fitted with dampers. Today the sleek steel structure is a popular thoroughfare and offers panoramic views of the Thames, St Paul’s and the City. Its modern form contrasts with historic landmarks, making it a cinematic location and a symbol of 21st‑century London.
New College – Cloisters & Courtyard Tree
Founded in 1394 by William of Wykeham, Winchester College is one of England’s oldest schools. Its medieval buildings include Outer Gate, Outer Court, Chamber Court, the chapel and the cloisters, all built of flint with limestone dressings and slate roofs. Chamber Court is an enclosed quadrangle flanked by Gothic arches and mullioned windows, with a central lawn and a statue of the founder. The adjacent cloisters once provided covered walkways linking the chapel and schoolrooms. These historic spaces evoke the atmosphere of a monastic college and remain in daily use by pupils. Guided tours allow visitors to explore Chamber Court, the 14th‑century chapel, College Hall and the medieval cloisters.
Oxford – Radcliffe Square Vistas (connector)
Photogenic square frequently included on walking routes between filming sites.
Piccadilly Circus
Piccadilly Circus is a bustling road junction and public space in London’s West End, where several major streets—including Regent Street and Piccadilly—converge. Created in 1819, it is famous for its curved row of illuminated advertising screens, the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain with its winged archer statue, and theatres, shops and cafés on every corner. At all hours the circus hums with buses, taxis, tourists and theatre‑goers. Its bright lights and frenetic energy epitomise the city’s cosmopolitan spirit.
Picket Post Close (Privet Drive exterior, first film)
Residential street used for early exterior shots before set recreation.
Rannoch Moor – Line Viewpoints
Rannoch Moor is a vast expanse of bog, lochans and heather covering about 50 square miles in the western Highlands. This desolate landscape sits between Glencoe and Corrour and is noted for its peat bogs and scattered pools, home to red deer and moorland birds. The moor is famous among walkers and photographers for its wild, lonely beauty, with the Black Mount range looming to the west. Despite its inhospitable terrain, it can be traversed via the West Highland Line, one of Britain’s most scenic rail journeys.
Reptile House Exterior (Regent’s Park paths)
Exterior approaches to the zoo building recognizable from establishing shots.
Shaftesbury Avenue – Night Chase Vicinity
Shaftesbury Avenue is a major thoroughfare in London’s West End, running from Piccadilly Circus to New Oxford Street. Built by the Metropolitan Board of Works between 1877 and 1886 and named after the 7th Earl of Shaftesbury, it cuts through the heart of the theatre district with iconic venues such as the Lyric, Apollo and Gielgud theatres lining its route. The avenue’s mix of Victorian façades and modern storefronts make it a bustling cultural artery by day and an illuminated entertainment strip by night. Close to Piccadilly Circus and Soho, it is one of the West End’s most recognisable streets.
St Aldate’s – College Frontages
Street segment forming part of guided routes between Christ Church and the Meadow.
St Pancras Renaissance Hotel (exterior)
Iconic frontage seen adjacent to the station in early films.
St Paul’s Cathedral – Geometric Staircase (restricted)
Hidden inside the south‑west tower of St Paul’s Cathedral lies Sir Christopher Wren’s Geometric (Dean’s) Staircase. This self‑supporting spiral of 88 stone steps rises without a central column and forms a perfect helix of white Portland stone. Built in the early 1700s, it is considered one of Wren’s finest engineering feats and was once used by cathedral officials to reach the triforium. The staircase is rarely open to casual visitors; it can be seen only on special guided tours, adding to its mystique.
Surbiton Railway Station (Café)
Surbiton Railway Station is an Art Deco gem on the South Western Main Line. Designed by architect James Robb Scott and opened in 1937, the Grade II‑listed building features a soaring clock tower, a light‑filled ticket hall with huge windows and original 1930s fixtures. Its sleek white exterior and streamlined curves epitomise the modernism of interwar railway architecture. Today it serves thousands of commuters daily while preserving its historic character.
Swinley Forest (Forest of Dean scenes)
Swinley Forest is a 2,600‑acre expanse of Scots pine plantation and heathland forming part of the Crown Estate south‑west of Windsor Great Park. Historically belonging to Windsor Forest, it now includes Crowthorne Woods, Swinley Park, Bagshot Heath and Swinley Woods. The forest is managed by Forestry England and popular for its mountain‑bike trails, waymarked walks, wildlife and views toward the Surrey Hills. Visitors may encounter wild ponies grazing on the heath and hear woodlarks singing from the treetops.
Thames Path – Millennium Bridge East Bank Views
The Dartford Crossing carries the M25 over the River Thames between Dartford in Kent and Thurrock in Essex. It comprises two road tunnels for northbound traffic and the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge for southbound vehicles. Completed in 1991, the cable‑stayed bridge was Europe’s largest when built; its central span stretches 450 m and sits 65 m above the Thames, with steel pylons rising 84 m above 53 m concrete piers for a total height of 137 m. The crossing forms part of the A282, the only fixed road link east of London, and carries about 150,000 vehicles each day. Because of high winds, traffic can be diverted into the tunnels, and drivers must pay a toll (the Dart Charge) to use the bridge during peak hours.
The Jacobite Steam Train (Fort William–Mallaig)
Operated by West Coast Railways since 1995, the Jacobite steam train takes passengers on an 84‑mile return journey from Fort William to the fishing port of Mallaig. The route hugs the shores of Loch Eil, crosses the 21‑arch Glenfinnan Viaduct with views to the Glenfinnan Monument and Loch Shiel, skirts the white sands of Morar and terminates at Mallaig harbour. The service has become the company’s most successful line thanks to Harry Potter fans. On board, passengers ride in vintage carriages, visit the buffet car for refreshments and hear the hiss of a coal‑fired locomotive that evokes bygone travel.
Tottenham Court Road Junction (vicinity)
Busy junction associated with café and chase sequences.
Virginia Water Lake (Hogwarts Lake – early films)
At the eastern end of Windsor Great Park, Virginia Water Lake is a 200‑acre artificial lake created in the 18th century. Along its southern shore stands a 100‑ft (30 m) totem pole carved from a single red cedar and presented to Queen Elizabeth II by the government of British Columbia in 1958. The totem depicts mythical creatures and tribal symbols of the Kwakwaka’wakw people and commemorates the centenary of British Columbia joining Canada. Nearby attractions include the Cascade waterfall and the classical ruins of Leptis Magna. Visitors stroll a 5.25‑mile circuit around the lake, taking in woodlands, ornamental plantings and wide lawns.
Westminster Bridge South Bank Views
Riverside views tied to city montage/chase sequences in later films.
Westminster Underground Station
Westminster Underground Station is a striking example of industrial architecture on the London Underground. Rebuilt as part of the Jubilee Line Extension in the 1990s, engineers excavated a 39 m‑deep ‘station box’ beneath Portcullis House, lowering the District and Circle line platforms and threading new escalators through a concrete diagrid. The station’s cavernous interior is clad in exposed concrete and stainless steel, with escalators crossing at 45° and lift shafts rising through the void. Platform edge doors and glass walls on the Jubilee line platforms reflect the design’s emphasis on safety and modernity. Completed in 1999, the station has won architectural awards and serves as a gateway to the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey.