Alnwick Castle has been transformed into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Owned by the Percy family since 1309 and currently the family home of the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland, the castle provided the backdrop for most exterior shots of the school in both movies.
Harry Potter tours – Alnwick Castle. Phone 07305-294773 for more details.
In “The Philosopher’s Stone“, Harry Potter’s first flying lesson was held in the grounds of the castle, as were the Quidditch matches. This time around, expect to see Harry crash-land a flying car in Alnwick Castle’s inner bailey. The castle’s Guest Hall has provided the setting for Hogwarts Library. It was rebuilt to look identical to the Bodleian Library in Oxford, which was used in the first movie.
Other Harry Potter locations around England include Durham Castle and Cathedral (classroom scenes), Gloucester Cathedral (corridor scenes), Goathland Railway Station, North Yorkshire (Hogsmeade Station) and King’s Cross Station, London (Platform 9 3⁄4).
Alnwick saw a welcome rise in tourism following the release of the first Harry Potter movie. This has perhaps contributed to the recent recognition of the market town as the “Best Place to live in England”. Alnwick topped a survey conducted by Country Life Magazine, which found that residents there enjoyed the highest standard of living. No doubt Alnwick’s residents are hoping that Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets will again cast a spell to bring tourists flocking to the town, in search of the magic of Hogwarts.
