12 Real-Life Harry Potter Destinations You Can Visit

Your long-waited-for letter from Hogwarts may never actually come, but a visit to each of these destinations will get Potter fans pretty close
By Diana Pearl
Updated November 19, 2016 06:03 PM

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GREAT HALL AT HOGWARTS, LONDON

Step inside the magical setting at The Warner Bros. Studio London, which is hosting the first-ever Dinner in the Great Hall at Hogwarts on December 3. Guests will dine amongst props featured in the first film, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, and feast on flaming Christmas pudding, hams studded with cherries, and butterbeer. And, did we mention diners will also be given their own wand? (!!!)

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ALNWICK CASTLE, ENGLAND

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This Medieval castle was used as a set for the fictional Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry in the first two Harry Potter films. You'll see Alnwick in familiar scenes like Harry's first broomstick flying lesson in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone or Ron's flying car crash in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. alnwickcastle.com

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CHRIST CHURCH, OXFORD

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When it comes to Harry Potter, few sights are as iconic as Hogwarts's Great Hall. In the film, young witches and wizards from each house gather around long tables for meals and ceremonial events – much like the students at Christ Church, a college at Oxford University. Visitors can get a peek at the real thing during a visit to the college – if there isn't an educational event going on, of course. chch.ox.ac.uk

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THE JACOBITE, SCOTLAND

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Looking for an attraction that will scratch your Harry Potter sight-seeing itch and satisfy your travel companions? Try the Jacobite, a steam train that runs along the western coast of Scotland, giving travelers a gorgeous view of the Scottish countryside – and make you feel like you're riding the Hogwarts Express in real life. Potter fans should keep their eyes peeled for the Glenfinnan viaduct, the 21-arched overpass that is seen in the film. westcoastrailways.co.uk

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BLACK PARK COUNTRY PARK, ENGLAND

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Thrill seekers can find Harry Potter's Forbidden Forest come to life at the Black Park in Iver, England. The spiders, however, won't come in larger-than-life form – we hope. buckscc.gov.uk

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KING'S CROSS STATION, LONDON

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Perhaps one of the best known Harry Potter attractions, this iconic train station has a Platform 9 3/4 sign, complete with a cart appearing to be halfway through the wall. The "platform" may be a fake, but Potter still travels through the real King's Cross in the film, so it's doubly worth a trip. However, don't make like a wizard and actually run your cart into the wall, however: You'll just end up with flying luggage and a headache. networkrail.co.uk

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QUIDDITCH WORLD CUP

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It may have originated as a magical sport, but Quidditch has made its way to the muggle world. And thanks to a number of seriously devoted Potter fans, you can attend the Quidditch World Cup, just like Ron, Harry, and Hermione did in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. The good news is that unlike in the book, the real-life Quidditch World Cup is held annually, in April – this year in South Carolina. usquidditch.org

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MILLENNIUM BRIDGE, LONDON

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If you're traveling to London, a stop by the Millennium Bridge is necessary for all visitors – but especially Potter fans. In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, readers learn that the bridge was destroyed by Death Eaters sent by Voldemort. In reality, the bridge still stands today, and is the perfect path from St. Paul's Cathedral to the Tate Modern. londonmillenniumbridge.com

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WYNOTT'S WANDS, SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS

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Potter fans may not be able to pay a visit to Olivander's Wand Shop in real life, but Wynott's Wands will get them pretty close. Visitors say that the teeny shop feels just like something out of J.K. Rowling's imagination, and is located in the magical capital of America: Salem, Massachusetts. yelp.com

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THE LONDON ZOO, ENGLAND

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The London Zoo doesn't appear on screen in Harry Potter for long – but the scene it does appear in is significant. Harry communicates with a snake, later revealed to be due to his ability to speak parseltongue, which becomes a fairly significant plot throughout the series. Visit the reptile enclave at the London Zoo to see where it all began. zsl.org

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DURHAM CATHEDRAL, DURHAM, ENGLAND

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Remember that snowy courtyard Harry walked through with his pet owl, Hedwig, in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone? You can take your own stroll through the same spot during a visit to the Durham Cathedral in Durham, England. durhamcathedral.co.uk

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HARRY POTTER WORLD, ORLANDO, FLORIDA

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If you don't want to cross the Atlantic but have a hankering for a day (or two!) full of Harry Potter, best to head down to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, a theme park in Orlando, Florida. Parkgoers can explore Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, the Hogwarts Express and Diagon Alley, all with a butterbeer in hand. universalorlando.com

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