Popular books and movies are often an inspiration for a spellbinding adventure fit for a budding witch or wizard. VisitBritain, the national tourist office for England, Scotland and Wales invites travelers to hop on their broomsticks and visit England, where the wizarding world of Harry Potter comes alive.
While some wizarding schools are carefully hidden away by magical spells, visitors to Oxford University can experience many of the locations used in recent Harry Potter films. Christchurch College is the site of the magnificent Hogwart’s dining hall, and also provided many of the school’s famous moving staircases. Should any travelers have a run-in with an ill-tempered magical creature, the Hogwart’s hospital can be found in the university’s Divinity School, which features as the school’s infirmary in the newest Potter film. The university’s circular Bodleian Library contains several antique manuscripts and mysterious works, including an ancient book of spells and witchcraft in Duke Humphrey’s Library, another location used in the films. While exploring Oxford’s impressive gothic architecture and foreboding spires, visitors can feel the magic that inspired author Lewis Carroll, who wrote his most famous work "Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland" on these grounds.
Near Oxford, travelers eager to see something truly magnificent will not want to miss Blenheim Palace, one of Britain’s largest and grandest private homes. Visitors can tour the home’s state apartments, pleasure gardens and fantastic parkland and lake developed by Lancelot "Capability" Brown. The palace’s grounds include an adventure playground, mystical butterfly house, and a challenging maze.
Travelers eager to see more of Hogwart’s - and perhaps greet a few ghosts -will not want to miss Gloucester Cathedral in Gloucestershire. This cathedral is considered one of Britain’s most beautiful architectural gems, and was featured extensively in the third Harry Potter film. While one may not meet Nearly Headless Nick or Moaning Myrtle in these halls, an ancient wooden door does lead down to the old crypt, said to be haunted by monks from the old Gloucester monastery.
Budding wizardry students will find many other magical opportunities in Gloucestershire. Those with a flair for potion making will want to visit the Selsley Herb Nursery near Stroud. The nursery grows many of the fantastic herbs used by students in the Harry Potter books, including mandrakes, monkshood, wolfbane, fluxweed and belladonna. Also in Gloucestershire, visitors can learn more about the owls used by Hogwart’s students at the National Bird of Prey Centre. The Center is home to more than 60 species of owls, eagles and hawks, and offers an "Owl Experience Day" where owl enthusiasts can learn how to handle and fly these magical creatures.
While in London, Potter fans cannot miss a priceless photo op at the enchanted Platform 9-3/4 at King’s Cross Station. Would-be wizards and witches can try their hand at pushing a trolley through the brick wall between platforms nine and 10, otherwise known as the portal to the wizarding world. Enthusiasts can hop on a train to Goathland Station in North Yorkshire, which doubles as Hogsmeade Station in the third Harry Potter film. This station is situated in the beautiful North Yorkhire Moors National Park in north-east England, Britain’s smallest national park. The station has not changed much since the day it opened in 1865, and still offers rides on an original classic steam train on an 18-mile track through the park.
Visitors can find more information about planning magical vacations to Britain by visiting the website www.visitbritain.com/go and by calling 1-800-462-2748.
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