When JK Rowling devised the wizarding world and all its wonders, she had to draw quite extensively from her imagination.
But quite a few of the locations are at least inspired by the real world.
Similarly, when the books came to be adapted for the big screen, the location scouts surely earned their money by tracking down the most spectacular scenery possible.
If you’re a huge fan of the series, then you owe it to yourself to walk in the footsteps of everyone’s favourite bespectacled teenage wizard.
But with so many locations to visit, it can be difficult to whittle down the list.
Here, we’ll look at five of the best places for Harry Potter fans to visit.
York
The famous Shambles served as the inspiration for Diagon Alley.
The streets are cobbled, the medieval buildings loom overhead, and there’s an abundance of little boutique shops.
The air of magic is certainly palpable. Since the book came out, a whole range of wizard-related shops have cropped up – so pop in for a visit and pick up a souvenir.
King’s Cross
As everyone remotely familiar with Harry Potter knows, the Hogwarts Express departs from Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross.
There’s a luggage trolley embedded into the wall – which is mostly there to prevent determined fans from accessing the magical part of the station. There are trains to York Harry Potter fans can catch, too.
Hogwarts Express
For the outdoor shots of the famous train, the famous Jacobite Express steam train was used.
It’s most famous for running over the top of the Glenfinnan Viaduct in the second film.
The western highlands are gorgeous to look at, too, so this is an attraction that’s sure to appeal even to tourists who aren’t familiar with the Wizarding World.
The Elephant House
This is the coffee shop in Edinburgh where JK Rowling actually worked on the first book, in a back room overlooking nearby Edinburgh castle.
If you really want to get a sense of where the book came from, then you owe it to yourself to pay a visit.
The café has since been visited by other famous novelist, like Ian Rankin – but naturally no-one comes close to Rowling when it comes to celebrity. Make sure to visit!
Harry Potter Studio Tour
Of course, the demand for Harry-Potter-themed tourist attractions was so overwhelming that Warner Brothers saw fit to open up an attraction of their own, in London.
The Studio Tour will take you through Diagon Alley, the Great Hall, and the Forbidden Forest, among others.
Plus, the attraction is always being expanded and developed with additional features every year. So, there’s always something to come back for, when you have a hankering to return to Harry’s world.