Go on location and discover the inspiration behind Hogwarts.
Monday Harry Potter London Tour - Your tour commences at 1PM in Britain's famous capital city and at the beginning of book 1- London. Visit London Zoo, which transformed into Little Whinging Zoo in the book. The scene of Harry's conversation with the snake took place in the reptile house of London Zoo. Visit Kings Cross Station to see platform 9 ¾ where Harry starts his Hogwarts Express journey to Hogwarts School of Wizardry.
Don't forget that the platform is not visable to Muggles! Take turns holding the handle of a baggage cart that British Rail has kindly cut in half and affixed to the wall — all the better to give the impression that it's disappearing into the magical alternative world where trains go to wizard school. Carry on to Australia House on the Strand, home of the Australian High Commission, which was transformed into Gringotts Wizarding Bank. Take a stroll down Charing Cross Road which came to life as Diagon Alley where all the Wizard shops are. Stay overnight in London.
Tuesday On your own: Spend the day viewing the Harry Potter sights of London. The London Eye One of the newest and most popular attractions in London, this 135-meter tall Ferris wheel along the banks of the Thames River is one of several landmarks that can be seen in Order of the Phoenix's "wizard chase" sequence, where several members of "Dumbledore's Army" (Harry's Hogwarts student supporters) race on their brooms high above London toward a fight with Voldemort's loyal followers, the sinister Death Eaters.
From your own "broom's eye" view atop the Eye, you'll be able to see many of the other notable London sights also featured in the climactic fly-over, including Big Ben, Parliament, Tower Bridge, and Buckingham Palace. Westminster Tube Station When traveling around London on "the Tube," make sure to stop at this gorgeously modern glass and steel underground station, which serves the Circle, District, and Jubilee lines and is one of the key locations Harry and Mr. Weasley (Ron's father) visit when traveling to a Ministry of Magic hearing. Also keep an eye out just down the road from the station for a red telephone booth near Scotland Yard that was used by the filmmakers as the secret entrance to the Ministry of Magic. Stay overnight in London.
Wednesday Harry Potter Tour to Oxford. Travel to the ancient university city of Oxford for your next Harry Potter sights. Visit Christ Church College, Oxfords largest college, which was used to stage a number of Hogwarts interior scenes and whose Great Hall was used to accommodate the great feasts at the school. See the famous Bodleian Library, where Harry creeps at night under his invisible cloak. The Duke Humphrey's Library featured as Hogwarts Library in the film and the Divinity School became the Hospital wing.
Many of the Hogwart's scenes were filmed at Oxford University - including the staircase where Mrs McGonagall greets the schoolchildren, and Hogwart's hospital. From Oxford, drive up through the Cotswolds, past Blenheim Palace - birthplace of Winston Churchill, to Stratford-upon-Avon. Stay overnight in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Thursday Harry Potter Tour To Gloucester. Visit Warwick Castle - Britain's finest complete medieval fortress - and see castle life re-enacted. The dungeons and torture chambers are a great attraction. Drive through the pretty villages to the Cathedral City of Gloucester. The Cathedral, famous for it's Gothic architecture, was the perfect setting for many of the Hogwarts interior scenes, including Gryffindor's dorm.
Here the Fat Lady guarded the entrance Pupils from the Kings School, which adjoins the Cathedral, were used as film extras! The ghost scenes and talking pictures were set here. The Cathedral is featured again in 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets' including the scene with the ghost Moaning Myrtle, and the mysterious red writing on the wall. While in Gloucester, visit the famous Docks, which is surrounded by Victorian Warehouses and enjoy the museums - The National Waterways and The Regimental Museums. Stay overnight in Gloucester area.
Friday Harry Potter Tour to Gordric's Hollow. Begin your journey with a visit to the medieval village of Lacock. This village inspired the image of Gordric's Hollow - where Harry lived with his parents. Lacock Abbey was also used in various Hogwarts School scenes, including Professor Snape's Dungeon classroom. The beautiful village of Lacock will evoke memories in the minds of avid film buffs - it was also used in the period dramas Emma and Pride and Prejudice. Continue your journey to the ancient village of Avebury to see the mysterious circle of standing stones. Return to London for overnight.
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