Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1 London — Where It All Began
Morning King's Cross Station — Platform 9¾
Start your pilgrimage at King's Cross Station, where Harry first boards the Hogwarts Express. The Platform 9¾ installation with the trolley embedded in the wall is in the departure hall. Next door, the official Harry Potter Shop at Platform 9¾ sells wands, house scarves and exclusive merchandise.
Afternoon Leadenhall Market — L'entrée du Chemin de Traverse
Head to Leadenhall Market in the City, a stunning Victorian covered market that served as the entrance to Diagon Alley and the Leaky Cauldron in Philosopher's Stone. Bull's Head Passage (south entrance) is the exact filmed spot. Continue to the Millennium Bridge (destroyed by Death Eaters in Half-Blood Prince) and nearby Borough Market.
Evening Zoo de Londres — La scène du serpent
End the day at London Zoo (Regent's Park), where Harry discovers he can speak Parseltongue in the reptile house. The boa constrictor escape scene was filmed in the Reptile House, still open to the public. The exact enclosure is identified — look for the commemorative plaques installed by the zoo.
Day 2 Oxford — The Library and Halls of Hogwarts
Morning Bodleian Library & Divinity School
Visit the Bodleian Library, one of Europe's oldest libraries, whose Duke Humfrey's Library served as the Hogwarts library (restricted section included). The Divinity School on the ground floor, a masterpiece of perpendicular Gothic architecture, was used as the Hogwarts infirmary in several films. Its fan vault ceiling is breathtaking.
Afternoon Christ Church College — Le Grand Escalier
Explore Christ Church College, whose staircase leading to the Great Hall directly inspired Hogwarts' Grand Staircase. The Great Hall itself, with its long wooden tables, wall portraits and exposed beam ceiling, is the exact model for the Great Hall. The medieval cloisters served as Hogwarts corridors in the first films.
Evening New College & Pubs d'Oxford
Visit New College in the late afternoon, whose cloisters and courtyard served as a set in Goblet of Fire (the scene where Draco is turned into a ferret). The old oak tree in the courtyard is iconic. End with a pint at one of Oxford's historic pubs: The Eagle and Child (where Tolkien and C.S. Lewis used to meet) or The Turf Tavern, a hidden medieval pub.
Day 3 Lacock & Gloucester — The Secret Corridors
Morning Lacock Abbey
Drive to Lacock Abbey (1h30 from Oxford), a 13th-century monastery whose cloisters and vaulted rooms served as Hogwarts corridors in the first two films. The chapter house is Professor Quirrell's classroom, and the warming room corridor is where Harry first hears the Basilisk. The perfectly preserved village of Lacock also stood in for Godric's Hollow and other exterior scenes.
Afternoon Cathédrale de Gloucester
Continue to Gloucester Cathedral (45 min), whose fan-vaulted cloisters are among the most filmed locations in the saga. The corridor appears in Chamber of Secrets ('The Chamber of Secrets has been opened'), Philosopher's Stone and Half-Blood Prince. The fan-vault corridor is instantly recognizable and spectacular in real life — even more impressive than on screen.
Evening Les Cotswolds — Soirée dans un pub de campagne
Settle into a Cotswolds village for the night (Burford, Bibury or Stow-on-the-Wold, 30-40 min from Gloucester). These honey-stone villages are the essence of the English countryside that inspired the rural atmosphere of the wizarding world. Dine in a traditional pub with exposed beams, fireplace and local ales — the perfect atmosphere after a day of filming locations.
Day 4 Goathland & Malham — Magical Yorkshire
Morning Route vers le Yorkshire
Long drive north (about 4h from the Cotswolds) through the English Midlands. Enjoy the landscape gradually shifting from the rolling southern countryside to the more austere Yorkshire moors. Optional stop at Hardwick Hall (Derbyshire, 2h drive), an Elizabethan manor whose exterior inspired Malfoy Manor — though interior scenes were filmed in studio.
Afternoon Goathland Station — La gare de Pré-au-Lard
Arrive at Goathland, a picturesque village in the North York Moors whose Victorian station served as Hogsmeade Station in the first film. The platform where Harry steps off the Hogwarts Express is intact and recognizable at first glance. The station is still in service on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, a historic steam railway — if timing allows, take a steam train ride.
Evening Malham Cove — Le campement des Reliques de la Mort
End the day at Malham Cove (1h30 drive west), an impressive 80-metre limestone cliff in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales. The top of the cliff, with its natural limestone pavement, is where Harry and Hermione camp in Deathly Hallows Part 1. The climb is steep but short (15 min), and the view from the top is spectacular at sunset.
Day 5 Durham & Alnwick — Hogwarts in Real Life
Morning Cathédrale de Durham
Visit Durham Cathedral (1h30 from Malham), a UNESCO World Heritage Site whose cloisters and chapter house served as Hogwarts classrooms. The snowy courtyard where Harry releases Hedwig in Philosopher's Stone is the cathedral cloister. The corridor leading to McGonagall's classroom is unmistakable. The cathedral itself is one of the most impressive in England.
Afternoon Alnwick Castle — L'extérieur de Poudlard
Head to Alnwick Castle (1h north), the second largest inhabited castle in England, which served as Hogwarts' exterior in the first two films. The inner courtyard is the exact spot where Harry learns to fly a broomstick with Madam Hooch. The castle offers broomstick training on the lawn (included in entry) and HP activities for fans — an immersive and fun experience.
Evening Alnwick — Soirée dans la ville médiévale
Stroll through Alnwick town in the evening, a charming medieval market town dominated by the castle. Dine at one of the local restaurants — The Treehouse at The Alnwick Garden is a unique experience (a restaurant perched in the trees) or opt for a more traditional pub. Overnight in Alnwick before crossing the Scottish border tomorrow.
Day 6 Crossing to Scotland — The Highlands Begin
Morning Route Alnwick → Édimbourg
Cross the Anglo-Scottish border (2h drive) towards Edinburgh, the city where J.K. Rowling wrote much of the saga. Although Edinburgh is not a filming location per se, it's the birthplace of Harry Potter. Arrive late morning to explore the places that inspired the saga's universe.
Afternoon Édimbourg — Sur les pas de J.K. Rowling
Explore the places that inspired Rowling: Victoria Street (often cited as the inspiration for Diagon Alley with its colourful facades and eccentric shops), Greyfriars Kirkyard (the cemetery with the graves of Tom Riddle and McGonagall — yes, real people), and The Elephant House café, long considered the 'birthplace of Harry Potter' where Rowling wrote while looking at Edinburgh Castle.
Evening Édimbourg — Ghost Tour & Royal Mile
Enjoy the evening with a ghost tour in Edinburgh's underground vaults — the dark and mysterious atmosphere echoes the Hogwarts dungeons. Several companies offer tours of Greyfriars, Mary King's Close or the South Bridge underground vaults. End with dinner on the Royal Mile or in the Grassmarket area, beneath the illuminated castle.
Day 7 Glenfinnan — The Hogwarts Express Viaduct
Morning Édimbourg → Fort William (Highlands)
Drive to the Scottish Highlands (3h30 from Edinburgh) via the A9 then A82, one of Scotland's most beautiful roads. The landscape transforms dramatically: from green Lowlands to rugged Highland mountains. Pass through Loch Lomond then Rannoch Moor, a desolate moor that inspired the saga's wild scenes.
Afternoon Viaduc de Glenfinnan — Le Poudlard Express
THE highlight of the trip: the Glenfinnan Viaduct, the iconic curved railway bridge that the Hogwarts Express crosses in every film. This 21-arch viaduct, built in 1901, spans the Finnan valley with Loch Shiel in the background. The Jacobite Steam Train (a real steam train) crosses it twice daily — watching it pass in a cloud of steam is pure magic. The viewpoint is a 10 min walk from the car park.
Evening Fort William — Soirée au pied du Ben Nevis
Return to Fort William (30 min) for the night. The town is the base camp for Ben Nevis (1,345m, highest peak in the UK) and offers a good choice of restaurants and pubs. Dine with views over Loch Linnhe and soak up the Highland atmosphere — tweed, single malt whisky and Celtic music in local pubs.
Day 8 Glen Coe & Loch Shiel — The Landscapes of Hogwarts
Morning Glen Coe — Cabane de Hagrid & extérieurs
Head to Glen Coe (30 min south of Fort William), one of Scotland's most spectacular valleys and a recurring filming location in the saga. The valley served as the backdrop for Hagrid's Hut (visible in the films with mountains behind), Hogwarts exterior scenes, and the Triwizard Tournament. Clachaig Gully and the Three Sisters are the most recognizable formations.
Afternoon Loch Shiel & Loch Etive — Le Lac Noir de Poudlard
Head back to Loch Shiel (45 min), the lake that served as Hogwarts' Black Lake, visible in many scenes with the castle in the background. The best viewpoint is from the Glenfinnan Monument at the end of the loch. Then pass by Loch Etive (45 min south), whose shores featured in Deathly Hallows (camping and escape scenes). The landscape is breathtakingly wild and beautiful.
Evening Dernier soir dans les Highlands
End this magical journey with a final dinner in the Highlands. Whether in Fort William, Glencoe or a nearby village, savour a typically Scottish dinner: haggis, cullen skink (smoked haddock soup), cranachan (raspberry and whisky dessert). Raise your glass of single malt to the saga that took you across England and Scotland — mischief managed!