‘Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.’ Albus Dumbledore.

If you know me personally you will be well aware what a Harry Potter fanatic I am. Growing up, Harry Potter has been an integral part of my childhood. Queuing up on the very first day of a book release… actually, that’s a lie. Getting my mother’s to queue up on the very first day of a book release so I can get my hands on the first copies!

The movies were of course an additional bonus to look forward too. 

In my time of Harry Potter love, I have managed to convert my three now not so little cousins into Potterheads too. So for my cousins 21st I planned a trip to Oxford so we could take in the locations where many of the scenes from Harry Potter were filmed. 

Oxford is a beauty in itself, it’s like a city built within a castle which are basically the beautiful colleges of Oxford University.

Many parts of the University have been a part of several movies. Before heading off, I did a lot of googling to make sure I knew of all the filming locations. Especially, if anything needed to be booked beforehand.

There are many Harry Potter themed guided tours across the city. However, I do recommend a self guided tour especially if you have little kids with you. Just requires you to do a little research so you know where you are going.

Our tour began at the Bodleian which hosts two critical  areas of the Harry Potter series.

DIVINITY SCHOOL

We began our Harry Potter tour with the Divinity School which is located within the Bodleian. It is best to prebook your time otherwise you will probably won’t get entry straightaway and they usually all book up very quickly.

The school has featured thrice in the films, as the infirmary during Philosophers Stone, where the dance lessons by Professor McGonagall took place for the Yule Ball and the Hogwarts Library which is just above the school at the Duke Humphrey’s Library.

The Duke Humphrey Library is a working library for Oxford University students so you cannot enter unless part of a guided tour. Originally, I had booked a 30 minute guided tour which includes the Divinity School and the Library. However, I had to postpone our trip due to my ill health and the only weekend that we could go the tours were all fully booked up!

Luckily, there were still spaces left for just the Divinity School so we took advantage of that. 

Divinity School tour is only £2.50 per person and a guided tour that includes both the school and the library is £9 so very reasonably priced!

You do have to remember although children are allowed inside the school, under 11s cannot go on the guided tour which includes the Duke Humphrey library.

CHRIST CHURCH COLLEGE

Next stop on our Harry Potter tour was the Christ Church College. The college is only a short 10 minute walk away from the Bodleian. There are three vital locations within the college which feature in the movies.

The Great ‘Dining’ Hall

No actual filming took place in the Dining Hall of the college but it is believed that it was the inspiration for the Great Hall of Hogwarts. When you walk in you do feel like you are part of the movie as same goes for the Dining Hall at New College too.

The Bodley Tower Staircase 

The iconic staircase where Harry, Ron and Hermione first met Professor McGonagall in Philosophers Stone. Not only that but this is where the three friends were reunited at the end of the movie. As well as many flashback sequences were filmed here too.

Due to the exciting nature of these staircase it can be difficult getting that perfect picture. As you will find crowds and crowds of wanting to do the same! Whether or not you are able to get those memorable shots, it will still be an unforgettable experience that you will remember for years.

Christ Church Cloisters 

Another location are the Cloisters which posed as the hallways of Hogwarts in Philosophers Stone. 

Tickets are £16 per adult.

NEW COLLEGE

The last Harry Potter location on our self guided tour was New College. If I had it my way, I would have visited New College after Divinity School as it is only around the corner. But it was closed on the first day of our Oxford trip so we left it until the next day.

We visited just after opening time and it was the perfect time to visit. We weren’t graced with many crowds like we did the previous day at Christ Church.

The Cloisters

The Cloisters of New College were used for many scenes as Hogwarts hallways during Goblet of Fire.

The Draco Malfoy Tree

Just by the Cloisters, you will find a very recognisable courtyard graced with a big oak tree which is nicknamed the Draco Malfoy Tree. 

This is the exact location where Mad Eye Moody turned Malfoy into a Ferret. You can walk right up to the tree, sit on the bench besides it and just soak it all up. 

The perfect location to just sit and have a read of Harry Potter of course.

We visited as a family of five. Four adults and a child and we were given the family ticket which was only £25.

Otherwise a single ticket is £8 and children are free. You cannot prebook.

Any tips?

The main tip is to check opening times of all colleges and sites you wish to visit. As at lunchtime although the college might be open for tour you may not be able to see the Dining Halls due to students having their lunch. There may also be planned closures for other events so to avoid disappointment plan ahead!

VISITING WITH KIDS

Of course you can!

I took my five year old with me and she thoroughly enjoyed herself. Before heading off, I had shown her a trailer of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone to get her in the mood. 

She loves touring castles with me so I was certain she would enjoy visiting the colleges of Oxford University. 

Just bear in mind, as mentioned above, under 11s are not allowed on the guided tours at the Bodleian but can still visit the Divinity School.

OVERALL THOUGHTS

If you are a Harry Potter fan then I highly recommend adding this tour on your bucket list. You can easily do this in one day.

There are many locations across the U.K. where Harry Potter was filmed which I hope to visit soon so watch this space as I’ll take you along with me.

Are you a Potterhead?

Have you been to Oxford?