Hogwarts Castle

Hello, There isn't any one castle that was used for the Harry Potter movies. There were at least two castles that were used and then at the studio for filming. In the first two movies there were scenes that were shot at Lacock Abbey (Snapes classroom was filmed there) There is a large model of Hogwarts at Warner Brothers Leavsden Studios about 30 miles from London. Your daughter would have a great time going on a studio tour. Google it. Cathy

Have you checked out Rick Steve's article on Harry Potter sites in the UK? (If not,just search for Harry Potter above.) There is no one Hogwarts Castle - bits of it are all over ;-) Well, except for the scale model at the Warner Bros HP studios north of London.... Because my daughter and I are fans, I was originally planning to go up to Scotland to ride the Jacobite steam train and see Alnwick and all, but finally settled on a more limited area for our 2-week trip this summer. Instead of venturing that far, we'll stay in the Oxford dorms (eating breakfast in the hall the Great Hall was modeled after), see Gloucester Cathedral and maybe Lacock Abbey, then see filming sites in London (maybe including a London Walks tour) and do the WB studio tour. I'm thinking that will be plenty, and works with time in the Cotswolds and over to Cardiff for her Doctor Who fix.

Oops, Cathy and I were typing much the same things at the same time. Must be really good advice, then! ;-)

There are several ways to get there from Ireland. Flights from Dublin to Leeds or Newcastle, ferries from either Dubliln or Belfast (if you're going to be in Northern Ireland). Then you would have to rent a car and make your way to Alnwick to see the castle. Personally I wouldn't do it just to see that castle (time,money) but if you plan to spend 2 or 3 days exploring Northumberland - castles, abbeys, ruins, Hadrian's wall, etc - then it would be worthwhile.

Kregg, you should delete the duplicate posting out there so all your answers will be in one thread. Just click on the post you want to delete and choose that option.

Thanks Nancy. Also going to the Hogwarts Castle is what my daughter wants to do so I guess I need to figure out the best way to do it. Either at the beginning of the trip or at the end. Thanks for the suggestions

I have to agree with Gloucester Cathedral. A few years ago I went there to photograph a high school senior portrait for a client who is a Harry Potter fanatic! She even took her HP costume and with her long dark hair looked a lot like Hermine... so we had lots of tourists also taking her photo thinking she was a celebrity. It is a beautiful location and Lizzy (the senior) knew all the locations inside and out that were used in the movie. If I remember correctly when we were in the car driving there was also a woods near the town that she said was a filming location. There is a fun website to find film locations and it is the Internet Movie Data Base. When you find it go to Movies-Advanced Search-Title-drop down to Filming Locations. Lots of good info and places to visit.

Gina, I'm fascinated by the wonderful plan you have for the "Harry Potter" theme for your upcoming trip. Out of curiosity (and great personal interest), what do you have planned for the "Doctor Who" visit in Cardiff??

In Cardiff we're planning to visit the Doctor Who Experience and take a Brit Movie Tours Dr Who bus tour. (Kregg might want to look them up - they also do Harry Potter tours of London and England, and they do Doctor Who walking tours in Cardiff.) I'd also like to take the train over to Tintern Abbey, but it might be tough to fit in.

I'm traveling to Edinburgh in May and found a day tour to go to Alnwick Castle (I am also a Harry Potter addict!)...the day tours are through Rabbie's.