#AD – This is a collaborative post.
As parents, most of us will be familiar with the cries of Potter fanatics (young and old) desperate to visit Harry Potter attractions across the UK that will make them feel as though they’ve experienced some of the magic. Now I’m no miracle worker, so I can’t make broomsticks fly, and our evening meals require a bit more than the flick of wand to prepare, so day trips are the answer for us and I’ve found some of the best Harry Potter attractions to keep every kind of Potterhead entertained!
Take a look at my top picks below and start planning your summer days out now!
- Book a Warner Bros Studio Tour – The best way to immerse yourself in the Potterverse and one of the most popular Harry Potter attractions is the Warner Bros Studio Tour in Leavesden, just outside Watford, and the tour has become a staple of Christmas and birthday wish lists for children (and adults) of all ages.
You’ll get to walk around the actual sets used in the films, see original costumes and even take part in some interactive exhibits, such as green screen broom-flying.
Seasonal displays and events are put on throughout the year, and don’t forget to get dressed up, as everybody does. You need to buy tickets for Warner Bros Studio Tours online, as time slots are allocated ahead of your arrival. My sister in law is a HUGE Harry Potter fan, and for her 40th we booked tickets to Potter After Dark – such a unique experience and her and her partner absolutely loved it. - Enjoy the photo ops at King’s Cross Station – One of the Harry Potter attractions thats an easy (and free one to tick off your list) is Kings Cross Station. If you’ve already planned a day out in London, make sure you head to King’s Cross Station to check out the fun Platform 9 ¾ display. With a luggage trolley partially embedded in the wall, you can snap away as your little ones make it look as though they’re pushing their luggage through onto the magical platform, setting off for their first year at Hogwarts. You probably won’t be able to resist having a go yourself! There is also a gift shop to the left of the exhibit as well, if you want to add to your Potter-related collection.
- Wander around Oxford University – I’m not encouraging you to start applying academic pressure here, but lots of Harry Potter scenes were filmed at Oxford University, and the sense of magic has remained.
The Great Hall was the inspiration for the dining room at Hogwarts and keen eyes will recognise the steps as those where Harry first met Professor McGonagall. The Bodleian Library was also used in the films, and you can take a private tour of the Duke Humphrey’s Library, where Harry used his invisibility cloak. - Recreate broom-flying lessons at Alnwick Castle – Alnwick Castle has become something of a pilgrimage site and another of the UK’s popular Harry Pottery attractions thanks to its recognisable grounds, where Harry and his friends first learnt how to ride a broomstick. It’s also where Quidditch training took place, so don’t be afraid to take a few brooms and house robes with you to get some fun pictures, as you probably won’t be the only ones!
- Take a ride on the ‘Hogwarts Express’ – Some of the most iconic scenes from the films are those where the Hogwarts Express is chugging along a huge bridge in front of a luscious green background. You can get in on the action by taking a ride from Fort William to Mallaig in Scotland. The return trip is available from the end of April to the end of October. It takes you over the iconic bridge and even allows for some time in Mallaig, where you can pick up some tasty fish and chips for lunch. This is one of the Harry Potter attractions that really has to be experienced.
- Pay the Dursleys a visit – Superfans won’t want to miss the chance to get a picture outside the house of the dreadful Dursleys – it really is an actual home! 4 Privet Drive is 12 Picket Post Close in reality, found in Martins Heron, Berkshire, so it’s only a short drive out of London. You can’t go inside, as the house is owned by somebody, but everybody seems used to people popping by for a photo opportunity outside.
- Test your parseltongue at London Zoo – The fun of Harry Potter is that it makes children wonder if they, too, have got some hidden magic inside them. So a day out at London Zoo will be a double win, inspiring them to learn all about animals as well as giving them the opportunity to try their best parseltongue on the snakes in the reptile house. Hopefully they won’t be too successful, or you could find the pythons wanting to come home with you!
- Feel the magic of Black Park – My final recommendation for Harry Potter attractions is Black Park, a gorgeous outdoor space in Slough, Buckinghamshire. Harry Potter fans will recognise it as the spot where Hagrid has his hut, the location of the Forbidden Forest and as the place where Hagrid looked after the Triwizard Cup dragons. It’s also home to a Go Ape adventure centre and plenty of trails to explore, so a visit here would provide a jam-packed day out.
Wherever you decide to take your resident Harry Potter fans, remember to take your Harry Potter Wizard Wands, your Sorting Hat and Hogwarts scarves, as everywhere is magical if you make believe.
What other Harry Potter attractions have you been to?
*This is a collaborative post*
