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Harry Potter The
Harry Potter Virtual Film Location Tour Take
a cyber trip to top Harry Potter movie locations ...

In addition to real historic film locations,
Harry Potter fans can now view actual
movie props, sets and costumes at
the Warner Bros. studios in London. |
The
mystery of Harry Potter conjured up on screen can be credited in no small part
to the atmosphere provided by historic, moody backdrops in key scenes. Luckily,
the movie's producers had only to look around England
and Scotland to find real-life
set locations.
Today, the cathedrals, abbeys and castles that 'star' in Harry Potter films -
for centuries the scene of political intrigues, royal marriages, or bloody battles
- have suddenly gone Hollywood.
For
Harry Potter fans
and their families, specially aranged travel tours are attracting those with a
renewed interest in the magic of the Middle Ages...and, of course, steam engine
propelled magical railroads!
In summer 2011, the Harry Potter movie studio, Warner Bros., heralded a unique opportunity for Harry Potter fans to tour the actual movie sets in London, setting off a frenzy of interest.
Tickets for Warner Bros. Studio Tour London first went on sale in the Fall of 2011 for the offficial spring 2012 opening, giving visitors a sneak peak inside Diagon Alley, the Chamber of Secrets, and more sets used in filming familiar storylines in the popular movie series.
Just up ahead, here are more memorable movie scenes shot on location at many famous landmarks throughout the UK and Scotland which have prominently starred in the Harry Potter movies over the years ....
Here's
a virtual sampling of tourist spots made to order for Harry Potter fans ... Glenfinnan
Viaduct - The real-life 'set' used for many scenes featuring the Hogwarts
Express, this famous viaduct was built in 1901. Today the surrounding area
remains a prime stop for walking tours through the Scottish highlands. The Jacobite
Steam Train takes modern day, muggle passengers for a scenic trip on the train
that was featured in the Harry Potter films.
A
trip to Glennfinnan, located 16 miles west of Fort William, also includes a friendly
visitor center wher you can snap photos of the train . Stop by for brochures and
related nearby attractions, including the Railway
Museum and the monument to Bonnie Prince Charlie.
Gloucester
Cathedral
- You'll almost certainly recognize part of the interior which doubled
for the Hogwarts
School of Witchcraft and Wizardry at this ancient cathedral,
and the adjacent King's
School, a day trip from London.
Originally built
as an abbey in 1089, the cathedral features a medieval labyrinth, world famous
Gothic fan vaulting, and the stained glass of the Great East Window, along with
the tombs of Edward II and Robert Duke of Normandy.

The sweeping Gothic architecture of Gloucester Cathedral is the real life set for
Hogwarts.
Bodleian
Library, Oxford University - The Oxford library doubled as the Hogwarts
Library in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, and is especially noteworthy
for the scene in which Harry hides under the invisibility cloak, as he searches
for information on Nicolas Flamel. A
visit to the Bodleian includes exhibits, visitor info, and a gift shop, and is
usually featured on a London-to-Oxford
day trip.
Kings
Cross Station, London
- This is the sprawling Underground and railway station featured in all Harry Potter films -- it's the place where young witches and wizards hop the train at Platform 9 3/4
-- for the magic commute to Hogwarts. If
you've ever visited London, you almost certainly passed through Kings Cross, a
major underground and commuter rail hub, and now a prime photo-op for tourists snapping pictures of the train
platform that isn't.

It's "all aboard" for Hogwarts at Platform 9 3/4 at Kings Cross Station in London.
In fact, interest was so intense that the station in the spirit of fun decided to place a "Platform 9 3/4" sign at the exact spot -- so fans can click away for personal photos of the now-famous location.
Alnwick
Castle - First glimpsed in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,
this 11th century castle eventually took on a larger role in the flying-lesson
and Quidditch match scenes in Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone.
No stranger to
Hollywood, Alnwick Castle has also prominently starred in other films such as
as Becket with Peter O'Toole, Mary Queen of Scots with Vanessa Redgrave
and Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves starring Kevin Costner. It also featured prominently as Brancaster Castle in Downton Abbey's 2014 Christmas special. |