Harry Potter – where the wizarding world began
Twenty-five years after Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone first cast a spell over cinema audiences, Britain’s original filming locations remain as enchanting as ever. With HBO’s new TV series introducing Hogwarts to a new generation, now is a good time to revisit the places where the magic began.
Northumberland’s Alnwick Castle once again takes centre stage. Its medieval courtyards doubled as Hogwarts, where Harry first learnt to fly a broomstick, and visitors can take part in the castle’s broomstick training sessions before exploring its grand state rooms. Just next door, The Alnwick Garden’s Poison Garden reveals the curious stories behind deadly plants on guided tours, while The Treehouse Restaurant serves seasonal Northumbrian dishes high among the treetops. Around seven miles away, on the Charlton Hall Estate, The Tempus was named Small Hotel of the Year at the 2026 VisitEngland Awards for Excellence, and its whimsical interiors make it a fitting base for this fantasy film trail. Take a short spine-tingling detour to Chillingham Castle, a 13th-century fortress with grand state rooms, idyllic grounds – and a reputation as one of England’s most haunted castles. Guided and evening ghost tours bring the castle’s haunted past to life.
The wizarding journey continues in London, where visitors can pose beside Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross station before stepping behind the scenes at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter. Alongside its year-long celebration marking 25 years since the first film, visitors can experience the returning ‘Dark Arts’ feature (16 September to 8 November 2026) and ‘Hogwarts in the Snow’ (14 November 2026 to 17 January 2027), with original sets, props and costumes revealing the craftsmanship behind the films.
Further west, Oxford’s historic colleges add more cinematic magic. The Bodleian Library’s medieval Duke Humfrey’s Library became Hogwarts’ infirmary, while the vaulted stone corridors of Christ Church inspired some of the school’s interiors. Beyond the screen, Oxford offers centuries of academic history, cosy pubs and grand architecture. Oxford Official Walking Tours’ private Harry Potter Highlights Tour is a fun way to see it all up close.
House of the Dragon – dragon country in North Wales
Experience Westeros in North Wales, where the towering mountains, ancient forests and windswept coastlines of Snowdonia (Eryri) bring George R.R. Martin’s fantasy world to life.
Visitors can experience these landscapes on guided hikes with The Mountaineering Company, or aboard the historic Ffestiniog Railway as it winds through the UNESCO-listed Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales. Striking medieval strongholds like Caernarfon Castle fit naturally into the story, while nearby Portmeirion’s colourful Italian-inspired architecture provides an altogether different fantasy setting. For those who would rather admire dragons than dodge them, King Arthur’s Labyrinth near Corris takes visitors by boat through an underground world of dragons, giants and ancient Welsh myth. Thrill-seekers can venture even deeper with Go Below, descending into the abandoned slate mines of Snowdonia for zip lines through vast caverns, steep abseils and underground lakes. Back above ground, Paradise Adventures runs guided kayaking trips on the waters of Llyn Padarn. After a day exploring, Penmaenuchaf offers a quieter kind of magic: a Victorian country house hotel overlooking the Mawddach Estuary, with individually designed rooms and a kitchen that draws on local ingredients. For one final adrenaline hit, soar above slate landscapes like a Westeros dragon at Zip World Penrhyn Quarry, Europe’s fastest zip line.
Practical Magic 2 – spellbinding breaks in London and Devon
Magic takes a more contemporary turn in Practical Magic 2, with filming split between Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, London and Devon. While London’s elegant streets provide the backdrop for some scenes, the capital also offers visitors the chance to explore its darker history on a ghost bus tour. Aboard a vintage Routemaster, live actors blend comedy, horror and the city’s grisliest true stories as the tour passes landmarks including the Tower of London and St Paul’s Cathedral.
The spell continues in Devon, with its ancient woods, windswept moorland and golden beaches. A Devon Sea Safari aboard a ten-metre Humber RIB boat, departing from Teignmouth’s Fish Quay Pontoon, reveals the South Devon coastline from a different angle. Spot dolphins, seals and seabirds as the boat glide past historic caves and impressive rock formations. Back on dry land, Alder Vineyard in Okehampton invites visitors to stroll among the vines, sample English wine and learn the secrets of the winemaking process.
For a storybook end to a spellbinding break, stay at The Pig at Combe, set on a 3,500-acre estate near Honiton in Otter Valley, amid cedar trees, grazing Arab horses, and rolling countryside. This grand Elizabethan manor is now a boutique country house hotel offering 27 characterful guest rooms and a restaurant fed by the walled Kitchen Gardens.
The Chronicles of Narnia – historic cities transformed
Fantasy meets history in Netflix’s forthcoming adaptation of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew, with several British cities transformed into scenes from post-war Britain and Narnia’s magical worlds.
In Bradford, the beautifully preserved Victorian merchant quarter of Little Germany became 1950s London. As UNESCO City of Film and UK City of Culture 2025, Bradford offers visitors the chance to discover both Britain’s cinematic heritage and its thriving cultural scene, from the National Science and Media Museum to Darley Street Market, a vibrant hub for shopping, socialising and sampling street food from around the globe.
Manchester’s historic Castlefield district with its canals and warehouses also stepped back in time during filming. The city’s creative neighbourhoods, music venues and world-class museums offer plenty to explore. A bespoke black cab tour with John Consterdine, Manchester’s only fully qualified Green Badge Tour Guide and Taxi Driver, is a fun way to see it all through the eyes of a true local. Visitors can look forward to The Medlock, Manchester City’s new four-star hotel opening within the Etihad Campus in late 2026, complete with a roof walk and views over the stadium. London completes the Narnia trail, with the Tower of London, the Royal Exchange and the Old Royal Naval College all appearing in the film.