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The Harry Potter tour at Warner Bros Studio has announced that it will be undergoing a 20,000ft expansion to include the original Hogwarts Express steam engine and a complete recreation of the famous Platform 9 ¾.
The Hogwarts Express used in filming, a British steam train named 'Olton Hall', will be returned to the Warner Bros Studio Tour to be put on display. Opening on the 19th March, visitors will be able to walk along the train’s adjoining carriage and sit in the interior carriage set that was used during filming.
Although seventeen years has passed since the release of J.K Rowling’s first novel, the franchise remains as popular as ever. The books have sold over 450 million copies and the films have made approximately £4.7 billion at the box office, making it one of the most successful franchises in history.
With new content regularly added to the Pottermore website and the first of a trilogy of spin off films set for release in 2016, the Potter magic is going nowhere.
But what if you can’t wait till 2016? Well there are a few places you can visit to relive your favourite magical moments. From a Hogwarts-themed hotel to wizard school in a castle, there are multiple destinations to keep your Potter needs satisfied.
Show all 13 1 /13The Harry Potter locations you can visit The Harry Potter locations you can visit Broomstick training at Alnwick Castle It was outside Alnwick Castle in Northumberland that Harry Potter famously learned to fly on a broomstick. So why not do the same? Broomstick training is available from 27 March until 27 October next year and is totally free of charge.
The Harry Potter locations you can visit Harry Potter Hotel If you’ve ever wanted to spend a night at Hogwarts, pop over to the Georgian House hotel, a 163-year-old property near Victoria station. There are rooms that replicate the famous chambers at Hogwarts.
The Harry Potter locations you can visit Hogwarts Express Scotland’s West Highland Line is dubbed the Hogwarts Express Train line, and is featured in the Harry Potter films. The highlight of the journey is crossing the 21 arches of the Glenfinnan viaduct, memorably captured in the Harry Potter films. An adult return will cost you £31.
The Harry Potter locations you can visit Warner Brothers tour This March Warner Brothers will unveil a 20,000ft expansion of the Harry Potter studios, adding in a recreation of Platform 9 ¾’s and the original Hogwarts Express steam engine. The tour gives you the full Harry Potter experience. Authentic sets, props and costumes are all on show and you can even have a sip of some butterbeer.
The Harry Potter locations you can visit School of wizardry Although you can’t study at Hogwarts, Harry Potter fans now have the opportunity to attend a different wizardry school. Polish company Liveform and Rollespilsfabrikken stage a Live Action Role Play event based on the Harry Potter book series and movie franchise. Around 190 participants from 11 countries travel to Poland to don wizard robes and cast spells at the Czocha College of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
John-Paul Bichard
The Harry Potter locations you can visit Hogwarts Great Hall Many of the scenes in the Harry Potter films are shot in various locations at Christ Church College at Oxford University. The Great Hall was replicated in the film studios to create Hogwart's Hall. Although there are no moving portraits, you can still feel the Potter nostalgia.
The Harry Potter locations you can visit Play Quidditch QuidditchUK is the national governing body for the sport of quidditch in the UK. It costs 3 pounds to become a member of QuidditchUK, which allows you to compete on a QuidditchUK Official Team, granting you access to attend the most competitive and most professionally organised quidditch events in the United Kingdom. If you feel your broomstick skills aren’t quite up to scratch, you can also volunteer to be a snitch runner.
The Harry Potter locations you can visit Bodleian Library Oxford University's famous library doubles up as Hogwarts’ library and is the place where young wizards put their heads down to study for their NEWTs.
The Harry Potter locations you can visit Diagon Alley – Leadenhall Market and Borough Market Two different locations were used as the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron. Both found in London, Leadenhall Market and Borough Market are the places to go if you want to walk through Diagon alley.
The Harry Potter locations you can visit Platform 9 ¾, Kings Cross station You can always go to Kings Cross station and see if you can make it through to platform 9 ¾’s. There’s designated wall for muggles to try and run through.
The Harry Potter locations you can visit Gringotts Wizarding Bank in Australia House, Strand We don’t condone theft, but it might be worth taking your invisibility cloak if you are going to go visit Gringotts. Located at the Australian High Commission in London, you might be lucky enough to find some unguarded gold lying around.
The Harry Potter locations you can visit Hogsmeade Station Goathland station in North Yorkshire is the real Hogsmeade station. The station attracts visitors from around the world and steam trains run through Goathland every day during the summer.
The Harry Potter locations you can visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Orlando Within Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme park you can visit the iconic Hogwarts castle and explore Hogsmeade village. Stroll through the wizarding village of Hogsmeade and explore all of the fascinating shops and wonder through the classrooms and corridors of Hogwarts. Follow in Harry’s footsteps as you walk through the streets of Diagon Alley, where you’ll find many of the wizarding world’s most famous establishments - not to mention a ride on the Hogwarts Express.
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