The UK is filled with amazing destinations to spot the places where the Harry Potter was filmed. Oxford is no exception. Oxford Harry Potter filming locations are easy to access across the city and perfect for a trip out. If you love Harry Potter Oxford will be the ideal location to find some of the best on screen locations. There was a lot of inspiration for the films of Harry Potter in Oxford too which we will show you where to find. From Oxford University Harry Potter sites to amaze to Harry Potter Oxford locations you may never have heard of. If you are looking to track down Harry Potter at Oxford we have the absolute best places to get close to him and if you’re looking for an Oxford Harry Potter Tour then keep reading as we’ll give you the details of those too.
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Table of Contents
1. The staircase where Hogwarts students are first greeted
The first location for Harry Potter fans in Oxford has to be at Christ Church College (admission is charged and there are set times to visit).
As you enter you will walk up the steps towards the Great Hall (more about this later). This is where Harry and all of the new first year students of Hogwarts are greeted by Professor McGonagall.
The 16th Century staircase is beautiful and so atmospheric. It’s certainly in keeping with the vibe of the film.
You will feel like Hogwart’s school pupils as you stand on the steps.
2. Hogwarts Infirmary where injuries are healed
The 15th Century Divinity School in Oxford University’s Bodleian Library is the setting for Hogwart’s Infirmary run by Madam Pomfrey. T
his was the actual room used for filming the recuperation wing and hospital scenes.
If you want to visit The Divinity School you can book a tour here.
3. Marvel at The Great Hall at this Oxford Harry Potter location
Back to Christ Church College and what is arguably the most beautiful part of the college and the Great Hall. You can absolutely see why they wanted to use it for the film.
In fact no scenes were shot here (they could only fit three tables in the Great Hall and they needed to fit four) but this 16th Century dining hall was replicated in the studio (just a little larger). Even aside from these connections it’s just such a gorgeous and inspiring room.
As you wander through today, with fires burning in winter and a huge portrait of Henry VIII looking down on everyone it is unbelievably atmospheric.
When we visited my seven year old whispered over to me, “I want to go to school here”, which would certainly make me feel very happy although I’m not sure he realises it isn’t actually Hogwarts.
4. Laugh at the site where Draco Malfoy was turned into a ferret
Head over to New College where Mad Eye Moody turned Draco Malfoy into a ferret.
The scene took place in the college’s quod.
5. Harry sees the trophy his father won in Quidditch
Another Christ Church College location and it’s easy to see why, the whole environment of Christ Church is perfect for Harry Potter.
The cloisters here are 1000 years old and breathtakingly beautiful.
It is here that Harry is shown the trophy his father won as a seeker in Quidditch. My children loved running around them and hiding in the nooks and crannies.
6. Look out for Harry in his invisibility cloak
Also at The Bodleain Libray is the Duke Humfrey ‘s Library. This was the place where Harry uses his invisibility cloak.
It ws Hogwart’s Library and you can book on to the same tour as the one to see Hogwarts Infirmary at the Bodleian here.
7. See the spot where Severus Snape was dangled upside down from a tree
Just outside of the city centre at Blenheim Palace you can see the Lebanon tree where Harry’s Father and Sirius Black cast a spell. It was here they had Severus Snape dangle from the top of it.
It’s a spectacular tree, standing at 55ft tall and with a 20ft in diameter trunk.
8. Finally take a Harry Potter tour around Oxford
While it is easy enough to visit all the locations of Harry Potter in Oxford yourself, if time is tight or you would like someone to deal with the logistics then a tour could be right for you.
There’s a great tour from London that takes in the Harry Potter studio and a tour around Oxford or an Alice in Wonderland and Harry Potter Tour that takes around two hours.
Even without the Harry Potter link, Oxford and Christ Church College in particular is beautiful and a wonderful place to spend an afternoon. It’s inspiring and you can feel the history of centuries of studies at every turn.
We loved it, all for different reasons and definitely recommend it.
Love Harry Potter? Read more of our features here:
Hogwarts in the Snow – The Making of the Harry Potter Tour, Warner Brother Studios, London
The top 10 places to track down Harry Potter filming locations in England
A guide to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort, Florida
What a good idea, the locations for Harry Potter are all so magnificent it does make you want to go and visit them.
It definitely does doesn’t it?! We thought Christ Church College was gorgeous and we totally understand why they chose it!
There are so many places that inspired HP. We went to Alnwick Castle which was used as part of the outside. I love it
Oh I’ll have to add that to the list! Thank you for the tip. We love HP too! 🙂
Not a fan of HP but this looks fab! Great pictures x
Thank you. I really do think it’s a beautiful place even if you aren’t a Harry Potter fan!
WOW! What a gorgeous and awe-inspiring place. I want to live there!!
What a fabulous adventure you all had exploring ‘Hogwarts’ 🙂
Thank you so much for your comments! We really did have a great time – Hogwarts is great!! 🙂
This looks fab. It sounds like you had great fun exploring Harry Potter’s castle 😉
We really did have great fun! Thank you for your comments!
We love HP, so this is definitely on the to-do list. Being up in the north, so far we have only visited locales up here. Need to explore some more.
I need to get to some of the northern ones too!! They’re great to explore aren’t they?! Thank you for commenting!
What a fabulous place, looks beautiful and full of character and mystery.
I know, I thought that too…you can tell it has centuries of stories! Thank you for your comments.
What a great idea! I didn’t even know they filmed it there! We went to the studios tour and the boys really enjoyed it, but actually walking on the staircase and the great hall is just marvellous!
I would love to go to the studio tour, that is definitely on the list to do! Thank you for your comments!
They look like they had loads of fun. It is very beautiful. I must admit I have never read or watched a harry potter x
Really??! Well they are definitely recommended. We’re not hardcore fans like some but they are really enjoyable books and films and I think to see the locations is good fun! Thank you for your comments!
Oh wow as a big Harry Potter fan this excites me a lot! I love visiting the Catherdral in my hometown of Gloucester for just this reason! I’d love to see that Great Hall in the flesh (or should that be stone ?!)
Yes, Gloucester is on our list, can’t wait to get to the Cathedral – I went a number of years ago and really remember the cloisters so I think the children will love it. Thank you for your comments! 🙂
I’m not a Harry Potter fan but this looks like a lovely building to visit anyway. My husband and son would love the Harry Potter side of things!
Yes, I really think whether you like Harry Potter or not this is a great place to visit, it’s so beautiful. Thank you for your comments.
I had no idea any of Harry Potter was filmed in Oxford! Looks like a great place to visit.
It really is! We loved it. Thank you for your comments!
So much fun! I’m looking forward to my boys being old enough for Harry Potter, will definitely visit then!
yes, my 7 year old has just started to really get into it…which is pulling us all in! Thanks for your comments!
I didn’t know you could do this – it looks amazing and I would love to do it
yes it’s great, definitely go if you get the chance! Thank you for your comments Kara 🙂
I really, really want to go. Looks amazing and I’m big into history so I’d be looking at all the architectural details. Thank you for a lovely look around.
I’m really big into history too and I totally recommend it – the whole place is awe-inspiring! Thank you for the lovely comments!
What a beautiful place to visit – I would never have thought of visiting a college like that! We may have to put that on our list as we have visited ALnwick Castle and Platform 9&3/4 at King’s Cross Station too!
Ah I need to get to those too!! At some point! Thank you for your comments!
I have all of this literally on my doorstep but I really don’t know Oxford at all well. Must try harder!
It’s always harder with the places you live I think! It’s a great city though and you’re really lucky to have it so close. Thank you for your comments!
How wonderful!
We are huge Harry potter fans and I would really like to be there too.
I visited Oxford and the WB Harry Potter Studios around the same time and the resemblance of the two Great Halls is incredible.
We really want to visit the Harry Potter Studios…it’s on the list 🙂