A Wizard’s Walk Through the Cotswolds: Exploring Harry Potter Filming Sites

The Cotswolds, isn’t just famed for its quintessential English charm. It also holds real-world magic for Harry Potter fans. Several iconic scenes from the film series were filmed right here, where history and fantasy intertwine beautifully.

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Lacock Village & Lacock Abbey

No trip for a Potterhead to the Cotswolds is complete without visiting Lacock, a picture perfect village that’s served as a backdrop for multiple Harry Potter scenes.

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‍Hogwarts Corridors & Classrooms — Lacock Abbey

Inside Lacock Abbey, you’ll find one of the most recognisable Potter locations: the cloisters doubling as Hogwarts corridors in The Philosopher’s Stone and The Chamber of Secrets. Here, young wizards sneak through vaulted stone walkways, chase each other with invisibility cloaks, and confront creeping dangers.

You can also visit:

• The Chapter House — where Harry discovers the Mirror of Erised.
• The Warming Room — used as Professor Quirrell’s Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom.
• The Sacristy — transformed into Snape’s Potions classroom in Philosopher’s Stone.

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National Trust manages the Abbey, so check opening times and ticketing before you visit.

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Wandering the Village Streets

Outside, Lacock Village itself appears in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, where Harry and Dumbledore walk through the fictional village of Budleigh Babberton on their mission to recruit Professor Slughorn. One house on Church Street was used as Slughorn’s hiding place.

You can also spot the cottage that doubled for James and Lily Potter’s home in Godric’s Hollow, featured in a flashback in The Philosopher’s Stone.

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Gloucester Cathedral — The Heart of Hogwarts

Just across the northern edge of the Cotswolds lies Gloucester Cathedral, one of the most atmospheric filming locations in the whole series.

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The cathedral’s medieval cloisters and passages were transformed into Hogwarts’ hallways for several key scenes:

• The troll scene in The Philosopher’s Stone.
• The chilling message; “The Chamber of Secrets has been opened…” scribbled in blood on the stone walls in The Chamber of Secrets.
• Other corridor moments featuring Harry, Ron, and Hermione throughout the series.

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Walking through the cloisters today, you’ll recognise the same arches and columns that brought Hogwarts to life on film.

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Whether you’re a die hard Potter fan or love walking through cinematic history, the Cotswolds offers a magical journey through some of the most iconic scenes of the wizarding world. From cloisters that were Hogwarts corridors to cottages beloved by film fans, this corner of England brings the charm, and a hint of enchantment, to life.

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For all the latest on what’s happening in the Cotswolds, check out What’sOn?XL in CotswoldXL Magazine.

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