It’s almost impossible to believe, but 25 years ago in November, the first Harry Potter film, “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone”, was released.
Alongside all the magic and mayhem, there was another icon on the screen: The Hogwarts Express train, portrayed in the film by the GWR 4900 Class No. 5972 Olton Hall steam locomotive.
Harry Potter and his wizarding chums walked through a wall at King’s Cross station in London and boarded a train into another world and made history.
While the magic we saw onscreen was very much fictional, the journey the Hogwarts students made – and many of the locations they spent time in – were not.
Now, Rail Europe has picked five places across the UK which travellers can visit to experience what is arguably the best part of the Harry Potter universe – the backdrops.
Here’s where to go to get your fix of magic this spooky season.
Platform 9¾, London, England
No Harry Potter-inspired trip would be complete without a stop at Platform 9¾ at London King’s Cross station, where fans can pose with the famous luggage trolley disappearing into the wall.
It’s a fitting place to kick off a magical rail adventure, with trains heading north from King’s Cross towards destinations including Durham and Yorkshire, also featured in this list.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, Hertfordshire, England
For even more wizarding magic, head to Warner Bros. Studio Tour just outside London for “Hogwarts in the Snow”, running from 14 November 2026 to 17 January 2027. The original sets are transformed for Christmas, with snow-covered scenes and festive decorations bringing the films to life.
To get there, take a train from London Euston to Watford Junction, then hop on the Studio Tour shuttle. Just remember that entry to the attraction needs to be booked separately.
Glenfinnan, Scotland
Few images from the Harry Potter films are more iconic than the Hogwarts Express making its way over a sweeping stone viaduct, surrounded by Highland mountains.
If you want to see it for yourself, you’re in luck – the Glenfinnan Viaduct, which appears in the films, exists in real life.
You don’t even need to hop aboard a heritage train to experience it, as regular ScotRail trains between Fort William and Mallaig follow the same scenic route and offer the stunning view.
Oxford, England
Oxford’s winding lanes, ancient colleges and grand halls wouldn’t look out of place at Hogwarts, and many of them stood in for the school in the film series.
The Bodleian Library’s Divinity School doubled as the hospital wing, while Duke Humfrey’s Library and the staircase at Christ Church also featured in the movies.
Between filming locations, there are bookshops, cafés and centuries of history to explore. With fast trains from London taking around 45 minutes, Oxford is an easy day trip for Harry Potter fans.
Durham, England
Durham’s striking cathedral is one of the most recognisable real-life locations for Harry Potter fans, with its Norman architecture and stone cloisters helping bring Hogwarts to life in the early films.
The cloisters feature in scenes from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, including where Harry releases Hedwig, while the cathedral’s Chapter House was used as Professor McGonagall’s classroom.
Beyond the film connections, there’s a dramatic hilltop setting, riverside walks and narrow streets to explore.
With direct trains from London King’s Cross taking around three hours, you can swap the capital for cathedral views, winding lanes and a little Hogwarts nostalgia in a single trip.
Goathland, North Yorkshire, England
Goathland station in North Yorkshire will be familiar to Harry Potter fans as Hogsmeade station in the first film.
The old-fashioned platforms are part of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, a heritage line that winds through rolling moorland.
Whitby and Grosmont are useful gateways for exploring the area, although the final leg to Goathland needs planning separately.
Heritage trains run seasonally, so check the timetable before setting off.
