Oxford and Hogwarts
Oxford's medieval colleges, with their stone cloisters, vaulted ceilings and candlelit halls, provided a ready-made backdrop for the world of Harry Potter. The film-makers used several real Oxford locations across the series, and fans of the films will recognise them immediately. Most of these locations can be visited, making Oxford one of the best places in the country for a Harry Potter walking tour.
It is worth noting that while the Great Hall at Christ Church inspired the design of the Hogwarts dining hall, the actual dining scenes were filmed on a studio set at Leavesden. However, the staircase leading up to the hall and the college's cloisters were used for filming and are unmistakably Hogwarts.
Christ Church
Christ Church is the most significant Harry Potter location in Oxford. The grand stone staircase leading to the Great Hall was used as the entrance to Hogwarts in the first film, and it is the moment when many visitors feel they have stepped into the wizarding world. The cloisters around Tom Quad were also used for various corridor scenes.
The Great Hall itself, while not used for actual filming, is clearly the model for the Hogwarts hall. The high ceiling, the long dining tables, the portraits on the walls and the raised platform at the far end are all echoed in the film set. Standing in the real hall, the connection is unmistakable.
The Bodleian Library
The Bodleian Library provided two important Hogwarts locations. The Divinity School, a magnificent 15th-century room with an intricate fan-vaulted ceiling, was used as the Hogwarts infirmary where injured students recovered. Its beautiful stonework is instantly recognisable from scenes where Harry and others are visited in their hospital beds.
Duke Humfrey's Library, the oldest reading room in the Bodleian, was used as the Hogwarts library. Its rows of ancient books, chained shelves and dark wooden bookcases are exactly what you would expect a wizard's library to look like. The restricted section of the library, where Harry sneaks under the invisibility cloak, was also filmed here. Access is by guided tour only, which must be booked in advance.
New College
New College's medieval cloisters were used in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, most memorably in the scene where Draco Malfoy is turned into a ferret. The stone walkways and the enclosed courtyard provide an atmospheric medieval setting that required very little set dressing.
The college is open to visitors for a fee, and the cloisters are clearly signposted. The ancient tree in the cloisters, which features in the film, is still standing and is one of the most photographed spots in the college.
Other Locations
The exterior of the Bodleian Library, including the courtyard known as the Schools Quadrangle, was used for several outdoor Hogwarts scenes. The ancient doorways and stone facades appear throughout the films as students move between classes.
The Radcliffe Camera, while not used for filming, is so closely associated with the look and feel of Oxford's academic architecture that it is often mistakenly thought to be a Harry Potter location. It makes for a good photograph regardless.
Planning a Visit
Most of the Harry Potter filming locations can be visited on a self-guided walk through central Oxford. Christ Church, the Bodleian Library and New College are all within a 10-minute walk of each other, and most colleges are open to the public for at least part of the year. Allow at least half a day if you want to go inside each one, as entry to Christ Church requires a timed ticket and the Bodleian tours have fixed schedules.
No official Harry Potter walking tour is run by the university, but the locations are well documented and easy to find. Arriving early at Christ Church is recommended, as it is the busiest location and queues build up during the middle of the day.
