The university town of Oxford is truly a sight for sore eyes, with architecture dating all the way back to the late Saxon period. Oxford was initially named “Oxenaforda” meaning “Ford of the Oxen”; the river crossing for oxen around 900 AD. The University of Oxford for which this beautiful city is known, is first mentioned in records from the 12th century. The medieval architecture in Oxford magically transports you to a different era altogether. More specifically, if you are a nerd like us, to the Harry Potter movies!
Table of Contents
A. Christ Church College:
Start your walk at Christ Church College which is a constituent of the University of Oxford. It was founded in 1546 by King Henry VIII and is spread across 175 acres. The Cathedral, the Tom Tower, Canterbury Quadrangle, Christ Church Library are some of the important buildings an architecture lover should visit. This legendary space is a beauty to walk through, but that’s not what this post is about. We are talking about a DIY Harry Potter tour here, let’s move on to the magical bits! Got your wand out? Good, let’s proceed.
The Stairs
When the first years arrive at Hogwarts in the Philosopher’s Stone, they meet Professor McGonagall on this staircase and are taken to the sorting ceremony. The stairs also feature in a scene from The Chamber of Secrets where Harry meets Tom Riddle through the diary. Along with the Gothic style architecture, do remember to take notice of the dramatic fanned vaulted ceiling.
On a side note, did anyone play the first Harry Potter game from MobyGames? You can spot the stairs in the game as well.
The Hall
While walking in Harry Potter’s footsteps is exciting, this location is a bit of a cop-out. Inspired by this lovely Renaissance dining hall, the producers made a replica for the movies. Given the space restriction for shooting, you can imagine why they chose to replicate rather than use the hall as is. Note that visitors are not allowed to sit on the chairs but it is used as a functional dining hall. It is closed during lunch hour from 11.45 am to 2.00 pm. If only the portraits on the walls could talk! They would have so many stories to tell.
B. New College Cloisters:
You’ve gotta laugh when Professor Moody a.k.a. Barty Crouch junior turns Draco Malfoy into a ferret. The giant oak tree (which is almost 200 years old btw) where Malfoy is sitting lies in the cloisters at New College, Oxford. Just like Christ Church, New College is also a constituent in the University of Oxford. The entrance to the cloisters is on New College Lane.
The other scene that was shot here was when Harry and Cedric talk during The Goblet of Fire. Potter Stinks! (Well, not really, but maybe to the Hufflepuffs he does.)
Image Source: Wikipedia
C. Bodleian Library – Duke Humfrey’s Library:
Remember that night when Harry sneaked out into the Hogwarts library hidden beneath his invisibility cloak trying to look for a book in the Restricted Section? That’s Duke Humfrey’s gorgeous library. For any book lover, libraries are a magical place. It feels like when Belle enters the Beast’s library or when Samwell Tarly enters the Citadel. Duke Humfrey’s library is also the oldest reading room in the Bodleian Library. If you look up at the ceiling, you will see panels painted with the arms of The University of Oxford.
Image Source: Bodleian Library Tumblr and Warner Brothers
Image Source: David Iliff | Wikipedia
Bodleian Library – Divinity School:
Hope you aren’t feeling sick. If you are you’ve gotta go visit Madame Pomfrey at the Hogwarts infirmary which is the Divinity School at the Bodleian Library. The ceiling is an intricate piece of work designed William Orchard. It is built in a Perpendicular style between 1427 and 1483.
Image Source: Harry Potter Wikia
After you are done with this DIY walk, you can treat yourself to a drink or two in The Turf Tavern, a historical pub dating back to 1381. Although they don’t serve butterbeer (what a bummer!) you can choose from a wide variety of ales and beers. This pub is tucked away from the main street. The easiest way to find it is to reach Bath Place, small cobbled lane and find the Turf Tavern nearby.
Other lovely places to visit for nerdspiration in this vicinity are:
Radcliffe Camera:
Image Source: Pixabay
Radcliffe Camera is one of the most recognizable structures in Oxford. This iconic circular dome structure was funded by Dr. John Radcliffe and is not open to the public. Although the first thought in our mind was Daniel Radcliffe, this building has nothing to do with Harry Potter or the actor. However writer J. R. R Tolkien claimed that it was the inspiration for the tower of Sauron.
Botanical Gardens:
Image Source: Wikipedia
Are you an Alice in Wonderland fan? You might want to pay a visit to the botanical garden in Oxford which is one of the oldest gardens in the UK. It was the inspiration for the scene where the Queen of Hearts’ servants are painting the roses red.
If you have half a day to spare and are a Harry Potter nerd, there’s no real reason to skip this DIY walk. Do you know any juicy bits about the shooting locations that we haven’t mentioned? We would love to hear about them. Comment away!
Like it? Pin it for later
For more filming location travel inspo, check out our Game of Thrones locations post.
To imagine so many movies shot here. This is incredible.
Btw your other posts are amazing too.
The folks behind Harry Potter movies certainly had an eye for amazing architecture and wonderful buildings! These are all fantastic – pinning this for a later trip. Can’t wait to see them all!
Great post, we did a walking tour of Oxford last year and the Harry Potter related locations were really popular. The centre of Oxford is very compact and all these places are very close to each other too. Oxford is definitely worth a visit.
Don’t hate me for this but I am not a Harry Potter fan (lol, I get a lot of flack for it). However, I see the striking resemblance and Oxford University is amazing! I’ve been to Oxford, about 10 years ago, but only saw it from the outside, I loved the architecture. But I never thought of going inside and I see it’s absolutely amazing (and magical) from the inside! Brilliant diy tour, which I’ll surely share with my friends (who are Harry Potter fans). Thanks!
OMG…..I love Love love this post. I am a huge HP fan and have always wanted to visit the locations. I love the way you have put together this blog – with shots from the film as well as the actual location. I so envy you right now. But all said and done, loved my virtual journey. Thanks
I love, love, love this!! I feel as though I’ve visited the movie set of my beloved Harry Potter and friends! 😉 And the library – wow! Duke Humfrey’s Library (and the entire Harry Potter tour) is now on my must-do list. Thanks so much for sharing!
LOL I didn’t realise any of Oxford had been used for Harry Potter locations or as the inspiration for the sets. Now you point it out it is quite obvious. I know Cambridge a little better and I haven’t seen in any of the Oxford colleges. Now I want to go and see the dining room!
Wow! This is amazing! I love it that Harry Potter did shoot in University Town of Oxford. I didn’t know that they really shoot there, this is cool! I thought everything was animated including their school. Ohhh I love reading this post and I really enjoyed looking at the pictures.
This will be an absolute hit with my kids. Not a big fan of HP but shooting locales excite me. I like how you have connected the places in real and from film.
I’ve read way too many books set in Oxford, and have always wanted to visit. With this post, you have only intensified my longing. 🙂
I AM A BIG HARRY POTTER FAN AND I AM SO JEALOUS! Really, going to this place will really be magical for me. More than Disneyland! And it’s my dream university also!
Being in the University town of Oxford must be like being in a different time. Harry Potter aside, it’s a really magical place on its own. I would love to walk around the gardens like a princess!
I am a big fan of tracing the movie locations. Last year we did the Sound of Music trail. Oxford has so much history attached to it. I actually was not aware that Oxford was one of the movie locations in HP series. Got to see the movie again 🙂
The Sound of Music trail sounds like a lot of fun! We should remember to do that when we finally make our way to Austria. Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
How fun! I’m not a Harry Potter fan, but I would love to see all of these places — especially the Library! What an elegant place!
I’m not really a Harry Potter fan but would love to visit Oxford one day. The buildings look just magnificent.
I was quite sad when we visited, we couldn’t visit the university because it was during examination time. Next time! This is definitely useful as I didn’t realize so much was actually filmed there, I thought it was just the hall. #FeetDoTravel
Oh I loooove Harry Potter! I’ve done a Harry Potter Walk in London once, been to the Warner Bros Studios and visited some film locations in Ireland. Now I think I should try to go to Oxford soon 😀
We absolutely loved Oxford but didn’t realise when we visited how many locations were from HP! Definitely need to go back and do this walking tour 🙂
This is a fantastic DIY tour if you’re a Harry Potter fan and even if you’re not, the architecture and detail are stunning enough to appreciate. Love it!
I’ve never been to Oxford, but I’m a Harry Potter fan – it would be great to see all these movie locations in real life!
I will confess that I’m not a Potter fan despite my best endeavour, and have seen nearly all the movies. I used to live in Gloucester where some of the first movie was filmed in Gloucestershire Cathedral, so obviously strolled around there and the cloisters. But I love the idea of this post, great read! #feetdotravel