While it may have been years since the last Harry Potter film was released, there are still scores of fans across the globe. There’s no stopping the addiction, and if you and your spouse-to-be are fanatical about books and movies, why not have a honeymoon that allows you to enjoy the ultimate indulgence, along with some romantic moments too, of course? From accommodation with Harry Potter themes to tours and attractions, it’s easy to plan the perfect Harry Potter bucket list trip to celebrate your lives together.
Harry Potter Stays
De Vere House Bed & Breakfast
Originally built as a hunting lodge by the De Vere family in the 15th century, today it serves as a bed and breakfast with rooms available on Airbnb that are ideal for Harry Potter fans. It was used as Godric’s Hollow in the Harry Potter films and sits in the heart of the medieval village of Lavenham, featuring HP elements throughout, along with lots of historic characters, including wooden beams, antique furnishings, armor, helmets, and swords. Guests are welcomed with coffee or hot cocoa and treats like biscuits or cakes, and enjoy a complimentary English breakfast daily, served in the themed dining room. The two rooms, available separately, both include a four-poster bed, TV, Wi-Fi, a private sitting room with a log fire, and a courtyard garden.
Le Gite du Sorcier! Magical Apartment - Colmar, France
Located in the town of Colmar in France, with its romantic cobblestone streets lined with half-timbered medieval and early Renaissance buildings, this rental is ideal for Harry Potter fan honeymooners. You’ll be living the “proper wizard’s lifestyle” as the host notes, with many unique artifacts bringing the magic to life. There are old books, boilers, pumpkins, and mandrakes, books, and movies while the four-poster beds in each of the two bedrooms and the bathroom are inspired by Hogwart’s medieval style.
Wizarding Home 10m-Harry Potter Universal Orlando - Orlando, Florida
The Wizarding Home is not only a dream for a Harry Potter fan, but it’s just a stone’s throw from Universal Studios so you’ll have access to multiple Harry Potter rides, including Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, and Harry Potter and the Flight of the Hippogriff. When you come back to your comfortable rental, which accommodates up to 10 in five bedrooms (four of them themed), you’ll have an outdoor pool to enjoy and a grill for cookouts. Inside, there’s a big-screen Tv with Netflix and the Nintendo Switch with popular games, a full kitchen, and all of the other comforts of home.
Magical Harry Potter Guesthouse - Spean Bridge, Highlands, Scotland
This Harry Potter-themed house is located on the Great Glen Way and East Highand Way near many Harry Potter filming locations in the heart of the beautiful Scottish Highlands. Plus it has a hot tub, ideal for a romantic soak after a hike up Ben Nevis or one of the many other scenic trails in the area. You’ll have an outdoor dining space, a BBQ for cookouts, a firepit, and even a wildlife pond along with all of the usual essentials like a full kitchen and a washer/dryer. The living room and dining area are “magically decorated” and there’s a TV with Chromecast too.
Georgian House Hotel - London, England
The Georgian House Hotel in London has become famous for its Harry Potter-themed room which is hidden in the lower ground floor of the 19th-century hotel. You’ll access the “Wizard Chamber” by passing through a “portrait-lined passageway that is bathed in candlelight that casts dancing shadows across the walls” to discover a room with many faux castle details, including a four-poster bed, velvet curtains, stone walls, archways, stained glass windows, trunks, and various artifacts. A cauldron in the fireplace and a wood-burning stove are included too. Plus, it’s located just a 10-minute walk from the River Thames and the London Victoria Station, making it easy to reach many London attractions.
J.K. Rowling Suite at The Balmoral Hotel - Edinburgh, Scotland
A landmark hotel in the heart of Edinburgh, The Balmoral Hotel hosts the elegant J.K. Rowling Suite that’s ideal for Harry Potter fans, particularly those looking for a luxurious and romantic retreat. J.K. Rowling wrote Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in this very suite and there’s even a marble bust of Hermes that the author signed when she finished. It includes lots of fun and quirky items along with upscale amenities and views of Calton Hill. There’s a sumptuous king-sized bed and an adjoining Italian marble bathroom, which has a bathtub and separate shower.
Harry Potter Attractions
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios - Orlando, Florida
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter reproduces Harry’s world at Universal Studios and is split between Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida and Hogsmeade at Universal’s Islands of Adventure. The Hogwarts Express connects the two, allowing fans to cast spells, face off against Lord Voldemort, go to a Quidditch match, and down some Butterbeer. There are roller coasters, restaurants, and shops, all bringing the world of Harry Potter to life.
Kings Cross Station Wall - London, England
Of course, you’ll want to find the magical platform to get to Hogwarts when in London. Head to Kings Cross Station and you’ll not only discover the famous Platform 9 ¾, but you’ll find a shop where you can stock up on all sorts of Harry Potter gear. You won’t want to miss the opportunity to have a picture taken with the luggage trolley before heading out on your own adventure.
Glencoe, Scotland
Glencoe is one of the most visually stunning destinations in all of Scotland, with towering mountains, cascading waterfalls and glistening lochs, making it a must-visit for anyone traveling to the country. Harry Potter fans will recognize many of the outdoor scenes from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Although the film sets were removed, this was where Hagrid’s Hut and the Bridge to Nowhere were located. Keep an eye out for glimpses of red deer, golden eagles, and pine marten too.
Loch Shiel - Glenfinnan, Scotland
Located near the Glenfinnan viaduct, Loch Shiel was one of the two magnificent lakes that were used as Hogwarts Lake. You saw it in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince when Harry and Hermione gazed across the water from the Astronomy Tower at the movie’s end and in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban when hippogriff Buckbeak dipped its feet in the water while Harry sat on its back. The best way to enjoy the area is to take a walk along the shores of the loch, traveling six miles, officially from the Glenfinnan Monument which soars over the Highlands at the loch’s edge.
Harry Potter Tours
Harry Potter Studio Tour - Watford, England
The Harry Potter Studio Tour is available on the outskirts of London in Watford and offers so much for fans to see you’ll want to plan on spending at least a half day here. There are many photo-ops available, including the chance to don robes and fly on a broom and jump onto Sirius Black’s motorbike. You can cast spells with a magic wand and learn how to defend yourself against the dark arts, and much more. There’s something for everyone here, children and adults alike, so you’re never too old to visit.
Harry Potter Walking Tour for Muggles - London, England
Harry Potter walking tours are available for muggles in London. Join your fellow muggles to check out some of the real-life locations around London that inspired many of the sets like Diagon Alley, the Ministry of Magic, and the Leaky Cauldron while your charismatic insider guide tells you all about the filming. You’ll visit Westminster station, the historic Clink prison, and The Golden Hindewalk, walk across “The Wobbly Bridge,” and admire the grand St. Paul’s Cathedral.
Ride the Jacobite Train - Fort William, Scotland
The Jacobite Train was featured in the Harry Potter films as it crossed the 21-arched Glenfinnan Viaduct and visitors can enjoy a round-trip ride that travels from Fort William to the fishing port of Mallaig which is home to Haggard Alley, a fantastic shop with all sorts of HP schwag, and you’ll enjoy spectacular scenery the entire way. There’s historical significance too, as it stops en route at the village of Glenfinnan, where a great monument commemorates Bonnie Prince Charlie’s uprising in a setting of incomparable scenic beauty. In addition to riding the train, it’s worth paying attention to the schedule so that you can capture a photo of it coming around the bend with the many other fans who gather near the famous viaduct.
Tour Alnwick Castle Where Harry & Friends Learned to Fly Their Broomsticks - Alnwick, England
Alnwick Castle was the filming site used as Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the first two Harry Potter films. Built in the 11th century, it also appeared in numerous other movies and TV shows, including Downton Abbey and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. One of its most famous moments for Potter fans was on the grounds where Harry and friends learned to fly their broomsticks in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. The Alnwick On Location Film Tour brings visitors to the various filming sites with an entertaining guide who will reveal some of the behind-the-scenes anecdotes.
