Créé par Romane, le 7 mai 2026
Votre guide Ryo
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Oxford, the city of dreaming spires, is a popular destination for fans of the Harry Potter saga!
If you're going to London to visit the Harry Potter studios, don't miss taking a quick trip to Oxford, visiting the city with our itinerary and its 26 audio guides, and discovering the real sets that brought the incredible school of wizards to life!
This very British city and its famous university indeed lent their settings to numerous scenes for the filming of the 8 movies.
You can easily participate in one of the various organized thematic excursions that will offer you to visit the filming locations as well as the main sites of the city, but if you prefer to do this visit at your own pace and by yourself, here are the different places you absolutely must put on your list!
What are the Harry Potter filming locations in Oxford?
# 1 Christchurch College
This is certainly the place in Oxford where you feel most transported into the fascinating universe of the saga. Here are the places not to miss during your visit.
- The college dining hall is truly impressive! Normal, it was in its time the largest university dining hall on the planet! No wonder it was chosen to be the splendid dining hall of Hogwarts! The large wooden tables add to the resemblance and you can almost hear the joyful noise of the banquets.
- Bodley stairs: the imposing stairs will give you the impression of being welcomed by McGonagall during your first year at Hogwarts. This is where the entrance hall scenes were filmed. They also largely inspired the moving staircases that give all its magic to the school.
- The cloister: when you enter the corridors of the cloister, you quickly recognize the scenes that were filmed there, such as those where we see the heroes running to join their classroom, or when Harry hears strange whispers that only he seems to understand, in the 2nd film: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
#2 Bodleian Library
This famous and splendid library, whose history you'll discover thanks to our dedicated audio guide, is one of the largest in England and is absolutely fascinating with its 13 million books! It is actually a complex of buildings whose impressive Gothic architecture served several times as filming locations for different films:
- Divinity School : certainly one of the most beautiful sculpted ceilings you'll be given to admire! It served as a hospital room in "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" and you find it again when Harry fights against the Dementors in "The Prisoner of Azkaban". This is also where the scenes where Ron dances with Professor McGonagall in the Goblet of Fire were filmed, or those where Ron drinks the poison intended for Dumbledore in "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince".
- Duke Humphrey's library: dating from 1447, it is the oldest room in the complex. It contains very precious texts and is only accessible on guided tours. This is for example where Harry, Ron and Hermione search for information about the mysterious Nicolas Flamel and the Philosopher's Stone.
#3 New College
Here, it's the exteriors that were exploited by director Mike Newell, for the filming of the 4th opus, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Widely used in the film, you'll recognize without problem the cloister and the gardens.
The first glimpse of the college's exterior shows you the place where Harry goes to warn Cedric Diggory that the first task of the Triwizard Tournament involves dragons!
Another famous spot at New College, its magnificent century-old tree. This is where Draco mocks Harry by telling him he won't last 5 minutes in the tournament and where Professor Mad-Eye transforms him into a ferret!
#4 Blenheim Palace
Although technically outside of Oxford, don't miss visiting this incredible UNESCO-listed palace!
You can stroll on the beautiful walking paths and see the famous Whomping Willow from Harry Potter!
If you want more...
The entire city seems to have inspired J.K. Rowling to create this fabulous universe.
Even if certain places didn't serve for filming the movies, they can project you straight into the books! This is the case for example of the small alley that leads to the famous Turf Tavern near the Bridge of Sighs and which will remind you of Diagon Alley.
Many shops have specialized in Harry Potter merchandising and are frankly magnificent:
- The Shop of Secrets: 9 Broad St
- House of Wonders: 48 Cornmarket St
- Watsons of Oxford : 7 Broad St
And then, for a total and original immersion, why not actually attend a Quidditch match!!!
As crazy as it may seem, Quidditch has become a real sport! Commonly called Muggle Quidditch. The participants certainly don't fly on broomsticks but still, they run with a broomstick between their legs and try to catch a golden snitch!
The rules were established in 2005, inspired by those of the novel, and in 2012, the first international competition took place in Oxford! On the podium, in first place the USA, in 2nd, France and in 3rd place, Australia!
In 2022, Muggle Quidditch changes name to free itself from Warner which owns the brand, and becomes Quadball!
In conclusion
Oxford is an absolutely fascinating city, its Gothic architecture is dizzying and there is much to do and discover. It's a dive into English heritage and a visit not to be missed less than 100 km from London.
For Harry Potter fans, it's love at first sight guaranteed, but for others too! Impossible to remain insensitive to this English atmosphere and this sumptuous architecture.