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The Essential Guide to Harry Potter in Oxford

Learn all about Harry Potter at Oxford on this self-guided Harry Potter tour of Oxford by a former student of the Harry Potter college!

Bodleian Library Harry Potter Oxford

So you’ve heard that Oxford University is basically Hogwarts and you want to find out all about Harry Potter at Oxford?

You’ve come to the right place as I attended the Harry Potter college myself for four years and there’s no one who loves both Oxford and Harry Potter than me.

In fact, my love for Harry Potter is the very reason that I applied to Christ Church to study in the first place.

That’s right, I wanted to be surrounded by Harry Potter locations every day so I applied to study at the very college where Harry Potter was filmed!

I spent four years pretending I was a Hogwarts student in the Harry Potter Oxford scenes.

I dined in the Great Hall every night, which was literally a dream come true (but to tell you the truth – the food was awful!).

After many years of feeling like I literally was Harry Potter in Oxford, I feel I am more than qualified to help you put together your very own Oxford Harry Potter self-guided tour.

This self-guided Oxford Harry Potter tour will take you through all the unmissable sights and you’ll visit Christ Church, New College, the Bodleian Library and more!

Now you might have a few burning questions about Harry Potter in Oxford before we begin, so let me answer those questions on the tip of your tongue.

Harry Potter in Oxford FAQ

Was Harry Potter filmed in Oxford?

This is most people’s first question about Harry Potter in Oxford. Was Harry Potter actually filmed there?

The answer is a big fat yes as these are real Harry Potter filming locations that were used in the movies.

It’s not uncommon for tourists to mention that the old colleges here remind them of Hogwarts and that’s because it basically is Hogwarts.

How much does this Harry Potter tour of Oxford cost?

My self-guided Harry Potter tour of Oxford is totally free for you to read and use as you wander around Oxford.

However, each Harry Potter location in Oxford charges an entrance fee, which in total comes to around £34 all in.

This gets you into Christ Church, New College and on a Bodleian Library tour.

Are you ready to find out about all the best Harry Potter Oxford locations?

Without further ado, let me introduce you to all things Harry Potter at Oxford University.

All the Harry Potter Locations in Oxford

Now I’m going to introduce you to England’s best Harry Potter locations. Oxford University is home to seven major ones and you can use this post to plan your very own Harry Potter Oxford tour.

I’ve included all the practical information such as where the Harry Potter sites in Oxford are, as well as information on entrance fees and opening times.

Harry Potter Library - Duke Humfreys Library Bodleian Oxford

The Bodleian Library

First up on my list of Harry Potter filming locations in Oxford is the Bodleian Library. This is the main library at Oxford University and it is open to all students and all subjects.

It is one of the largest libraries in the world, second only to the British Museum in London!

Inside, there are many smaller libraries, none more special than Duke Humfrey’s Library, aka the restricted section of Hogwarts Library.

In the Philosopher’s Stone film, we see Harry creeping around here under his invisibility cloak before he is given away by a screaming book.

Whilst you might think that this library would be one of the most popular libraries at Oxford University, I actually found it to be pretty empty most of the time.

This library dates back to the 15th century so all the books are incredibly old and delicate.

You’re not allowed to bring your bag into this section if you want to study there, you’re not even allowed a small bottle of water!

The books that line the desks are alarmed so if you touch them, the guard will be alerted – so it really is like the restricted section!

Duke Humfrey’s Library is one of the Oxford Harry Potter sites that you can only visit on a guided tour. There are a number of different options available each day ranging from 30 minutes to 90 minutes long, from £10-20.

It is advisable to book tickets in advance and you can find out all you need to know here.

Divinity School Oxford Harry Potter Filming Location

The Divinity School

Whilst you’re at the Bodleian, make sure you take a peek into the Divinity School, which was used as the Hospital Wing at Hogwarts.

When the Divinity School was first built it was used for lectures, oral exams and lectures on theology, but it is no longer used today.

The iconic Medieval ceiling design is stunning and I love that the real name for the spot used as the Hogwarts Infirmary sounds a little like Divination (probably my least favourite subject at Hogwarts).

This Harry Potter location appears first in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, after Harry’s first fight with Lord Voldemort.

It also appears as the Hospital Wing in the Chamber of Secrets when the students are petrified, the Prisoner of Azkaban after Harry faces the dementors and in the Half-Blood Prince after Ron drinks the poison meant for Dumbledore.

It may surprise you to learn that this was also the location for the Harry Potter scene in which McGonagall teaches the Gryffindor students to dance before the Yule Ball.

Ron’s face in this scene as he has to dance with McGonagall is priceless!

It is possible to purchase tickets to visit the Divinity School for just £2.50 from the Great Gate ticket office.

Alternatively, you can choose from a number of guided tours and package deals, which include other Oxford highlights. Read all about the different options here.

New College, Oxford

Harry Potter Oxford New College Cloisters

New College Cloisters

The Cloisters at New College are instantly recognisable to Harry Potter fans and walking through them will make you feel like you’re walking through the corridors of Hogwarts.

These particular cloisters are used in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and are used when Harry tells Cedric Diggory about what the first task of the Triwizard Tournament will entail.

He’s mocked by his peers who are wearing “Potter Stinks” pins but he still does the noble thing and warns Cedric about the dragons!

Girl reading under Harry Potter tree at New College

New College’s Harry Potter Tree

New College is also where Draco Malfoy is (hilariously) turned into a ferret by Mad Eye Moody. The tree that this happens in front of, unsurprisingly now referred to by many as the “Harry Potter tree” is located in the quadrangle that the cloisters surround.

New College is one of the biggest and oldest colleges at Oxford so it is well worth a visit even if you’re not a Harry Potter fan.

This isn’t the only “Harry Potter tree” in Oxford though – keep reading to find out more!

An adult ticket to New College costs £8 and concessions cost £7. Entry times vary depending on whether you’re visiting in summer or winter. Find out more about visiting New College here.

Christ Church, Oxford

Finally, let’s talk about Christ Church Harry Potter locations. This is the college I called home for four years.

If there’s one Oxford college associated with Harry Potter, it’s Christ Church. As such, the college is very popular with those seeking Harry Potter places in Oxford.

Christ Church Cloisters – Hogwarts’ Corridors

A lesser-known fact about Christ Church, Oxford and Harry Potter, even to the students, is that the cloisters here were also used in the Harry Potter films too.

This cloister was featured in the first Harry Potter film and is where Hermione revealed to Harry that his father was a brilliant seeker during his time at Hogwarts.

Do you remember that scene from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone?

It’s rather touching!

RELATED: Harry Potter Filming Locations in Lacock

For the Christ Church Oxford Harry Potter tour, you will have to buy a ticket. This will give you access to all the Christ Church college Harry Potter locations and the rest of the college. An adult ticket costs £16 if bought online or £18 if bought on the door. There is now a tourist centre outside the back of the college in Christ Church meadow, which is where you will need to buy your ticket.

You can find out more about Christ Church ticket prices and how to buy them here. I’d recommend purchasing your tickets online so you can avoid queuing on the day! In the summer months, the queue can be really, really long.

Harry Potter Christ Church College Staircase

Christ Church Stairwell – Harry Potter Staircase

A more well-known Harry Potter filming location is the stairwell, leading up to the Great Hall.

These iconic Harry Potter steps were used in multiple films, but they are mostly known for the grand arrival of the students at Hogwarts on their very first day at Hogwarts.

In The Philosopher’s Stone, Professor McGonagall stands tapping her fingers at the top of the stairs as she waits for the new students to enter.

She briefs them about the Sorting Ceremony before leading them into the enormous Great Hall.

This is also the staircase that Harry and Ron hurry up when they arrive at Hogwarts via Arthur Weasley’s flying car in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

They’re hurrying to make it to the welcome feast on time but unfortunately, they were soon caught by Mr Filch…

These stairs are used again later in the second film when Tom Riddle takes Harry Potter to the past via his diary.

Most people don’t report on this scene being filmed here but I’d recognise those stairs anywhere!

You see a body being carried out of the castle under a sheet and Riddle asks Dumbledore if the school can stay open if the culprit is found.

He then sets poor Hagrid up.

Harry Potter Dining Hall Oxford

The Great Hall at Christ Church: The Harry Potter Dining Hall

And I’ve saved the best until last! The Christ Church dining hall, aka the Harry Potter dining hall, was the inspiration for the Great Hall at Hogwarts.

The Harry Potter dining hall Oxford scenes were actually all filmed at Leavesden Studios where they recreated this hall, taking inspiration from all the portraits and the long tables.

This is the dining hall where Christ Church students dine every single evening as there are no kitchens for students.

There are two sittings for dinner each evening – informal and formal hall. At formal hall, the students have to wear their black gowns whilst they eat. These are worn in Oxford for traditional events like matriculation, exams as well as formal dinners.

This is probably the last Oxford college that still does not have a canteen for the evening meals, and instead, all three courses are served to the students by the hall staff.

At least, that was the case when I was there.

I understand that the college may have recently switched to a more canteen-style evening service.

I have to say, the food is usually average to poor, but with views like this (and seriously cheap food), you can’t complain! Check out this post for even more fun facts about Christ Church!

Christ Church dining hall is definitely my favourite Harry Potter filming location in Oxford and an important part of any Hogwarts Oxford tour.

Bonus Harry Potter Oxford Tour Content!

Beyond the Harry Potter locations in Oxford that either inspired or were used in the films, there are a few other Harry Potter things to do in Oxford.

Have a drink at Turf Tavern

Turf Tavern is one of Oxford’s best pubs and is a firm favourite amongst locals and students alike. It’s played host to a large number of famous people over the years, including C S Lewis, Elizabeth Taylor and Bill Clinton just to name a few.

It’s also where the Harry Potter filming crew loved to hang out after filming. So if you want to grab a pint where the creators of your favourite magical series sat many years before you, then head to Turf Tavern.

It can be a little hard to find as it’s tucked away down a number of alleyways, but if you approach from Holywell Street, you should find a sign pointing down an alley that will lead you round to the Turf Tavern’s outdoor terrace.

Address: 4 Bath Place, Oxford OX1 3SU

Watch a Quidditch Match in Oxford

There are many similarities between Oxford University and Hogwarts, one of them being that both schools have a Quidditch team!

Unfortunately, the Oxford Quidditch team aren’t able to fly around the pitch, however, they do run around with a stick between their legs chasing a human snitch!

Bizarre right?! Oxford seem to be pretty good at it though as the Radcliffe Chimeras (the first team) are currently ranked 7th in the UK!

Watch this crazy phenomenon for yourself on Wednesdays and Saturdays afternoons in Oxford, which is when the OUQC train.

They train in University Parks on South Parks Road and you can find out the latest news or get in touch with the committee directly on their Facebook page if you’d like more information.

Address: University Parks, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3RF

Buy Harry Potter Souvenirs in Oxford

There are numerous souvenir shops in Oxford where you can pick up Harry Potter merchandise to take home with you.

After this free Oxford University Harry Potter tour, I’d suggest poking your head into those on Broad Street as there are many different options all on this street.

Newly opened as of March 2019 is The Shop of Secrets, which is the first dedicated Harry Potter shop in Oxford.

Here you can shop for all your Hogwarts’ equipment including robes, scarves, stationery and wands. The addition of this shop to Oxford is turning Broad Street into Diagon Alley!

Another shop worth noting is Flaggs, a particular favourite as there is always a large array of Harry Potter goods in the window.

You can also pick up Harry Potter souvenirs from Watsons of Oxford and Christ Church’s gift shop.

Address: The Shop of Secrets, Broad Street, Oxford, OX1 3AS

See Blenheim Palace’s Harry Potter Tree

So this Harry Potter location is not in central Oxford, but it is in Oxfordshire and around 20-30 minutes in the car from these other Harry Potter locations in Oxford.

Blenheim Palace really deserves its own day out as it’s a magnificent and historic building, but for Harry Potter fans with keen eyes, it’s also another Harry Potter Oxford location.

There are a number of flashbacks in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix to when the Marauders were younger. And one less-than-flattering scene for a young James Potter is one where he taunts Severus Snape out in Hogwarts’ grounds and hangs him in the air.

That scene is filmed by the Lake in Blenheim Palace, right by what is now known as the “Hary Potter tree”. It’s an enormous tree and you’ll see that it’s got the same circular hole in the centre of the trunk as the tree in the Harry Potter films.

It’s a super short scene so you’ll miss the tree if you’re not looking out for it, but if you watch this part carefully you’ll see that it’s the tree at Blenheim Palace.

So that concludes my Harry Potter Tour in Oxford!

All in all, if you’re a Harry Potter fan, then you need to take a day trip to Oxford. The city is simply magical and there are so many Harry Potter sites to visit.

Walking through these colleges will make you feel like you’re truly walking through the halls of Hogwarts, which is an experience like no other!

Reams and reams of tourists come to this beautiful city every day and large numbers of them sport Hogwarts scarves, keen to discover Harry Potter in Oxford.

How to Get to Oxford

Oxford is really easy to access by either bus or train. If you’re coming from London then you can either take the Oxford Tube (which, funnily enough, is actually a bus) or the train from Paddington.

Find the cheapest train tickets to Oxford online here.

The journey should take no longer than an hour and a half and is usually much shorter if you’re not travelling during rush hour.

Where to Stay in Oxford

Booking.com

For more posts about my time at Oxford, check out these Oxford University blog posts:

A Literary Tour of Oxford
Saltburn Filming Locations in Oxford
Harry Potter Weekend in London
Ultimate Guide to Harry Potter in York
Goathland Station: Harry Potter Train Station
Guide to Harry Potter in Lacock
Inside 8 Beautiful Libraries at Oxford
A Harry Potter Halloween Feast at Christ Church

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Laura

Founder & Editor of What’s Hot?

Laura is an award-winning travel and book blogger based in the UK. She studied French literature at Oxford University and is now an IP lawyer at a top law firm in London. She was named UK Book Blogger of the Year in 2019 and loves to combine her passion for books and travel with literary travel.

[This post was updated in July 2023]

Vanessa

Monday 27th of November 2023

I'm years late to this post, but found it just in time for my trip to Oxford with my Potterhead 9 year-old. Thank you for such a thorough list!I had no idea about the filming locations and wasn't even sure what to hit in Oxford in general...particularly with a kiddo in tow. This gave our day the structure we desperately needed, and some fun history, to boot! So appreciative :)

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Malou

Tuesday 4th of September 2018

I loved reading this! Very interesting and great to see! I visisted Oxford when I was 16 and saw the Great Hall! I remember thinking: wow this looks like the great hall at Hogwarts! But was like... nah, I must be wrong, they didn't use this? Really funny to read now that it was, in fact, the inspiration for the great hall at Hogwarts haha!

Laura

Tuesday 4th of September 2018

hahah that is a funny coincidence! I'm surprised they didn't mention it anywhere at the time that it was the inspiration for Harry Potter as I'm sure that's the reason most tourists come!

Alice Megan

Sunday 23rd of July 2017

Wow that's so amazing I adore Harry Potter and have added Oxford to my list of places I must visit