Harry Potter in London

Enter the magical world of witchcraft and wizardry and follow in Harry, Ron and Hermione's footsteps around the muggle world of the U.K. Pay homage to the bespectacled boy who became a literary hero.

Itinerary: 

Day 1 - Arrival Day - London

Upon arrival at the airport, meet with your chauffeur for a transfer to your city centre hotel, drop off your bags and check in. In the afternoon you will join a Harry Potter Walking tour walking tour as part of a group. We can add in optional visits such as Westminster Abbey or London Eye.

London

One of the world's most visited cities, London has something for everyone: from history and culture to fine food and good times. Immersed in history, London's rich seams of eye-opening antiquity are everywhere. The city's buildings are striking milestones in a unique and beguiling biography, and a great many of them are instantly recognizable landmarks. Architectural grandeur rises up all around you in the West End, ancient remains dot the City and charming pubs punctuate the historic quarters, leafy suburbs and riverbanks. It is also one of the world's most cosmopolitan cities, and diversity infuses daily life, food, music and fashion. London is as much about wide-open vistas and leafy landscape escapes, as it is high-density, sight-packed urban exploration. Central London is where the major museums, galleries and most iconic sights congregate, but visit Hampstead Heath or the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to escape the crowds and enjoy the wide-open green expanses. You can also venture further out to Kew Gardens, Richmond or Hampton Court Palace for beautiful panoramas of riverside London followed by a pint in a quiet waterside pub.

Harry Potter Walking Tour of London

Take a Harry Potter Walking Tour into the magical world of wizardry in London. Learn about London’s rich muggle and wizarding history, amazing facts about the books and films and see many of the Harry Potter film locations used in London, including the Ministry of Magic and the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron. The tour features familiar Harry Potter film locations as well as iconic London landmarks and attractions including St Paul’s Cathedral, Millennium Bridge, Tate Modern, Borough and Leadenhall Markets and Monument. Along the route of your Harry Potter walking tour, you’ll have plenty of chances to take lots of pictures and see the film locations up-close.

Thistle Marble Arch Hotel

Enjoy a 2-night stay in a classic room with full English breakfast for 2. Thistle Marble Arch has outstanding modern, facilities and features, as well as comfortable, modern rooms and expert staff, we’re sure you’ll enjoy your time at one of the best hotels near Hyde Park. As a four-star hotel, you can expect absolute comfort and impeccable service during your stay. You’ll find yourself just a stone’s throw from shopping hotspots such as Oxford Street and Mayfair, as well as a host of famous London landmarks including Madame Tussauds and Hamleys.

Day 2 – Harry Potter Day Tour

Today after breakfast, make your way to Victoria Station where you will join a coach tour to Warner Bros Harry Potter Studios. No Potter fan’s trip to Britain would be complete without a visit to the Warner Bros’ Studio Tour. The award-winning tour gives you access to spectacular sets from the Harry Potter movies and a fascinating behind the scenes look at their production Enjoy an audio guided tour of the studios and return to London later in the day

Harry Potter Studio Tour

The Harry Potter film series made Leavesden its home for more than ten years. As the books were still being released while the films were being made, the production crew saved many of the iconic sets, props and costumes that were created especially for the films - just in case they were ever needed later on in the series. Once filming wrapped on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 in 2010, the production crew were left with a treasure trove of thousands of intricate and beautifully-made artefacts, many of which wouldn't have been saved on a typical production. The team behind Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter wanted to preserve and showcase these iconic props, costumes and sets so that Harry Potter fans could experience the magic of filmmaking first-hand. Many of the original cast and crew returned to reassemble the sets and record their memories from filming, and on 31st March 2012, the Studio Tour opened its doors.

Day 3 – London to Gloucestershire via Oxford

Pick up your hire car and depart London. Travel to Oxford to join a guided tour at The Bodleian Library which is another favourite location for Harry Potter fans to visit, as it was used throughout four of the films as Hogwarts infirmary. Duke Humfrey’s Library, a grand library which was used as the set of Hogwarts Library. After your tour in Oxford and had some time for lunch, continue to the small village of Lacock to visit Lacock Abbey. This small village has been a major filming location for the films. The Potter's house and a church that were shown briefly in Philosopher's Stone were filmed here. And Lacock Abbey was used for several Hogwarts interior scenes in the earlier movies, including the Mirror of Erised scenes, and Professors Snape and Quirrell's classrooms. Its cloisters were also used as some of Hogwart's corridors and the courtyard made an appearance as well. Continue to the Gloucester area for your next overnight stay.

The Bodleian Library

Delve into the drama of the university and stories of student high jinks. Starting in the Divinity School and ending in the exquisite Duke Humfrey’s Library, hear how Oxford University maintained order in the 17th-century and also housed King Charles I’s parliament whilst the King was resident in Oxford during the English Civil War (1642–1651). You will see the Divinity School, Convocation House, Chancellor’s Court, and Duke Humfrey’s Library.

Greenway Hotel

Enjoy a 1-night stay in a deluxe room with full English breakfast for 2. Set on 8 acres of land in a 16th-century Cotswold stone manor house, this upscale hotel with an on[1]site spa is 3 miles from Cheltenham and 4.3 miles from Prinknash Bird & Deer Park. The refined country-house style rooms and suites feature garden views and plush antique furnishings, as well as en suite bathrooms, free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and tea and coffeemaking facilities. There's also an on-site 2-bedroom lodge. There's complimentary full English breakfast, plus an acclaimed oak[1]panelled restaurant and a chic brasserie. The tranquil spa features a hydrotherapy pool and a hot tub, and offers treatments. There are also 4 conference rooms

Day 4 – Gloucestershire to Yorkshire

This morning depart your hotel and drive into central Gloucester to visit the imposing cathedral that dominates the skyline: The Cathedral’s Cloisters are used as various settings for Hogwarts' interiors, most notably the Fat Lady portrait in the first film and the writing on the wall and the flooded corridor scenes in the second film. (Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the Chamber of Secrets, and the Half Blood Prince). After your visit, continue north to Yorkshire, perhaps stopping to visit Hardwick Hall along the way, which is the main setting for Malfoy Manor, the home of the Malfoy family and the Death Eaters’ main hideout in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Arrive at your hotel in Yorkshire late afternoon

Gloucester Cathedral

Gloucester Cathedral has been a place of Christian worship continuously for over 1,300 years, since Osric, an Anglo-Saxon prince, founded a religious house here in 678-9 AD. Little is known for certain about the communities which worshipped here or the buildings they used over the next. 400 years although it is believed that the Benedictine Rule was introduced here early in the 11th century.

Hardwick Hall

It was the formidable 'Bess of Hardwick' who first created Hardwick in the 1500s. In the centuries since then her descendants, farmers, gardeners, builders, decorators, embroiderers and craftsmen of all kinds have contributed and made Hardwick their creation. We’d like you to explore and enjoy Hardwick and in the process discover the lives, loves and adventures of the creators of Hardwick.

York

Nowhere in northern England says 'medieval' quite like York, a city of extraordinary cultural and historical wealth that has lost little of its pre-industrial luster. A magnificent circuit of 13th-century walls encloses a medieval spider's web of narrow streets. At its heart lies the immense, awe-inspiring York Minster, one of the most beautiful Gothic cathedrals in the world. York's long history and rich heritage is woven into virtually every brick and beam, and the modern, tourist-oriented city – with its myriad museums, restaurants, cafes and traditional pubs – is a carefully maintained heir to that heritage.

Grand Hotel & Spa

Enjoy a 2-night stay in a classic room with full English breakfast for 2. Experience the luxury, opulence and style of the golden age of travel at The Grand Hotel & Spa, housed in the iconic former headquarters of the North Eastern Railway Company. History and heritage combine with everything a modern traveller could wish for in this iconic Edwardian building. The Grand is the only 5-star hotel in York and they offer the very best in traditional English style and service, set off with a friendly Yorkshire welcome.

Day 5 – Yorkshire

On a day tour of North Yorkshire, park your car in Goathland and take a train ride to Whitby on the North Yorks Moors Railway: Goathland station acts as Hogsmeade Station, the main station for Hogwarts in the films. (Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone). The seaside town of Whitby to enjoy some fish & chips, before taking the train back to Goathland and returning to York. Enjoy some free time in York this afternoon, to explore the historic city. Perhaps you will choose to join a ghost walk of the city in the evening.

(Rail Tour only available between 4th April & 30th October)

North Yorkshire Moors Railway

Hop on board the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and enjoy a day filled with vintage charm and amazing scenery on one of the world’s greatest heritage railways. Let their fleet of steam and heritage diesel trains transport you along 24 miles of National Park countryside and back in time to experience a taste of a bygone era.

Whitby

Whitby is a small seaside town in the cost of North Yorkshire. With its connections to Captain Cook and Dracula, its quirky narrow streets and bustling harbour overlooked by the striking Gothic ruins of Whitby Abbey, Whitby is a fascinating town. The Yorkshire Coast is particularly a great place to sample delicious, freshly caught seafood, and for many a trip to the area just wouldn't be the same without indulging in some delicious Whitby fish and chips. There is plenty of choice when it comes to restaurants in the town and the quirky streets invite to a stroll around the many boutique shops.

Ghost Walk York

The Walk was established before 1973 and was an original creation believed to be the first in the world. The Walk aims to be accurate, authentic and genuine, exploring a world of folklore, legend and dreams. We do not need to stage manage tricks or gimmicks but remain above all a fun night out. We promise a unique opportunity to discover the hidden magic of our Ancient City through the real art of storytelling. Tales are drawn from the immense History of York and are told against a backdrop of haunting beauty. We walk in the very footsteps of those who have passed before. As a result of our success, our stories are renowned and retold all over the world.

Day 6 – York to Edinburgh

Depart Yorkshire and travel north towards Scotland. Before you reach the border, stop in Durham to visit the cathedral: Durham Cathedral has been used to shoot various exterior and interior shots of Hogwarts, including classrooms, corridors, and outdoor courtyard shots. The most notable of these is Professor McGonagall's classroom. (Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the Chamber of Secrets and the Prisoner of Azkaban.) A little bit further north, visit Alnwick Castle.

If you wish, you can even have a Quidditch lesson while here! Alnwick Castle has been used as Hogwarts for several exterior shots throughout the films, including Quidditch training in Philosopher's Stone, the Flying Ford Anglia scenes in Chamber of Secrets, and Hagrid bringing in the Christmas Tree. Cross the border into Scotland and continue to your hotel in Edinburgh.

Durham Cathedral

Durham is a historic city and the county town of County Durham in North East England. The city lies on the River Wear, to the west of Sunderland, south of Newcastle upon Tyne and to the north of Darlington. Founded over the final resting place of St Cuthbert, its Norman cathedral became a centre of pilgrimage in medieval England. The cathedral and adjacent 11th-century castle were designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986. The castle has been the home of Durham University since 1832. HM Prison Durham is also located close to the city centre.

Alnwick Castle

Alnwick Castle is the second largest inhabited castle in the country; home to the Duke of Northumberland's family, the Percys, for over 700 years. The castle's rich history is brimming with drama, intrigue, and extraordinary people; from a gunpowder plotter and visionary collectors, to decadent hosts and medieval England's most celebrated knight: Harry Hotspur. In recent years it has also taken starring roles in a number of film and television productions, such as Downton Abbey and the Harry Potter films.

Edinburgh

Edinburgh, the inspiring capital of Scotland, is a historic, cosmopolitan and cultural city. The setting is wonderfully striking: a city perched on a series of extinct volcanoes and rocky crags, which rise from the generally flat landscape of the Lothians, with the sheltered shoreline of the Firth of Forth to the north. Edinburgh Castle dominates the city-centre skyline and from its ramparts you can look down on medieval lanes and elegant, sweeping terraces that hold over a thousand years of history, mystery and tradition. Yet Edinburgh is also a modern, dynamic capital where international festivals attract the world's leading performers, galleries display cutting-edge art, and bars, restaurants and clubs create a lively, cosmopolitan atmosphere with a distinctly Scottish twist. 'Edinburgh,' said writer Robert Louis Stevenson, 'is what Paris ought to be'.

Bonham Hotel

Enjoy a 2-night stay in a classic room with full English breakfast for 2. The Bonham Hotel is a luxury boutique hotel with an uplifting contemporary ambiance within the classic timelessness of a Victorian town house. Overlooking tree-lined gardens in Edinburgh's exclusive West End, the hotel is just a short walk from the city's many excellent shops & boutiques, the financial district & Edinburgh Castle. 

Day 7 – Edinburgh

Follow in the footsteps of J.K. Rowling as you explore the city which inspired her novels on a 2-hour walking tour. This walking tour is a must for any Harry Potter fans. Explore the exquisitely magical world that Harry and his friends found themselves in. Marvel at locations such as the entrance to the fictional Hogwarts, invisible to the Muggle world, the inspirational winding streets of old town Edinburgh to the spot where J.K. Rowling wrote the books. Use your knowledge of spells to outwit the guide and seek out inspirations and film locations around the stunning city of Edinburgh. The afternoon is free to explore the city. Why not enjoy a cup of tea at the Elephant House café, famous as the place of inspiration to JK Rowling, who sat writing much of her early novels in the back room overlooking Edinburgh Castle?

Day 8 – Departure - Edinburgh

Today you will make your way to Edinburgh Airport and return your rental car for departure.

BLACK OUT DATES- April 14-18, June 1-5, July 5-10, December 23-January 31st

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