The wizarding trail
Harry Potter in
Oxford: filming locations & tour.
The real Oxford film locations: Christ Church’s staircase, the Bodleian rooms and New College’s cloisters, with booking and age advice.
At a glance
- Real filming sites
- Christ Church staircase, Bodleian rooms and New College cloisters.
- Hall distinction
- Christ Church Hall inspired a studio set; dining scenes were filmed elsewhere.
- Library tour rule
- Age 11-plus; stairs; no lift to Duke Humfrey’s.
- Booking
- Choose college entry and Bodleian tickets separately; check closures.
Harry Potter fans can visit Oxford’s stone staircases, vaulted rooms and cloisters used on screen. These are working colleges and libraries, so start by booking the interiors you most want to see.
More about this guide
This route links Christ Church, the Bodleian and New College through central Oxford. Allow extra time for timed admission and guided tours: walking between the buildings is only part of the visit.
Christ Church’s Hall inspired the Hogwarts dining hall. The staircase and several other Oxford spaces were used for filming. They remain working colleges and libraries with histories that reach far beyond the films.
Filming locations
Four magical stops,
across the colleges.
Hogwarts Staircase & Hall Inspiration
Christ Church: Bodley Staircase and Great Hall
Follow Christ Church’s visitor route to the Bodley Tower staircase, used for Harry Potter filming. Look up at the fan-vaulted ceiling before entering the Tudor Hall, with its portraits and long tables. The Hall inspired the Hogwarts dining-room set, but the dining-hall scenes themselves were filmed in a studio.
Hogwarts infirmary
The Bodleian Library: Divinity School
The Divinity School’s intricate stone ceiling is memorable even before you recognise the Hogwarts infirmary. Look up for carved crests and images among the vaults. Visit with a Divinity School ticket or a tour that includes the room. A Divinity School ticket alone does not include the upstairs library.
Restricted Section & Library
The Bodleian Library: Duke Humfrey’s Library
Duke Humfrey’s supplied the atmosphere for the Hogwarts library and Restricted Section. Painted ceiling panels and historic bookcases give it an identity beyond the films. Entry is by a 30- or 60-minute Bodleian guided tour for ages 11-plus. Both involve stairs, with no lift.
Malfoy's Ferret Tree & Cloisters
New College: Cloisters and Quad
New College’s cloisters and courtyard appear in Goblet of Fire, including the scene in which Draco Malfoy becomes a ferret. Use the tourist entrance on New College Lane. The visitor route includes cloisters, gardens and other college spaces. Look up seasonal hours and planned closures before going, and keep off the grass.
Editor’s note
Book the rooms, then join them with a walk.
Christ Church releases visitor tickets on Fridays. Book online to secure entry, checking which spaces will be open before you pay. For New College, check seasonal hours and use New College Lane.
Under-11s cannot join Bodleian library tours, but children of all ages can visit the separately ticketed Divinity School, which has level access. Working-library tours can close for university events.
Questions & Advice
Frequently asked questions
before you go.
Was Harry Potter actually filmed in Oxford?
Yes. Oxford locations include Christ Church’s staircase, the Bodleian’s Divinity School and Duke Humfrey’s Library, and New College’s cloisters. The route visits the buildings used on screen, subject to their visitor access rules.
Is the Great Hall in Christ Church the real Hogwarts Hall?
It inspired the Hogwarts dining hall, but the film dining scenes used a studio set. Christ Church’s Hall remains a real college dining room, with its own portraits, windows and history.
How much does it cost to visit the Harry Potter locations in Oxford?
You can walk between the sites for free. College interiors, Divinity School admission and guided library tours have separate charges. Check the official booking pages for current prices, child concessions and which rooms are included.
Where is the tree where Malfoy was turned into a ferret?
The filming location is in the New College cloisters courtyard. Enter via New College Lane and follow the visitor route. The courtyard is part of a working college.
Know before you go
The practical bit.
- Real filming sites
- Christ Church staircase, Bodleian rooms and New College cloisters.
- Hall distinction
- Christ Church Hall inspired a studio set; dining scenes were filmed elsewhere.
- Library tour rule
- Age 11-plus; stairs; no lift to Duke Humfrey’s.
- Booking
- Choose college entry and Bodleian tickets separately; check closures.
Sources & visitor information 8 sources · Sources checked 12 Oct 2026
We use the linked sources for practical visitor details. Each date shows when we checked a source. Confirm opening times, prices and booking arrangements before you travel.
- Christ Church: tickets, weekly releases and visitor rules
- Christ Church: Hall staircase and Great Hall
- Bodleian: visitor spaces and separate admission
- Bodleian: tour age rules, stairs and ticketing
- Bodleian: all-age Divinity School visits and family facilities
- Bodleian: 30-minute library tour and current admission
- New College: tourist entrance, admission and closures
- New College: official walking leaflet and Goblet of Fire location
Keep planning