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  4. 11 Real-Life Harry Potter Destinations You Can Visit

11 Real-Life Harry Potter Destinations You Can Visit

By Diana and Diana Pearl / People
July 09, 2015
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Credit: © Stefano Paterna / Alamy
Related: Harry Potter Fans Now Have the Chance to Buy His Perfectly Normal Privet Drive Home

This gallery originally appeared on People.com.
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Alnwick Castle, England

Credit: © Jon Arnold Images Ltd / Alamy

This Medieval castle was used as a set for the fictional Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry in the first two Harry Potter films. You'll see Alnwick in familiar scenes like Harry's first broomstick flying lesson in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone or Ron's flying car crash in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. alnwickcastle.com

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Christ Church, Oxford

Credit: © Brian Jannsen / Alamy

When it comes to Harry Potter, few sights are as iconic as Hogwarts's Great Hall. In the film, young witches and wizards from each house gather around long tables for meals and ceremonial events – much like the students at Christ Church, a college at Oxford University. Visitors can get a peek at the real thing during a visit to the college – if there isn't an educational event going on, of course. chch.ox.ac.uk

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The Jacobite, Scotland

Credit: © Archwhite / Alamy

Looking for an attraction that will scratch your Harry Potter sight-seeing itch and satisfy your travel companions? Try the Jacobite, a steam train that runs along the western coast of Scotland, giving travelers a gorgeous view of the Scottish countryside – and make you feel like you're riding the Hogwarts Express in real life. Potter fans should keep their eyes peeled for the Glenfinnan viaduct, the 21-arched overpass that is seen in the film. westcoastrailways.co.uk

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Black Park Country Park, England

Credit: © Maurice Savage / Alamy

Thrill seekers can find Harry Potter's Forbidden Forest come to life at the Black Park in Iver, England. The spiders, however, won't come in larger-than-life form – we hope. buckscc.gov.uk

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King's Cross Station, London

Credit: Daily Mail/Rex / Alamy

Perhaps one of the best known Harry Potter attractions, this iconic train station has a Platform 9 3/4 sign, complete with a cart appearing to be halfway through the wall. The "platform" may be a fake, but Potter still travels through the real King's Cross in the film, so it's doubly worth a trip. However, don't make like a wizard and actually run your cart into the wall, however: You'll just end up with flying luggage and a headache. networkrail.co.uk

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Quidditch World Cup

Credit: © Richard Ellis / Alamy

It may have originated as a magical sport, but Quidditch has made its way to the muggle world. And thanks to a number of seriously devoted Potter fans, you can attend the Quidditch World Cup, just like Ron, Harry, and Hermione did in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. The good news is that unlike in the book, the real-life Quidditch World Cup is held annually, in April – this year in South Carolina. usquidditch.org

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Millennium Bridge, London

Credit: © Stefano Paterna / Alamy

If you're traveling to London, a stop by the Millennium Bridge is necessary for all visitors – but especially Potter fans. In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, readers learn that the bridge was destroyed by Death Eaters sent by Voldemort. In reality, the bridge still stands today, and is the perfect path from St. Paul's Cathedral to the Tate Modern. londonmillenniumbridge.com

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1 of 7 Alnwick Castle, England
2 of 7 Christ Church, Oxford
3 of 7 The Jacobite, Scotland
4 of 7 Black Park Country Park, England
5 of 7 King's Cross Station, London
6 of 7 Quidditch World Cup
7 of 7 Millennium Bridge, London

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11 Real-Life Harry Potter Destinations You Can Visit
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