Cottage holidays for Harry Potter fans

Harry Potter fever is in full swing once again as the sixth movie in the series, "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince," opens this week.

Now fans can even incorporate their love of Harry Potter into their holiday plans by visiting the magical locations around Britain where the movies were filmed.

A "locations trail" for all six Harry Potter films has been produced by Premier Cottages so you can follow in the footsteps of stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint.

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

The gothic, 900-year old Gloucester Cathedral is featured in "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince" as a setting for Hogwarts School, and it was also used in two of the previous films. Hidelow House, the Moretons Vacations Houses, and Upper Court are handy for cottage holidays near Gloucester.

The area around the medieval village of Lacock in Wiltshire also provided several filming locations for "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince," including the National Trust's 13th century Lacock Abbey, Cantax Hill, West Street and the Angel.

Church Court Cottages in Prestbury and the Swan House in the Coln Valley are good bases for a cottage holiday near Lacock.

Other Harry Potter film locations

Alnwick Castle in Northumberland is the second largest inhabited castle in England, and it was used as a set for Hogwarts in the first two films, "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" and "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets."

When visiting the area, stay at the Alnwick Castle Cottages on the Duke of Northumberland's Estate, Doxford Cottages near Craster, or Newton Holiday Cottages at Newton by the Sea.

Another location from these first two Harry Potter movies is the Norman cathedral in Durham, and cottages near here include the award-winning Mill Granary Cottages in Lower Teesdale and Brokenheugh Lodge and Orchard Barn in Haydon Bridge.

Goathland Station in the North Yorkshire Moors was the location for the town of "Hogsmeade" in the Harry Potter films. Pickering Station in the same area was also featured in "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" and "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets."

Premier Cottages near the North York Moors include Hill Farm at Rosedale East, and Keld Head Farm Cottages and Low Costa Mill at Pickering.

Various locations in Oxford were used as settings for the Harry Potter films, including the Bodleian Library and New College. The scenes of the "Great Hall" were filmed in Christ Church College.

Heath Farm Holiday Cottages near Chipping Norton and The Guggle at Northleach are cottage holiday options in the Oxford area.

Oxfordshire is home to Blenheim Palace and the famous village of Woodstock featured in the fifth instalment of the series, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix."

The closest Premier Cottage to both of these sites is Heath Farm Holiday Cottages, which have views of the Cotswold countryside.

Those hoping to get a sneak peak of the next Harry Potter film, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1," can head to Pembrokeshire in Wales.

The set for "Shell Cottage" in the movie was built just last month at Freshwater West beach. Scolton Home Farm near the village of Bethlehem is the closest Premier Cottage to the area.

Harry Potter locations in London

There are a number of locations around the city of London that will look very familiar to fans of the Harry Potter films.

Platform four in St. Pancras Station was used as the famed Platform 9 ¾ in the movies, where Harry and his friends boarded the Hogwarts Express.

The reptile house at the London Zoo is another destination for Harry Potter enthusiasts, as it was used as a setting in "Harry Potter and the Philospher's Stone." This was the location where Harry discovered he could speak to snakes.

Other sites include Leadenhall Market, which doubled as Diagon Alley in the films, and the Strand, London, used as a setting for the wizard world's Gringott's Bank.

For more on cottage holidays near locations on the Harry Potter Trail, visit the Premier Cottages website.

travelbite.co.uk staff