Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Many of the locations are closed to visitors, though, or are an un-magical disap-
pointment in person, unless you're a huge fan. For those diehards, here's a sampling.
Spoiler Warning: The information below will ruin surprises for the three of you
who haven't yet read or seen the Harry Potter series.
Harry's story begins in suburban London, in the fictional town of Little
Whinging. In the first film,
The Sorcerer's Stone
(2001), the gentle giant Hagrid
touches down on his flying motorcycle at #4 Privet Drive. There, baby Harry—who
was orphaned by the murder of his wizard parents—is left on the doorstep to be
raised by an anti-magic aunt and uncle. The scene was shot in the town of
Brack-
nell
(pop. 50,000, 10 miles west of Heathrow) on a street of generic brick row-
houses called Picket Close. Later, 10-year-old Harry first realizes his wizard powers
when talking with a boa constrictor, filmed at the
London Zoo's Reptile House
in
Regent's Park (Tube: Great Portland Street). Harry soon gets invited to Hogwarts
School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he'll learn the magical skills he'll need
to eventually confront his parents' murderer, Lord Voldemort.
