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Where Filmed
The Jacobite steam train crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct – the Hogwarts Express of the Harry Potter films

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2 productions

Alnwick: filming locations of 2 productions

One castle, two productions: Hogwarts' courtyard in the first two Harry Potter films and Brancaster Castle in the Downton Abbey Christmas specials. Open in season with broomstick training on the lawn.

SC 00 · MAP OF THE FILMING LOCATIONS

ACT IHarry PotterFilm · 2001–2011

The Outer Bailey lawn at Alnwick Castle, where Harry Potter's first flying lesson was filmedBenjamin Smith · CC BY-SA 4.0

EXT. ALNWICK CASTLE – ALNWICK

Alnwick Castle

as Hogwarts exterior and the flying lesson courtyard

Madam Hooch's first broomstick lesson in Philosopher's Stone was shot on the Outer Bailey lawn; the Ford Anglia crash-landed in the Inner Bailey in Chamber of Secrets. The castle appears as Hogwarts from outside in the first two films.

VISITING

Open roughly late March to October; admission charged, the broomstick training sessions on the lawn are included and run at intervals through the day, weather permitting; collect a free time-slot ticket on arrival. About 90 minutes by car from Edinburgh, 35 minutes from Newcastle; trains to Alnmouth, then bus or taxi.

NOTEAlnwick Garden next door is a separate attraction with its own ticket – there is no combined ticket. Allow two to three hours for the castle with the broomstick session.

Alnwick Castle tickets and tours

Most booked

From Edinburgh: Holy Island, Alnwick Castle & Northumbria

★ 4.7 · 1,586 reviews9 hoursvia GetYourGuide
from$77.12Check

Alnwick: Alnwick Castle Ticket

★ 4.7 · 526 reviewsvia GetYourGuide
from$29.35Check

From Edinburgh: Day Trip to Bamburgh and Alnwick Castle

★ 4.6 · 346 reviews8h 30mvia GetYourGuide
from$84.06Check

See the filming locations: Harry Potter →

ACT IIDownton AbbeySeries · 2010–2015, films 2019–2025

The Outer Bailey lawn at Alnwick Castle, where Harry Potter's first flying lesson was filmedBenjamin Smith · CC BY-SA 4.0

EXT. ALNWICK CASTLE – ALNWICK

Alnwick Castle

as Brancaster Castle

The 2014 and 2015 Christmas specials: the family rents Brancaster for a shooting party; the library, the State Rooms and the ramparts.

VISITING

Open in season until late October with admission; also a Harry Potter location.

See the filming locations: Downton Abbey →