The Great Staircase, Christ Church (Courtesy UniversityRooms.com/copyright Christ Church College)
Oxford, UK, 2024-Jul-12 — /Travel PR News/ — This summer, it’s easy to come out from that cupboard under the stairs and follow in the footsteps of Harry Potter. A leading holiday expert says it’s actually possible to stay in some of the atmospheric and historic locations that double as Hogwarts school in the Harry Potter films.
Lily Smith, a travel expert from the specialist accommodation finder UniversityRooms.com, says: ‘Most Muggles don’t realise that many filming locations for Hogwarts are not just sets. Several Oxford University colleges have featured in the movies as the famous school of wizardry and witchcraft.
‘The most famous of these is Christ Church College. Christ Church was used as the filming location and inspiration for many Harry Potter films. The Great Staircase and Tudor Great Dining Hall are instantly recognisable to Potter fans. For visitors who have booked accommodation at Christ Church, there’s even the opportunity to enjoy breakfast in The Great Hall, which was replicated to create the grand Hogwarts Hall. The 16th-century staircase is also memorable as the place where Harry and the other first-years are greeted by Professor McGonagall in the first movie.
‘Even the hallways are full of Potter lore. The hallways of Christ Church were also used to film the scene in which Hermione shows Harry the Quidditch trophy his father won.
‘During Easter and summer, it’s possible to stay as guests of the college. Unless you’ve mastered your apparition skills, you may need to know there are no lifts in any accommodation staircases, with some bedrooms up several flights of stairs. Christ Church offers rooms for single or twin occupancy.
‘Christ Church bookings are filling rapidly for July and August, but there is still good availability in September. There is also a new availability update service. Christ Church college also offers accommodation at St Aldgate and at its Liddell Building. Visitors still have access to the main college buildings and the option of breakfast in The Great Hall. This summer, you can book a room in the Liddell Building from just £65 a night.
‘Christ Church is not the only real-life Hogwarts in Oxford. New College, which actually dates back to 1379, is also familiar to Potter fans. In particular, its cloisters will be well-known to anyone who hasn’t suffered one of Professor Lockhart’s memory charms.
A number of historic colleges offer rooms near to New College and other Potter locations. In The Philosopher’s Stone, the Bodleian’s Duke Humfrey’s Library forms the fabulous backdrop to Harry’s adventure hidden underneath his invisibility cloak.
‘Using the innovative service UniversityRooms.com, visitors can choose from singles and doubles with ensuite facilities, on a B&B or self-catering basis. For more information on staying in Oxford, see https://www.universityrooms.com/en-GB/city/oxford/home/