Still waiting for your Hogwarts Letter? Well, don’t lose hope! In the meantime, unleash your inner Potterhead with this ultimate bucket list — from the fantastical wizarding world of immersive rides and experiences to studio tours and more!
They say only two types of people exist: The ones who love the Harry Potter series and those who haven’t read or seen it yet. The magical universe of the Harry Potter books had the early 2000s wrapped around its fingers, and we’re still reeling from the effect. Luckily, the story doesn’t end here. The magic of the books and films is now realized across the world through massive theme parks, studio sets, and tours arranged by fellow Potterheads.
So grab your wands, broomsticks, and Floo Powder and start checking off this Ultimate Potterhead Travel Bucket List!
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🧙 The Ultimate Potterhead Travel Bucket List:
1. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios
Image Credits: Discover Universal
Starting big, we have the trinity of these dedicated and elaborate theme parks that currently prevail: Universal Studios in Orlando, another one in Hollywood City, California, and the newest one that’s closest to home, Universal Studios Japan in Osaka! The attention to detail at these theme parks is commendable as they give you the full experience of diving from the Muggle world into the magical one.
From Diagon Alley to the Gringotts Bank, imagine traipsing along the cobblestone streets of Hogsmeade with a Butterbeer in hand. Let a wand pick you at Ollivander’s where the length of the walls is covered in wand boxes! Or grab a bite at Three Broomsticks. This place has got everything you might need on your Harry Potter pilgrimage from Knockturn Alley (for those interested in the Dark Arts) to Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes Joke Shop founded by the best pranksters of the saga.
Tickets:
🪄 Universal Studios Orlando and Hollywood City, California: From $109 (~S$146.7) Standard Entry (Price varies on dates and taxes imposed)
🪄 Osaka, Japan: From ¥8,600 (~S$79.8). Area-timed tickets may apply to rides on busy days so purchasing a Universal Express Pass is recommended!
❗ Book your tickets with Klook via YouTrip Perks to get up to 5% cashback
The Ultimate Potterhead Travel Bucket List: Find out more about The Wizarding World of Harry Potter here
2. Warner Bros. Studio Tour: The Making of Harry Potter
Image credits: Attractions Magazine
If you’re feeling indoors instead of open-air, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour is the next place a Potterhead should find themselves in! Located in London and Tokyo, the 3-hour tour gives an expansive look into how the legendary films came to be born. Explore classic locations like the Great Hall, Diagon Alley, Knight Bus, and more! Find hidden easters on the props and costumes that complete the Harry Potter universe, with animatronic creatures and soundscapes that transport you to a different world.
Tickets:
🪄 Warner Bros. Studio Tokyo: General entry starting at S$59 on Klook. Get up to 5% cashback when booking with Klook with YouTrip Perks!
🪄 Warner Bros. Studio London: General entry starting at S$141 on Klook. Get up to 5% cashback when booking with Klook with YouTrip Perks!
The Ultimate Potterhead Travel Bucket List: Find out more about The Making of Harry Potter Studio Tours here
3. The Jacobite Steam Train
Image credits: West Coast Railways
After King’s Cross, it’s only fair to take the iconic Hogwarts Express! The route that’s shown in the film series can be found in Scotland, snaking through the countryside. The scarlet train runs offers lush green views of the Scottish Highlands Valley and crosses over the 21 tall arches of the Glenfinnan Viaduct.
Catch the train from Fort William and circle back from Mallaig, all of which should take a total of six hours for a round trip. If you want that stunning view from outside, be at the Glenfinnan Visitor Centre before 10:45 AM or 3 PM daily, and you’ll be able to catch the train just before it descends into the fictional Hogsmeade!
Tickets: Adult Day Return – £57 (~S$98.51) | Child (under 16) Day Return – £33 (~S$57.03)
The Ultimate Potterhead Travel Bucket List: Find out more about The Jacobite Steam Train here
Address: King’s Cross Station, London N1 9AP
The Ultimate Potterhead Travel Bucket List: Find out more about King’s Cross Station here
3. King’s Cross Station
Image credits: Flickr
Unlike the true-blue attractions of the franchise, Potterheads have taken time to find the many other classic spots found throughout the books. The best-known one remains, of course, the famous (yet discreet) Platform 9¾. This iconic wall-gateway is where young wizards catch the Hogwarts Express. The fictional platform exists as a signature wall on King’s Cross Station in London, marked by a sign and a trolley of luggage halfway through the wall —all perfectly set up for the best picture-op. Plus, there’s a professional photographer to get your best shot!
However, queues can get long during the holiday period, so be there early for a quicker picture! Also, drop by the adjacent Harry Potter Store for any last-minute supplies before you catch the train.
Opening Hours: Mon to Sat, 8 AM – 9 PM. Sun, 9 AM – 9 PM
5. Leadenhall Market
Image credits: Third Eye Traveller
Nested in the heart of London, Leadenhall Market has architecture spanning back to the 14th century and is fraught with the liveliest of bars, boutiques, shops, and restaurants. But more specifically, it has also done countless cameos in the magical world of Harry Potter as the bustling and charming market — Diagon Alley! Adorned with an ornate Victorian roof, the featured entrance of the Leaky Cauldron from the fourth film can be found here at the real-life, Bull’s Head Passage Opticians Shop. A perfect place to gather your quills and wands and pose for the perfect picture!
Opening Hours: Open 24/7
Address: Leadenhall Market, Gracechurch Street, London, EC3V 1LT
Tickets: Free entry
The Ultimate Potterhead Travel Bucket List: Find out more about Leadenhall Market here
6. Alnwick Castle
Image credits: Weekend Candy
Alnwick Castle in Northumberland is one of the most recognisable places in the cinematic universe of Hogwarts. The Outer Bailey is the grounds where Harry learns to fly broomsticks with Madam Hooch and practices Quidditch after he pretty much stumbles into being the Gryffindor Quidditch Seeker. The castle also features extensively as the usual corridors of the wizarding school. Look up into the sky and you might find a Golden Snitch zooming overhead!
Opening Hours: Open daily from 31st March to 26th October 2023. Castle Grounds stay open from 10 AM – 5:30 PM (last admission at 3:45 PM)
Address: Alnwick Castle, Alnwick, Northumberland NE66 1NQ01665 511 100
Ticket: Starting £19.50 (~S$33.5).
*Note: Online tickets are cheaper than gate prices!
The Ultimate Potterhead Travel Bucket List: Find out more about The Alnwick Castle here
7. Potter Trail
Image credits: TripAdvisor
Want to get your steps in while learning the best trivia about Harry Potter in Edinburgh? Then the Potter Trail is completely up your alley (pun intended). Along the trail you will also be sorted in houses, earn those coveted house points, and learn spells as the entertaining tour guides take you around lesser-known spots — like finding he-who-must-not-be-named’s grave or the real Diagon Alley! Guess you won’t need a Marauders’ Map anymore!
Opening Hours: Daily at 12 PM, 2 PM & 4 PM (April – October)
Address: The tours start at the statue of Greyfriars Bobby and end on Victoria Street.
The Ultimate Potterhead Travel Bucket List: Find out more about The Wizarding World of Harry Potter here
8. The Elephant House
Image credits: The Elephant House
While this generation figures out whether or not author J.K. Rowling is cancelled over her recent controversies, the major impact of her books on children and her prowess as a writer remains unscathed. Having preferred the cost of a cup of coffee over her heating bills, J.K. Rowling was known to write the first Harry Potter book in the Elephant House. Widely known as the ‘birthplace of Harry Potter’, the striking red cafe is tucked away on George IV Bridge in Edinburgh. Head on to the Elephant House to feel a little inspired!
Note: Due to a fire hazard, the cafe is temporarily closed, however, their online shop remains open.
Opening Hours: Daily, 10 AM – 6 PM
Address: 21 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EN
The Ultimate Potterhead Travel Bucket List: Find out more about The Elephant House here
9. The Harry Potter Store
Image credits: Wizarding World
If you’re looking to stock up on your favourite wizarding supplies, one of the best places to shop would be the Harry Potter Store on Broadway in New York. Three floors wind upward as Fawkes the Phoenix hangs in the air, guarded by a Griffin (like those outside Prof. Dumbledore’s office), and you can find everything from an Ollivander’s original wands to the best of the Honeydukes treats and candy.
There’s also some freshly brewed butter beer to sip on as you explore your retail and Ministry Phone Booth to slide right into the Ministry (duh, doors are for Muggles!). Last but not least, you can also bring your inner goth (or Slytherin) with you to find some exclusive merch from the Dark Arts section in the cellar!
Opening Hours: Mon to Sat, 9 AM – 9 PM. Sun, 9 AM – 7 PM
Address: 935 Broadway, New York, NY 10010 22nd St between 5th Ave and Broadway
The Ultimate Potterhead Travel Bucket List: Find out more about The Harry Potter Store here
10. Wizards Bus Tour of London
Image credits: TouristEngland
London is littered with Harry Potter film locations and inspirations, so it wouldn’t be unusual to find one scrambling to know where to begin. Why not try the Wizards London Bus Tour? With a three-hour coach taking you across signature locations like King’s Cross, the Leaky Cauldron, and more! If this is your first time in the city, the tour will also pass by landmarks such as Big Ben, London Bridge, and the Monument for some added sightseeing!
Opening Hours: Every Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat & Sun
Address: Pick up point at St. Pancras Rail Station and drop off at King’s Cross Railway Station. *Note: This tour is not wheelchair accessible
Tickets: From £32 per person (~S$54)
The Ultimate Potterhead Travel Bucket List: Find out more about Wizards Bus Tour of London here
11. Witchards Society: College of Wizardry
Image credits: Witchards Society
Although not entirely connected to the Harry Potter franchise, if you’re looking for a real wizardry experience, try the immersive magic school tucked away in a wondrous castle in Poland. Discover low-stake adventures, classes, and extra-curricular activities as you unwind in a storytelling game all set in a fantastical world. With secret passageways, cellars, and perhaps even infamous secret societies, you can be a character assigned or of your choosing, that’s sorted in one of the five prestigious houses as you embark on experiences of friendship, adventure, and most importantly, magic.
Dates: 14 – 17 March 2024
Address: Czocha Castle, Poland
Tickets: €695 (~S$1,026). Tickets are currently sold out, but keep a lookout if any slots open up!
The Ultimate Potterhead Travel Bucket List: Find out more about Witchards Society: College of Wizardry here
12. LeakyCon
Image credits: Attractions Magazine
If you’re travelling to the USA for your Harry Potter pilgrimage, consider the massive fantasy convention LeakyCon in Portland. With its 2024 dates out (5-7 July), the fan convention hosts everything magical under one roof: Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, the Percy Jackson series and more. So dust off the pointy hat and round glasses to fit in, and find the best panels and performances in LeakyCon! You never know, you might even meet the stars of these evergreen magical worlds like Tom Felton or Elijah Wood.
Dates: 5 – 7 July 2024
Address: Oregon Convention Center, 777 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Portland, OR 97232
Tickets: Single Day Pass starts from $69 (~S$92.89), General Pass $189 (~S$254.3)
The Ultimate Potterhead Travel Bucket List: Find out more about LeakyCon here
Lumos!
Now that light has been shed on how to geek out on the best of Harry Potter’s universe, it’s time to brush up on some old spells and re-read the books for finer detail (a lot of the tours do ask trivia questions, so be prepared). But you know what the real magic is? Travelling unencumbered by pesky bank fees or riddikulus exchange rates. So, be sure to use your YouTrip card while making purchases to make full use of favourable foreign exchange rates, and snag the best deals on air tickets, accommodation, and travel insurance with YouTrip Perks!
As Singapore’s favourite multi-currency wallet, we aim to get those pesky fees out of the way and help you save on your travels. With the best foreign exchange rates, no longer will you have to deal with those long queues at money changers! So if you’re looking for a go-to travel card, sign up for your complimentary YouTrip card today with promo code <YTBLOG5> and get FREE S$5 in your account! For more great tips and articles like this, join our Telegram (@YouTripSG) and subscribe to our free weekly newsletter here or down below.
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Have a magical holiday 🪄
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