York for Harry Potter Fans – Our guide to seeing it all in one day

York for Harry Potter Fans. If you are followers of Mudpie Fridays then you will know that we are a little Harry Potter mad! Charlie in particular loves everything boy wizard orientated. Ever since he watched the first Harry Potter film. We have been lucky over the last twelve months to manage to visit a couple of the well-known Harry Potter spots. Including the Harry Potter Bridge aka the Glenfinnan Viaduct and Godricks Hallow in Lavenham. Although there are lots more on our list that we are hoping to visit this year. One of which was the Shambles York for Harry Potter.

So when we decided to visit city of York for a break it made sense to pick up some of the world of wizardry York. By visiting some of the Harry Potter-inspired attractions and filming locations. All of these locations we visited in one fun-filled family day and all are within an easy walk of the city centre. So the itinerary is suitable for a day trip. 

There is of course a number of other places in Yorkshire including Goathland Station which was used as Hogsmeade Station in the first movie, Philosopher’s Stone. But when we visited the steam train was not running on the North York Moors Railway so we decided to leave that for another visit. 

York for Harry Potter Fans

York has long been a big draw for fans of the books. For this reason, York is a unique place where the magical world via the Harry Potter franchise comes to life. We only visited York for a couple of days and so needed to fit in as much as possible. Devising our own Harry Potter tour, which is easy to do with such strong connections to Harry Potter. Of course, you could also take part in an organised magical walking tour. But with this blog post, you will be able to pick up the main Harry Potter York sites yourself. 

Although we went for Harry Potter in York it really is a magical place. At the moment, the city is currently bidding to be a UNESCO world heritage site. I can see why with its rich history.

Harry Potter & The Shambles York

Rumour has it that JK Rowling based Diagon Alley on the best-preserved medieval shopping streets of The Shambles. Whether this is the fictional Diagon Alley York or a real life one, only she can comment. But walking along the little street I can definitely see the uncanny resemblance and why it may be the case. No wonder it has the nickname of Harry Potter Street York. 

Andy why it is the ideal location for harry potter themed shops. Charlie had received a letter from Hogwarts for Christmas and he enjoyed imagining he was a Hogwarts student shopping for supplies. We found plenty of chocolate frogs. Magical creatures and related movie trivia to spend the boys pocket money on in the Harry Potter shop in York

If you are planning on visiting The Shambles and want to catch some Potter-inspired photos then I would suggest visiting early in the morning or in the evening. It gets very busy, surprisingly so. And as a medieval street, it is not very wide! Along with the street itself, there are a couple of other Harry Potter highlights and Harry Potter shops you should look out for. 

The Golden Fleece

If like mine your husband is a little disappointed there was no leaky cauldron in The Shambles York Harry Potter. Then you may want to head to the Golden Fleece which is just at the bottom of The Shambles. It is said to be one of the most haunted pubs in the country.

It is rumoured that the pub was a favourite of highwayman Dick Turpin, who is said to have hidden out in the building’s many secret passages. The Golden Fleece is also rumoured to have inspired the Leaky Cauldron in the Harry Potter series. The pub’s historic and mysterious atmosphere, combined with its rumoured connection to the wizarding world, make it a popular destination for Harry Potter fans visiting York.

The Potions Cauldron & Potions Experience

You will find the magical drinks emporium Potions Cauldron at number 9 3/4 (make sure you also spot number 10 while you are there). Serving a range of Potter-inspired drinks. They also offer a potions experience where you make your own potions which we had a go at during our visit. We booked our interactive experience in advance online and it cost £6.99 per person. Ours was a non-alcohol variety although they do offer this as well for the adults. 

The experience itself lasts around twenty-five minutes. The boys were very excited by the prospect and eagerly sat in the purpose-built room at the back of the shop. We were introduced to how magic had arrived in York and given an option on what sort of potion we would like to make. The viles are also available to purchase separately should you want to make more at home. 

Each of the four potions has a specific magical task such as camouflage, courage and truth. Some interactive posters explained each of the options. While our host headed out to get the ingredients. There may also have been a spooky element which made us jump as well. Then our host returned with all the necessary ingredients. Once the potions were mixed the boys each held a magic meter to see if their potion had worked. We had the best experience, if you fancy giving it a go find out more on their website – The Potions Cauldron. 

Number 10 – Mini Door

While you are at the Potions Cauldron make sure you do not miss the mini door for number 10 The Shambles. We missed it first and had to go back to look for it. Its location is very logical so just keep your eyes to the ground and count to number ten and you will spot it. Be prepared for signage or similar to be in the way (which was the reason we did not spot it straight away).

The Shop That Must Not Be Named

Also located down the cobblestones street, in York city centre the shop that must not be named is at number 27 The Shambles. This has got to be the best shop I have ever visited for official Harry Potter merchandise. It is also the only one of its type so be prepared to queue to enter. Especially at the moment but it is the perfect place to buy souvenirs. You can buy everything you think of including all the harry potter books, harry potter films, clothing and stationery. There were so many items from the wizarding world of Harry Potter the mind boggles. 

With so much choice the boys had trouble deciding what to spend their pocket money on! If you can I would get there for the opening at 10 am. Unfortunately, some of the other Harry Potter-inspired shops have since left the Shambles. We were a little disappointed after reading elsewhere that they were still open. Hopefully, others will return in their place. Find out more on their website – The Shop That Must Not Be Named. 

Platform 9 3/4 sign

Although the Shambles York tends to be the first place for Harry Potter. We also visited the National Railway Museum. Although at one time it was home to the Harry Potter train York – the Hogwarts express, it now resides in the Warner Brothers Studio/ Harry Potter World. However, we did manage to find the platform sign which is well hidden in what essentially is the railway graveyard element of the museum in the North shed. The National Railway Museum is around a twenty-minute walk from the centre of York and close to York Station. But well worth the effort. You will also pass York railway station which is also rumoured to be a filming destination.

York Station

When passing on your way to the museum you can stop at the Station to see another filming location. The scene in the Philosophers Stone where Hagrid gives Harry his train ticket to get onto platform 9 and three-quarters at King’s Cross Station. Was actually not filmed in Kings Cross, as the film would have you believe but in York Station and then made to look like the London Station. It is amazing what CGI can do. It is also worth stopping to see the station’s historic architecture enjoying its Victorian-era charm. While imagining yourself as a student heading off to Hogwarts for a new school year. A great photo opportunity where Harry Potter filmed in York.

The Hole in the Wand

Our final Harry Potter-inspired stop was at the mini-golf that is located in the centre of the town. Although much like the Potions Cauldron it is not affiliated to Harry Potter in any way. It does have a Harry Potter theme. If you have a wizard-mad kid then this is the place for you. Wizard Golf in York a Review of Hole in the Wand.

The nine holes are fully undercover and present a challenging yet fun way to spend an hour. With magic letters to find along the way and the prize of a Potter-themed drink at the end. We all ended up with a Basilisk blood potion and unicorn essence. It is sensibly priced at £6.99 per person and is one of the best things we did. Butterbeer is also served in the small cafe at the back. We really enjoyed our game and it was probably our favourite of the  Harry Potter York attractions we visited. You must book in advance which can be done via their website – The Hole in the Wand.

York Minster

We did not squeeze this York Harry Potter location into one day. It is such a great location with so much to see, we spent at least half a day exploring – York Minster for kids. However, did you know York Minster has also been part of Harry Potter? It featured as a filming location for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry? In Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the Cathedral’s Chapter House was used as the setting for the scene where Harry, Ron, and Hermione discover the secret of the Philosopher’s Stone. You will notice it if you check the video clips of movie scenes. 

Other Harry Potter locations

We had such a great time in York we will definitely be back and when we do hope to get to some of the other well-known locations appearing in the Harry Potter movies. Including Goathland Railway Station which was Hogsmead Station in the films. Perhaps even going on steam trains on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. Along with Malham Cove in the Yorkshire Dales. Where Harry and Hermione hide from Voldermont during the Deathly Hallows Part One. 

If you are looking to tick off other Harry Potter UK filming destinations then you may also want to consider heading a further hour and twenty minutes North to Durham Cathedral. The UNESCO World Heritage site had various locations across the cathedral used in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. 

Are your kid’s World of Potter mad? Have you visited any Harry Potter filming locations, or have plans to visit York the Harry Potter city? I would love to hear about them in the comments below. 

If you have enjoyed this blog post York for Harry Potter fans then you may also be interested in – free things to do in York with kids

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