Harry Potter & The Philosopher's Stone

Gloucester Cathedral in England

Gloucester Cathedral was one of the main inspirations for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry. The cloisters and lavatorium were the main areas of the cathedral used for filming in 3 of the Harry Potter movies. Walking the halls of the cathedral takes you straight into the movie, as you remember Harry, Hermione, Ron, and many of the other Hogwarts students and teachers walking those familiar halls. Gloucester Cathedral was completed in 1130. It was formerly the Abbey of St. Peter. In 1350 the Great East Window was installed, and at the time was the largest window in the world. It is the size of a tennis court and is made of stained glass. It is behind the high altar on the east wall of the choir. Near the entrance of the cathedral there is an interactive map that shows you where to find the filming sites.

Gloucester Cathedral's official website is here: Gloucester Cathedral Entry is free, although they do have a suggested donation of 5 euro. Visiting hours are Monday through Friday from 10 am to 5 pm and Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm, and Sunday from noon to 2:30 pm and again from 4 to 5 pm. Check their website for unusual closing days or hours. The address of the Cathedral is 12 College Grn, Gloucester GL1 2LX, United Kingdom. Its google maps location is here: Gloucester Cathedral

The location of Gloucester Cathedral on Google Maps

My family visited Gloucester Cathedral in November of 2024 when we were on a road trip through England. We had already visited Harry Potter Studios in Watford and we were very excited to see another of the Harry Potter filming sites. We walked through the cloisters and recognized the hallways from the films. One of the hallways was closed off because they were decorating it for Christmas. Unfortunately, that was the hallway with the Lavatorium, so we missed seeing that important filming site for Harry Potter.

Here is the scene with the troll, also filmed in Gloucester Cathedral: Sorcerer's Stone

The scene where the Gryffindor students walk to their common room was also filmed at Gloucester Cathedral: Sorcerer's Stone

Entering Gloucester Cathedral grounds

The east corridor

the south corridor

The interactive map near the entrance

The vaulting in the cloisters is gorgeous!

The South cloister

The stained glass windows in the south cloister

The north cloister full of people decorating for Christmas

I wish we'd been able to go down this hallway to see the lavatorium also

In the movie, Ron and Harry run down the north corridor to rescue Hermoine from the troll

In the movie, Harry and Ron hide in the lavatorium as the troll walks by

The courtyard

The South Corridor in 2024

The students walk down the south corridor towards their common room - notice the carrels on the left

The South Corridor - my daughter hiding in one of the carrels - my husband standing in front of the door that was used as the Gryffindor Common Room door in the movie

In the movie, the students approach the Gryffindor Common Room door

In the movie, the Gryffindor Common Room door opening

walking the neighborhood near the cathedral

Harry Potter Studios in London

Warner Brothers Studio Tour London is located at Studio Tour Dr, Leavesden, Watford WD25 7LR, United Kingdom. If you are a Harry Potter fan, it is a definite must-visit if you are ever in London. The tickets are rather expensive, and you have to book them far in advance, but it is worth it. Tickets are 56 pounds for adults, and they also offer family tickets, and tickets with added benefits. I recommend purchasing priority parking so that you have parking right next to the entrance. The Studio is open from 9:30 a.m. to 10 o'clock at night.

Several aspects of this movie can be found during a tour of Harry Potters Studios in London. One of these aspects is the Mirror of Erised, which is named Erised because it is "desire" spelled backwards. Instead of showing your actual reflection, it shows what you most desire.

The Mirror of Erised

Gringotts Wizarding Bank is another aspect of the Studio tour. Gringotts plays a large role in this first Harry Potter movie.

The Cupboard under the stairs is a prominent part of this movie. In this first movie, Harry sleeps in this cupboard under the stairs. The cupboard is on display at the Studio.

The Cupboard under the Stairs

The Studio has a Platform 9 3/4 that you can pose next to for photos

The Dursley's living room full of letters for Harry Potter

The Dursley home on Privet Drive

The Dining Hall is featured in every Harry Potter movie. It was actually fashioned after the dining hall at Christ Church, Oxford. No filming was done in the Christ Church dining hall, however. The set was created to mimic this high-ceilinged dining hall and filming for all of the movies was done at the Studio.

The entrance to the dining hall

The Gryffindor boys' dormitory

Diagon Alley is a very important part of this movie. It is here that Hagrid brings Harry Potter to buy his school supplies for his first year at Hogwarts. Harry receives his first wand from Ollivanders. Hagrid presents Hedwig as a birthday present for Harry as well. Many people recognize Harry and he starts to realize that he is famous. You can walk down Diagon Alley in the Studios.

Scribbulus is a shop where wizards and witches can purchase writing supplies of all sorts

Mr Mullpeppers Apothecary is where wizards and witches can purchase items for potion making.

Slug & Jiggers is also an Apothecary selling potion ingredients

Eeylops Owl Emporium where wizards and witches can purchase owls

Weasley's Wizard Wheezes is the shop founded by Fred and George that features jokes and novelty items

The stairway to nowhere

The Hogwarts Castle was built as a miniature and was used in scenes for each movie with the weather changing on the set. When we visited, it was snowing at the castle. There are other models built of the Hogwarts set that were used in filming also.

The Hogwarts Express is part of each Harry Potter movie as well. The train sits on display in the studio and people can walk through it and look in each train car.