I have 8 days to spend in England(my 1st trip) and I want to take my son to some of the Harry Potter sites ( Bracknell,Oxford,Gloucester,Goathland,Alnwick <BR>,Durham )We would appreciate any suggestions.Are our plans too ambitious for 8 days?

You'll be pretty busy if you try to get far enough north to include Alnwick. <BR> <BR>But we had fun last summer doing the easily "do-able" parts -- Oxford libraries, King's Cross, Australia House, London Zoo Reptile House, Cotswolds, etc. (We were London-based for 3 weeks.) British tourism will soon come out with an actual map and guide so expect plenty of company on your excursion -- I had pieced ours together out of publicity tidbits. <BR> <BR>Do warn your son that the film takes liberties. For instance, there isn't a wall to walk thru between platforms 9 and 10 -- the movie used the wall between platforms 4 and 5. I suspect that "nine-and-three-quarters" just sounded better. <BR> <BR>It's lots of fun. We had a good, rousing debate about the validity of the London Zoo Reptile House, since the chapter that talks about Harry's trip to the zoo doesn't specify which one, and later when Hagrid takes Harry to Diagon Alley, the book says it's his first time in London. <BR> <BR>I would suggest that you try mapping things out, and don't overextend yourselves. You'll have lots more fun if you can relax, even if it means seeing fewer places. <BR> <BR>You might even want to go to a few places with more peripheral relevance, like Warwick Castle (about two hours outside London, north of Stratford), which doesn't appear in the film, but where you can see the types of architecture, armor, tapestries, knights, costumes, etc. etc. that will fill Hogwarts. <BR> <BR>Can you tell we're obsessed, LOL? We already have our tickets for Nov. 16!

With only 8 days in England you should concentrate on the nearby places - The London sites plus Oxford and Gloucester. What I would do is rent a car from the airport for two days and drive out to Gloucester - visit the cathedral and stay the night. The next day drive through the Cotswolds to Oxford. Take a walking tour and spend most of the day there. Then turn in your car at the airport and take the train into london for the rest of your stay. If you wanted to also visit Warwick Castle (an excellent idea) just add one more day before you turn in the car and go into London. A drive LHR &gt; Gloucester &gt; Warwick &gt; Oxford &gt; LHR would be pretty easy in 3 days 2 nights. <BR> <BR>Goathland and Alnwick are too far to do in so few days - since presumably you will be visiting other places besides just Harry's hangouts

How old is your son? Is he more interested in seeing the actual literal movie sites, or in getting the feel of Hogwarts-type castles? <BR> <BR>If it's the latter, then a castle like Warwick will be more fun than just looking at static old Durham and Gloucester Cathedrals and environs, though I hear that Gloucester are looking forward to the tourists; they sound like a fun group. <BR> <BR>Here's a site that talks about the upcoming map/brochure. <BR>http://www.azstarnet.com/harrypotter/pottertour.html

Jim, from your address, it looks like you're a teacher. Are the kids out there getting obsessed with the books and movie yet? What else do you plan to do during your 8 days, surely it's not just a Pottermania trip?

Tentatively planning trip to London (also looking at Italy or Ireland haven't decided which yet) Anyway I am interested in Harry Potter as well, have read all books but the most recent "Goblet of Fire" which is on my list. Anyway, we would like to got to one Hogwarts type castle, Kings Cross Station and maybe a couple of other places so can't wait to read replies to this thread. P.S. It will be my mom who retired last year from teaching 2nd grade and loves children's books as much as me. We are also going to the Sherlock Holmes museum, Kensington Gardens to see Peter Pan's haunt and Paddington Station where the Paddington Bear was found!!! LOL We probably won't see a single museum but will view all the castles, Tower of London, literary haunt, do JAck the Ripper tour and SHOP!!! Everyone has priorities!

You could see Durham and Alnwick by taking the train north from London. Along the way you could also see York. Alnwick Castle is very nice--we were there this fall. Also in this direction is Hadrian's wall which for us was mostly closed because of foot and mouth disease. Very interesting for your son though and lots to learn. If you do go north, I would suggest to skip Oxford and Gloucester. Too much for only 8 days. BTW, I'm not a Harry Potter fan so don't know the significance for each site.

"Kam" The famed Hogwarts school for Wizards in the Harry Potter is where most action takes place. The castle in Alnwick was used for the outdoor movie shots and facade of Hogwarts school. The Gloucester Abby and its fabulous interior with many secret passagges was what was used in the movie for the interior of Haogwarts school. King's Cross Station and prticulary plaltform 9 3/4 is where HArry Potter got on the Hogwarts Express train by magically walking through the wall between platforms.

Thanks for the explanation. It's too bad that Alnwick and the outdoor shots are so far in the opposite direction from Gloucester and the indoor shots. However, if you take the train to Durham and Alnwick, you'll leave from Kings Cross so that will get you one more site. To go to Oxford and Gloucester, you'll leave from Paddington! Alnwick is such a nice castle! In reality it is the family castle of the Percy family, the Duke of Northumberland and Northumberland has a totally different feel to it than London. There are lots of castles, abbys and Roman ruins up north and Durham cathedral has such tremendous historical importance. I would recommend the White Swan hotel there, if not to stay, at least for tea after a castle visit. Gloucester Cathedral and Abby is also very nice, but the city has little else of interest. You can easily spend one or two days in Oxford if you are interested in the various colleges. Whatever you decide to do, I would skip renting a car and go with the train instead. I'll be interested to hear what you decide. My best advice is not to try to do too much in your first visit. England looks like a small country, but there is so much to see and do and learn. Too bad you can't manage just another couple days. We spent two whole weeks in York north to Edinburgh and still wanted more time. Enjoy.

Jim, you haven't told us when you're going. But Alnwick just closed for the season and won't be open again til April. <BR> <BR>http://www.alnwickcastle.com/ <BR> <BR>Although Gloucester, especially the cloisters, was indeed used for many "Hogwarts" shots, other interiors were done at Oxford (for the library and infirmary), Durham, and of course at the film studio. <BR> <BR>The "Harry Potter Galleries" is an unofficial site that does a great job of gleaning press coverage about the books and film; you can search for anything there. It was my source for info on film sites to look at last summer. <BR>http://www.hpgalleries.com/

Jim <BR> <BR>Depends on how much you like to pack into a day. From London consider a one way flight to Edinburgh, about 40-50GPB. <BR>The cafe where the manuscript was written is in Edinburgh-2nights. Early morning train to York, stopping @ Durham for a day trip, throw your luggage in a locker and tour to the top of the town, very walkable, then on to York, 1 Hour. In Durham the Castle is a College, the Cathedral is a World Heritage site and the city planning is has the charm of a Medival city. <BR>Stay in York, 2 days, great walled city, and go to Alnwick. Train to London and do a day trip to Oxford, or train

Jim, <BR> <BR>Or go straight to Oxford for a night then London. Now that the last poster said Alnwick Castle was closed. <BR>The general idea was to fly to an outer city and train your way back to London, save on backtracking. <BR>Sounds like a boys dream come true any <BR>route you choose. <BR> <BR>Sylvia <BR> <BR>

There is an article in today's online Chicago Tribune travel section regarding this subject.<BR><BR>http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel...2Dtravel%2Dhed

Here's the British travel bureau, where you can write, phone or sign up online to get a copy of the official Harry Potter sites tour. The web site has useful links showing whch sites were actually used in the film, which ones are informative (castles, owls, etc.). Fun in itself!<BR><BR>http://www.travelbritain.org/newhome...s/moviemap.htm

Just a couple of things: Kings Cross station is just that in real life, a big London station, so don't expect too much from it, and the surrounding area is horrible, and in parts dangerous. (Incidentally, in real life again, Queen Boadicia is buried under platform eight!)<BR><BR>And if your son wants to see a real life "Hogwarts" try and get a look at one of our old public schools, which are the models for it. I went to one of these (Winchester) and beleive me, the reality is much, much, wierder than the film or books! <BR><BR>You could combine Windsor Castle with a look round Eton which is next door, but remember these schools aren't film sets and can be snippy about allowing access, for security reasons (eg Prince Harry goes to Eton).

David's right, there's nothing special about King's Cross Station, apart from its movie connection.<BR><BR>I'm sure he's also right about some areas near it being "horrible" and "dangerous," but we noticed nothing alarming when we walked from the station to the British Library.<BR><BR>This walk took us past St. Pancras station, which we thought would have been MUCH more atmospheric as a site for the story. But apparently King's Cross has sentimental significance to JKR, and that's what's important.

By all means, see Kings Cross train station as soon as you can into your trip. We were just there on Friday 11/23, and they have REALLY done it up in a BIG way! I was just going to photograph the space between Platforms 9 & 10 for my grandchildren, so they could imagine where 9 3/4 is. They have made it great -- banners, signs, the whole bit. I think I took about 20 pictures there. Enjoy!!!!

Pavlus sent me an email newsletter about a special tour that Trafalgar is putting together specifically for this purpose, the Harry Potter Tour. They had 3 tour set up for this summer, but mentioned that it would sell out fast.<BR><BR>That's about all I know.