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With the Harry Potter saga coming to an end, fans are looking for what else will satisfy their ‘wizarding world’ fix. Harry Potter has enjoyed a loyal and true fan base and these fans, who grew up along with Harry over the years, are saddened to see it end. So, it is no surprise England’s tourism has escalated. Well, why not plan a trip to England to see the Harry Potter film locations that inspired the saga? Europe is hoping tourism will resolve its economic turmoil. Tourism contributes an estimated $700 billion to Europe’s gross domestic product. The European Commission even began creating European travel websites in different languages to lure even more visitors from non English-speaking countries.
Tourism focused on celebrating Harry Potter is to thank for the spike in England’s tourism volume. Harry Potter related locations are the top tourist attractions in the UK such as Alnwick Castle which boasted a 120% rise in visitors and brought in almost USD $12 million in tourism revenue to the region.
Alnwick Castle, created in 1300’s, is located in Northumberland and was the site of Madame Hooch’s flying lesson. It offers guided tours that explain the history of this second largest inhabited castle in England. On weekends, it hosts special events just for wizard fans to meet Hagrid and Dumbledore.
Oxford offers visitors a chance to view the real-life location of Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Christ Church College was replicated in the film studios to create Hogwart’s Hall. Even the portraits located throughout the school were used in the movie, but sadly they do not move or talk. Fans likely remember when Harry was a first-year entering Hogwart’s and was greeted by Professor McGonagall on the staircases. This scene was shot on the 16th century staircase which leads to the Great Hall. Christ Church was built in 1524 and was the site of St. Frideswide’s Monastery.
In London, the Kings Cross station is the site of magical platform 9 3/4. This one-of-a-kind Platform 9 3/4 is known as the portal to the wizard world to be boarded every year on September 1, at 11 a.m. From here, students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry take the special train known as theHogwart’s Express. When writing the Harry Potter saga, J.K. Rowling was thinking of Euston train station in her descriptions of platforms 9 and 10. The scenes were filmed at King’s Cross Station, though done at platforms 4 and 5. Filmakers renumbered the platforms to be 9 and 10 just for the Hogwart’s Express scene. King’s Cross Station offers a great photo opportunity. Located between platforms 9 and 10 is a sign that reads ‘Platform 9 ¾’ and there is half of a luggage cart, to give fans the illusion of actually going through the magical barrier.
For visitors hoping to make this trip truly exciting and wanting to experience all that Europe offers, planning ahead to schedule all the most important stops and locations may ensure greater success. For those wanting a more organized experience in touring the world of Harry Potter there are European travel guides that will lead visitors to all of the Harry Potter film locations.
Author: Brittany Whittaker Source
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  Engels / Harry Potter spikes Tourism to the UK
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