Daily Schedule | Trip Includes | Long Itinerary

Meals - Dinner
Lodging - NH Harrington Hall 4*

Your adventure begins upon your arrival in Heathrow or Gatwick Airport. Included in your tour is a Heathrow Express or Gatwick Express train ticket - travel at your convenience to the Heathrow Express terminal in Paddington Station or the Gatwick Express terminal at Victoria Station. Taxi transfer to your hotel (at own expense).

Settle into your hotel for a rest and then meet the group in your hotel’s lobby at 3:00pm for a Welcome Orientation and distribution of documents. Afterwards our coach will whisk you around London for a panoramic tour of the most well-known London sites as well as the major Harry Potter film locations.

Dinner included.

Overnight accommodations at the 4-star NH Hotel in London.

Meals - Breakfast
Lodging - NH Harrington Hall 4*

Presentation on theatrical make-up

Our morning begins at the Theatre Museum which has developed a presentation especially for HP Fan Trips. We will explore the “magic” behind the making of the Harry Potter movies from the viewpoint of a make-up artist. Just how does Warwick Davis “become” Professor Flitwick or how does an actor become a “Gringotts Goblin”?

A short stroll from the Theatre Museum to the National Portrait Gallery will yield a fun surprise!

Enjoy lunch (on your own) in Covent Garden which offers many pubs and restaurants to satisfy any hunger.

After lunch we head out for a cruise on the Thames. Part of the filming for Order of the Phoenix has Harry and friends pursued by their adversaries down the Thames, passing many of the most famous sites in London. Enjoy these famous landmarks through Harry’s eyes and see them in a whole new way!

Dinner at leisure.

Meals - Breakfast
Lodging - Royal Oxford Hotel 3*

We leave London today and head to Oxford and other destinations west. On our drive to London we will be visiting Ashridge Estate or Black Park. Part of the film Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone was filmed at the forests of Black Park and at Ashridge Estate. We will also pass by Leavesden Studios where the Harry Potter films are made.

Lunch at leisure in Oxford.

Keble Hall

A walking tour of Oxford is planned today including Christ Church College, New College and other film locations.

The rest of your afternoon is free to stroll the beautiful streets of Oxford, explore its pubs, shop and visit other exciting museums and activities. Perhaps you’ll want to go punting down the Thames or duck into Alice’s Shoppe – the choice is entirely up to you!

Oxford is referred to as the City of Dreaming Spires because of its beautiful architecture. The city is the home of England's oldest university and while it is also an industrial city on the Thames, the association with learning and the academic way of life remains paramount. Many scenes from the Harry Potter movies were filmed in Oxford, plus even more in the upcoming Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

One of Oxford’s grandest colleges, Christ Church was founded in 1524 by Cardinal Wolsey of Cardinal College and refounded as Christ Church on his fall from grace. Tom Tower, above the main gate, was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and houses the bell Great Tom. The college chapel is also Oxford’s cathedral, the smallest in England. The Great Hall includes many features which appear in the Alice stores written by Lewis Carroll (Christ Church don Charles Dodgson) for Alice Liddell, daughter of the Dean. More up to date, the hall stairs, Ante Hall and the Great Hall appear as “Hogwarts Hall” in the Harry Potter films.

Dinner at leisure.

Overnight in Oxford at the 3-star Royal Oxford Hotel.

Meals - Breakfast
Lodging - Royal Oxford Hotel 3*

Gloucester Cathedral Hallway

A full day is planned as we head to Gloucester Cathedral and Lacock Abbey before we return to Oxford.

Before arriving in Oxford we will take an excursion to Blenheim Palace where scenes from Order of the Phoenix were filmed in 2006.

Blenheim Palace offers an exciting afternoon of activities as we take a train out to the Pleasure Gardens, get lost in the Giant Maze, play on a giant chess set, and stroll around the lake where filming took place this year.

Impressive Gloucester Cathedral has been a place of worship for more than 1,300 years and with its stunning Gothic architecture remains the centerpiece of Gloucester itself. The cloisters are regarded as one of the most beautiful architectural gems in Britain and the cathedral provides the backdrop for several key scenes in the first two movies. Pupils from King’s School, which adjoins the cathedral, were used as extras.

In the first movie it was home to the corridor of the Fat Lady's portrait and it featured heavily in the 'Troll Scene'. In the second movie it was the home to the corridor where the bloodstained writing appeared, informing the school of opening of the Chamber of Secrets.

The lovely medieval village of Lacock is also the location of picturesque 13th century Lacock Abbey. The Abbey provided locations for various interior scenes at “Hogwarts School”.

Situated just 8 miles from Oxford, Blenheim Palace was created a World Heritage site in 1987 and is the home of 11th Duke of Marlborough and birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. The imposing scale of the Palace is beautifully balanced within, by the intricate detail and delicacy of the carvings, the hand painted ceilings and the amazing porcelain collections, tapestries and paintings displayed in each room. Set in beautiful parkland of 2100 acres, which was landscaped by 'Capability' Brown in 1760's, the Palace is surrounded by sweeping lawns and formal gardens.

Meals - Breakfast
Lodging - West End Hotel 3*

We have included a flight from Heathrow to Inverness to give the Harry Potter fans an opportunity to visit a location with much mystery and intrigue – Loch Ness. We head straight to the fabulous Urquhart Castle which is located right on Loch Ness. Enjoy a leisurely afternoon eating lunch, exploring the ruins, looking for Nessie or shopping.

Enjoy the romance and mystery of Loch Ness in the Highlands of Scotland, home of the world-famous monster, known affectionately to locals as 'Nessie'. For centuries sightings have been made of a mysterious creature said to inhabit the deep and murky waters of Scotland's most famous Loch. Now you can explore those murky waters for yourself: examine the evidence, find out some important facts about Scottish History and look forward to that long-awaited visit to a very unique part of Scotland!

Picturesque ruins of Urquhart Castle

The picturesque ruins of Urquhart Castle are situated 2 miles from Drumnadrochit on a rocky peninsula on the banks of Loch Ness. After a chequered history, the building was blown up in 1692 to prevent it becoming a Jacobite stronghold. Despite the difficulties of building, it was a prime strategic location sitting as it does surrounded virtually on three sides by the cold waters of Loch Ness which would have been a main route through the Great Glen of the Highlands.

Late afternoon arrival at 3-star West End Hotel in Fort William. Dinner at leisure.

Meals - Breakfast
Lodging - West End Hotel 3*

Hike to Steall Falls

Stretch your legs and get ready for our morning hike to Steall Falls, location for the dragon scene (Task 1 of the TriWizard Tournament in the HP movies). This is a beautiful hike taking approx. 1 – 1 1/2 hours each way from the trail head to the Falls. Hiking shoes are required. After reaching the Falls, there are plenty of opportunities for photos, having a snack break, perhaps even crossing the short “wire bridge” to get a closer look at the Falls.

For those not taking the hike to Steall Falls, the morning will include a visit to the filming location of “Hagrid’s Hut” and the pumpkin/ “Hippogriff” scenes in Prisoner of Azkaban. Take a short walk up the hill to where the buildings and other props were built and get a view of beautiful Glencoe as the actors did. (Props are no longer on the site.)

You might want to stop in at the Inn directly across the road from the filming location – surely the cast and crew had more than a few pints at this charming location while working on the film. Have a drink, or if space permits, lunch at this friendly Inn best known for its award-winning local brews.

Afternoon activities for those not doing the Steall Falls hike include a tour of the Ben Nevis Distillery, the back storage buildings of which have often been used as inside filming studios for movies such as Braveheart and Rob Roy. Stop nearby for a quick look at Old Inverlochy Castle.

Steall Falls hikers – after returning to the trailhead, travel to the Glenfinnan Viaduct for some wonderful photos of the viaduct which is featured in the Harry Potter films. Glencoe will be our last stop today (as described above) where we can take a walk up the hill which was host to “Hagrid’s Hut”, pumpkins and magical creatures.

Late afternoon return to Fort William. Dinner at Leisure.

Meals - Breakfast
Lodging - Apex Hotel, Edinburgh, Scotland 4*

Olton Hall, Engine #5972 in Scottish Highlands

Enjoy a sleep-in as we have a late start this morning. Arrive at the train depot by 9:30am for a fabulous private ride on Olton Hall, Engine #5972! Travel through the Highlands, take loads of pictures, sit in the very cars used in the movies, and enjoy a fantastic day with all of the HP Fan Trip’ers! Entertainment during the journey will be provided by our HP Fan Trip professional storytellers.

Apex International Hotel

Return to Fort William at 4:00pm for the coach transfers to Edinburgh. Share stories of your adventures or just catch up on some sleep during the ride through the beautiful Scottish countryside.

Dinner at leisure.

Your accommodations for the next three nights will be enjoyed at the 4-star Apex International Hotel. The excellent Apex International is contemporary, chic & stylish. It’s superbly situated in the heart of the Old Town overlooking the Grassmarket and the great drum tower of Edinburgh Castle. The leisure pool, steam and sauna room, and gym are available for a relaxing evening.

Meals - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Lodging - Apex Hotel, Edinburgh, Scotland 4*

A 9:00am morning departure for a fun adventure at Alnwick Castle, a film location for the first two Harry Potter movies. Your coach will whisk you in comfort into England and the village of Alnwick. Here you will gaze upon the scenery used for Harry's first flying lesson. You will learn about the deadliest plants in the world at the new Poisonous Garden and take a lesson in herbology. There is plenty to do at this exciting location!

Wizarding Team at Alnwick Castle

Competitions will be held throughout the day as fans play the very popular HP Fan Trips’ Wizarding Game, inspired by Harry's favorite sport (The Wizarding Game was developed for us by the National Governing Body for the Olympic sport of Team Handball). Our storytellers will delight you with events throughout the day.

Alnwick Castle is the second largest inhabited such structure in England after Windsor Castle, and has been home to the Percys, Earls and Dukes of Northumberland since 1309.

Lunch included.

Departure for Edinburgh at 4:00pm in time to prepare for our exciting movie night! We have reserved VIP seating at an historic Edinburgh theatre for our special viewing of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. We’ll enjoy a light dinner before the movie and then snacks and drinks during the movie in our VIP leather lounge seats – perfect end to a perfect day!

Meals - Breakfast & Dinner
Lodging - Apex Hotel, Edinburgh, Scotland 4*

Today is your day to visit attractions on your own in Edinburgh in which you are particularly interested. Visit the Camera Obscura and its amazing optical illusion displays, dare to enter the Edinburgh Dungeon or take an Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour. Be sure to stop at the café where J K Rowling spent time while writing the first adventures of our favorite wizard.

Gala at Edinburgh Castle

Don’t forget to save time to prepare for our final night gala at Edinburgh Castle! The Castle is exclusively ours tonight as we hear tales from our storytelles in the Great Hall (the location where JK Rowling read from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince as a kick-off to the worldwide book launch), take private tours of the Scottish Crown Jewels and other exhibition areas of the castle, and enjoy a fabulous banquet! End the night with music and a party in Crown Square in the heart of the Castle!

Meals - Breakfast

Morning transfers are included to Edinburgh airport for your trip home!

Daily Schedule | Trip Includes | Long Itinerary