Higgledy-piggledy houses line the streets of Lacock, a quintessentially English village in The west England. Boasting lots of historical features (a Tithe Barn, Abbey turned country home, and several authentic pubs), Lacock also happens to be the filming location of many a period drama and blockbuster movie. Here’s your ultimate Lacock Harry Potter guide to filming locations dotted over the beautiful Wiltshire village.
Introducing Lacock, one of the oldest villages in England
Close towards the equally beautiful Castle Combe and never far from the city of Bath, Lacock is a medieval village frozen over time. Once prosperous thanks to the wool trade, today the Costsolwds money is best-known as being the birthplace of photography (William Henry Fox Talbot created the earliest surviving photographic negative in 1835) and, of course, as being popular with film scouts.
Due towards the picturesque nature of Lacock, as well as the proven fact that there aren't any radio masts, telephone poles, or antenna stuck to the 13th-century houses, the village is becoming increasingly popular like a movie and tv backdrop. In recent times, the village and it is Abbey turned manor house happen to be accustomed to shoot Fantastic Beasts and Where to locate Them, Pride & Prejudice, Downton Abbey, and Wolf Hall, among a plethora of other titles.
Visit today and you may expect to find chic pubs, quaint eateries, and a selection of quirky independent shops and antique vendors. Though you’ll need to pay to visit the Abbey (if you’re not already a National Trust Member), the village is free to wander around, as well as the many countryside walks branching off from the medieval settlement.
Lily & James Potter’s House, Godric’s Hollow (Private House)
At no more Church Street, steps behind the St Cyriac’s Church, the beautiful house hidden behind two tall hedges was chosen to act as the house of Lily and James Potter in Harry Potter and also the Philosopher’s Stone (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone should you purchased a united states copy of the book).
Though the door is painted a different colour and also the garden is a little different, the cottage is one and the same that featured because the Potter home, that is found in the fictional village of Godric’s Hollow. In the movie, a home is shown in flashbacks as Hagrid describes to Harry what went down to his parents over drinks in the Leakey Cauldron.
Though the home at Godric’s Hollow appears in later movies, the Church Street Cottage in Lacock was only utilized in the first movie. In later films, the cottage was a part of a film set, created and built specifically for filming the Harry Potter Series. You may still go to the house today by visiting the Warner Bros Studios as a day trip from London.
Budleigh Babberton (Lacock Village)
Parts of Lacock village weren't used just for filming one village from the wizarding world. Wander round the settlement for long enough and superfans will soon recognise that Lacock was used as the quirkily named ‘Budleigh Babberton’ in a number of scenes in Harry Potter and also the Half-Blood Prince.
Horace Slughorn’s Hideaway (Private House)
When Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore go to find Horace Slughorn in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, they discover him hiding in some muggles’ house who are away on holiday within the muggle village of Budleigh Babberton. The real-life brick house is situated on Chapel Hill and is home to some incredibly topiary, particularly in a side garden to the left-hand side of the property when facing it straight on.
Babberton Arms (Manifestation of the Angel Pub)
When Harry and Dumbledore and wandering through Budleigh Babberton, they go by the ‘Babberton Arms’. The In real life, the Babberton Arms is actually a timber-framed 15th-century pub serving meals and drinks throughout the day. They even have well-rated boutique rooms, meaning that you may enjoy a Harry Potter weekend in Lacock! Check out every detail here.
Hogwarts (Lacock Abbey)
Last but not least, the jewel of the town is Lacock Abbey. As well as in the near to nine centuries since groundbreaking, the abbey has witnessed plenty of changes. Originally founded each morning of 16th April 1232 by Ela Countess of Salisbury (probably the most powerful women in Middle Ages England), the most-preserved part of the Abbey still surviving today would be the Medieval Cloisters.
From the late 15th to mid-16th-centuries, Sir William Sharington purchased the Abbey with the aim of making it a country house. Henry VIII had dissolved the monasteries and also the land was sold to wealthy landowners who were allowed to do with the ecclesiastical buildings the things they wished. It was during this time that many abbeys and monasteries fell into disrepair.
In 1714, John Ivory Talbot inherited the home and took over the running from the estate. Remember this name, because his descendant is among the most important names within the history of photography! Over the course of his lifetime, John Talbot transformed the abbey in to the Gothick style (note that this is different from the Victorian Gothic that's so synonymous with UK properties!)
In 1800, William Henry Fox Talbot inherited the home. It was here in the rooms from the Abbey where he come up with first photographic negatives (including the earliest one that survives even today). He changed the Abbey once more to fit with his own style and this is generally the Abbey that people to the country mansion can enjoy even today.
Hogwarts’ Corridors (Lacock Cloisters)
If you’ve ever imagined wandering through the corridors from the wizarding world’s most famous school, then you’re fortunate! The cloisters of Lacock Abbey were selected to feature as a few of the Hogwarts’ Corridors (notably during Harry Potter and also the Philosopher’s Stone, and again in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets). Visit throughout the week for fewer crowds in your photos!
Other cloisters used for exactly the same purpose include the ones from Gloucester Cathedral, in addition to New College Cloisters and Christ Church Cloisters in Oxford. Recently, the Lacock Cloisters have featured in the Fantastic Beasts film: The Crimes of Grindelwald.
Quirrell’s Classroom (The Warming Room)
Large and filled with sun light, particularly on sunny days once the sunlight streams in, you’ll know you’re in The Warming Room when you spy the bigger than life cauldron in the very center of the room. Contrary to what you are able think, this isn’t a prop leftover from filming, but instead the genuine real-deal!
The cauldron is really a 16th-century ‘warming house’ was made within the Belgian town of Antwerp and something story speaks of the pot getting used to create a stew for Queen Anne during her visit within the 1700s! Whatever the case, it’s worth noting the room featured because the Defence From the Dark Arts during Harry Potter and also the Philosopher’s Stone.
Snape’s Classroom (The Sacristy)
Home to several beautifully-carved arches, The Sacristy served as Snape’s Potions room in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. When the Abbey was still being being used being an ecclesiastical building, the Sacristy could have been accustomed to store vessels for church services. Today, several church documents can be found in the primary body from the Lacock Abbey house.
Mirror of Erised Room (Chapter House)
Keen fans of the Harry Potter franchise will quickly recognise the Lacock Abbey Chapter House in the scene in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone where Harry discovers the Mirror of Erised (an enchanted mirror that is made to show the witch or wizard under consideration their heart’s greatest desire reflected back at them in the mirror).
The Chapter House of Lacock is used once more in Harry Potter and also the Chamber of Secrets when students are revising to have an exam. During its time being an Abbey, the Chapter House would have served like a meeting room for members of the religious community.
Other Harry-Potter inspired locations in Lacock
Watlings Gift Shop
Though not used like a Harry Potter filming location in Lacock per se, there’s one village business that has truly capitalised on all the wizarding fans frequenting the village! The gift shop can be found near to the quaint bakery and not far from the Tithe Barn on East Street and offers several magical-themed gifts and goods.
Lacock Antiques
Situated on a single street as Watlings gift shop, Lacock antiques is really a treasure trove of historic collectables. Though not specifically employed for filming Harry Potter, this quirky emporium of vintage wares boasts countless antiques and vintage wares, similar to rummaging via a wizarding shop along Diagon Alley.
Tips for visiting Lacock & Lacock Abbey
If you’re looking to visit Lacock like a day trip from London, then it couldn’t be easier. The easiest method to get to the city towards the village is by taking the train from Paddington to Chippenham (the nearest town to Lacock) before hopping around the X34 Frome bus.
The train takes from an hour or so along with a quarter to an hour and a half based on which route you are taking (get the best train ticket prices here). Public transit then takes 20 minutes and departs roughly every 30 minutes throughout the daytime (find additional information here).
If you would would rather visit Harry Potter in Lacock like a guided excursion, in order to save time and revel in multiple UK attractions on your visit, there are several guided tours you are able to book. For example, this tour allows you to visit Stonehenge, Bath, Lacock & Avebury as a full-day tour from London and this tour from London to Lacock features a visit to Stonehenge, Windsor Castle, and Bath.
Finally, if you don’t desire to book an excursion and also have use of a car, then the journey takes about 2 hours from London to Lacock. There’s parking within the village which is free for National Trust members, though members will have to pay (around lb4 during the day).
Most people visit Lacock in the summertime and through the weekend. As a result, they think that it’s overcrowded and ever-so-busy all the time! However, during my visit in mid-week October, I soon discovered that I largely had the place to myself, permitting wonderful photo opportunities. As such, plan your visit within the European shoulder seasons and mid-week can be done.
Though the village of Lacock (along with its church) are free to visit and wander around, you’ll have to pay to go to the Abbey. Adult admittance to the Abbey and grounds costs lb14.50 and a child ticket costs lb7.20. Of course, National Trust members have free. More pricing details can be found here.
