Visiting Lacock Village: A Magical Day Out for Harry Potter Fans

If you’ve got Harry Potter fans in the family, a trip to Lacock Village is a must when you’re visiting the Cotswolds. A 40 minute drive from the Cotswold Lakes, this charming Wiltshire village is steeped in history. For many families, its biggest appeal lies in the magical fact that it was used as a filming location for several of the Harry Potter films.

Our children have grown up with Harry Potter, first being read the books, then reading the books themselves and being introduced to the films. They’ve dressed up as Harry for World Book Day and made wands from chopsticks embellished with hot melt glue and then painted gold.  It’s true to say that Harry Potter runs deep in our household.  

When we realised that some of scenes from the films were set in Lacock village, it quickly became somewhere we knew we wanted to visit.  From classrooms at Hogwarts to the home of Professor Slughorn, Lacock is packed with filming gems that will delight children and parents alike. Whether you’ve got little ones just discovering the wizarding world or, like us, teenagers who grew up with the films, exploring Lacock is a brilliant family day out.

Why Visit Lacock Village?

Lacock Village is owned almost entirely by the National Trust, which means it has been beautifully preserved. Its cobbled streets, medieval cottages and abbey turned country house dating back to the 13th century make you feel as though you’ve stepped back in time, or straight onto a film set.

The village has starred in many period dramas (including Downton Abbey, Wolf Hollow and Pride and Prejudice to name a few), but it’s Harry Potter that is the real attraction for families. The filming locations aren’t all easy to spot and don’t have signs declaring their fame, so it’s well worth printing off our handy map to help you spot the main locations. Even if you’re not the biggest Potter fan, Lacock is a beautiful village to explore when visiting the area.

Lacock Abbey: The Heart of the Filming Magic

At the centre of Lacock is Lacock Abbey, once a nunnery and later a country house. Its atmospheric cloisters, stone staircases and vaulted ceilings were used extensively in the Harry Potter films.  The film locations around the village can be viewed without needing to pay for National Trust tickets, but to visit the Abbey, you will either need National Trust Membership or to buy tickets on the day.  We looked out for one of the many National Trust free ticket offers that periodically come up and saved our voucher for this visit.

It’s also worth noting that all the areas of interest to Harry Potter fans within the Abbey are on the ground floor of the Abbey which is open all year round.  During the summer months you can also visit the first floor of the Abbey which, whilst interesting, doesn’t have any filming locations.  We had held off visiting during one of the months when the first floor is closed, not realising this wouldn’t have affected our Harry Potter themed visit.

The Cloisters – Hogwarts Corridors

The cloisters of Lacock Abbey doubled as some of the most recognisable Hogwarts corridors in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001) and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002). Children will love retracing the steps of Harry, Ron and Hermione as they crept along the passageways, often in search of adventure or trying to avoid trouble!

The Chapter House – the Mirror of Erised

The Chapter House was used for the scene from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.  Harry enters the room wearing his Invisibility Cloak and walks over to the Mirror of Erised, where he sees his parents in the mirror. In the film you see Harry in a room with a beautifully vaulted ceiling and fluted supporting columns. The windows of the cloisters are also visible.  The Chapter House is used again in a scene from the Chamber of Secrets where the children are revising and discussing Harry speaking in parseltongue.   

The Warming Room – Professor Quirrell’s Classroom

The Warming Room in Lacock Abbey was used as Professor Quirrell’s Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom in The Philosopher’s Stone. Families often recognise the room from the early lessons where Harry learned his first spells.  In the film, the room has plants hanging from the ceiling.  Professor McGonagall and Harry are seen walking down the Hogwarts corridor (The Cloisters at the Abbey) and entering the Warming Room where Professor Quirrel is seen holding a large iguana and standing next to a giant cauldron.  The cauldron is still in place in the room today.  It is a genuine ancient cauldron dating back to the 1500s belonging to the abbey which was used as a prop in the film.  

The Sacristy – Potions Classroom

The Sacristy was transformed into Professor Snape’s Potions classroom in The Philosopher’s Stone. It was in this room that Harry encountered the terrifying Professor Snape for his first potions class. Looking into the Sacristy, you can almost picture the young actors surrounded by bubbling cauldrons.  Due to the fragility of this room, visitors can just look into it from the Cloister corridor. 

Harry Potter filming locations in Lacock Village

Horace Slughorn’s Hideaway

In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009), Lacock village itself was used for exterior shots. One of the most famous is the house of Horace Slughorn, which was filmed in one of the red bricked houses on Church Street.

In the film, Harry and Dumbledore visit Slughorn here to persuade him to return to Hogwarts. Fans will particularly recognise the distinctive doorway that was used as Slughorn’s hiding place.

What3words Location: quickly.piled.sensibly

The Babberton Arms

Having successfully recruited Slughorn in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,  Dumbledore and Harry walk past the Babberton Arms in the dark, which is the 15th Century ‘Sign of the Angel’ Inn in Lacock Village. At the bottom of Church Street, near Slughorn’s house, a fictional Budleigh Babberton war memorial was placed for the film. It is no longer there.

What3words Location: defended.campus.rider

Godric’s Hollow

Another magical stop for Potter fans is Harry’s birthplace and the home of his parents, James and Lily Potter. The cottage, positioned just past the church can be seen in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.  

Lacock Village is used to represent a number of locations, with Budleigh Babberton and Godric’s Hollow both being filmed here.

What3words Location: playback.branded.bronzed

Other Film Connections in Lacock

Although Harry Potter is the big draw, Lacock has appeared in many other productions including Pride and Prejudice, Downton Abbey and Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. Families often enjoy spotting the sets from these films too, but for children, the Harry Potter connection always takes centre stage.

Planning Your Family Visit to Lacock

Getting There

Lacock is around 40 minutes’ drive from Daisy Chain, making it an easy family day trip. There’s a National Trust car park on the edge of the village, just a short walk from the abbey and filming locations.   Car Park What3words Location: friends.lollipop.finalists

There is another car park next to the Red Lion What3words Location: ever.hugs.reclined
Next to this car park you’ll find a playground and field suitable for picnics.

Tickets and Opening Times

Entry to Lacock Abbey and the filming locations inside is free for National Trust members. Non-members can buy tickets at the entrance, or keep an eye out for a free National Trust ticket promotion.  The village itself is free to wander around and is open year-round.

Family-Friendly Tips

• Download our trail guide / map: Easily find your way to the right Harry Potter filming locations with our simple map
  
  Bring the buggy: The village streets are mostly flat, making it easy to navigate with little ones.
  
• Pack a picnic: The abbey grounds are perfect for a family picnic, with lots of space for children to run around.  During the summer when we visited, there were a number of other activities available in the grounds including outside games to play.
  
• Spot the magic: Challenge the children to identify each Harry Potter location as you walk around – it turns the visit into a fun treasure hunt.
  
• Enjoy the local shops: There is a village bakery as well as a chocolate shop to tempt you.
  
• Take some cash with you.  A number of the houses in the village have Harry Potter memorabilia for sale – jibbitz for crocs, magnets etc. You’ll find honesty boxes to leave your coins in.
  

Making It Extra Special for Harry Potter Fans

To make your visit even more magical, why not:

• Dress up in Hogwarts scarves or cloaks – children will love posing for photos in the cloisters.
  
• Re-watch the films before your trip so that the locations feel instantly familiar.
  
• Make wands and take them with you for an impromptu family duel in the Hogwarts corridors!
  

Final Thoughts: A Spellbinding Family Day Out

A visit to Lacock Village is like stepping into the world of Harry Potter. From the cloisters of Hogwarts to Slughorn’s cosy cottage, the village and abbey are full of magical moments that bring the films to life. For families staying at Daisy Chain, it’s the perfect day trip – combining history, beautiful scenery and, of course, a big dash of wizarding wonder.

So pack up the car, grab your wands and your Gryffindor scarves and head off for a day your whole family will remember!