The Harry Potter Bits

Posted by Joseph Allen McCullough Aug 7, 2008

Oxford has long been a tourist destination, especially for those travelling from overseas. Mainly people come for the architecture, to see the ‘dreaming spires’ and to walk in one of the oldest places of learning that is still in use. Many of the colleges feature spectacular gateways, gardens, and towers. Most are constructed out of impressively large blocks of sandy-coloured stone.

Recently, I got to tour one of the oldest and most famous of Oxford’s colleges, Christ Church, and discovered that there is a much more modern reason for visiting this tourist attraction. That reason is Harry Potter. Although the exterior shots of Hogwarts were shot up in Scotland, several of the interior scenes from the Harry Potter films came from Christ Church. The first of these is a magnificent stone staircase that runs up one way, then turns and runs back up on itself. In the little Christ Church tour guide there is a picture taken from one of the movies with Professor McGonagall standing at the top of it. I can’t say I remember the scene exactly, but I must admit the staircase did seem strangely familiar on first viewing.

Going up the staircase brings one to the feature attraction for the Harry Potter fan, the Great Hall. The Great Hall of Christ Church is also the Great Hall of Hogwarts, at least with some modification. Christ Church’s Hall has only two long tables running the length of the room, whereas Hogwarts has four, but there is no mistaking it. Where else does one see 50 foot dinning tables? It also features the raised dais at the end where all the teachers sat.

If you are a Harry Potter fan and you make it to Oxford, Christ Church is a must see.