What school does Harry Potter go to?
Quick answer
Harry Potter attends Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, a magical boarding school hidden in the Scottish Highlands. Students start at age 11, study for seven years, and are sorted into one of four houses. The school was created by author J. K. Rowling.
The four houses
| House | Founder | Values | Animal | Colors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gryffindor | Godric Gryffindor | Bravery | Lion | Scarlet and gold |
| Hufflepuff | Helga Hufflepuff | Loyalty, hard work | Badger | Yellow and black |
| Ravenclaw | Rowena Ravenclaw | Wisdom, wit | Eagle | Blue and bronze (books) |
| Slytherin | Salazar Slytherin | Ambition, cunning | Serpent | Green and silver |
Students are placed into houses by the talking Sorting Hat. Harry, Ron and Hermione are all in Gryffindor.
Life at Hogwarts
- Students travel there on the Hogwarts Express from Platform 9¾ at London’s King’s Cross station.
- Classes include Potions, Charms, Transfiguration, Defense Against the Dark Arts and Herbology.
- The wizarding sport Quidditch is played between houses.
- Headmaster during most of the series: Albus Dumbledore.
Real filming locations
| Place | Used for |
|---|---|
| Alnwick Castle, England | Exterior scenes and flying lessons |
| Christ Church, Oxford | Inspired the Great Hall |
| Gloucester Cathedral | Corridors |
| Glenfinnan Viaduct, Scotland | The Hogwarts Express crossing |
| Warner Bros. Studio Tour London | The original Great Hall set |
The books
The first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, was published in 1997 (as Sorcerer’s Stone in the US). The seven books have sold more than 600 million copies, making it the best-selling book series in history. An HBO television series adapting the books is in production.
For other famous literary creations, see who created Sherlock Holmes. Learning in real life has a long history too; see who invented school.
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