Just wizard! Brand new Harry Potter tour takes in York, steam trains – and a hidden filming location
Now here’s a wizard wheeze. A brand new Harry Potter tour is ready to whisk you on a magical journey around his greatest hits.
Starting and ending in York, the bus tour also includes a trip on a steam train – and access to one of the most iconic film locations, usually hidden from the public.
And you even get Muggle Money to spend on souvenirs!
The Wizard Bus Tour is the brainchild of two York entrepreneurs, Phil Pinder and Ben Fry.
Phil is best known as the owner of one Shambles shop – Cuffs & Co – and co-owner of another, Pinder & Scott bakery.
While York knows Ben as one half of the hugely popular Breakfast With Ben & Roxy show on Minster FM.
Wizard Bus Tour: The itinerary
10.45am: Arrive Durham Cathedral
Here you’ll see a part of the cathedral not open to the public – the Chapter House, which was Professor McGonagall’s classroom. Also the quadrangle where Harry let his owl Hedwig take flight
1.30pm: Arrive Grosmont Station
Have lunch then climb on board a steam train and travel to Goathland Station – which doubled as Hogsmeade Station, where Harry arrived on the Hogwarts Express
2.50pm: Train arrives at Goathland Station
Stop to have your picture taken at the Hole of Horcum with wizard costumes and props
5.10pm: Arrive at Shambles, York
The inspiration for the movie version of Diagon Alley, here you can browse and buy at The Shop That Must Not Be Named
Adult £59, child £49
Tour website »
Wizards are the future
The tours begin on July 26 and run on various Thursday, Friday and Saturdays until September 1.
A Pullman 53-seater bus will take people to all the sights, with wizard Woody Jay as your guide to the Yorkshire Potterverse.
Ben said the original idea was very different. “Phil wanted to do a safari tour, but I talked him out of it,” he said.
The fact that there are now no fewer than three Harry Potter shops in Shambles was one of the reasons for the change of plan.
“Having seen what’s happened in Shambles, and the fact we have some Potter heritage around here, I convinced him that wizards were the future,” Ben said.
They started planning the tours in March. They will see how well the first tours go before deciding whether to add more dates.