Geography of the Wizarding World

The geography of the wizarding world largely mirrors that of the non-magical, or Muggle, world. Wizards, witches, and magical creatures live across the globe, often in concealed communities, hidden dwellings, or in areas protected by powerful enchantments. While they share the same physical planet as Muggles, their world is layered on top of it, made secret by charms and spells that render their locations invisible, Unplottable, or uninteresting to non-magical people. The primary geographical focus of the *Harry Potter* series is Great Britain and Ireland, with other global locations mentioned in relation to international events or characters.

The majority of the series takes place within Great Britain, with specific, magically significant locations scattered across its countries.

• Scotland:
  • The most prominent magical location in Scotland is Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, situated in the Scottish Highlands. The castle is protected by numerous enchantments, including Muggle-Repelling Charms that make it appear as an old ruin to any non-magical person who stumbles upon it.
  • Hogsmeade is the only all-wizarding village in Britain, located near Hogwarts. It serves as a recreational spot for older students.
• England:
  • London: The capital city is a major hub for the British wizarding community. Key sites include:
    • Diagon Alley: A hidden magical shopping street accessible through The Leaky Cauldron pub.
    • Knockturn Alley: An alley dedicated to the Dark Arts, adjoining Diagon Alley.
    • Ministry of Magic: The headquarters of the wizarding government, located deep underground.
    • King's Cross Station: Home to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, the gateway to the Hogwarts Express.
    • Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place: The ancestral home of the Black family, which served as the headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix.
    • St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries: The primary wizarding hospital.
  • West Country: This region is home to several wizarding families and locations.
    • Godric's Hollow: A famous village, once home to the Potters, the Dumbledores, and Bathilda Bagshot.
    • Ottery St Catchpole: The village where the Weasley family's home, The Burrow, is located, as well as the homes of the Lovegoods and Fawcetts.
  • Surrey: The suburban county where Harry Potter grew up with the Dursley family at Number Four, Privet Drive in Little Whinging.
  • Wiltshire: The location of Malfoy Manor, the grand residence of the Malfoy family.
  • Yorkshire: Where the 1994 Quidditch World Cup was held, in a concealed location on a moor. (J.K. Rowling interview)
  • Lancashire: Home to the wizarding town of Upper Flagley. (Pottermore)
• Wales:
  • Shell Cottage, the home of Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour, is located on the coast of Wales, overlooking the sea.
• Ireland:
  • Ireland is known to have a strong Quidditch tradition, with its National Team winning the 1994 Quidditch World Cup against Bulgaria.

While the story is centered in Britain, several other international magical locations are mentioned, revealing a global wizarding community.

• France: Home to the Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, a wizarding school believed to be located somewhere in the Pyrenees mountains.
• Northern Europe: The Durmstrang Institute, another major wizarding school, is located in the far north of Europe, though its precise location is a closely guarded secret.
• Albania: A forest in this country served as a hiding place for the disembodied spirit of Lord Voldemort following his first defeat. It is also where Helena Ravenclaw fled with her mother's diadem.
• Egypt: Bill Weasley worked here as a Curse-Breaker for Gringotts Wizarding Bank before returning to Britain.
• Bulgaria: The home country of Viktor Krum and the national team that competed in the 1994 Quidditch World Cup final.
• Norway: Charlie Weasley studied dragons here, and it is the origin of the Norwegian Ridgeback dragon breed, like Norbert.

The peaceful coexistence of the magical and non-magical worlds is maintained by the International Statute of Secrecy. This global law requires that the wizarding community remain hidden. Geographical concealment is achieved through several means:

• Muggle-Repelling Charms: These are powerful enchantments placed on locations like Hogwarts and the Quidditch World Cup stadium. They cause Muggles to feel an urgent need to leave the area or to remember a sudden appointment elsewhere.
• Unplottable Locations: Many significant wizarding locations, including Hogwarts and Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place, are made magically Unplottable. This means they cannot be marked on any map, whether magical or Muggle.
• Disguises and Illusions: Magical locations within Muggle areas are often disguised. The Leaky Cauldron is a shabby-looking pub squeezed between a bookshop and a record store, completely ignored by Muggles. The visitor's entrance to the Ministry of Magic was an out-of-order telephone box.
• The Fidelius Charm: This complex charm hides a secret within the soul of a chosen Secret-Keeper. It was used to conceal the locations of the Potter home in Godric's Hollow and, later, Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place.

• J.K. Rowling has revealed the names and general locations of several other major wizarding schools around the world on the Pottermore (now Wizarding World) website, significantly expanding the known magical geography. These include:
  • Ilvermorny (North America): Located on Mount Greylock in Massachusetts, USA. (Pottermore)
  • Castelobruxo (South America): Hidden in the Brazilian rainforest. (Pottermore)
  • Uagadou (Africa): The largest wizarding school, located in the Mountains of the Moon in Uganda. (Pottermore)
  • Mahoutokoro (Asia): Located on the volcanic island of Minami Iwo Jima, Japan. (Pottermore)
• In the films, Alnwick Castle in Northumberland and Christ Church, Oxford, were used as prominent filming locations for the exterior and interior of Hogwarts, respectively. (film)
• The location of Azkaban is described by J.K. Rowling as being in the middle of the North Sea. (J.K. Rowling interview)