County

• Type: Geographic and administrative division
• Location: Primarily Great Britain
• Key Features: Counties are real-world administrative regions in the United Kingdom that serve as the setting for numerous significant Muggle and wizarding locations, grounding the magical world in a tangible, non-magical geography.

A county is a standard geographical region used for administrative and governmental purposes in the Muggle world, particularly in the United Kingdom. In the Harry Potter series, the use of real English counties serves to establish the settings for major wizarding homes and communities. These magical enclaves, such as Ottery St Catchpole and Godric's Hollow, are depicted as existing secretly within the boundaries of actual counties, hidden from the notice of the local Muggle population through enchantments and the general wizarding practice of maintaining secrecy. This integration of the magical into the mundane is a core element of the series' world-building, suggesting that magic is present just beyond the perception of ordinary people.

Several real-world counties are explicitly named in the novels and are the settings for crucial events and locations in the wizarding world. The specific county often provides geographical context and reinforces the cultural identity of its inhabitants.

• Surrey: The location of Little Whinging and the residence of the Dursley family at Number Four, Privet Drive.
  • It is Harry's unhappy home for the first sixteen years of his life. The home is protected by an ancient magic tied to Lily Potter's sacrifice, which keeps Harry Potter safe from Lord Voldemort as long as he can call it home.
  • Numerous significant events occur here, including Dobby's visit and the subsequent Hover Charm incident, the inflation of Aunt Marge, the arrival of the Knight Bus, the Dementor attack on Harry and Dudley Dursley, and the departure of the Dursleys under the protection of the Order of the Phoenix.
  • It serves as the starting point for the Battle of the Seven Potters, when Harry leaves Privet Drive for the final time.
• Devon: The location of the village of Ottery St Catchpole, home to the Weasley family at The Burrow, as well as the residences of the Lovegoods, Diggorys, and Fawcetts.
  • The Burrow acts as a second home for Harry, representing warmth, family, and acceptance in stark contrast to his life in Surrey.
  • Key events at The Burrow include many of Harry's summer holidays, the wedding of Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour, and its use as the headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix after the fall of the Ministry of Magic.
• Cornwall: The location of Shell Cottage, the home of Bill and Fleur Weasley, situated on the outskirts of the village of Tinworth.
  • Following the escape from Malfoy Manor, Shell Cottage becomes a vital safe house for Harry, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and the other rescued prisoners.
  • It is the site of Dobby the House-Elf's burial, a pivotal and emotional moment for Harry.
  • The planning for the Gringotts Wizarding Bank heist takes place here with the help of the Goblin Griphook.
• Yorkshire: The Yorkshire Moors are mentioned as a departure point for wizards and witches using a Portkey to travel to the 1994 Quidditch World Cup. This indicates the presence of a wizarding population in the region large enough to warrant a designated magical transportation point.

• J.K. Rowling has stated that the real-world county of Gloucestershire was a significant inspiration for the series' settings. The Forest of Dean, where Harry, Ron, and Hermione hide in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, is a real forest located primarily in Gloucestershire. Rowling has also suggested that Godric's Hollow is located in this general area of the “West Country” (J.K. Rowling interview).
• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, a letter from Albus Dumbledore addressed to Bathilda Bagshot shows her address as being in Godric's Hollow, Suffolk (film). This places the village in an East Anglian county, which differs from the “West Country” location implied by the author.