The Mirror of Erised

Lacock Abbey — Lacock, Wiltshire

In the Oxford guide · Plan a day here

On screen

Hiding in a disused room, Harry finds a tall, ancient mirror. Looking into it, he sees his mother and father standing beside him. Dumbledore later explains that the mirror shows the heart’s deepest desire.

The place today

A medieval abbey turned country house, run by the National Trust. The cloisters are open all year with a ticket; the upstairs rooms close in winter, from November to March.

Did you know? According to the National Trust, Lacock Abbey served as Hogwarts corridors and classrooms in the first two films. Snape’s Potions classroom was filmed here too, in the abbey’s sacristy.

Sources: National Trust · movie-locations