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Summary

8 Places In Canada That Will Whisk You Away To Hogwarts Without Any Floo Powder

Calling all Harry Potter fans! ⚡️

​A woman walks through an alley in B.C. Right: A woman sits outside a castle in Toronto.

A woman walks through an alley in B.C. Right: A woman sits outside a castle in Toronto.

Writer

Is there ever a bad time to relive some Harry Potter magic?

If it's been a while since you thought about potions, spells and lightning-shaped scars, you can visit one of these places in Canada with strong HP vibes that will whisk you away to the halls of Hogwarts and beyond.

These spots are perfect to visit any time, but this year actually marks the 25th anniversary of the very first book of the saga, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, which was published on June 26, 1997.

In honour of Harry, Hermione and Ron, here are eight spots around the country where you can have a truly magical experience.

Knox College

Price: Free

Address: 59 St George St., Toronto, ON

Why You Need To Go: You'll feel like you're wandering through the halls of Hogwarts at this school in Toronto.

With its neo-gothic architecture, long corridors and magnificent staircases, the campus is definitely a magical place and is also a favoured spot for weddings.

Website

Freak Lunchbox

Price: 💸

Address: 308 Water St., St. John's, NL

Why You Need To Go: Remember Zonko's Joke Shop, Fred and George Weasley's shop for tricks and pranks in Hogsmeade? Well, think of this as a sort of real-life version that sells candy instead of love spells.

With locations in Newfoundland, Halifax, and New Brunswick, Freak Lunchbox sells "exclusive and exceptional" candy, with some notable offerings including blueberry muffin-flavoured Kit Kat chocolate and the world's hottest gummy bear.

Website

Ross Bay Cemetery

Price: $5 per person tours

Address: 1495 Fairfield Rd., Victoria, BC

Why You Need To Go: Victoria's Ross Bay Cemetery was built in 1872 and is a great example of a Victorian-era burial ground.

With its mausoleums and giant stone angel grave marker, the cemetery is quite like the Little Hangleton graveyard where Tom Riddle's family is buried in the Harry Potter world.

Website

Waterloo Central Railway

Price: $24.99+ per adult

Address: Multiple stations

Why You Need To Go: If you've always wanted to enjoy a scenic ride on the Hogwarts Express, you can ride Canada's version with the Waterloo Central Railway, which offers historic passenger train rides around southern Ontario.

The trip will take you through picturesque landscapes, farms and the gorgeous countryside.

Website

Quartier Petit Champlain

Price: Free

Address: Rue du Petit Champlain, Quebec City, QC

Why You Need To Go: Harry Potter has Hogsmeade Village; Quebec has the Quartier Petit Champlain.

With its cobblestone streets and charming shops, the district looks like it belongs in the wizarding world (especially after a snowfall!). Here you'll find quaint fashion stores, bistros and gift shops.

Website

Commerce Court North

Price: Free

Address: 25 King St. W., Toronto, ON

Why You Need To Go: Fancy a trip to Gringotts Wizarding Bank? In Toronto's Financial District, you'll find Commerce Court North, a tower with an incredible vaulted gold-coffered ceiling and a gilded lobby befitting the chicest of goblins.

The tower is part of the Commerce Court complex, which dates back to 1931. Today, the complex houses coffee shops, restaurants and pharmacies.

Website

Fan Tan Alley

Price: Free

Address: Fan Tan Alley, Victoria, BC

Why You Need To Go: Fan Tan Alley is like a real-life version of Diagon Alley, minus the wand shop and menagerie.

Located in Chinatown, the alley is known as the world's narrowest street and houses a few shops that would be fit for the wizarding world, including an "umbrellatorium and canery" and a metaphysical gift shop.

Website

Casa Loma

Price: $40 per adult

Address: 1 Austin Terr., Toronto, ON

Why You Need To Go: The whimsical castle (which is Toronto's only castle) feels like it could be home to young witches and wizards attending potions classes and learning how to manoeuvre a broomstick.

While you won't actually find any spell-casting going on here, you can still explore Casa Loma's majestic grounds.

Website

Before you get going, check out our Responsible Travel Guide so you can be informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your adventure.

  • Contributing Writer

    Katherine Caspersz (she/her) is a contributing writer for Narcity Media, covering travel, things to do and more. She has written for various news sites and magazines, including Yahoo Canada and The National Post, and worked as an editor for the Toronto Star and The Globe and Mail. She loves shopping, travel and all things spooky.

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