In which town in Gloucestershire was J.K. Rowling born in 1965?

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J.K. Rowling was born in Yate, Gloucestershire, in 1965.

Her birthplace was Yate General Hospital, near Bristol in southwest England. Rowling was born on 31 July 1965 to Peter Rowling and Anne Rowling. The family later moved to Winterbourne, another Gloucestershire village, when she was a young child.

Yate is sometimes confused with Bristol because the town lies close to the city and Rowling spent part of her childhood in the surrounding area. Her later school years took place at Wyedean School and College in Sedbury, Gloucestershire.

Rowling’s childhood in Gloucestershire is often discussed alongside the origins of Harry Potter. She has said that nearby places, landscapes, and school experiences helped shape elements of her fictional world, although Hogwarts itself is imaginary.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026

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