Alnwick Castle was used for Hogwarts exterior scenes in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
The Northumberland castle appears in the first Harry Potter film as part of the visual representation of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Its grounds were used for scenes including Harry’s early broom-flying lesson and other outdoor moments involving Hogwarts students.
Alnwick Castle is a medieval fortress and the historic seat of the Duke of Northumberland. Its recognizable architecture helped establish Hogwarts as a large, ancient institution, although the film’s Hogwarts was created from several locations, sets and visual effects rather than one building.
A common mix-up is assuming every Hogwarts exterior was filmed at Alnwick. Other locations were also used across the series, including Durham Cathedral and Lacock Abbey for interior settings. The castle is especially associated with the first film’s outdoor Hogwarts sequences.