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The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Medieval UK town with ‘magical' castle used for Hogwarts in Harry Potter films set for multi-million pound investment
The medieval town that is featured in countless blockbuster films POTTER GOLD Medieval UK town with 'magical' castle used for Hogwarts in Harry Potter films set for multi-million pound investment A MAGICAL UK town, complete with a medieval castle featured in the Harry Potter films, is set for a multi-million pound investment. Once home to the beloved fictional wizard, the mystical site is about to undergo an exciting revamp. 9 The castle set the stage for Hogwarts in the first two Harry Potter films Credit: Alamy 9 The town is set to undergo a huge multi-million pound revamp Credit: crestphotography/ 9 Tourists flock to this castle to immerse themselves in the wizarding world Credit: Getty Harry Potter fans flock to famed castle Alnwick town, Northumberland, has long been steeped in history, but it was the medieval castle featured in the Harry Potter franchise, which put it on the map. The castle grounds set the stage for Hogwarts in the first two films, and was notably the location where Harry had his first quidditch lesson. Today, Alnwick welcomes tourists from far and wide who are keen to immerse themselves in the wizarding world. Beyond exploring the site featured in The Philosopher's Stone and The Chamber of Secrets, visitors can also follow in Radcliffe's footsteps and take a broomstick lesson of their own. Harry Potter fans have even dubbed the day out one of the UK's most immersive experiences outsides of the Warner Bros. Studio Tour. Council reveals regeneration plans Now, Northumberland County Council plan to make improvements to the town in an exciting new regeneration plan. Last month, it was revealed that over £270,000 in funding had been approved to kick start a multi-million pound project. As part of the Borderlands Place Programme, plans have been revealed to build a new museum in Northumberland Hall. The council also revealed that this work could commence in a matter of months, subject to approval of other funding bids. The museum promises to boost tourism even further in an area that is already a popular hot spot. New Epic Universe theme park reveals fifth new land based on Harry Potter Beyond the town's ties to J K Rowling's famed wizarding world, Alnwick is also brimming with medieval history, reports The Northern Echo. Built more than 900 years ago, the castle remains the ancestral seat of the Dukes of Northumberland, with one of England's most powerful noble houses, The Percy Family, still calling it home. In addition to this, the town boasts many impressive landmarks like Bondgate Tower, Hotspur Gate, and St Michael's Church. Visitors can also explore one of Britain's largest second-hand bookshops, Barter Books, which is also famed for rediscovering the iconic "Keep calm and Carry On" WWII poster. Alnwick Garden is also home to Europe's largest treehouse restaurant. As well as welcoming a brand new museum, the plans also hope to develop a transport hub. With a further £90,000 approved for this, work could be well underway by early 2026. Both these projects, part of a bid totalling around £7.7million, have been well received by the community. At a community event held earlier this year, 84% of respondents backed the proposals. It comes on the back of the new 'Town Investment Plan' which was approved by the Borderlands Partnership following development locally by the Place Partnership Group. The Borderlands Place Programme includes up to £3m of Growth Deal and County Council combined investment Alnwick, and six other neighbouring towns. Once funding awards are in place, there will be detailed consultation with businesses and residents that may be affected by any construction works prior to them starting. 9 Alnwick is also steeped in history Credit: Getty 9 Regeneration plans include the construction of a brand new museum Credit: Getty 9 The council hopes to improve Alnwick's transport hub Credit: Getty Councillors express excitements for proposed plans Councillor Richard Wearmouth, Cabinet member for Regeneration and Chair of Alnwick Place Partnership Group said: 'This is a fantastic step forward for the town, giving our backing to kick start significant investment in the town centre. 'Alnwick already has great assets including major tourism attractions and businesses and our aim is to bolster this by introducing new attractions to the town centre and making it easier and more attractive to visit the town on public transport. 'This is just the start for the Borderlands Place Programme with a range of new schemes in development across all seven towns in the programme we are expecting further projects for approval in Bedlington, Prudhoe and other towns later this year." While Alnwich County Councillor Martin Swinbank added: 'We have been pushing for improvements to the bus station for many years and I'm pleased to see this next step in securing new investment. 'The bus station is an important community facility and also the first view of Alnwick many visitors see as they step into the town." Fellow Alnwick County Councillor Gordon Castle said: 'Our tourism offer is an important component of the local economy and working together to bring the Northumberland Hall back into use, at the same time as bringing the Bailiffgate Museum into the heart Alnwick is a great solution." Jean Humphrys, Bailiffgate Museum & Gallery Chair of Trustees, added: 'This support is an important milestone for our innovative proposals to create a new cultural and creative hub in the town. 'We're working over the summer to secure backing for our exciting plans for this building to bring much needed investment into the town and a long-term home for the amazing story of Alnwick.' Earlier this month, Alnwick honoured its magical past with a screening of the franchise in the castle grounds. ChronicleLive reported that fans would be able to attend a special viewing where they could watch the action play out near the location where it actually took place. The castle grounds has also been the backdrop to countless other beloved films. Among the popular titles in which it has been featured, is the 2019 film of Downton Abbey, Transformers: The Last Night, and even the upcoming Mark Wahlberg and Sir Anthony Hopkins film. 9 The council hopes these plans will boost tourism even further Credit: Getty 9 The castle remains home to the noble Percy Family Credit: Getty
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Medieval UK town with ‘magical' castle used for Hogwarts in Harry Potter films set for multi-million pound investment
The medieval town that is featured in countless blockbuster films POTTER GOLD Medieval UK town with 'magical' castle used for Hogwarts in Harry Potter films set for multi-million pound investment Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MAGICAL UK town, complete with a medieval castle featured in the Harry Potter films, is set for a multi-million pound investment. Once home to the beloved fictional wizard, the mystical site is about to undergo an exciting revamp. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 9 The castle set the stage for Hogwarts in the first two Harry Potter films Credit: Alamy 9 The town is set to undergo a huge multi-million pound revamp Credit: crestphotography/ 9 Tourists flock to this castle to immerse themselves in the wizarding world Credit: Getty Harry Potter fans flock to famed castle Alnwick town, Northumberland, has long been steeped in history, but it was the medieval castle featured in the Harry Potter franchise, which put it on the map. The castle grounds set the stage for Hogwarts in the first two films, and was notably the location where Harry had his first quidditch lesson. Today, Alnwick welcomes tourists from far and wide who are keen to immerse themselves in the wizarding world. Beyond exploring the site featured in The Philosopher's Stone and The Chamber of Secrets, visitors can also follow in Radcliffe's footsteps and take a broomstick lesson of their own. Harry Potter fans have even dubbed the day out one of the UK's most immersive experiences outsides of the Warner Bros. Studio Tour. Council reveals regeneration plans Now, Northumberland County Council plan to make improvements to the town in an exciting new regeneration plan. Last month, it was revealed that over £270,000 in funding had been approved to kick start a multi-million pound project. As part of the Borderlands Place Programme, plans have been revealed to build a new museum in Northumberland Hall. The council also revealed that this work could commence in a matter of months, subject to approval of other funding bids. The museum promises to boost tourism even further in an area that is already a popular hot spot. New Epic Universe theme park reveals fifth new land based on Harry Potter Beyond the town's ties to J K Rowling's famed wizarding world, Alnwick is also brimming with medieval history, reports The Northern Echo. Built more than 900 years ago, the castle remains the ancestral seat of the Dukes of Northumberland, with one of England's most powerful noble houses, The Percy Family, still calling it home. In addition to this, the town boasts many impressive landmarks like Bondgate Tower, Hotspur Gate, and St Michael's Church. Visitors can also explore one of Britain's largest second-hand bookshops, Barter Books, which is also famed for rediscovering the iconic "Keep calm and Carry On" WWII poster. Alnwick Garden is also home to Europe's largest treehouse restaurant. As well as welcoming a brand new museum, the plans also hope to develop a transport hub. With a further £90,000 approved for this, work could be well underway by early 2026. Both these projects, part of a bid totalling around £7.7million, have been well received by the community. At a community event held earlier this year, 84% of respondents backed the proposals. It comes on the back of the new 'Town Investment Plan' which was approved by the Borderlands Partnership following development locally by the Place Partnership Group. The Borderlands Place Programme includes up to £3m of Growth Deal and County Council combined investment Alnwick, and six other neighbouring towns. Once funding awards are in place, there will be detailed consultation with businesses and residents that may be affected by any construction works prior to them starting. 9 Alnwick is also steeped in history Credit: Getty 9 Regeneration plans include the construction of a brand new museum Credit: Getty 9 The council hopes to improve Alnwick's transport hub Credit: Getty Councillors express excitements for proposed plans Councillor Richard Wearmouth, Cabinet member for Regeneration and Chair of Alnwick Place Partnership Group said: 'This is a fantastic step forward for the town, giving our backing to kick start significant investment in the town centre. 'Alnwick already has great assets including major tourism attractions and businesses and our aim is to bolster this by introducing new attractions to the town centre and making it easier and more attractive to visit the town on public transport. 'This is just the start for the Borderlands Place Programme with a range of new schemes in development across all seven towns in the programme we are expecting further projects for approval in Bedlington, Prudhoe and other towns later this year." While Alnwich County Councillor Martin Swinbank added: 'We have been pushing for improvements to the bus station for many years and I'm pleased to see this next step in securing new investment. 'The bus station is an important community facility and also the first view of Alnwick many visitors see as they step into the town." Fellow Alnwick County Councillor Gordon Castle said: 'Our tourism offer is an important component of the local economy and working together to bring the Northumberland Hall back into use, at the same time as bringing the Bailiffgate Museum into the heart Alnwick is a great solution." Jean Humphrys, Bailiffgate Museum & Gallery Chair of Trustees, added: 'This support is an important milestone for our innovative proposals to create a new cultural and creative hub in the town. 'We're working over the summer to secure backing for our exciting plans for this building to bring much needed investment into the town and a long-term home for the amazing story of Alnwick.' Earlier this month, Alnwick honoured its magical past with a screening of the franchise in the castle grounds. ChronicleLive reported that fans would be able to attend a special viewing where they could watch the action play out near the location where it actually took place. The castle grounds has also been the backdrop to countless other beloved films. Among the popular titles in which it has been featured, is the 2019 film of Downton Abbey, Transformers: The Last Night, and even the upcoming Mark Wahlberg and Sir Anthony Hopkins film. 9 The council hopes these plans will boost tourism even further Credit: Getty 9 The castle remains home to the noble Percy Family Credit: Getty
Indian Express
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Re-reading Harry Potter as an adult: What the magic feels like in your 30s
I was eight when I first stepped into the world of Harry Potter. My father read The Philosopher's Stone to me at bedtime, and I was spellbound. The magical creatures (dragons and three-headed Cerberus) and talking portraits were part of it, but mostly it was the idea that someone considered different might secretly be special. I fell headfirst into this magical rabbit hole. At one point, my parents even had to explain to my teacher why I sometimes confused the spelling of 'which' with 'witch.' I was that obsessed. When I finally got my hands on The Chamber of Secrets and The Prisoner of Azkaban, I read both in one sitting. I forsook hunger and sleep, despite my mother's reprimands, till I finished both the books. I devoured pages, almost inhaling the plot, eager to know what happened next, and then circled back and reread them slowly, savouring the details I missed the first time. These books became my companions. I remember reading The Order of the Phoenix at a hospital while my grandfather recovered from a heart attack. In its pages, I found escape and comfort. For the next few years, during long winter holidays, which I spent in Shimla, I would re-read the entire series. It became a ritual, a sort of literary blanket I wrapped myself in each winter. The magic starts to fade And then, as it does, life happened. I grew older. The books stayed behind on a shelf at my parents' home, gathering dust. By the time The Cursed Child came out, I was in university. I didn't have my beloved collection with me, so I couldn't fall back on my customary reread of all the books before starting a new instalment. I picked up the new book with excitement, but, determined as I was to love everything Harry Potter, I found myself disappointed. The plot felt shallow, and the characters forgettable. It read like fanfiction, a hollow echo of the original magic. It was my first real disenchantment with the wizarding world. The re-read in my 30s It wasn't until my 30s, in a moment of rebellion against adulthood, that I reached for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone on my Kindle. I was looking for the comfort of familiarity, the promised escape — a world where problems could be solved with a spell, a draught of Felix Felicis, or a well-timed phoenix. But something had changed. Maybe it was me. Maybe it was the years I had spent as a journalist, exposed to stories of neglect, injustice, and institutional failure. Because when I revisited the story, it didn't feel like comfort anymore. It felt… disturbing. The cupboard under the stairs wasn't a quirky detail — it was child abuse. Harry was being starved and mistreated, and worse, this was being ignored by neighbours and teachers alike. Was it then an allegory for societal indifference? As a journalist, I had seen too many real-world Harry Potters: abused, homeless kids, and children thrust into adult battles. I had read stories of youngsters single-handedly fighting against climate change (Greta Thunberg) or for human rights (Malala Yousafzai), while adults either fetishised their courage or mocked their 'naivety.' The novels' darker themes loomed larger. Harry, a woefully unprepared child soldier, was declared the Chosen One and raised like livestock for slaughter. Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, the holder of three top positions in the wizarding world, was terrifying and not the wise and benign mentor I remembered. He left Harry with abusive relatives and let Sirius Black (an Order member, not a known Death Eater like Severus Snape) rot in Azkaban without a trial. He allowed a Basilisk to petrify children for months while 11-year-olds solved the mystery. And don't get me started on Snape's 'redemption.' Sorry, but a teacher bullying students (and an orphan to boot!) doesn't get erased by a Patronus. The Wizarding World was dystopian, just like ours. 'The Daily Prophet' was an embodiment of our post-truth world, albeit with moving pictures. Pureblood supremacy mirrored casteism. House-elves were enslaved. Werewolves were shunned. And the Ministry was a bureaucratic nightmare where the rich (Malfoys) thrived while the poor (Weasleys) scraped by. Even more unsettling was the way ordinary people — wizards and Muggles alike — blindly followed questionable leaders. I had wanted a world to escape into — instead, it held a mirror to the problems I wanted to run from. Then there is author JK Rowling's public stance on transgender issues. For years, I resisted believing it—how could the creator of a universe where literal closet-dwelling 'freaks' became heroes, where magic could transform bodies (Metamorphmagi, Polyjuice Potions), harbour such rigid biases? The wizarding world had always been a refuge for the marginalised, a voice for the disenfranchised, yet its creator seemed to reject the ideal. And for all its merits, the series never adequately explains why purebloods, who were already entrenched in positions of power within the Wizengamot, Ministry, and elite social circles, would risk everything to follow Voldemort. It demonises all Slytherins, redeeming just Snape. What made Voldemort so charismatic remains unexplored. A bittersweet legacy Re-reading Harry Potter in my 30s was like catching up with an old friend, and realising you see them differently now. They haven't changed. But you have. The books remain masterfully crafted, but the magic no longer offers escape. It is yet another reminder of how power corrupts, how systems fail the vulnerable, and how even our idols are only human. Perhaps that's the most plot-centric lesson of all: growing up means realising your heroes (read: Dumbledore) are complicated, and the spells that once dazzled you can't fix everything. Maybe the point of growing up isn't to lose that magic, but to question it. After all, even Harry Potter, unlike Peter Pan, grew up. Aishwarya Khosla is a journalist currently serving as Deputy Copy Editor at The Indian Express. Her writings examine the interplay of culture, identity, and politics. She began her career at the Hindustan Times, where she covered books, theatre, culture, and the Punjabi diaspora. Her editorial expertise spans the Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Punjab and Online desks. She was the recipient of the The Nehru Fellowship in Politics and Elections, where she studied political campaigns, policy research, political strategy and communications for a year. She pens The Indian Express newsletter, Meanwhile, Back Home. Write to her at or You can follow her on Instagram: @ink_and_ideology, and X: @KhoslaAishwarya. ... Read More
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
John Lithgow confirms Dumbledore casting, says role will ‘define the last chapter of my life'
John Lithgow has confirmed he will take on the role of Albus Dumbledore in the upcoming HBO adaptation of the Harry Potter novels. The Hogwarts headmaster was previously portrayed by Richard Harris in the first film adaptations, The Philosopher's Stone and The Chamber of Secrets. His death in 2002 saw Michael Gambon take over the role for the remaining films. Jude Law played a younger version of Dumbledore in two films in the prequel franchise Fantastic Beasts, The Crimes of Grindelwald and The Secrets of Dumbledore. Speaking to Screen Rant, 79-year-old Lithgow said the casting news 'came as a total surprise to me.' He continued: 'I just got the phone call up at the Sundance Film Festival for yet another film, and it was not an easy decision because it's going to define me for the last chapter of my life, I'm afraid. 'But I'm very excited. Some wonderful people are turning their attention back to Harry Potter. That's why it's been such a hard decision. I'll be about 87 years old at the wrap party, but I've said yes.' The TV adaption, confirmed by HBO Max in 2023, aims to be a 'faithful adaptation of the beloved Harry Potter book series by author and executive producer JK Rowling.' The series is expected to run for a decade, each season based on one of the seven books. While casting calls for the three young leads — Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger — opened in September 2024, HBO has been scouting for older actors over the past few months to play adult characters such as Dumbledore and the primary villain Voldemort. In November 2024, reports said producers were angling for Oscar-winning star of stage and screen Mark Rylance for the role of Dumbledore. A couple of months earlier, Gary Oldman, who played Harry Potter's godfather Sirius Black in the original film franchise, said he would be up to playing Dumbledore. In December, reports suggested I May Destroy You star Paapa Essiedu was the top choice to play Potions professor Severus Snape, played last by Alan Rickman in the film franchise. The same month, rumors suggested Ted Lasso actor Brett Goldstein was being tapped to star as gamekeeper Rubeus Hagrid, who was originally played by Robbie Coltrane. Nearly 32,000 children have sent audition tapes for the lead roles of Harry, Hermione, and Ron, but no casting announcements have been made yet.
The Independent
25-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
John Lithgow confirms Dumbledore casting, says role will ‘define the last chapter of my life'
John Lithgow has confirmed he will take on the role of Albus Dumbledore in the upcoming HBO adaptation of the Harry Potter novels. The Hogwarts headmaster was previously portrayed by Richard Harris in the first film adaptations, The Philosopher's Stone and The Chamber of Secrets. His death in 2002 saw Michael Gambon take over the role for the remaining films. Jude Law played a younger version of Dumbledore in two films in the prequel franchise Fantastic Beasts, The Crimes of Grindelwald and The Secrets of Dumbledore. Speaking to Screen Rant, 79-year-old Lithgow said the casting news 'came as a total surprise to me.' He continued: 'I just got the phone call up at the Sundance Film Festival for yet another film, and it was not an easy decision because it's going to define me for the last chapter of my life, I'm afraid. 'But I'm very excited. Some wonderful people are turning their attention back to Harry Potter. That's why it's been such a hard decision. I'll be about 87 years old at the wrap party, but I've said yes.' The TV adaption, confirmed by HBO Max in 2023, aims to be a 'faithful adaptation of the beloved Harry Potter book series by author and executive producer JK Rowling.' The series is expected to run for a decade, each season based on one of the seven books. While casting calls for the three young leads — Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger — opened in September 2024, HBO has been scouting for older actors over the past few months to play adult characters such as Dumbledore and the primary villain Voldemort. In November 2024, reports said producers were angling for Oscar-winning star of stage and screen Mark Rylance for the role of Dumbledore. A couple of months earlier, Gary Oldman, who played Harry Potter's godfather Sirius Black in the original film franchise, said he would be up to playing Dumbledore. In December, reports suggested I May Destroy You star Paapa Essiedu was the top choice to play Potions professor Severus Snape, played last by Alan Rickman in the film franchise. The same month, rumors suggested Ted Lasso actor Brett Goldstein was being tapped to star as gamekeeper Rubeus Hagrid, who was originally played by Robbie Coltrane. Nearly 32,000 children have sent audition tapes for the lead roles of Harry, Hermione, and Ron, but no casting announcements have been made yet.
