Operated by West Coast Railways since 1995, the Jacobite steam train takes passengers on an 84‑mile return journey from Fort William to the fishing port of Mallaig. The route hugs the shores of Loch Eil, crosses the 21‑arch Glenfinnan Viaduct with views to the Glenfinnan Monument and Loch Shiel, skirts the white sands of Morar and terminates at Mallaig harbour. The service has become the company’s most successful line thanks to Harry Potter fans. On board, passengers ride in vintage carriages, visit the buffet car for refreshments and hear the hiss of a coal‑fired locomotive that evokes bygone travel. The maroon‑liveried carriages of the Jacobite became the Hogwarts Express in the films, carrying students to and from school. Shots of the train puffing across the Glenfinnan Viaduct are iconic, appearing in every film from *Philosopher’s Stone* to *Deathly Hallows* and capturing the excitement of the journey to Hogwarts. Scenes such as Harry and Ron’s first meeting, the Dementor attack and the trio’s return after the Triwizard Tournament were all filmed inside these carriages. The real‑life journey offers the same views seen on screen, from loch shores to heather‑clad mountains.

Shaftesbury Avenue is a major thoroughfare in London's West End, running from Piccadilly Circus to New Oxford Street. Built by the Metropolitan Board of Works between 1877 and 1886 and named after the 7th Earl of Shaftesbury, it cuts through the heart of the theatre district with iconic venues such as the Lyric, Apollo and Gielgud theatres lining its route. The avenue's mix of Victorian façades and modern storefronts make it a bustling cultural artery by day and an illuminated entertainment strip by night. Close to Piccadilly Circus and Soho, it is one of the West End's most recognisable streets. In *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1* the trio apparate out of Bill and Fleur's wedding into the chaos of Piccadilly Circus and end up running along Shaftesbury Avenue. They narrowly avoid a No. 19 bus, press themselves against the railings outside the GAP store and pass grey stone columns while catching their breath. Ron gasps 'Where are we?' and Hermione replies 'Shaftesbury Avenue'. The scene captures the characters' disorientation amid everyday London traffic and landmarks.

Piccadilly Circus is a bustling road junction and public space in London’s West End, where several major streets—including Regent Street and Piccadilly—converge. Created in 1819, it is famous for its curved row of illuminated advertising screens, the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain with its winged archer statue, and theatres, shops and cafés on every corner. At all hours the circus hums with buses, taxis, tourists and theatre‑goers. Its bright lights and frenetic energy epitomise the city’s cosmopolitan spirit. In *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1* (2010), Harry, Ron and Hermione apparate to the Piccadilly Circus end of Shaftesbury Avenue after fleeing the attack on Bill and Fleur’s wedding. They land in the middle of the road and narrowly avoid being hit by a No. 19 bus, leaping aside. Disoriented, the trio press themselves against the railings outside the Gap store on Shaftesbury Avenue, then walk past grey concrete columns and café tables as Hermione explains they are on Shaftesbury Avenue where she went to the theatre with her parents. The scene underscores their sudden thrust into the Muggle world.