Believe it or not, you can go and see some of the most famous locations in cinematic history for no money at all. Want to know where to visit real-life movie locations? The answers are here!
Harry Potter
Though Hogwarts Castle doesn’t exist, you can still head to London to see King’s Cross Station. In the station concourse, King’s Cross has even dedicated an area to Platform 9 ¾ (although it should be between platforms nine and ten).
You can also see some familiar sets if you take a trip to Oxford University after taking a peek at King’s Cross. Oxford is home to Hogwarts’ library as well as the hospital wing.
Ghostbusters
Who ya gonna call? 8 Hook and Ladder! Maybe it doesn’t work as well in the song, but you can find the Ghostbusters HQ at 14 North Moore Street in Tribeca, New York. The New York Public Library is an important site, as well. Browse the shelves and see if you can spot where Venkman, Stantz, and Spengler saw their first ghost.
Forrest Gump
Though many locations are shown throughout Forrest Gump, including the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., and The University of Alabama, the most recognizable is the bench where Forrest waits for his bus. That bench was only used for the film, but you can make your way to Chippewa Square in Savannah, Georgia, to see the famous garden square backdrop of Forrest’s tales.
The Rock
Alcatraz appears in several Hollywood hits, including Escape from Alcatraz and Birdman of Alcatraz, but thanks to Michael Bay, none are nearly as explosive as The Rock. You can take a ferry to the island-turned-penitentiary and have a look at the most famous prison in history.
The Shining and Doctor Sleep
You can see the façade of the Overlook Hotel at Timberline Lodge in Mount Hood, Oregon, but you won’t find the famous interior there. The Shining built a massive set to serve as the interior of the terrifying hotel, but you can see the inspiration at Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite, California.
If you enjoyed The Shining’s sequel, Doctor Sleep, make your way to Boulder, Colorado. The Stand and Misery also have connections to Boulder, for all you Stephen King fans. While you’re visiting Colorado, check out these other great cities! Telluride hosts a world-famous film festival every year, so give that a try if you like movies.
Now that you know where to visit real-life movie locations, you can head out and see the world with a new perspective.