““Funny way to get to a wizard’s school, the train. Magic carpets all got punctures, have they?” ”
For Harry Potter fans of all ages, a trip to Scotland offers a chance for us mere muggles to step aboard the Hogwarts Express for the day!
However, with limited seasonal departures and setting off from a small station in the Scottish Highlands, it does take a little bit of planning ahead (ideal if you're a Ravenclaw...)
In this post, we've shared all the important stuff to help you plan your trip on the Harry Potter train, from where to catch it, how to book tickets, timetables, a way to ride the train AND photograph the Harry Potter bridge, and travel tips to make the absolute most of this magic experience.
Whether visiting as part of your Scotland road trip, or it’s a surprise gift to the Potter fanatic in your life, we've got you covered.
All aboard!
Why Is It Called The Harry Potter Train?
The Harry Potter train in Scotland has actually been running for decades as a travel experience, long before the films were released and it was featured as the Hogwarts Express.
Its real name is 'The Jacobite', and its 84-mile route is often referred to as one of the 'greatest rail journeys in the world'.
So, why is it known as the Harry Potter train and the real-life Hogwarts Express?
Firstly, it crosses the iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct. The photogenic bridge, that Harry and Ron almost crash the flying Ford Anglia into in the Chamber of Secrets, was featured heavily in the movies as the Hogwarts Express journeyed from London to Hogsmeade and is the most famous Harry Potter filming location you can visit in Scotland.
Secondly, although it isn't the actual steam train from the movies, it bears a remarkable resemblance to the Hogwarts Express. The train from the films (the 5972 Olton Hallis) is on display at the Warner Bros: Making of Harry Potter studios outside London, but is actually owned by the same company who operate the Jacobite!
The amazing thing for fans of Harry, Ron, and Hermione is that, aside from taking you along the Glenfinnan Viaduct and following their footsteps on the way to Hogwarts, is that you also get to ride one of the best rail journeys in Britain and have an unforgettable experience filled with unrivalled scenery of mountains, lochs, and glens.
What more could you ask for!?
Where is the Harry Potter Train located?
It's 501 miles away from platform nine and three-quarters and London Kings Cross, so you best get a move on if you're reading this and have tickets booked
The Jacobite steam train departs from the station in Fort William (Google Maps), and takes passengers on a six-hour roundtrip to the coastal port of Mallaig (Google Maps).
Both are in the western Highlands, so you need to plan your Scotland itinerary in advance to make sure you're in or near them. Thankfully, Fort William is the perfect base for climbing Ben Nevis (Britain's highest mountain) and visiting Glencoe, so it's already a popular destination for travellers in Scotland and ideal to include on your road trip route.
The Harry Potter train is not on the North Coast 500, and it doesn't depart from or pass through Inverness or Glasgow.
It's therefore best to be based in Fort William at least the night before, or a manageable drive from it.
For more information on how to reach Fort William by public transport or typical driving times from other places in Scotland, plus the best things to do there and the best accommodation, read our wee Fort William guide.
Harry Potter Train Tours from Edinburgh, Inverness, or Glasgow
If you're in Scotland for a short period of time, and your heart is set on riding the Harry Potter train whilst you're in the country, then it may be more convenient to book a tour from Inverness or Edinburgh instead of travelling with a rental car or public transport up to the Highlands.
The options below are highly-rated and include a guide, transport, tickets for the train, a stop at the Harry Potter Bridge and a few other places in the Highlands:
1. From Inverness | Jacobite Steam Train and Highlands Tour
2. From Edinburgh | Hogwarts Express and Scottish Highlands Tour
3. From Edinburgh | Isle of Skye & Jacobite Steam Train 3-Day Highland Tour
Note that these tours include a one-way journey on the train from Mallaig to Fort William so that you can visit and photograph the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct, as well as ride over it on the train.
If you are looking last minute, and Harry Potter train tickets are sold out to buy direct, then it may be worth going for a tour option as they're often allocated a certain number of tickets.
You can of course also consider renting a car for the day; see this post on 9 car rental tips for travellers to save you a lot of money, and a lot of stress.
Harry Potter Train Timetable 2021
Now for the disappointing bit.
The Jacobite steam train only operates from April to October, and it only has two services from Fort William each day.
Note that the morning service in the 2021 schedule is slated to run until 29th October, with the afternoon service only available until Friday 1st October 2021.
This is why it's so important to book your ticket or tour far in advance, as it's a really popular experience for all visitors to the area - you're not just competing with other Harry Potter fans!
So, if you're reading this post now and know your travel dates, we highly recommend booking tickets as soon as possible.
Harry Potter Train Tickets & Tours
You can buy tickets for first class seats or standard class:
£69 | Adult Day Return (First Class)
£49 | Adult Day Return (Standard)
£48 | Child Day Return (First Class)
£28 | Child Day Return (Standard)
£154 | Private Table For 2 (First Class Return Tickets)
A child is classified as aged 16 or under, whilst those aged 3 and under travel for free and do not require tickets if they can sit on your lap (therefore not requiring a seat).
There is also a minimum £3.75 booking fee, and a steep £15 admin charge if you make an amendment to a booking. Going on the Harry Potter train in Scotland is not therefore a cheap option, and the costs will be high if you’re planning on doing it as a family.
You can buy your tickets directly on the West Coast Railways website here.
Galleons are not accepted.
As mentioned, we highly recommend booking in advance. There are however sometimes a limited number of tickets sold directly on the platform on the day of travel, but these are not guaranteed to be available or sold in any great number. If chancing your luck, then it's recommended to turn up at the station an hour before departure, and it's cash only.
Can You Buy A Single or One-Way Ticket?
At the time of writing, it is unfortunately not possible to do this on the The Jacobite if buying direct (but you can do it if joining the tours mentioned above and below). It's also not possible to travel on different days on the same ticket i.e. travel to Mallaig on the Monday, and travel back to Fort William on the Wednesday.
You have to buy a return ticket, and you have to travel on the same day.
Tickets also can't be used on the same day for a later train, so DO NOT MISS IT!
Wheelchair Users
Unfortunately, wheelchair users are not able to board whilst seated in their chair due to the age of the train.
If this affects you, we recommend contacting West Coast Railways directly to confirm accessibility and arrangements before booking any tickets or tours.
Tours
If unable to reach Fort William by public transport or rental car, then the following tours include a one-way ticket for the Harry Potter train (Mallaig to Fort William), as well as transport, guide, and visits to other locations in the Highlands.
First Class vs. Standard Class
This is a tourist experience, rather than an A to B transport service, so it's all about soaking in the marvellous views of the Highlands as well as day-dreaming of Hogwarts and looking out for Harry Potter filming locations.
The whole aesthetic of the train is catered to this too, with its 1950s interiors harking back to the golden age of rail travel.
The £20 difference between First and Standard class tickets will give you larger, more comfortable seats, extra leg room, and complimentary tea/coffee each-way. As well as being more spacious, the first class carriages are also a bit fancier overall, with cloths, lamps, fabric finishings.
In Standard Class, you'll be seated at tables for four, whilst First Class has the option of tables for two.
There are also a limited number of First Class compartments available on the morning train service. Akin to what you see in the Harry Potter films, are private with a sliding door and seat six people - if you can't see the option on the booking menu, then they will already have been taken
If money is no object, or you're treating a Potter fan to a one-off travel experience, then go for the first class; and you'll still have a great time with the exact same views in Standard Class!
It is however generally thought that you get the best views if you sit on the left hand side heading from Fort William to Mallaig, and on the right hand side on the return leg.
What's The Route & How Long Does It Take?
The Harry Potter train experience is a full-day affair.
The journey takes little over two hours each way, but you also have 1 hour 45 minutes to have lunch and walk around Mallaig before heading back to Fort William.
The day looks like this if you take the Sunday to Friday service in 2021:
1. Depart Fort William at 10.15 on the morning service, or 12.45 on the afternoon service.
2. Arrive in Mallaig at 12.26 or 15.01
3. Explore Mallaig on your own for 1 hour 45 minutes
4. Depart Mallaig at 14.10 or 16.45
5. Arrive in Fort William at 16.03 or 18.53
So, whether you take the morning or afternoon service from Fort William, the whole experience is going to involve about six or seven hours. This is no bad thing of course, but does mean that you can't really plan too many other activities in the Highlands on the day you’re taking the Harry Potter train.
In Mallaig, you'll have plenty time to have some lunch (fish & chips are recommended), stop by Haggard Alley if you want to buy some cool Harry Potter merch, and enjoy the views out to the islands.
What About The Harry Potter Bridge?
A real moment to savour on the journey is the when the steam train crosses the Glenfinnan Viaduct - also known as the Harry Potter bridge - which you’ll cross twice in the day.
The crossing happens about 30 minutes after you depart Fort William, 45 minutes after Mallaig, and the train slows down specially for it; you'll see dozens of people in the hills waiting to photograph the whistling, steaming Hogwarts Express as it passes by.
The Viaduct is a really popular destination due to the films (as well as for many other reasons), and the loch next to it is also a Harry Potter filming location (the Black / Dark Lake).
We’ve shared a full blog post on visiting and photographing the Glenfinnan Viaduct, but if you'd like to ride the train AND photograph the Harry Potter bridge as train goes across it on the same day, the best thing to do is take this tour from Inverness.
An Alternative To The Harry Potter Train
The West Highland Railway Line runs from Glasgow Queen Street to Oban, and travels along the same tracks from to Mallaig via Fort William. Travelling on a bog-standard ScotRail train isn't going to offer anywhere near the same experience as travelling on the beautiful black and red Jacobite steam train, and it bears no similarities to the Hogwarts Express. It also shoots across the Glenfinnan Viaduct at a much quicker pace.
However, if you're visiting Scotland outside of April to October or have a limited travel budget, it will at least bring you a little closer to the experience you were dreaming of.
