Are you a major Harry Potter fan? Maybe you've even spent a fair bit of time wishing you could inhabit the world of the books, attending Hogwarts and practicing magic. While all of that is still absolutely impossible because Harry Potter is made up, you can visit a Harry Potter-inspired holiday home that resembles Hagrid's Hut (original version pictured below).
The Harry Potter-inspired family holiday home is near Saltburn on the edge of the North York Moors and is full of Hagrid-related paraphernalia. The Groundkeeper's Cottage comprises of three interlocking circular slate-roofed buildings, two with turrets, and all with stained glass windows.
Guests walk up to the lantern-lit wooden door before stepping into the "spacious" open plan living space that comprises of a kitchen and dining area with seating in front of a feature fireplace.
The bedroom is also circular, with a double bed and a rustic wooden bunk bed, making it perfect for people travelling with children. A second door opens onto a lovely, huge bathroom with a freestanding copper bath and a copper sink. The owner, Carol Cavendish, is a self-proclaimed Harry Potter fan and has been since her early 20s, so she added small touches like an ink bottle and quill that can make guests feel like they're living in the HP universe.
The cottage was built by Billy Cessford, a stage and screen prop maker and set designer for BBC and the theatre, at a cost of £195,000, partly funded by a grant from the Rural Development Programme for England. It's not cheap from £195 a night, but does sleep up to six if you're willing to get cosy and rope the sofabed in. One well-behaved dog is also welcome.
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The North Shire has had a vision to create a storybook fantasy world for guests for a while. Back in 2015 the site opened a Hobbit-hole inspired cottage to bring in Lord of the RIngs fans, and last year they opened the yurt-style Green Dragon café inspired by the inn favoured by hobbits in the films. There is also an Enchanted Barn for functions, and a Storybook Cottage, Shepherds' huts, gypsy caravans and camping are also on the six-acre site
Carol has spoken about her reasons for wanting to open these properties, saying: "books have always been an important part of my life even after being diagnosed with dyslexia when I taught myself to read. They've also helped me through challenging times when I would turn to the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings books for pure escapism. That's why it is so fantastic to create an environment where others can also leave behind everyday life and step into their favourite storybook. We've seen how Potts Corner has proven to be a hit among adults and children alike and so we're sure that would-be Hagrids will be heading our way."
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For more info and even to book the cottage, go here.
Featured Image Credit: Charlotte Graham