The $1.1m home in Suffolk that Harry Potter called home

Real homes as seen on screen

While the homes of some of our most loved film characters are nothing more than purpose-built sets with carefully chosen props, others are all too real. The setting for some of the world's most iconic silver screen scenes, these genuine properties bring fiction magically to life.

From the Sanderson Sisters coven in Hocus Pocus to the ancient timber-framed house in Suffolk that stood in as the birthplace of everyone's favorite wizard in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One, these famous movie houses are sure to fill you with nostalgia!

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Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

36 years after the original, Tim Burton's Beetlejuice sequel made its highly anticipated debut in cinemas in September 2024, receiving critical acclaim.

The long-awaited follow-up to the 1988 supernatural comedy sees Michael Keaton reprise his iconic role as the mischievous Beetlejuice, joined once again by Winona Ryder as Lydia Deetz and Catherine O'Hara as the eccentric artist Delia Deetz.

The film follows three generations of the Deetz family as they return to Winter River following an unexpected family tragedy.

The Deetz residence, New Jersey, USA

As you would expect, there are special effects and stunning sets galore, including the central ghostly Deetz residence, which has been shrouded in black in homage to Delia’s late husband Charles.

During the spooky season Airbnb invited guests into a specially created replica of the Deetz home movie set in Hillsborough Township, New Jersey, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the surreal, haunting universe of the film.

The Deetz residence, New Jersey, USA

For a limited period over Halloween only, reports British newspaper The Independent, selected guests were able to explore the Beetlejuice residence, with its disorientating chequered hallway and spaces filled with Delia’s spooky sculptures and paintings.

Guests were treated to a guided tour by Delia’s longtime assistant, while Delia herself gives an art class from beyond the grave.

The Deetz residence, New Jersey, USA

In the attic, visitors encounter the Maitlands’ meticulous model of Winter River, Connecticut. In the film Lydia’s rebellious teenage daughter, Astrid, discovers the mysterious model of the town in the hidden room and the portal to the Afterlife is accidentally opened.

Sadly, visitors were not able to stay overnight in the one-off mansion, but Airbnb hosted the lucky few in nearby accommodation as part of the experience.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

For many, Harry Potter is one of the greatest sagas of all time. With eight blockbuster movies, the Wizarding World has raked in £8.6 billion ($11.3bn) so far, according to Forbes.

Thanks to a multimillion-dollar budget, each movie offered spectacular sets that brought the story to life. While the Weasley family's tumbledown home was very much smoke and mirrors, some of the franchise's locations were real...

Harry's childhood home, Suffolk, UK

Potterheads will remember this iconic home from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, the penultimate movie in the much-loved franchise.

In the film, this historic pad was used as the location for Harry's childhood home. In fact, film makers used the much of real-life medieval town Lavenham, Suffolk, to create the wizarding town of Godric’s Hollow, the place where Harry was born and where his parents were killed at the hands of evil Lord Voldemort.

Harry's childhood home, Suffolk, UK

The historic timber-framed house dates back to the 14th century and is now one of the most photographed houses in England, thanks to its wizarding connection. It also happens to be one of the most historically significant medieval properties in Britain.

Known locally as De Vere House, it once belonged to the aristocratic De Vere family, who lived here between the 14th and 17th centuries. Though light-filled and chic, it appears almost untouched since their day.

Harry's childhood home, Suffolk, UK

The property appeared hauntingly derelict in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, but in reality, the De Vere House is chic and cosy with spacious rooms and plenty of eye-catching period details.

Grade I-listed, the home has six bedrooms, three reception rooms and four bathrooms, while carved timber ceilings, wonky stone fireplaces, lead mullion windows and a medieval staircase add to its magic.

In 2018, the period property sold for an unsurprisingly huge $1.3m and is now a luxury bed and breakfast which can be booked via Airbnb.

Basic Instinct

Widely recognised as one of the most memorable movies of the early 1990s, with many Academy and Golden Globe Award nominations, Basic Instinct starred Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone, who will forever be remembered for her infamous crossed-legs scene in the film.

Playing mysterious sociopath novelist Catherine Tramell, it was Stone’s breakthrough role, catapulting the actress to international stardom in films that would include Casino and The Specialist.

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Catherine Tramell's house, Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, USA

While Stone and Douglas were the undisputed stars of the film, the Basic Instinct movie-set house in Carmel-by-the-Sea, where Catherine Tramell is questioned about the murder of her boyfriend, came in a close second.

On the craggy shores of the Pacific, with sweeping ocean views, the three-story house extends across 12,000 square feet (1,115sqm). It has five bedrooms, nine bathrooms, 12 fireplaces and two kitchens, along with stunning grounds. A pool, spa and grotto are hidden away in tropical foliage, reports interiors blog Habitually Chic.

Catherine Tramell's house, Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, USA

One of the most stunning locations along the central California coast, the home is perched atop a bluff facing the crashing waves at Point Lobos, a rocky promontory (a raised mass of land that projects into a body of water) and marine preserve, providing stunning views from virtually every corner of the house.

While the home has been updated since filming of the film in 1991, its basic layout and modern aesthetic remains.

Catherine Tramell's house, Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, USA

The house was later purchased by adventurer Steve Fossett, who broke over a hundred records in air and ocean sailing speeds and distances. He disappeared in 2007, after taking off for a pleasure flight in a small aircraft. His body was found a year later.

The house was sold and extended following his wife Peggy’s death in 2017 to include several cottages and this stunning domed two-story library.

The Basic Instinct movie house last came to auction in 2022 for just under $30 million, reports British newspaper the Daily Mail.  It also appeared in Season Two of Big Little Lies, starring Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon.

Notting Hill

The 1999 romcom Notting Hill immediately captured the hearts of viewers all over the world and flooded London’s northwest neighborhood with tourists eagerly seeking the quaint Easter egg-colored buildings, bustling street markets and, of course, the iconic Travel Bookshop.

In the film, the shop provides the perfect 'meet cute' for the charming but awkward bookseller William Thacker (Hugh Grant) and glamorous American film star Anna Scott (Julia Roberts), who immediately strike up an unconventional but utterly adorable romance.

The flat above The Travel Bookshop, London, UK

Fans of the film may be devastated to discover that the flat above The Travel Bookshop, a real storefront on the famous Portobello Road in Notting Hill, was last placed on the market with estate agents Russell Simpson for just shy of $3.2m in November 2022, but it unsurprisingly sold within a month.

The three-bed, two-bath maisonette boasts 1,414 square feet (131sqm) of space, copious amounts of natural light and an unbeatable location in the heart of one of London’s most scenic neighborhoods.

The flat above The Travel Bookshop, London, UK

The first floor of the flat features an open plan kitchen, dining and living area, which offers original exposed brick, hardwood flooring and a small fireplace.

White walls and ceilings give the space an airy, open feel and French country-inspired furnishings make the living area particularly cosy.

The flat above The Travel Bookshop, London, UK

Heading upstairs via a rustic wooden staircase, the second floor offers two double bedrooms and a full bathroom.

The third floor is entirely devoted to the master suite, which boasts gorgeous, vaulted ceilings and a unique round window, plus a luxurious master bathroom complete with a soaking tub and a steam room. 

You can still visit the iconic shop, but you won't find a wide selection of books. These days, it sells mainly gifts related to the famous film. 

Hocus Pocus

As far as Halloween movies go, Hocus Pocus is up there with the best of them.

The original hit our screens in 1993 and follows a comedic trio of witches, played by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy, who are inadvertently brought back from the dead when teenager, Max Dennison, lights the Black Flame Candle on Halloween night.

Two decades after the first movie was released, Hocus Pocus 2 landed on Disney+ in 2022 and in celebration, the iconic Salem cottage was recreated...

The Hocus Pocus Salem Cottage, Massachusetts, USA

Complete with cobwebs and smoky cauldrons, the “old creaky cottage stands tall amidst the trees”, the Airbnb listing stated.

Sadly, bookings were limited and only two adults got to stay here on 20 October 2022. We're sure they had the spookiest time of their lives...

The Hocus Pocus Salem Cottage, Massachusetts, USA

Once inside, the guests were greeted by candlelight, broomsticks and apothecary bottles.

Suggested pre-sleepover activities for the lucky guests included trying their hand at enchantments from the ancient spell book and exploring the “dark, rich history of Salem with visits to some of the town’s most haunted properties”.

The Hocus Pocus Salem Cottage, Massachusetts, USA

While the listing may reference the Sanderson Sisters as hosts of the two-bedroom cottage, the guests were greeted by a socially distanced on-site concierge instead, given that it happened during the pandemic.

Designed down to a T, the impressive fairytale cottage is definitely the stuff of movie fan dreams. We just wish the property was still available to rent...

Saturday Night Fever

In 1977, John Travolta wowed audiences with his incredible dance moves and elaborate costumes. Saturday Night Fever followed Tony, a young Italian American who tries to escape his difficult family life by hitting the dance floor.

In the movie, which featured a classic soundtrack by the Bee Gees, Tony lived in an attractive home in Brooklyn, New York. That very same house went on the market in 2020, selling for $2m.

Tony Manero's family home, New York, USA

The 1920s home in Bay Ridge has just as much style and glamour as the movie itself.

Sitting behind private gates, the beautiful building now benefits from a faux Tudor-style exterior, a picture-perfect front porch and a spacious driveway.

Despite undergoing a thorough makeover in 2005, the house still retains much of its character and plenty of details keen movie fans will remember all too well.

Tony Manero's family home, New York, USA

Now refined and traditional in style, the 3,791-square-foot (352sqm) interior is still in need of a little modernisation. 

The renovation removed any signs of dated retro décor, but remnants of the home's movie heritage can still be seen in the dining room, where many scenes unfolded.

Original picture rails, timber panelling and decorative chandeliers all remain intact since the home's disco days.

Tony Manero's family home, New York, USA

There are five bedrooms and three bathrooms, as well as a spacious family kitchen, a dining area, a formal lounge, media room, an exterior balcony, and Jacuzzi tub with its own television, the perfect spot for Tony to soak after a long night in his platforms and flares. 

Period details include cherry wood floors and stained-glass windows, as well as original built-ins, woodwork and log-burning fireplaces. 

The Money Pit

In 1986, the American comedy-drama The Money Pit hit movie theaters around the world.

The film stared Tom Hanks and Shelley Long as a young couple who pile their life savings into a fixer-upper. As we all know, home renovations are not always as straight forward as we might hope, as this couple soon discovers when their dream home crumbles around them.

Filmed on location in New York, the real-life Money Pit property is anything but dilapidated...

The Money Pit mansion, New York, USA

Known as Northway, the regal residence can be found in the village of Lattingtown, along the Gold Coast of Long Island, USA.

Sitting on over five acres (2ha) of land, the property also boasts 240,669 square feet (22,350sqm) of living space and stunning interior design.

Constructed in 1898, the home was once owned by the American sailor, Eric Ridder, who won a gold medal at the 1952 Olympic Games.

The Money Pit mansion, New York, USA

Since many of the scenes in this Steven Spielberg-produced film required crumbling walls and derelict rooms, a set was used where needed.

However, much like the characters from the movie, the previous owners took on a huge renovation project which cost millions and took four years to complete.

Now, the pad is effortlessly sophisticated, thanks to polished hardwood floors, ornate crown mouldings, marble fireplaces and gilded bronze fixtures.

The Money Pit mansion, New York, USA

Perfect for large-scale entertaining, the grand colonial property has eight bedrooms and eight bathrooms, as well as a beautiful contemporary kitchen, a saltwater swimming pool and a pool house. 

The formal living room and dining room include French doors that open to a veranda, while the gilded library is the perfect spot for cocktails before dinner. There's also a media room with an imported 500-year-old French fireplace. 

Despite its many attributes, the house took five years to sell when it went on the market in 2014 for $13m, finally selling in 2019 for the much reduced price of $3.7m.

Bull Durham

Bull Durham, one of the most beloved sports films of all time, captured our hearts with its outstanding script.

Released in 1988, the film features Susan Sarandon as the self-assured Annie Savoy and Kevin Costner as seasoned baseball pitcher Crash Davis.

This romantic comedy was shot in and around Durham, North Carolina, where Annie's iconic house still stands proudly in the heart of the town.

Bull Durham house, North Carolina, USA

This picture-perfect residence served as Annie's house in the classic film and has become famous in the city for its star turn. Within these very walls, Kevin Costner delivered some of the most memorable lines in romantic comedy history.

Now recognised as a historic landmark, protected by Preservation Durham, and one of the oldest homes in the area, the 3,598-square-foot (334sqm) property was last listed in May 2024 for $1.7m with the Adam Dickinson Realty Group.

Bull Durham house, North Carolina, USA

With four bedrooms and four bathrooms, the house looks far more modern and refined than it did in the film. In 1988, it was decorated with green kitchen units, yellow tiles, bold floral wallpapers and plenty of net curtains.

Now, the interiors feature a more subdued color palette and understated furnishings, giving the home a fresh and contemporary feel.

Bull Durham house, North Carolina, USA

Built in 1880, the Queen Anne-style home retains many of its original architectural features, including soaring 11-foot (3.4m) ceilings adorned with intricate medallions, stained-glass windows, ornate millwork, decorative fireplaces and timber pocket doors.

The distinctive 1980s kitchen has thankfully been updated, now showcasing streamlined countertops, exposed brickwork and soft green cabinetry. Outside, a charming wraparound porch, featured in Annie’s memorable opening scenes, adds to the home’s character.

Fittingly, it’s just a short stroll from Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

To Catch a Thief

Starring Cary Grant and Grace Kelly, with exquisite costumes designed by Edith Head, To Catch a Thief is widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time.

The 1955 Hitchcock classic follows John Robbie, a retired cat burglar, as he becomes embroiled in a theft he did not commit.

Set against the stunning backdrop of the French Riviera, the film features an array of breathtaking locations. One of the most memorable is Château de La Croix des Gardes, a property that left a lasting impression on Grace Kelly herself.

Château de La Croix des Gardes, Cannes, France

Grace Kelly was captivated by the romance and stunning architecture of Château de La Croix des Gardes when she arrived in 1955 to film scenes for the film’s masquerade ball.

To Catch a Thief marked the final collaboration between Kelly and her mentor and close friend Alfred Hitchcock, before her marriage to Prince Rainier III of Monaco the following year.

Château de La Croix des Gardes, Cannes, France

With its elegant Florentine-style façades and manicured gardens overlooking the Bay of Cannes, Château de La Croix des Gardes was a fitting backdrop for Grace Kelly, the soon-to-be fairy-tale princess who gave up her acting career upon marriage.

Originally built in 1919, the château was later acquired by Perrier founder Gustave Leven, who reimagined it in the Palladian style. Spanning nearly 13,000 square feet (1,208sqm) and set on 24 acres (9.7ha), the property last went on the market in 2016 for $55.8m. It has 13 bedrooms, nine bathrooms, a guest house, an orangery and a sprawling infinity pool, so it's well worth the price tag!

Château de La Croix des Gardes, Cannes, France

The Château de La Croix des Gardes has seen changes since these photos were taken. Acquired by Mandarin Oriental and restored by interior designer Katharine Pooley, it reopened in 2022 for private hire, the first time in 56 years.

Now part of the Exclusive Homes portfolio, it has been described as "a contemporary reimagining of a historical masterpiece." according to Pooley's website. The largest remaining estate on the Côte d’Azur, it’s a transformation Princess Grace would surely approve of.

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