24 Otherworldly Libraries That Feel Like Stepping Directly Into a Fantasy Novel

15. The Enchanted Duke Humfrey’s Library, Oxford University (UK)

For those who dream of stepping into a real-life Hogwarts, Duke Humfrey’s Library—the oldest reading room in the Bodleian Library at Oxford University—is a gothic masterpiece of candle-lit charm, towering wooden shelves, and ancient tomes. Built in 1488, it holds some of the world’s most valuable medieval manuscripts and served as the inspiration (and filming location) for the Hogwarts Library in the Harry Potter films. Students still study here under the watchful gaze of gargoyle-like bookcases, making it one of the most atmospheric libraries in the world.