10 Cathedral Close Exeter – Harry Potter Room of Requirement Inspiration

Did you know that there are many places in the city of Exeter that were inspirations for Harry Potter?

That’s right, J. K. Rowling was a graduate of the University of Exeter, and it is thought that this magical city inspired parts of her Wizarding World. 

One of the most famous locations is 10 Cathedral Close, which is thought to have inspired the Room of Requirement.

Here is a complete visitor guide for 10 Cathedral Close and the Harry Potter connection.

10 Cathedral Close Exeter history

The area surrounding Exeter Cathedral and Cathedral Close has a history dating back to Roman times, when they built a bathhouse.

The first Christian place of worship was established in the city around 1050, and this makes Exeter one of the oldest working cathedrals in the country. 

The group of buildings in Cathedral Close dates back to the 14th century, although they have had many renovations made to them since then.

In the Middle Ages, 10 Cathedral Close was the house of the Archdeacons of Barnstaple and Totnes.

The front courtyard was used as a gatehouse and stables. The house has been expanded over the centuries, with numerous alterations.

Different bishops and members of the clergy used it as a private residence. Hence why it is often called ‘the house’.

The white and black timber-framed facade was placed there in the 19th century.

This is where the artist John Gendall lived, who owned Mols Coffee House, which you can still see at number 1 Cathedral Close.

The building and door were given Grade I listed status in 1953. Over the years, it fell into disrepair, and the oak door suffered wood rot.

Today, Cathedral Close in Exeter is owned by the cathedral, and number 10 is the private residence of the Cathedral Dean.

10 Cathedral Close Door

The ornately carved oak door on 10 Cathedral Close is thought to be around the same age as the famous Exeter Guildhall door.

There are a few decorative doors like this found in the city, and they are all thought to date back to the 1600s. 

The door at Exeter Guildhall dates back to dated 1593 and was carved by Nicholas Baggett, a local carpenter.

There are similarities in both doors found at 10 Cathedral Close and the Guildhall, with cubed raised carvings, semi-circles, and lion faces.

So, it’s safe to assume that Baggett also carved the door on Cathedral Close, as it fits in perfectly with the timeline.

You’ll notice the coat of arms of Bishop Cotton above the doorway who was a bishop at Exeter Cathedral in 1598 for 23 years.

Maybe he was the one who commissioned the door?

Apart from a bit of wood rot in 2009, this decorative door has been wonderfully preserved for the past 400 years.

Nowadays, it’s also famous in Exeter as many Potterheads believe it to be the inspiration for the Harry Potter Room of Requirement door.

What is the Room of Requirement in Harry Potter?

Fans of Harry Potter will not need a reminder of the Room of Requirement. But it is a secret room on the seventh floor at Hogwarts.

It’s also known as the Come and Go Room, according to Dobby and the Room of Hidden Things, where Draco hid during his sixth year. 

It only appears to those who are in great need of it, and it transforms itself into whatever is needed for the witch or wizard at that moment. 

For example, the Room of Requirement appeared for Harry Potter and Dumbledore’s Army as a place to train to fight Death Eaters.

It’s also famous for hiding things like Horcruxes, and Voldemort used this very room to hide one inside Rowena Ravenclaw’s lost diadem.

To make the Room of Requirement appear, you have to walk past it three times thinking about what you need, and a door will reveal itself. 

In the movies, this room appears in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Parts 1 & 2. 

Who can forget the Skirmish here and when Harry Potter saves Draco Malfoy from the Fiendfyre?

Was 10 Cathedral Close really an inspiration?

Did you know that J. K. Rowling was a student at the University of Exeter? She studied French and Classics there.

There are many theories that she was inspired by locations in Exeter and Devon for her Harry Potter series.

For example, the magnificent Exeter Cathedral inspired the Great Hall at Hogwarts. 

Local towns like Chudleigh inspired the Chudley Cannons Quidditch Team.

Even the Civil Parish of Ottery St Mary is thought to have inspired Ottery St Catchpole, which is the village south of the Weasleys’ Burrow.

But one of the biggest fan theories is that the incredible 10 Cathedral Close inspired the Room of Requirement.

J. K. Rowling has never confirmed that this was the inspiration of the Room of Requirement door in Harry Potter. But she hasn’t dispelled it either.

Recently, she denied publicly on Twitter that Gandy Street inspired Diagon Alley, as it “didn’t look like that in her head”.

Also, that the Old Firehouse did not inspire the Leaky Cauldron, as she’d never been there.

But she didn’t deny that 10 Cathedral Close was the inspiration for the Room of Requirement.

Although it’s still just a popular fan theory, it is a must-visit for Potterheads. 

So, walk by this door three times and think about what you really need, grab your wand, and say Alohomora.

How to find Cathedral Close Exeter

You won’t need a Revelio Charm to find the Room of Requirement door in Exeter. 

It could not be easier to find 10 Cathedral Close as it lies near Exeter Cathedral.

From the entrance of the cathedral, walk behind it onto Exeter Cathedral Green. Then, step out onto the cobbled pathway to find 10 Cathedral Close.

The door is instantly recognisable, even if you aren’t in great need of it, due to it being so big and full of fantastic carving work.

Can you go inside 10 Cathedral Close?

10 Cathedral Close is owned by Exeter Cathedral but, unfortunately, it is closed to the public.

Those who have been inside say that the door doesn’t really lead anywhere, much like the Room of Requirement, I guess.

You won’t find any hidden things or Horcruxes behind this door, I’m afraid.

If you were to go inside, the architecture is quite clever. You’ll enter through the tiny postern doorway to save swinging open that heavy oak door.

If you crawl through the tiny entrance, it leads out onto a small courtyard called The Gatehouse.

There is also a small chapel accessed to the north side. The buildings are private residences for members of the cathedral.

Cathedral Close Exeter photography tips

• This road is a through route for residents, so you may find that it gets quite busy during the day.

• The best location for photos is across the road on the opposite side. If you’re too close, you won’t get all of the door in your frame

• The road in front of this door is cobbled but car-free, so don’t worry about having to avoid or wait for traffic 

• The sun shines on this door in the afternoon if it’s a sunny day. So, if you don’t want harsh shadows, I would arrive early in the morning.

How to visit Exeter 

The amazing historical city of Exeter is located in the South West of England in the county of Devon.

It’s perched on the River Exe, and you’re only a few miles from the South Devon coastline.

The easiest way to reach Exeter is by car, and you’ll find this city on the M5 Motorway.

But you can also access Exeter on the Devon Expressway if you’re driving from places like Dartmoor, Plymouth, or Totnes.

Exeter has great public transport connections. There is a direct train from London Paddington to Exeter St David’s.

Plus, Exeter has a large bus station. National Express coaches run to Exeter from a range of locations throughout the UK.

Exeter Parking 

Parking in Exeter is a little steep nowadays, with all-day parking costing upwards of £13 -15  a day for the central places. 

But, there is a little-known car parking area that is only £3.50 for the whole day near the quayside.

It’s an Exeter City Council car park located on Okehampton Street only a short walk away from the central attractions.

It’s also a 7-minute walk to The House That Moved and Fore Street, and a 10-15 minute walk to the High Street and Exeter Cathedral.

Harry Potter locations in Exeter

If you’re a Potterhead, you’ll be pleased to know that many places in this city inspired locations in the Wizarding World.

For example, although J. K. Rowling has now denied it, Potter fans thought that Gandy Street in Exeter was the inspiration for Diagon Alley. 

You’ll instantly fall in love with the amazing and colourful shops here.

You may even spot a broken red brick wall at the end of the street which looks like the entrance from the rear courtyard at the Leaky Cauldron.

If you head further down, you’ll find The Vaults, which was apparently an inspiration for Gringotts Bank. 

Exeter Cathedral looks just like Hogwarts’ Great Hall, and The Old Firehouse inspired the Leaky Cauldron.

Although some of these locations have now been officially ‘dispelled’ by J. K. Rowling, Potterheads will still love to visit.

You could even travel around Dartmoor to some of the places that inspired names in the stories, like Wistman’s Wood.

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