Harry Potter fan named Britain's biggest collector

Georgia Ferda,PA Media
PA Victoria in Harry Potter costumePA
Victoria's collection has more than 9,000 pieces of Harry Potter memorabilia

A Harry Potter super fan with more than 9,000 items in a collection worth £250,000 has been labelled Britain’s biggest collector.

Victoria Maclean, 44, from Neath, has continued to grow her collection over the past 20 years.

She bought her first piece after reading The Philosopher's Stone and owns an item worth about £35,000.

She even named her youngest son Harry - and said her collection was in "almost every single part of the house".

Ms Maclean said: "My mum was a big Harry Potter collector.

"When she passed away nine years ago, my collection became more of an obsession and it basically took over my life."

She was awarded Britain's Biggest Collection by Airtasker, a local services marketplace, in February 2024.

She said: "Harry Potter is something that is obviously fiction, you can’t visit Hogwarts so I wanted to bring Hogwarts to me."

Victoria’s home is full of robes, hats, wands and numerous other pieces, which she said were displayed all around the house.

PA The handmade gold leaf cabinet with a miniature replica of Dumbledore's officePA
The handmade gold leaf cabinet, which is worth £35,000 and holds a miniature replica of Dumbledore's office, also houses Victoria's mum's ashes

She added: "The only place my collection isn’t seen is in my children’s rooms.

"Their rooms are Harry Potter-free apart from a few items in my youngest son’s room, who's named after Harry.

"But it’s everywhere else. It’s in almost every single part of the house.

"It’s in boxes, cupboards, wardrobes, drawers, trunks, in the attic, under the bed.

"At work I have a uniform so I put on my Harry Potter socks underneath because no-one can see it.”

Victoria runs a YouTube channel with more than 27,000 followers where she shares her love for the franchise.

Her favourite item in her collection is a cabinet containing a handmade 24-carat golf leaf miniature replica of Dumbledore’s office, worth an estimated £35,000.

She said: "I am passionate about my Harry Potter Collection which brings joy not only to myself and my family, but also to the community.

"Being one of the biggest collectors globally, I’m thrilled to fly the flag for the UK, where the wizarding world originated."