10 Places around London to Experience the Harry Potter World

10 Places around London to Experience the Harry Potter World

It’s hard not to get sucked into the Harry Potter fandom the minute you arrive in London town. Even if you’ve only mildly engaged with the books or films (what’s wrong with you?) you’ll feel them to be very much alive in these streets.

For some, a simple guided walking tour through central London is enough to kick their imaginations into gear. Your guides should be able to point out the most iconic filing locations along the way, while showing you London in all her glory.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour – by Tom Kulczycki – Unsplash

For others, like me, we need to smell, touch, taste every part of the city that may have influenced the existence of the Wizarding World in any way. Here’s how:

1. Platform 9 3/4 in London

A must for all die hards that want the ultimate souvenir photo from their trip to Harry’s hometown.

Both the books and films used King’s Cross as the point of access to the famous platform 9 and 3/4; the platform that takes students between London and Hogwarts.

by Sarah Ehlers – Unsplash

At King’s Cross there is a photo posing station where platform 9 and 3/4 would be, with a luggage trolley half into the brick wall, making it appear as though the individual would be on their way between platforms.

There is usually a long line here with hoards of people all patiently waiting for their photo opportunity. Come with time to spare.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: 24 Hours

ADDRESS: Pancras Rd, Kings Cross, London N1 9AP, United Kingdom

METRO STATION: Kings Cross

2. The Harry Potter Shop at Platform 9 3/4 in London

Being the consumeristic city that it is, London wasn’t going to let the platform 9 and 3/4 get away without a shop to got with it.

In here you can pick up further memorabilia to commemorate your platform visit. There are posters, books, trinkets, sweets and relics from the stories themselves.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: Monday to Sunday — 8am to 10pm

ADDRESS: Pancras Rd, Kings Cross, London N1 9AP, United Kingdom

METRO STATION: Kings Cross

3. St Pancras International in London

Since you’re already at King’s Cross you might as well make the short walk over to St Pancras International.

It’s a beauty of a station inside, but the outside is where you’ll recognize the scene from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets where the Weasley brothers fly their Ford Anglia.

St Pancras International in London – by Timitrius – Wikimedia Commons

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: 24 Hours

ADDRESS: Euston Rd, Kings Cross, London N1C 4QP, United Kingdom

METRO STATION: Kings Cross

4. Warner Bros. Studio Tour in London

If there is one thing Harry Potter fans shouldn’t miss while in London it is undoubtably the Warner Brothers Studio Tour.

Located a few kilometers outside of central London, the studio where they actually shot the majority of the films is now open to the public. You are literally allowed into the Harry Potter world that was brought to life by the world’s best set designers, artists and architects all those years ago.

Curious as to how they filmed the establishing shots of the entire Hogwarts Castle? Or if Diagon Alley was real or CGI? Come find out.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour – by Martin Pettitt – Wikimedia Commons

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: 8:30am to 10pm

ADDRESS: Studio Tour Dr, Watford WD25 7LR, United Kingdom

METRO STATION: Kings Langley

5. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – Theatre Show in London

The Harry Potter and the Cursed Child theatre production entered the London theatre roster a few years ago and has never looked back.

People come from all over the world, young and old, to enjoy this spectacle in Covent Garden.

Booking is essential for this type of London theatre. They sell out well in advance.

by Elizabeth Jamieson – Unsplash

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: Daily

ADDRESS: 113 Shaftesbury Ave, Soho, London W1D 5AY, United Kingdom

METRO STATION: Covent Garden

6. Tour for Muggles in London

The Tour for Muggles is another attraction that has seen very fast, very immense success since it was launched.

In involves a two and a half hour walking tour through London where you’ll be shown all of the major sights and landmarks used in the books and films.

The tours begin near London Bridge, right in the center. Pre-booking is required and it costs £14.75 per person; children attend for reduced rates.

It’s like a guided walking tour, except magical.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: Tuesday to Sunday – 9am to 5pm

ADDRESS: Duke St Hill, London SE1 2SW, United Kingdom

METRO STATION: London Bridge

7. Cecil Court in London

Cecil Court is just off of Charing Cross Road, and it is thought that this was the official point of inspiration for J.K. Rowling to create Diagon Alley.

It’s a strip of wooden storefronts filled with bookshops, map makers and fortune tellers. It’s mystical in all the right ways, and very definitely played an instrumental part in the development of the books we so love. A must see!

Cecil Court in London – by Gerry Lynch – Wikimedia Commons

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

ADDRESS: Cecil Court

METRO STATION: Leicester Square

8. Leadenhall Market in London

Cecil Court may have been the inspiration for Diagon Alley, but Leadenhall Market was where they actually filmed the location!

You’ll see the old entrance of the Leaky Cauldron at the end of the Bull’s Head Passage. This is also one of London’s oldest and most magnificent Victorian covered markets — something worth seeing, Harry or not.

Leadenhall Market in London – by Diliff – Wikimedia Commons

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: Daily

ADDRESS: Gracechurch St, London EC3V 1LT, United Kingdom

METRO STATION: Monument

9. Piccadilly Circus in London

Few people can forget the iconic scene during Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows where Hermione, Harry and Ron frantically sprint through London’s West End.

This was filmed right here in the Piccadilly Circus. You’ll recall the three friends having to jump out of the way after nearly being hit by a big, red London bus; something everyone who spends enough time in Piccadilly Circus is used to doing.

Piccadilly Circus in London – by Dietmar Rabich – Wikimedia Commons

10. Black Cab Harry Potter Tour in London

Similar to the guided walking tours, the Black Cab tours will take you on a three hour location viewing adventure from the comfort of a typical London black cab.

These tours are most ideal on rainy days, when walking through the city simply isn’t permitted. They cover everything there is to see when it comes to Harry Potter in London, and will even take you to outlying attractions in the countryside that were used for filming.

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