I make no secret of the very fact I like Harry Potter – and since introducing my daughter to the books, I’ve had an excuse to revisit a string of Harry Potter places in London, to go along with my record of one of the best Harry Potter days out within the UK.
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As a result of if you happen to love the wizarding world, you could find numerous Harry Potter filming places in London, plus locations that are talked about within the books (whether or not they made it into the Harry Potter films or not) and even historic spots that are thought to have impressed JK Rowling.
There are an enormous variety of Harry Potter excursions in London too, together with ones appropriate for teenagers, if you wish to pack as many places right into a single day as doable… to not point out the Warner Bros studio tour nor far exterior town.
However if you happen to’re on the lookout for one of the best Harry Potter places in London with children to discover as a household (or to discover by yourself!), right here’s my decide of the highest 20 – plus a number of magical bonuses.
King’s Cross, London
Begin your Harry Potter tour of London by heading to the station to board the Hogwarts Categorical, at Platform 9 ¾ in King’s Cross station.
OK so it’s not the precise Hogwarts Categorical, however you’ll be able to pose for pictures with a baggage trolley part-way via the wall.
There’s often a giant queue – that is one among London’s largest Harry Potter points of interest – nevertheless it often shrinks through the day. Or flip up brilliant and early (or arrive late) with your personal digital camera and props when the store has shut to keep away from ready. Platforms 4 and 5 had been really used for filming if you wish to examine them out too.
Save a while to browse in the Harry Potter store, which is without doubt one of the finest locations to purchase Harry Potter souvenirs in London, whether or not you wish to purchase your home scarf, wand, chocolate frogs, Niffler and different wizard paraphernalia – some unique to the store. They even ship if you happen to get actually carried away.
On the lookout for the bridge that Harry and Hagrid stroll over on their solution to the Hogwarts Categorical? It’s not at King’s Cross… and even in London! As a substitute, take a look at my prime locations to go in York for Harry Potter followers
St Pancras, London
If you wish to benefit from the picturesque view seen when Harry and Ron flew off over King’s Cross within the Weasleys’ Ford Anglia (from floor degree), the spectacular neo-gothic constructing is the St Pancras Renaissance lodge on the St Pancras Worldwide.
It’s straightforward to pop by if you happen to’re subsequent door at King’s Cross posing at Platform 9 3/4. It’s additionally near the British Library which has a set of wizarding books, together with a scroll displaying easy methods to create your personal Philospher’s stone, in addition to different books on the historical past of magic.
For extra nice children’ books about London, take a look at my tops picks for all ages
Leadenhall Market, London
Who wouldn’t wish to step via the magical entrance into Diagon Alley? The actual life movie location is just not off Charing Cross Highway although (though you might additionally wander down that avenue whilst you’re in London, to observe in Harry’s footsteps within the books).
As a substitute Leadenhall Market, the Victorian lined market within the Metropolis of London was used for the road of wizarding retailers within the first film.
And the way in which in to The Leaky Cauldron? You want the curved door subsequent to the optician in Bull’s Head Passage… beforehand blue, it’s now been painted white.
The Market Porter Pub, London
This pub close to Borough Market was remodeled into The Third Hand e-book retailer within the Prisoner of Azkaban, whereas the constructing subsequent door was additionally used as The Leaky Cauldron.
The Market Porter opens early for the market merchants, so you might even begin your exploring from 6am.
Cecil Court docket
There are numerous streets across the nation which declare to have impressed JK Rowling to create Diagon Alley, from Exeter to Edinburgh, in addition to York. However Cecil Court docket in London is one other sturdy contender for the real-life Diagon Alley.
It’s set simply off Charing Cross Highway, because the magic avenue is within the books, and has a string of weirdly great retailers, promoting books, maps and antiques, full with an old school fuel lamp within the centre.
In addition to the road’s magical really feel, it’s additionally house to Watkins Books, based in 1893 and primarily based at Cecil Court docket since 1901, claiming the title of the oldest occult and mystical bookshop on this planet.
Chances are you’ll even be capable of purchase dragon’s blood right here (a dried resin powder fairly than something extra magical…)
Goodwin’s Court docket
When you’ve wandered alongside Diagon Alley, it’s time to courageous Knockturn Alley – or the road that claims to have impressed it. Goodwin’s Court docket, simply throughout St Martin’s Lane from Cecil Court docket, dates again to the seventeenth century.
It has its personal gaslamps to gentle the slender avenue, lined with bow-fronted homes and retailers – though you gained’t discover flesh-eating slug repellent on sale.
The road has additionally been named as one other contender for Diagon Alley, however the darker atmospheric really feel means it’s simpler to think about Borgin & Burke’s than Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes right here.
Home of MinaLima
You’ll know the work of graphic design duo Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima – aka MinaLima – if you happen to’ve watched a single Harry Potter movie. The pair had been the brains behind every little thing from the Marauder’s Map to packets of Bertie Bott’s Each Flavour Beans.
And you may go to their London gallery and store in Soho – take a look at the little exhibition with info on how they created the designs, and a few originals on show, earlier than searching for a number of extra Harry Potter souvenirs within the store.
Initially at Greek Avenue in Soho, it moved to close by Wardour Avenue (no vanishing spells concerned). Entry is free though numbers are restricted so chances are you’ll must queue…
The Millennium Bridge, London
It’s onerous to neglect the dramatic begin of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, displaying the Millennium Bridge between St Paul’s Cathedral and the Tate Trendy collapsing after the Dying Eaters assault.
The wobbly bridge, because it’s recognized affectionately to Londoners, gained’t be wobbling or crumbling on account of darkish magic, however you get an excellent view alongside the Thames, and from the South Financial institution to St Paul’s cathedral on the north.
St Paul’s cathedral
When you’ve crossed the Millennium Bridge, there are Harry Potter hyperlinks to St Paul’s Cathedral itself – head inside to take a look at Wren’s Geometric Staircase within the south-west tower which appeared Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
The staircase doubled as one among many at Hogwarts, seen when Ron and Harry depart Professor Trelawney’s divination class after Hermione has walked out.
You should purchase tickets to go to St Paul’s Cathedral right here, together with a reduction utilizing my code MUMMYTRAVELS6 if you happen to e-book via my hyperlink
Australia Home, London
Whereas you will get an unforgettable glimpse of Gringotts Wizarding Financial institution on the Warner Bros Studio tour, full with goblins, the workplace of the Australian Excessive Fee stood in for the Diagon Alley establishment within the early films.
This is without doubt one of the more durable Harry Potter filming places in London to go to due to the safety concerned on the ornately grand Edwardian constructing on the Strand. However take ID, cross your fingers and ask the safety guards very properly for a fast look inside and also you is likely to be fortunate.
London Zoo
Practise your parseltongue within the reptile home at London Zoo in Regent’s Park, the place Harry will get into dialog with a boa constrictor earlier than realising his magic powers.
Within the movies, a Burmese python seems as a substitute, and there’s a plaque within the reptile home to commemorate the scene…
For some further serpent trivia, the real-life London Zoo tank beforehand held a black mamba however is at the moment empty.
Claremont Sq., London
Wander round Claremont Sq. in Islington and it’s not onerous to consider you’re really in Grimmauld Place – numbers 23-29 grew to become the outside of Sirius Black’s household house, headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix.
The sq.’s odd form has its personal secret to inform, courtesy of an 18th century water reservoir which was later lined over.
Westminster tube station
When Harry and Mr Weasley head to the Ministry of Magic for Harry’s listening to, you see them taking the tube – to Mr Weasley’s delight and bewilderment – in an effort to arrive in completely non-magical style.
The station they need to navigate is Westminster – not a protracted stroll from Scotland Place (learn on), the supposed web site of the Ministry itself.
The prepare station the place Harry meets Dumbledore (after studying the newspaper within the cafe in Half-Blood Prince) is Surbiton station – it’s simply exterior London and doesn’t actually have the flavour of magic, so in all probability not price going out of your solution to uncover until you’re decided to see each final location from the Harry Potter movies! In that case, head to platforms 1 and a pair of
Scotland Place
The pink telephone field the place Harry discovered the customer’s entrance to the Ministry of Magic stood on the nook the place Scotland Place and Nice Scotland Yard meet.
The telephone field itself was a prop (or maybe it’s solely seen to wizards?), so that you’ll have to make use of your creativeness.
Piccadilly Circus
Harry, Hermione and Ron apparate right here to flee the Dying Eaters within the Deathly Hallows Half One, so if you happen to’re ticking all of the Harry Potter London places off, it’s best to at the very least stroll via.
The scene filmed right here included 300 extras and needed to be shot early within the morning due to the difficulties of shutting Piccadilly Circus down.
In actuality it’s often a bit much less magical, because it’s one of many metropolis’s busiest junctions, though you do have the well-known illuminated adverts brightening every little thing up.
Lambeth Bridge
Sadly you’ll be able to’t assure a experience on the Knight Bus however you’ll be able to see one of many Harry Potter London places the place it appeared on display screen, crossing Lambeth Bridge.
In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, that is the place the Knight Bus squeezes between two different very non-magical doubledecker buses because it drives over the bridge.
It’s round a 15-minute stroll from Westminster, so you might additionally simply stroll onto Westminster Bridge and have a look down the river to see it from afar.
Harry Potter strolling tour in London
You gained’t be in need of Harry Potter strolling excursions in London, most of which is able to take you to the primary Potter movie places listed on this submit.
It’s all the time enjoyable to affix a bunch of fellow followers although, and a variety of the tour guides run quizzes or can present you scenes from the movies as you go, for an added bonus.
Try the Tour for Muggles, in addition to this child-friendly Harry Potter strolling tour.
Brit Film Excursions has one other strolling choice and there’s additionally a free choice from Strawberry Excursions, in partnership with London with an area.
Extra Harry Potter excursions in London
If you wish to save your toes, or see greater than on a strolling tour alone, do that London Harry Potter tour together with a ship journey. Or there are tour bundles together with a Harry Potter strolling tour, plus hop-on hop-off bus tour and boat tour (though the latter don’t have a wizarding theme)
You can even be a part of a Wizards London Bus tour masking the places within the capital, on a three-hour tour.
Try my suggestions for some extra of the finest bus excursions in London with children right here
The Palace Theatre, London
This West Finish theatre is the venue for the fabulous play, Harry Potter and the Cursed Baby – Elements I and II.
With extra performances, you don’t must e-book months prematurely any extra, though you’ll discover one of the best costs if you happen to do – and through peak season, it’s price keeping track of the location for returned and cancelled tickets coming again on sale if you happen to’re attempting to go to last-minute.
There’s additionally a lottery by way of TodayTix to be in with an opportunity of two tickets for £40 – so if you happen to’re in straightforward travelling distance of London, it’s nicely price enjoying.
Really helpful for aged 10+, it’s implausible with children who’re Harry Potter followers, however between the size of time spent on the theatre and some scary moments, it’s not very best for youthful children.
A condensed model can also be now carried out in New York, San Francisco, Toronto, Melbourne and Hamburg.
The Warner Bros Studio Tour, Hertfordshire
Though the Warner Bros studios aren’t in London itself, it’s solely a 20-minute prepare journey from Euston (plus the shuttle bus from Watford Junction station) to achieve the location in Leavesden, Hertfordshire.
And if you’re this shut, there’s no approach it’s best to threat lacking this final vacation spot for Harry Potter followers in London – myself included. Be sure you e-book forward as tickets get snapped up nicely prematurely.
Try my full set of suggestions for the Harry Potter Studio tour
Enable loads of time to experience broomsticks, drink butterbeer (optionally available!), uncover props, see the Hogwarts Categorical, stroll into The Forbidden Forest and watch a dragon rampage via Gringotts financial institution.
There are shows galore, and it’s solely if you go to that you just realise the astonishing element and simply how a lot work has gone into every side, to not point out an array of magical creatures plus background on how the units and animatronics had been created.
Try hippogriff Buckbeak, whose feathers had been added by hand and stored groomed by the Creature Results group, or work together with Dobby the Home Elf. And if you happen to’ve all the time wished to go to Hogwarts, that is the one place you’ll discover the entire fort.
There are particular occasions all year long, in winter you’ll be able to uncover Hogwarts within the Snow or a Darkish Arts theme for Halloween, in addition to different non permanent exhibitions.
Should you’re on the lookout for accommodations close to Harry Potter Studios London, take a look at my prime picks, or if you like to e-book tickets with a coach switch from London, click on right here or direct by way of Golden Excursions
Eat and sleep Potter
The Georgian Home Resort
You may not be capable of curl up within the Gryffindor dormitory after a protracted day exploring, however the subsequent neatest thing needs to be heading to mattress within the Wizard or Enchanted Chambers on the Georgian Home Resort close to Victoria.
E-book by way of reserving.com right here, together with free cancellation
When you’ve refuelled over a wizard afternoon tea, in fact, full with eye of newt scones or completed whipping up your personal potions (aka cocktails and mocktails)…
There’s no official Harry Potter hyperlink however with trunks, cauldrons and four-poster beds, the one factor that’s lacking is an owl.
Hagrid’s Hut
You don’t want an enormous household to like Hagrid’s Hut in Watford. This two-bedroom condo is simply a two miles from the Leavesden studios web site, so it’s a fast five-minute drive to take you to the wizarding world.
And in addition to all the standard self-catering services, together with kitchen and washer, there’s a enjoyable Harry Potter theme all through the condo – look out for owls dotted round, broomsticks on the partitions and the books to learn as nicely, to get you within the temper in your go to.
With a double mattress, bunk beds and a settee mattress, there’s room for 5 which makes it very best for bigger households visiting the Harry Potter Warner Bros Studios. There’s on-street parking as nicely.
Click on right here to e-book rooms at Hagrid’s Hut with free cancellation
For extra self-catering flats and accommodations close to Harry Potter studios, take a look at my prime picks
Spinner’s Finish
For an additional Harry Potter themed different, self-catering condo Spinners Finish is a three-bedroom condo – together with a settee mattress in the lounge – so there’s loads of room to unfold out.
It’s additionally two miles from the Warner Bros Studio tour, and the bedrooms are themed across the totally different Hogwarts Homes (no Slytherin although, regardless of the identify!)
There’s a minimal two-night keep, however if you happen to’re planning to spend the entire day absorbing each element of the studio tour earlier than heading into central London for extra Harry Potter places, that’s simply what you’ll want. There’s additionally free parking, plus a full kitchen with washer.
Potion making and a Wizard Afternoon tea
If testing the totally different Harry Potter locations in London has whetted your urge for food for all issues magical, you’ll be able to attempt your hand at creating your personal potions or refuel with a Wizard Afternoon tea at The Wizard Exploratorium in Soho.
In the course of the 1h 45-minute potion making expertise, you’ll be able to get pleasure from a welcome drink poured by magic wand, plus the prospect to brew two of your personal (in addition to using any important magical gear whilst you’re there) – appropriate for younger potion makers (children aged 5+) in addition to adults.
Or tuck into the Wizard afternoon tea, with ‘sand-witches’ alongside the scones and desserts, plus tea brewed by magic wand – additionally lasts for 1h 45 minutes. So long as you’ll be able to solid the best spells together with your wand to get the substances from the puzzle chest, and crack the important abilities of transfiguration to concoct your tea, in fact.
Extra magical experiences for Harry Potter followers in London
Wand making on the Wizard Exploratorium
Are you actually a Harry Potter fan if you happen to haven’t dreamed about strolling into Ollivanders and your wand selecting you? You may’t fairly try this within the Muggle world, alas, however the subsequent neatest thing is making your personal wand.
The Wizard Exploratorium isn’t formally linked to Harry Potter (in truth, it says so very particularly!) however the half-hour Magic Wand Expertise is ideal for younger followers – and the subsequent neatest thing if you happen to can’t get to Florida to get inventive with one of many Harry Potter wands at Common.
After selecting your magical type (gentle, darkish or earth magic), you get to choose your wand, the core and a particular ‘tree essence’ (saves slicing down all these wand timber), earlier than practising a number of primary spells.
For extra uncommon issues to do in London with children, take a look at my decide of one of the best
A wizard Escape Room
May you set the clues collectively to achieve the Chamber of Secrets and techniques (and escape once more)? Should you love the considered Escape rooms, there’s at the moment a wizarding themed escape room in Highbury & Islington, north London.
Wizarding Faculty: Fang of the Serpent at Breakin Escape Rooms isn’t formally linked to Harry Potter, however if you happen to’ve learn the books, your information of the plots and some spells may provide you with a head begin on fixing some riddles.
Harry Potter photographic exhibition
*EDIT – NOW CLOSED* There’s one other probability to experience a brush, in addition to a implausible look behind the scenes on the Harry Potter Photographic Exhibition in Covent Backyard.
Try our evaluate for all the small print of a day on the Harry Potter photograph exhibition with children, however there’s an opportunity to find quirky trivia, learn the way a number of the most memorable scenes had been created, see outfits up shut, and take a look at pictures of the solid between filming.
Improbable Beasts exhibition – now closed
Impressed by the Improbable Beasts films, the exhibition on the Pure Historical past Museum in London featured an excellent serving to of Harry Potter props too – a dragon head and golden egg for starters – in addition to a lot in regards to the wizarding world’s different magical creatures.
Whereas it has now ended, take a digital go searching in my evaluate of visiting the Improbable Beasts exhibition.
For extra nice Harry Potter days out close to London, head to Oxford for extra nice filming places, in addition to extra of one of the best UK days out for Harry Potter followers
*up to date 2023*
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