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You’ve read the books, watched the movies, and maybe even played the games. But now it’s time to bring your Harry Potter fantasy to life by walking in the footsteps of some of the UK’s most beloved fictional characters.
In this post, you’ll not only find a rundown of the most famous Harry Potter filming locations in London you can visit for yourself, but also the best London Harry Potter attractions.
And as a bonus, I’ve even included some of the other top Harry Potter locations around the rest of the UK too. To visit them, it is best to consider a car hire at London Heathrow. Renting a car will allow you to move freely between locations and have a truly magical experience.
Harry Potter Attractions in London:
Here are all of the best Harry Potter attractions London has to offer…
Visit Warner Bros. Studio Tour
The Warner Brothers Studio Tour: The Making of Harry Potter, is an exhibit offering a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the Harry Potter films.
At the studio, visitors are able to visit real film sets from the franchise, including Hogwarts Great Hall, the Forbidden Forest, Diagon Alley and the Hogwarts Express, as well as seeing many of the authentic movie props and original outfits worn by the cast.
You’ll also learn all about the special and visual effects which went into bringing the magic alive on screen as well as how the costumes and sets were originally designed.
Plus, there are some great photo opportunities so don’t forget your camera!
How to get to the Warner Brothers Studio Tour from London?
Despite the fact that the Warner Brothers Studio Tour usually tops lists of the best things to do in London for Harry Potter fans, did you know that the studio is not technically in London?
The Warner Brothers Studio is actually located in Watford, just to the north of London. However, it is easily accessible from central London by either:
- The train from London Euston to Watford Junction (20 minutes) followed by a regular shuttle bus (15 mins) to the studios.
- The official Golden Tours bus service from London Kings Cross or Victoria (around 1 hour).
Watch Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Palace Theatre
Another absolute must for fans of Harry Potter in London is watching Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Part One and Part Two at the Palace Theatre.
The West End production is based on an original story by J. K. Rowling and takes place nineteen years after the final Harry Potter book. The story follows Harry’s youngest son, Albus Severus Potter, during his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
The Harry Potter show, which is split into two halves, has won multiple awards for its impressive on-stage theatricals creating the illusion of real-life ‘magic’ for the audience.
Tip: Make sure you check for discounted Harry Potter tickets at London Box Office.
Nearest tube stations: Leicester Square and Tottenham Court Road.
Visit the House of MinaLima
House of MinaLima is the design studio behind the props that required graphic design or artwork in both the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films. It was founded by Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima.
They designed everything from Harry’s acceptance letter from Hogwarts and the Maurader’s Map to all of the newspapers, posters, signs and books used throughout the movies.
The studio is now a gallery and store situated in the heart of Soho where you can see their original designs and buy some of the coolest Harry Potter stuff in London.
Nearest tube stations: Leicester Square, Covent Garden and Tottenham Court Road.
Take on a Harry Potter Escape Room
The School of Witchcraft and Wizardry by Enigma Quests is a magic-themed escape room where players take on themed challenges and tasks in order to ‘pass all exams and defeat the dark forces’.
And yes, you even get to wear a robe!
Nearest tube station: Liverpool Street.
Alternatively, try The School of Magic by London Escaped for another magic-themed immersive escape room full of wizardy clues and puzzles.
Nearest tube station: Aldgate East.
Drink ‘Potions’ at a Harry Potter bar
The Cauldron is an amazing immersive cocktail-making experience in London in which you get to don your finest robe and receive a working magic wand in order to brew your own bubbling potions from a large selection of magical ingredients.
Well, that’s one way to live out your Harry Potter fantasy as an adult!
Nearest tube station: Dalston Kingsland.
Check out more of London’s coolest and quirkiest places to drink.
Go for a Harry Potter themed afternoon tea
Upgrade your Harry Potter in London experience by paying a visit to Cutter & Squidge’s Secret School of Wizarding Alchemy.
At this immersive London dining experience, you’ll sit at school tables and learn the art of potions with a real-life potion master, before getting to enjoy your tasty concoctions alongside a lavish Harry Potter themed Afternoon Tea.
Pop by Hoxton Street Monster Supplies
Hoxton Street Monster Supplies is the essential London shop for monstrous foods, gifts and accessories (aka fun novelty Harry Potter-esque items).
If there’s a particular spell you need ingredients for, Hoxton Street Monster Supplies will be sure to have it, such as tears of anger, tinned fear and bottled daylight.
Or for a gift for the ogre in your life, pick up organ marmalade, toasted bone chunks or cubed earwax.
Take a Harry Potter Tour of London
If you’re the kind of person who likes to explore somewhere new with a guide, then a pre-arranged guided tour is a great way to explore the best Harry Potter sites in London. Not only will you not have to navigate the city yourself, but you’ll also have a knowledgeable guide to give you plenty of interesting facts along the way.
Here are some London Harry Potter tours to choose from:
Shop at Tottenham Court Road Primark
Primark on Tottenham Court Road has to be home to one of the biggest collections of Harry Potter things in London. And the best part? You can buy them all!
So rather than waiting to visit the Warner Brothers Studio Shop and having to fork out a fortune on Harry Potter memorabilia, make sure you pay a visit to Primark first.
From robes and wands to pyjamas, socks, bedding, keychains, bags and more, Primark pretty much has Harry Potter themed everything in stock in its extravagantly decorated Harry Potter section (it’s pretty hard to miss!).
Head to Hamley’s Harry Potter Floor
The largest toy shop in the world, London Hamleys, now has an entire floor dedicated to Harry Potter!
As you enter the large store, follow the Harry Potter signs and head downstairs to the basement, where you’ll find an exciting world of wizarding magic, from full-sized Lego characters to wands, clothing, toys, sweets, and more.
Stay in Georgian House Hotel’s Wizard Chambers
The Georgian House Hotel is a charming boutique hotel in London Westminster with an unsuspecting secret. Hidden away within the hotel’s walls are its famous Wizard Chambers themed rooms.
With dated furniture, brick fireplaces, dusty glass goblets lining shelves and bedsheets in Grifindoor’s house colours, every little detail of the Wizard Chambers will have you believe you’re falling asleep inside Hogwarts itself.
Book a stay in a Wizard Chamber at the Georgian House Hotel here
Nearest tube station: Victoria (convenient for the Warner Bros. Tour).
Harry Potter Filming Locations in London:
The best Harry Potter London sites you can visit for yourself…
Kings Cross (Platform 9 3/4)
Kings Cross St Pancras is definitely one of the most popular Harry Potter London attractions, being home to platform 9 3/4 itself.
The original scenes were supposedly filmed between platforms 4 & 5, however, the location has become such a major tourist attraction that close to platforms 9 & 10 there is now a signposted wall with half a luggage trolley positioned against it.
Now you can snap some cool photos as you pass through the magical gateway to catch the Hogwarts Express.
Plus, don’t forget to visit the Platform 9 3/4 Harry Potter shop right next door.
Nearest tube station: Kings Cross.
Reptile House at London Zoo
Back at the very beginning of the first Harry Potter film, before Harry even knows about his magical abilities, he speaks parseltongue to a Burmese python inside the reptile house at London Zoo before accidentally setting it free from its display case.
This scene was filmed on location at London Zoo and you can visit the exact display inside the reptile house where the filming took place. It’s not difficult to find thanks to the special board right next to it with details about the scene and the python.
Nearest tube station: Camden Town.
Leadenhall Market (Diagon Alley)
Leadenhall Market is an impressive covered Victorian market in the City of London which was used for the original shots of Diagon Alley in the very first Harry Potter movie, The Philosophers Stone.
While exploring the market, see if you can find the door in Bull’s Head Passage which was originally used as the doorway to the Leaky Cauldron pub.
Nearest tube stations: Bank and Monument.
Borough Market (also Diagon Alley)
In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the filming location of the entrance to Diagon Alley was moved from Leadenhall Market to Borough Market.
After riding the Knight Bus across the city, Harry disembarks at Borough Market and walks into the Leaky Cauldron pub, which in real life is the market’s charming Chez Michele flower shop.
Nearest tube station: London Bridge.
Goodwins Court (Knockturn Alley)
While Goodwins Court in London’s West End is not technically a Harry Potter filming location, it is rumoured to be the inspiration behind Knockurn Alley, Diagon Alley’s more sinister alternative.
Visiting the narrow alleyway, with its dark 17th-century houses and dim streetlights, it’s pretty easy to imagine Bellatrix Lestrange lurking in the shadows on her way to buy some contraband magical items.
Nearest tube station: Leicester Square.
Picadilly Circus
Only the more hardcore Harry Potter fans will probably remember this, but during Deathly Hallows Part One, Harry, Hermione and Ron are fleeing from the Death Eaters and end up rushing through Picadilly Circus and down Shaftsbury Avenue where they narrowly avoid being hit by a red London bus.
Although this is only a very brief moment out of the entire Harry Potter franchise, Picadilly Circus is a location on most people’s London bucket list anyway so shouldn’t be a tough one to tick off.
Nearest tube station: Picadilly Circus.
Old Scotland Yard (Ministry of Magic)
If you stand at the intersection of Scotland Place and New Scotland Yard in Westminster, you’ll probably recognise it as the spot where Harry and Mr Weasley enter a red phone box that transports them inside the Ministry of Magic in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
Unfortunately, the phone box was just a prop and is not there in real life, however, the location is still an interesting place to visit in London for Harry Potter fans and features in most Harry Potter tours.
Nearest tube stations: Embankment and Charing Cross.
Australia House (Gringotts Bank)
Australia House on the Strand was where the interior scenes of Gringotts Bank were filmed, with its grand central hall, marble pillars, and impressive chandeliers.
As the name suggests, Australia House is home to the Australian Embassy so is not open to the public. However, if you visit during working hours from Monday to Friday, you can take a quick peep through the large glass doors to see the recognisable marble banking hall.
Nearest tube station: Temple.
Millennium Bridge
In Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, the death eater chase sequence in which Ollivander is kidnapped sees the camera span through numerous locations in central London, including Nelsons Column in Trafalgar Square and Charing Cross Road.
But the most iconic scene in this sequence is when the death eaters tear apart Millennium Bridge, twisting the metal railings before collapsing it completely into the Thames underneath as muggles scramble for their lives.
Nearest tube station: Blackfriars and Mansion House.
Harry Potter trips from London:
Other Harry Potter filming locations in the UK…
Hogwarts in Oxford
There are numerous Harry Potter filming locations in Oxford, therefore a day trip to the city is an absolute must. The city’s gothic architecture and impressive college buildings made it the perfect spot for filming many of the scenes inside Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
A few of the Harry Potter locations in Oxford include:
- Christ Chuch Dining Hall -> (the inspiration for) Hogwarts Grand Hall
- Bodleian Library’s Duke Humfrey’s Library -> Main Hogwarts Library
- The Divinity School -> Hogwarts Hospital Wing
- Christ Church Cloisters & New College Cloisters -> Hogwarts Hallways
- Bodley Tower Staircase -> Hogwarts Staircase
How to take a Harry Potter day trip from London to Oxford:
You can either make your own way from London to Oxford then book a Harry Potter tour once you arrive. Or alternatively, combine your trip to Oxford with the Harry Potter Studio Tour on this dedicated Harry Potter day trip from London which includes all transportation.
Also read: When is the best time to visit the UK?
Origins in Edinburgh
Most superfans will know that Edinburgh is the city in which J. K. Rowling originally dreamed up the idea of Harry Potter, which is evident in the way the settings in the franchise reflect the medieval architecture and general feel of the city.
You can even visit The Elephant House Cafe where the author wrote much of the first books.
You can also book a Harry Potter walking tour of Edinburgh.
Train tracks in Scotland
Other than Edinburgh, another not-to-miss Harry Potter location in Scotland is the Glenfinnan Viaduct in Lochaber, which is more recognisable as the Victorian Railway Bridge which the Hogwarts Express travels over on its way to Hogwarts.
Check out even more Harry Potter filming locations in Scotland here.
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Emily is a born and raised London girl, starting life in the north of the capital then moving down to Fulham in the southwest. She has a master’s degree in Social and Cultural Anthropology from University College London and now works full-time running this blog and as a freelance travel writer, splitting her life between London and travelling the world as a digital nomad.
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