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21 Harry Potter Filming Locations & Inspirations in London
London is packed with Harry Potter filming locations, from iconic landmarks destroyed by Death Eaters to hidden alleyways that inspired Diagon Alley.
I’ve visited London multiple times specifically to track down the real-life places featured in the films, as well as the streets that inspired J.K. Rowling while creating the wizarding world. Some are instantly recognisable, others are easy to miss unless you know what you’re looking for.
In this guide, you’ll find 21 Harry Potter locations in London, including official filming spots and real-life places that inspired the books. Most of them are completely free to visit and easy to add to your sightseeing itinerary.
🪄 You can visit all of these locations on your own for free, but if you want background stories and hidden details, I recommend taking a guided Harry Potter walking tour.
1. King’s Cross Station & St Pancras Hotel
King’s Cross is home to Platform 9¾, where the Hogwarts Express departs. In the films, Harry runs between platforms 9 and 10, but the actual filming location was between platforms 4 and 5 (which you can only access with a valid train ticket).
Inside the station, you’ll find the popular trolley photo spot and the official shop. Expect queues, it’s one of the busiest Harry Potter sights in London.
For exterior shots (like the flying car scene in Chamber of Secrets), the filmmakers used the neighbouring St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, whose dramatic Gothic façade looks far more cinematic than King’s Cross itself.
2. Leadenhall Market: The Leaky Cauldron
Leadenhall Market was used as the filming location for the Leaky Cauldron entrance in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. The blue door that Harry and Hagrid enter through is still there, although it’s now part of an optician’s shop.
The Victorian market, with its colourful storefronts and ornate roof, also feels very much like Diagon Alley, even though Diagon Alley scenes were filmed in the studio.
It’s completely free to visit and located in the City of London, making it easy to combine with other central filming spots.
3. Millennium Bridge
In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the Millennium Bridge is dramatically destroyed by Death Eaters at the beginning of the film.
In real life, the pedestrian bridge still stands and connects St Paul’s Cathedral with the Tate Modern across the River Thames. You can walk across it and enjoy great views of the city skyline.
Fun fact: when it first opened in 2000, the bridge actually wobbled so much that it earned the nickname “The Wobbly Bridge.” It was later fixed, so no need to worry about it collapsing during your visit.
4. Schottland Yard: Ministry of Magic
Great Scotland Yard (located at Scotland Place) was used as the exterior for the Ministry of Magic in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and again in Deathly Hallows Part 1.
In the films, Harry and Mr Weasley enter the Ministry through a red telephone box placed outside the building. The phone box was only brought in for filming, but you can still recognise the surrounding street.
I’ll be honest, this is one location that’s easily missed when you don’t know to look out for it. And for good reason, the Scotland Yard building was chosen for the Ministry of Magic location because it’s one of the most boring, inconspicuous buildings in London.
5. Westminster Station
In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Arthur Weasley and Harry travel through Westminster Underground Station on their way to Harry’s hearing at the Ministry of Magic.
The scene shows Mr Weasley being fascinated by ordinary “Muggle” things like ticket barriers and escalators. If you take the Tube at Westminster Station, you might recognise the modern concrete interior from the film.
Even if you’re not using the Underground, you can briefly walk into the station to look around, it’s located right next to Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament.
6. Borough Market: The Leaky Cauldron
In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the Leaky Cauldron entrance was filmed at Borough Market instead of Leadenhall Market.
This is where Harry arrives on the Knight Bus after accidentally inflating Aunt Marge. The entrance used in the film is located beneath the railway bridge near Stoney Street.
Borough Market is free to visit and one of London’s most famous markets, so it’s an easy (and tasty) addition to your filming location itinerary. But be warned, it gets very crowded!
🤩 Discover amazing Harry Potter filming locations on a walking tour!
7. Piccadilly Circus & Shaftesbury Avenue
In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, Harry, Ron and Hermione apparate to Piccadilly Circus after fleeing Bill and Fleur’s wedding. From there, they run down Shaftesbury Avenue while trying to escape the Death Eaters.
The busy London square, known for its bright advertising screens and constant traffic, was closed for filming, with hundreds of extras posing as tourists. Shortly after arriving, the trio are attacked by Death Eaters in a nearby café.
In the books, they run down Tottenham Court Road instead of Shaftesbury Avenue, which is also close by but not connected to Piccadilly Circus.
8. Trafalgar Square
In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Death Eaters fly over central London and pass by Trafalgar Square on their way to Diagon Alley.
The square, known for Nelson’s Column and its iconic lion statues, appears briefly during the dramatic London destruction scenes.
Even though it’s a short moment in the film, Trafalgar Square is one of London’s most famous landmarks and likely already on your sightseeing list, making it an easy Harry Potter stop while you’re there.
9. House of Parliament & Tower Bridge
Several iconic London landmarks appear briefly throughout the Harry Potter films, including the Houses of Parliament (with Big Ben) and Tower Bridge.
In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, members of the Order fly past these landmarks on their broomsticks, giving viewers dramatic aerial views of London.
While no major scenes take place directly at these locations, they’re instantly recognisable in the skyline shots, and since both are major tourist attractions anyway, they’re easy additions to your Harry Potter filming route.
10. Lambeth Bridge: Knight Bus
In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the Knight Bus squeezes between two double-decker buses while crossing Lambeth Bridge.
The scene is quick but iconic, especially because of the bright purple triple-decker bus racing through London traffic, which you can see at the Warner Bros Studios.
On a Harry Potter walking tour I joined, the guide mentioned that the actual prop bus could only drive about 5 km/h during filming, which makes the scene even more impressive.
11. St Paul’s Cathedral
The spiral staircase inside St Paul’s Cathedral was used as the stairwell leading to Professor Trelawney’s Divination classroom in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
You can see it when the Gryffindor students climb the narrow steps for their first Divination lesson.
Unlike most filming locations in London, you’ll need to purchase a ticket to enter the cathedral and access the staircase. But if you’re already planning to visit St Paul’s, it’s a great bonus for Harry Potter fans.
12. Claremont Square: 12 Grimmauld Place
Claremont Square in Islington was used as the exterior of 12 Grimmauld Place, the ancestral home of the Black family, in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
In the films, the house magically appears between two neighbouring townhouses, but in real life, it’s a normal residential building in a quiet Georgian square.
You can walk through the area and recognise the façade used in the movies, but remember that it’s a private residence, so be respectful if you visit.
13. Australia House: Gringotts Wizarding Bank
The interior of Gringotts Wizarding Bank was filmed inside Australia House, the headquarters of the Australian High Commission in London.
The grand marble banking hall seen in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is not a studio set, it’s the real interior of this historic building.
Unfortunately, Australia House is not open to the public, so you can’t visit the filming location itself. However, you can explore the full Gringotts set at the Warner Bros Studio Tour in Watford.
14. London City Hall
London City Hall appears in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince during the scene where Death Eaters attack London.
Inside the building, Muggles are shown in a business meeting as dark clouds gather outside, moments before the Millennium Bridge is destroyed.
15. Reptile House London Zoo
In Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Harry visits the London Zoo with the Dursleys for Dudley’s birthday, and famously sets a Brazilian boa constrictor free.
The scene was filmed inside the Reptile House at ZSL London Zoo in Regent’s Park.
You’ll need to purchase a zoo ticket to visit this location. I personally didn’t go inside, as I don’t visit zoos, but it’s a recognisable filming spot for fans who want to see where Harry first discovered his ability to speak Parseltongue.
16. Cecil Court: Inspiration for Diagon Alley
Cecil Court is a narrow pedestrian street near Leicester Square that’s often described as the real-life inspiration for Diagon Alley. J.K. Rowling used to walk through here on her way to work every day.
With its colourful shop signs hanging above the street and small independent stores packed with books, antiques, and curiosities, it genuinely feels like you’ve stepped into the wizarding world.
One shop in particular, the music store Travis & Emery, is said to have inspired Ollivanders, its shelves are stacked high in a way that feels very familiar to fans of the wand shop.
🪄 Find the inspirations for the wizarding world of Harry Potter in London on this guided tour!
17. Goodwin’s Court: Inspiration for Knockturn Alley
Just around the corner from Cecil Court, you’ll find Goodwin’s Court, a narrow, slightly hidden alley that feels much darker and more mysterious.
With its old-fashioned lanterns, crooked windows, and shadowy atmosphere, it’s often said to have inspired Knockturn Alley. The curved glass windows in particular resemble the eerie shopfront of Borgin and Burkes.
It’s easy to miss if you don’t know where to look, but that’s part of the charm. If you’re exploring Soho and the West End, it’s worth taking a short detour to walk through this little street.
18. South African Embassy: Inspiration for Gringotts Bank
The exterior of Gringotts Wizarding Bank is often said to have been inspired by the South African High Commission building on Trafalgar Square.
The grand columns at the entrance closely resemble the imposing façade of Gringotts seen in the films, making the comparison easy to spot once you’re standing in front of it.
While this building wasn’t used for filming, it’s a fun detail to look out for when visiting Trafalgar Square.
19. Golden Hind: Inspiration for Durmstrang Ship
The Golden Hind, a reconstructed 16th-century ship located near London Bridge, is often mentioned as a possible inspiration for the Durmstrang ship seen in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
With its tall masts and historic wooden structure, it’s easy to see the visual similarities to the dramatic arrival of the Durmstrang students at Hogwarts.
You can visit the ship as a museum on the South Bank, although it’s not an official filming location. Even from the outside, it’s a fun stop if you’re exploring Borough Market and the surrounding area.
20. Clink Prison: Inspiration for Azkaban
The Clink Prison Museum, located near London Bridge, is said to have inspired elements of Azkaban’s dark and foreboding atmosphere.
The Clink was one of England’s oldest prisons, known for its harsh conditions and grim history, which makes the comparison to the wizarding prison feel fitting.
While Azkaban’s design in the films was primarily inspired by isolated island prisons like Alcatraz, the eerie medieval setting of the Clink captures a similar mood.
Map of the Harry Potter Locations in London
To make planning easier, I’ve pinned all Harry Potter filming locations and inspiration spots on the map below.
You can explore all of these locations on your own for free, following the map at your own pace.
If you’d prefer to have everything organised for you (and hear behind-the-scenes stories you might otherwise miss), a guided Harry Potter walking tour connects many of the central spots in one route.
Explore More of Harry Potter in London
Exploring Harry Potter filming locations is a fun way to see the city through a magical lens, from Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross to the alleyways that inspired Diagon Alley.
But visiting filming locations is only one of the many amazing Harry Potter things to do in London.
If you want to go beyond the movie scenes, from the Warner Bros. Studio Tour to theatre shows, themed experiences, and magical hotels, I’ve put together a complete guide to the best Harry Potter things to do in London.
Read more about London:
- 4 Day Itinerary for London: What to See & Do
- 21 Best Things to Do in London in August
- 15 Amazing Things to Do in Soho London
- Best Fully Vegan Restaurants in Soho London
- How to get to Harry Potter Studios from London
- 21 Magical Harry Potter Locations in London
- 13 Magical Harry Potter Things to Do in London
- 10 Most Magical Harry Potter Shops in London
- Do You Tip in London? All You Need to Know
- The Best Oxford and Cambridge Tours from London
- Top 10 Most Vegan Friendly Cities in Europe You Should Visit
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Tina Riegelnegg
Tina Riegelnegg is the founder of Veganderlust. She's a vegan with wanderlust, who shares tips and stories from her travels to 31 countries as a vegan minimalist. After 2.5 years of full-time travel with just a personal item-sized bag, she’s now based in Vienna, helping fellow travelers explore the world with ease and compassion.
