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21 Magical Harry Potter Locations in London
There are so many Harry Potter filming locations in London and even more locations in London inspired J.K. Rowling in creating the magical world of Harry Potter.
I love the Harry Potter books and films and I’ve been to London multiple times, so I had time to visit the best Harry Potter locations in London.
You can visit most of these locations on a Harry Potter walking tour but you can also just visit all the Harry Potter sights yourself for free.
Harry Potter film locations in London
1. Kings Cross and St. Pancras
The most famous filming location in London is Platform 9 3/4 at Kings Cross station where the Hogwarts Express takes off.
However, since Kings Cross is not the prettiest building from the outside they used the next door St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel as the outside of the train station when Harry and Ron fly past it in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
In King’s Cross station, there’s actually no barrier between platforms 9 and 10, so the Harry Potter Kings Cross filming location is between platforms 4 and 5. But you can only go close up to the platforms if you have a train ticket.
In King’s Cross, there’s also a popular Harry Potter shop and you can take your train station pictures with a trolley that has vanished in the wall. But to be honest it’s one of my least favorite Harry Potter shops in London because it’s too overcrowded.
š¤© This Harry Potter walking tour starts at King’s Cross!
2. Leadenhall Market – The Leaky Cauldron
Leadenhall Market in London is a must-visit destination for Harry Potter fans. The market, which dates back to the 14th century, was the filming location for Diagon Alley in the first Harry Potter film.
The door that Harry and Hagrid enter through to get to the Leaky Cauldron pub is still there. Although the storefront used for the Leaky Cauldron was empty at the time of filming, it is now occupied by an optician.
In the books, the Leaky Cauldron is located on Charing Cross Road.
So, you can wander through the Victorian market and pretend you’re walking down Diagon Alley.
š¤© Discover amazing Harry Potter filming locations on a walking tour!
3. Millennium Bridge
In Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince the Millennium Bridge is destroyed by Death Eaters.
Fortunately, the bridge is still standing in real life and is a pedestrian suspension bridge that crosses the River Thames. You can walk across the bridge and take in the stunning views of the river and the city.
Fun side note, at the time of its construction the Millennium was nicknamed the “Wobbly Bridge” since it actually wobbled when you walked across. So, it’s only fitting that in the Harry Potter film the bridge wobbles before it snaps and collapses.
But don’t worry they fixed the bridge since then and it’s no longer wobbly.
š¤© Discover amazing Harry Potter filming locations on a walking tour!
4. Schottland Yard – Ministry of Magic
Great Scotland Yard at Scotland Place was used as a filming location in the fifth movie, Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix and then again in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1. In the movie, the building serves as the headquarters for the Ministry of Magic.
In the 5th movie, Harry and Mr Weasley enter the Ministry of Magic through a red telephone box just outside the Scotland Yard building. Unfortunately, there’s no telephone box there but you can still recognise the background of the scene.
In the second to last Harry Potter movie, Harry, Ron and Hermione kidnap Ministry workers in front of the Scotland Yard building and take their identities.
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 Phoenix Arthur Weasley and Harry use the Westminster underground station to get to Harry’s hearing at the Ministry of Magic.
The easiest way to see the station is by taking the London Underground to Westminster Station but you can also simply walk down into the station and have a look around without even taking the tube.
While you’re there, you can think about how complicated muggle money is and that nowadays it would be easier for Mr Weasley with contactless payments.
6. Borough Market – The Leaky Cauldron
In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, another location was used for the Leaky Cauldron because the triple-decker bus simply couldn’t fit in Leadenhall Market.
So, Harry gets dropped off by the knight bus at the entrance to Borough Market underneath the bridge. There he gets greeted by Tom the innkeeper.
š¤© Discover amazing Harry Potter filming locations on a walking tour!
7. Piccadilly Circus
Piccadilly Circus is a popular tourist destination located in the West End of London and is known for its bright lights and bustling atmosphere.
In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 Hermione, Harry and Ron flee from the death eaters after they appear at Bill and Fleur’s wedding and the first place Hermione can think of is Piccadilly Circus.
The whole square, which is usually very vibrant and busy, had to be closed down for the filming of Harry Potter and 300 extras posed as tourists.
Near Piccadilly Circus in Soho, you can also find two amazing Harry Potter-themed afternoon tea venues in London. Soho is also a great place for a vegan snack since there are some amazing vegan restaurants in Soho.
8. Shaftesbury Avenue
After apparating to Piccadilly Circus Hermione, Harry and Ron take off down Shaftesbury Avenue to get away from the death eaters.
Afterwards, they change into a different set of clothes and head into a cafƩ.
In the books, the trio doesn’t go to Piccadilly Circus and Shaftesbury Avenue but to Tottenham Court Road. All those locations are located in the Soho area of London.
9. Trafalgar Square
When the death eaters fly through London and destroy the city, they fly past the famous Trafalgar Square just before they enter Diagon Alley to kidnap Ollivander.
Trafalgar Square might not be one of the most iconic Harry Potter attractions in London but this square should be on your London itinerary anyway and it’s a nice added bonus that you see it in Harry Potter as well.
š¤© Discover amazing Harry Potter filming locations on a walking tour!
10. House of Parliament & Tower Bridge
In multiple Harry Potter films, you can see short glimpses of iconic attractions in London. Two of the most famous are the House of Parliament and the Tower Bridge.
Harry and the order of the phoenix fly past those two landmarks in the fifth Harry Potter movie for example.
11. Lambeth Bridge – Knight Bus
In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Harry Potter takes the Knight Bus to get to Diagon Alley. When the bus crosses Lambeth Bridge it squeezes through two double-decker busses.
On the Harry Potter walking tour I did the tour guide said that they actually used the special triple-decker bus in London but it could only go 5 km/h.
You can see the Knight Bus at the Warner Bros Studios. And visiting the Harry Potter Studios is definitely my favourite Harry Potter thing to do in London.
12. St Paulās Cathedral
The best hidden Harry Potter location in London is inside St Paul’s Cathedral. It’s also the only location which you need to pay to see it.
The spiral staircase inside St Paul’s was used in the Harry Potter movies as the stairwell leading up to the divination classroom.
You can see the stairwell in different scenes in the Harry Potter films. For example, when the Gryffindors start their divination lessons in the third movie, or when Neville is upset after the defence against the dark arts lesson about the unforgivable curses.
š¤© Discover amazing Harry Potter filming locations on a walking tour!
13. Claremont Square – 12 Grimmauld Place
In Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix Claremont Square serves as the location for 12 Grimmauld Place, the ancestral home of the Noble House of the Black family.
The square is located in the Islington borough of London and is a beautiful residential area with Georgian-style townhouses.
While you’re there, you can take a picture in front of the house used as 12 Grimmauld Place and imagine yourself as a member of the Order of Phoenix.
14. Australia House – Gringotts Wizarding Bank
Nowadays you can visit the inside of Gringotts at the Warner Bros Studio tour in Watford. By the way, going on the studio tour is my favourite Harry Potter related thing to do in London.
But the Gringotts scenes were not filmed in the studios but inside Australia House, the house of the Australia High Commission.
Unfortunately, you’re not allowed to go inside the Australia House but you can get all your Gringotts pictures at the Harry Potter Studios.
15. London City Hall
London City Hall is a futuristic building on the South bank of River Themes. It’s portrayed in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince when death eaters wreak havoc in London.
Muggles sit inside the London City Hall in a business meeting when they look outside the window and notice a storm coming which turns out to be the death eaters before they destroy the Millennium Bridge.
16. Reptile House London Zoo
In Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone Harry and the Dursleys go to the London Zoo for Dudleyās birthday. And the scene in the reptile house with the Brazilian Boa Constrictor was actually filmed in the reptile house at the London Zoo.
I didn’t visit this Harry Potter location in London since I don’t like to see caged animals.
Locations in London which inspired the world of Harry Potter
17. Cecil Court – Diagon Alley
J.K. Rowling used to walk through Cecil Court on her way to work the cute alley inspired her to write about Diagon Alley.
All the shops in the street have colourful signs hanging in the front same as in Diagon Alley.
Especially one store on this street had an impact on the writer: the music shop Travis & Emery. The shop is packed to the brim with records like Olivander’s is packed with wands.
š¤© Find the inspirations for the wizarding world of Harry Potter in London on this guided tour!
18. Goodwinās Court – Knockturn Alley
Close to Cecil Court is Goodwinās Court, the inspiration for Knockturn Alley. The alley seems darker than Cecil Court and the entrance is almost hidden.
In Goodwinās Court, some windows are bent outwards exactly like in Borgin and Burkes in Knockturn Alley.
19. South African Embassy – Gringotts Bank
The outside of Gringotts Bank is inspired by a house on Trafalgar Square. And when you see the columns in front of the entrance you can immediately see the similarities.
So, when you’re at Trafalgar Square anyway keep an eye out for the entrance to Gringotts.
š¤© Discover interesting locations on a Harry Potter tour!
20. Golden Hind – Durmstrang Ship
The Golden Hind is a ship from the 16th century which you can visit at the Southbank in London.
It inspired the design of the Durmstrang Ship which you can see in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
21. Clink Prison – Azkaban
Clink Prison is said to have been the worst prison in the United Kingdom and as such it inspired the atmosphere of the wizarding prison Azkaban.
The design of Azkaban is inspired by Alcatraz, a prison surrounded by water so it’s more difficult to escape.
Other Harry Potter locations in London
Another one of the amazing Harry Potter spots in London you can’t miss is the Palace Theatre. In the Palace Theatre, you can watch Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
I saw the play twice and loved it, the stage design and performance are incredible!
There are many more Harry Potter things to do in London, from brewing your own potion to having a Harry Potter afternoon tea.
FAQ about Harry Potter places in London
What Harry Potter locations are in London?
There are multiple London Harry Potter locations, both actual filming locations as well as locations that inspired J. K. Rowling to create the Magical world of Harry Potter.
Where is Harry Potter Diagon Alley in London?
Diagon Alley was inspired by Cecil Court and it was mainly filmed in Leadenhall Market.
Can you visit Diagon Alley in London?
Yes, you can kinda visit Diagon Alley in London. It was filmed in Leadenhall Market. But if you really want to wander down Diagon Alley with all the magical shops you have to go to the Harry Potter World in Watford.
What street in London was used in Harry Potter?
Multiple streets in London were used for filming Harry Potter, like Shaftesbury Avenue, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square and many more.
Where is Gringotts Bank filmed?
The inside of Gringotts Bank was filmed in the Australia House in London.
Can you visit 12 Grimmauld Place?
Yes, you can visit the filming location of 12 Grimmauld Place. It was filmed in Claremont Square.
Final thoughts: Harry Potter London
Once you’ve visited all the Harry Potter spots in London, it’s time to venture a bit outside the city.
As I already mentioned, the Warner Bros Studio Tour is a must for every Harry Potter fan. Luckily, it’s also super easy to get to the Warner Bros Studios from London.
I also really enjoyed my day trip to Oxford to discover the Harry Potter filming locations in Oxford.
You’ll find amazing Harry Potter locations all over the United Kingdom and if you have time for it, you can do an unforgettable Harry Potter road trip through the UK.
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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