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The ultimate muggle guide to Harry Potter in London!
Are you visiting the British capital soon and want to discover the best Harry Potter activities in London? I’m here to help!
J.K. Rowling drew much of her inspiration for Harry Potter from London, Edinburgh and Porto — and it shows.
From real filming locations to immersive experiences, London is packed with things to do for any Potterhead.
Whether you’re planning a weekend trip or just looking for something a bit magical to add to your itinerary, I’ve got you covered — from bucket list experiences to hidden gems.
1. Warner Bros Studios: The Making of Harry Potter
If you are a true Potterhead, the Harry Potter Studios in London is non-negotiable.
The Warner Bros Studios in Watford were home to the Harry Potter crew for over a decade, and today they’re open to the public as one of the best film experiences in the world.
Unlike the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando or California,
this isn’t a theme park — it’s closer to a museum.
You’ll walk through original sets like the Great Hall and Diagon Alley, see real costumes and props, and discover how the movies were made from start to finish. Genuinely fascinating whether you’re a fan or not.
The Making of Harry Potter tour has been specifically designed to show you how the movies were made from A to Z. It’s extremely informative while very entertaining.
You can choose to go at your own pace. Although you book a time slot to start the tour, you’re more than welcome to stay until they close (at 10 pm) if you wish.
PRO TIP: Always book the first slot available so you get more time on-site! If you want to leave early it’s not a problem but if you want to stay longer, you will get to do so.
2. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child play
Who says London, says theatre and musicals!
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is performed at the Palace Theatre and it’s truly one of the best theatre experiences you can have — magical, funny and full of surprises.
It’s a two-part play, so make sure you book both parts. There’s a matinee and an evening performance each day.
Although this may sound a bit long, it’s not! Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is one of the best theatre show you can see. Magic, cliffhangers, funny sentences… there is a bit of everything.
Even people who aren’t Harry Potter fans are amazed by it!
I’ve also seen the US version in Broadway (which is only 1 part and I much preferred the one in London).
Tickets start from £28 and tend to sell out months in advance, so book early.
You can book your tickets on the ATG theatre website and Nimax Theatres website.
3. Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross
In the Harry Potter movies, platform 9 3/4 is located in King’s Cross Station. Well, we have good news for you! In real life as well and it’s one of the rare free Harry Potter things to do in London.
You can find it at the entrance of the station, just next to the Harry Potter shop.
You can easily get there with the tube.
To beat the crowds, make sure to come in early. Otherwise, you will have to wait in line for a long time before you get your photo taken.
During the day, there will be a member of staff from the shop giving a scarf of the house of your shop. S/he will also hold it so it looks like it’s flying on your photo. You just need to put your hands on the trolley and that’s done!
4. Discovering the Harry Potter Filming Locations in London
A lot of scenes were filmed right in central London. Here are the key spots to look out for:
- London Bridge and the Tower of London
- Piccadilly Circus
- Kings Cross station and St Pancras International
- London Zoo & Reptile House
- Millennium Bridge
- Charing Cross Road
- Leadenhall Market
- Australia House
- Westminster Tube Station
- Lambeth Bridge
5. Harry Potter walking tour London
If you are truly interested in Harry Potter in London, you should opt for a walking tour.
Here is how it works. You will be meeting your guide at Southwark View Point and start walking to all the Harry Potter locations in London.
All guides are huge Harry Potter fans and know absolutely everything. It’s quite entertaining and they will sort you into the different Hogwarts houses and keep scores. By the end of the tour, one house will be the winner!
You will discover absolutely everything related to Harry Potter in London which includes filming locations but also places of inspiration such as the real-life version of Diagon Alley in London.
It lasts about 2 hours but can be a bit longer if you book the Thames cruise option.
All in all, that’s an excellent way to spend your time in London and hit two birds with one stone. You’ll learn plenty about Harry Potter but will also discover the famous landmarks.
6. Escape room at the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Enigma Quests is an escape room located just behind Liverpool Station. They offer several types of escape room experiences but they are famous for their Harry Potter themed one.
It lasts 1 hour and you will need to be minimum of 3 people to play.
Like any escape room, you will be given some clues and puzzles to solve to escape the room (although, as a little Wizard that you are you may not want to leave!).
Everything is Harry Potter-themed which means you’ll feel like you are in Hogwarts!
Wizard robes, feathers, spell books… it truly has it all and is the perfect thing to do if you are looking for a fun Harry Potter activity to do in London with friends.
7. Harry Potter Bus Tour
London is quite a big city and walking all around it can be quite tiring. If you don’t feel like walking that much but still want to see all the Harry Potter sites, you can opt for a bus tour.
You will get to discover the Ministry of Magic, Platform 9 ¾, the place where the Knight Bus squeezed through the oncoming double-decker buses, the entrance of the Leaky Cauldron and the Gringotts Bank.
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8. Visiting House of MinaLima
Located in Soho, the House of MinaLima is a gallery and shop that showcases all things Harry Potter. As you are roaming around London, you may just walk past it. If not, it’s well worth a detour.
The facade is Harry Potter themed so you can’t miss it.
Inside, you’ll find flying letters from Hogwarts, the Marauder’s map and plenty more!
The shop is run by two designers who worked on the Harry Potter movies which means that their work is original and as close as you can get from the props you can see in the studios.
You are welcome to just swing by and have a look around but if you want to buy some souvenirs, this will be an excellent place to do so. They also offer a free guided tour of their museum.
Here is the address: 157 Wardour St, London W1F 8WQ
9. Discovering Cecil Court and Goodwin’s Court
Just off Charing Cross Road, Cecil Court is believed to be one of the streets that inspired Diagon Alley.
Its quirky bookshop windows really do look like they belong in the wizarding world!
A bit further up towards Covent Garden, you’ll find Goodwin’s Court. This is a bit of a hidden gem in London. It’s a very small alley that is also believed to be one of the sources of inspiration.
According to the guide from the Harry Potter walking tour, the producers of the movies even visited and took some measurements here to then build the set in the studios.
10. Harry Potter Statue in Leicester Square
Easy to miss even though it’s right in the middle of one of London’s busiest squares!
Keep an eye out for the Harry Potter statue near the grassy area — it features Harry on his Nimbus 2000 playing Quidditch.
11. Harry Potter Themed Tour of London by Black Taxi Cab
This one is goodie for first timers. As you know, England is famous for its black taxis. As much as you can take them for a normal taxi ride, you can also opt for a black taxi tour and this one is entirely Harry Potter themed!
Basically, you will meet with your driver and he will bring you to all the Harry Potter spots in the city.
This is perfect if you are looking for something typically British and want to take awesome photos.
The tour lasts 3 hours and starts at the corner of Hyde Park.
12. Harry Potter shops in London
London is home to some of the best Harry Potter shops in the world! Here are the places where you can find the official shops:
– The Harry Potter Shop at Platform 9 3/4: Located inside King’s Cross Station, right by the Platform 9 3/4, this HP shop is a must for all fans! You will find all the wands in the world and many other related items! It very much feels like Ollivanders shop! This shop is accessible for everyone, you don’t need to buy a ticket or anything of the kind, just walk into the station and the shop!
– The Warner Bros Studio Harry Potter shop: This one is way bigger and you will definitely find everything you need there! One thing though, you need a ticket for the studios to be able to access it.
– Harry Potter merchandise shop at the Palace Theatre: If you go to see the HP play, you will find in the lobby of the Palace theatre some merchandise items to buy. That’s where I got my Gryffindor hat (the one you see on the photos in this article).
13. Stay in a Harry Potter-themed hotel in London
Staying at the Georgian House Hotel is the ultimate Harry Potter experience in London. At first sight, this is a normal hotel but they actually offer Harry Potter themed rooms!
They have many rooms for Harry Potter fans, featuring the different Hogwarts houses. Make sure to pick your favourite!
They are decorated like the Hogwarts dorm but are topped up with luxury amenities. Some are perfect for couples but you will also find Harry Potter rooms that are suitable for families or group of friends.
14. Harry Potter Day trip to Oxford
Oxford is only about an hour from London by train and a brilliant Harry Potter destination.
New College, Christ Church and the Bodleian Library were all used as filming locations.
You can explore on foot or join a Harry Potter walking tour of Oxford.
15. Harry Potter day trip to Gloucester and Lacock
This full-day tour takes you to the Cotswolds to visit Lacock Abbey, which was used for various Hogwarts corridors and classrooms across the films.
Transport and entry fees are included, and you’ll get to see some of the most beautiful villages in the UK along the way!
You may also be interested in:
- Harry Potter in Edinburgh
- Harry Potter at Malham Cove, Yorkshire Dales National Park
- Harry Potter places in the world
- Guide to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in the USA
- Harry Potter Airbnbs in Florida
- Harry Potter Things to do in NYC
