I am a huge Harry Potter fan! Obsessed is really the correct word. I grew up reading the Harry Potter series and he has been in my life for the past 22 years. So, when I traveled to London, I had to see every Harry Potter site imaginable. I am a die-hard fan and a Gryffindor (naturally!).
Table of Contents
King’s Cross Station
King’s Cross Station is where the famous Platform 9 ¾ is located. This is the Platform that takes wizards from London to Hogsmeade train station (which you obviously already know since you are reading this Harry Potter themed blog post). In the real-life King’s Cross there is a photo op and The Harry Potter Shop. Prepare for a long line at the photo op station. When you get to the front, you can select your chosen house scarf and go through the barrier like Harry Potter did! Professional photos can be purchased at The Harry Potter Shop, which is very much worth the price.
The Harry Potter Shop at Platform 9 ¾ is a souvenir shop that sells House specific merchandise, wands, Deathly Hallows gear, stuffed characters, and Platform 9 ¾ merchandise. It is a great shop to pop into since they sell merchandise that is not available in the States!
House of MinaLima
Graphic designers Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima are the genius’ behind the graphic design work for the Harry Potter movie series and the Fantastic Beast movie series. Specifically, they designed the Daily Prophet, every book and textbook cover, the wizard wanted posters, Hogwarts acceptance letters, Proclamation posters, The Marauder’s Map, etc. All of the artwork is housed at the House of MinaLima located at 26 Greek Street in London. There is a small gift shop on the ground floor to buy copies of the prints and other amazing merchandise. All of the art is located on the levels above. It is free to enter and definitely worth visiting!
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Play
Every lover of Harry Potter should watch this two-part play! I originally visited London because I had purchased tickets to see the play. And wow! Watching the play is nothing like reading the screenplay. I HIGHLY recommend going to see this play as it was literally magical! It is now playing in New York City and will be coming to San Francisco soon. I watched the play on consecutive nights, instead of the same day. It was definitely worth the wait!
Millennium Bridge
The Harry Potter series was filmed in parts of London and I loved touring the city to find all the filming locations. The Millennium Bridge was featured in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (the film). Death Eaters destroyed the bridge in the movie and snapped it in two. In the book, the bridge is actually the Brockdale Bridge but was replaced by the Millennium Bridge in the films. It is a lovely pedestrian bridge located near St. Paul’s Cathedral.
Leadenhall Market
Leadenhall Market was used as the filming location for Diagon Alley in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (or Philosopher’s Stone). It is a gorgeous covered market with many shops and eateries inside. The real-life entrance to The Leaky Cauldron is actually located at 42 Bull’s Head Passage. It is an optical store with the famous blue door.
St. Pancras Station
St. Pancras Station is located directly next door to King’s Cross Station. It was famously featured in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets film. The scene shows Harry and Ron flying the Weasley’s Ford Anglia overhead. St. Pancras Station is a beautiful building in itself!
Harry Potter Studio Tour
London featured many Harry Potter filming locations including Piccadilly Circus, King’s Cross Station, Leadenhall Market, St. Pancras Station, and the Millennium Bridge. The bulk of the Harry Potter series, though, was actually filmed inside the Warner Bros. sound studio in Leavesden. The Warner Bros. Studio Tour or famously called the Harry Potter Studio Tour is a spectacular day trip from London!
Until next time,
Leave a Comment