For much of the past twenty years, Harry Potter books and films have entered the lives of millions of people around the world. Thanks to the stunning film locations showing some of the most magical places in the country and Rowling's detailed stories about Harry Potter's life in Britain, foreign readers and film buffs have been able to experience the beauty of England. and its capital London.
Discover the real locations where Harry Potter scenes were filmed in London.
Guide to Harry Potter locations in London
Every Harry Potter movie has scenes shot in London. Locations range from Leadenhall Market (Diagon Alley entrance) to Kings Cross Station (home of platform 9Âľ and boarding point for the Hogwarts Express). Some locations will be instantly recognizable to fans, others may require a little imagination, but we think they are all worth tracking down!
Below are some of the main locations and filming locations for the Harry Potter films in London.
London Zoo - Reptile House
In the heart of Regent's Park, just north of central London, is London Zoo, the oldest science zoo in the world. It is in the reptile house at the London Zoo that Harry first speaks Serpentese and frees a Burmese python in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. There is a special tab next to the exact location of the shoot, with details on the scene and the Burmese python.
THEentry into the London Zoo it is paid (ÂŁ 14.85 - children and ÂŁ 19.80 - adults) but you can enter for free if you have the London Pass. The zoo is located in Regents Park, a 5-10 minute walk from Camden Town tube station or the 274 bus stop on Baker Street.
Kings Cross: Harry Potter train station in London
How do you get to Hogwarts? You take a train from platform 9Âľ to Kings Cross station, of course! The Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets scenes were filmed at Kings Cross station, actually between platforms 4 and 5.
Of course, you will struggle to find a real platform 9Âľ at Kings Cross station today. For a long time there was a trolley located in the wall near platform 9, but then it was moved to the main concourse of Kings Cross station, next to a Harry Potter shop.
It's a great place to take a picture with the Gryffindor scarf, pushing the trolley “through” the wall, but as this is arguably the most famous Harry Potter location in London, the lines can be long.
If it happens to you instead of doing the Warner Bros Studio tour you can easily take a picture without waiting long because here you will find not one, but a row of trolleys stuck in the walls.
Tower Bridge, Lambeth Bridge e Millennium Bridge
Harry's adventures have somehow involved a series of bridges over the Thames in London. In the Order of the Phoenix we see the scene of Harry flying on his broom over London's most iconic bridge, the Tower Bridge.
In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban the Knight bus squeezes between two regular London buses as it crosses Lambeth Bridge, which is further west of Tower Bridge.
The third bridge is obviously the Millennium Bridge, which in the Half-Blood Prince is destroyed by the Death Eaters. Thankfully it still exists and is a perfect and picturesque footbridge that leads to St Paul's Cathedral.
Leadenhall Market: Diagon Alley di Harry Potter
First appearing on screen in the Philosopher's Stone, Diagon Alley is Harry's first glimpse into the wizarding world. The original shots of this intriguing arcade of shops and emporiums were taken at Leadenhall Market, a beautiful indoor market in the city of London. Dating back to the 14th century it is one of the oldest markets in the city.
Leadenhall Market, more specifically, an optician's door in Bulls Head passage was used as the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
Borough Market: Diagon Alley
Borough Market was later used as the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkhaban. In the film, after getting on the Knight Bus, Harry disembarks at Borough Market in what is in real life the “Chez Michele” flower shop, and heads for the Cauldron. The rest of the scenes for the Cauldron were shot on a set at Warner Bros Studio.
Borough Market is located on the south bank of the river, within walking distance of London Bridge tube and train stations.
Great Scotland Yard: Harry Potter's Ministry of Magic
We are located at the intersection of Scotland Place and New Scotland Yard. In the movie Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry and Mr Weasley enter a telephone booth that serves as the entrance to the Ministry of Magic. Unfortunately, if you want to recreate the scene, you won't find any phone booths. The booth was only set up to shoot the scene and was removed when filming was over.
Nearest station: Embankment, 4 minutes walk
Australia House: Harry Potter's Gringotts Bank
The Gringotts Wizarding Bank scenes were filmed inside Australia House on the Strand in central London. As the name suggests, it is home to the Australian Embassy, ​​and unfortunately you can't go inside to visit it. However, you can look from the outside and know that just beyond the doors is a magical world of marble, chandeliers and goblins, which Harry visits in a number of films, including Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, and in dramatic scenes. in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2.
It is located near Temple Station.
Westminster Underground
In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry and Mr.Weasley travel through Westminster tube station, with Mr.Weasley somewhat confused by the Muggle ticket barriers at the station. To allow the filming of the film, the station was closed to the public for a whole day.
St Pancras
In the movie Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, when Harry arrives at “Kings Cross” to catch the Hogwarts train, the exterior shots are actually of St. Pancras.
The Victorian facade of St. Pancras Station was also seen in the scene when Harry and Ron fly over the station in Arthur Weasley's Ford Anglia.
Claremont Square, Islington
The series of houses surrounding Claremont Square are used to represent Grimmauld Place. This place, which in the film could not be discovered by anyone due to the safety spells placed on it, is actually quite easy to find. The house appears in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and is the ancestral home of Sirius Black and the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix.
It is a 5 minute walk from Angel station.
Piccadilly Circus
Continuing with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, Piccadilly Circus was a key location in the film as Ron, Hermione and Harry avoided getting hit by a London bus. Definitely a must on your Harry Potter locations tour in London!
Nearest station: Piccadilly Circus, 2 minutes walk
The Warner Bros. Studio Tour – The Making of Harry Potter
Of course we can't list Harry Potter movie locations without mentioning the Warner Bros Studio, at Leavesden Studios. It was there that most of the scenes were shot: Diagon Alley, Dumbledore's office, the Weasleys' house, the Great Hall, the train station and even the Forbidden Forest.
The Warner Bros Studio, home of the Warner Bros Studio Tour is actually a little out of town, near Watford Junction, but it's a fabulous place to visit. It has retained much of the sets, clothes and props from the films and welcomes millions of fans from all over the world every year.
You will learn many of the secrets of how the films were made. Plus you will have the opportunity to drink Butterbeer and also visit a giant gift shop filled with all things Harry Potter.
The visit takes about three hours and is largely self-guided, so you can take as long as you like. The simplest option is to just book a tour from central London that handles both transport from London and the same entrance to the Warner Bros Studio.
Alternatively, you can go to the studios on your own. Before doing this, you must purchase your tickets in advance as tickets are not available on the site. It is a popular attraction so we advise you to book well in advance.
Book your Warner Bros Studios Tour ticket here
Walking or bus tour of Harry Potter locations in London
One of the most popular ways to find Harry Potter locations in London is to do a guided walking tour of the locations which were used for the filming of the films.
Tours include many of the highlights and the guide brings life to the location with stills of the scenes and information on how she was transformed for the shoot, helping you visualize everything better.
Where to sleep in London
London has a wide range of accommodation options, ranging from hostels to self-catering apartments and very stylish hotels.
There is something for every budget, with double ensuite rooms starting at around $ 80 a night.
Discover the best neighborhoods to sleep in London
