There’s no denying that Harry Potter has taken the world by storm. Even if you’re not a diehard fan of the books or movies, it’s impossible to ignore the cultural phenomenon that is Harry Potter. And what better place to get your Potter fix than in London, the city where it all began? Here’s a quick guide to some of the must-see Harry Potter sights in London.
Harry Potter enthusiasts will be blown away by the amount of detail and authenticity in London’s film locations. There are plenty of attractions for those who love these movies series, like yourself! You can create your own wizarding adventure with complete planning – it’s an absolute mecca for fans like you
We’re about to embark on an unforgettable adventure through London and Hogwarts! Before we start, I want you solemnly swear to be up to nothing but good, for this itinerary is the finest of both worlds: the best of London and the greatest of the wizarding world.
Day 1: The Making of Harry Potter at Warner Bros. Studio Tour
For the past 20 years, this has been the epicenter of all the enchantment, and there is nothing you won’t find in this massive exhibition dedicated to everything Harry Potter.
From the peaks and creases in every wand to a towering model of Hogwarts castle, get up close with the sets, accessories, and costumes down to the minute details. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you won’t find in Universal Studios Orlando or in Japan.
A bit of advice, Warner Bros Studio tours are incredibly popular, so purchase your tickets ahead of time!
Once you enter the studio, you will notice kids have those free souvenir passports to emboss cool stamps at 6 stations around the studios by default but don’t worry if you want one you can ask the staff there, no harm if you want to be a kid at heart 🙂
If you’re traveling alone, a digital guide can be rented for £4.95 (S$8.90). Everything is self-guided, free, and simple, so take it all in at your time!
The tour begins with the Great Hall, followed by Dumbledore’s Office, the Gryffindor Common Room, Professor Dolores Umbridge’s beautifully pink enclave, the wondrous Diagon Alley, and much more – take advantage of the opportunity to view the exquisite features you wouldn’t notice in the film!
You can also queue for interactive displays such as the green screen section, where you can put on a robe and play Quidditch, or learn wand combat from the pros.
You can also quench your thirst with Butterbeer (£3.95, S$7.20) — it has a fizzy ice cream soda with butterscotch-flavored cream on top. It makes me thirsty just thinking about it.
The overall tour of Warner Bros. Studio should take between three and five hours to complete.
Website: https://www.wbstudiotour.co.uk
Location: The Studio Tour is located 20 miles northwest of London and less than three miles from the M1 and M25 motorways.
Price: S$162.75
Hours of Operation: 8 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.
Day 2: Performance of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, one of the most recent additions to the franchise, is a two-part play that follows Harry Potter 19 years after the events of The Deathly Hallows.
Every Friday at 1 p.m. (GMT +1), 40 discounted tickets go on sale for £20 (S$36) instead of the normal £15 – £75 (S$26.90 – S$134.30) and for some of the very best seats. When the ticketing website’s countdown clock reaches zero, click the “Book Tickets” button to enter a virtual queue where winners are chosen at random.
Parts 1 and 2 cost £30 – £150 (S$54.25 – S$271.25).
The Palace Theatre is located at 113 Shaftesbury Avenue in London, W1D 5AY.
Showtimes are 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays, respectively (Part 1, Part 2)
1 p.m., 6.30 p.m. (Part 1, Part 2)
7.30pm on Thursday (Part 1 only)
7.30 p.m. Friday (Part 2 only)
Day 3: Harry Potter London Filming Locations & Experiences Walking Tour
1. Westminster Tube Station – In the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and Arthur Weasley travel to the Ministry of Magic for a hearing.
Location: Victoria Street at Parliament Square, London, GB SW1P 3PA
2. Lambeth Bridge – On this bridge in The Prisoner of Azkaban, the Knight Bus squeezes between two London buses.
Location: Gracechurch Street, London, GB EC3V 1LR
3. Scotland Place -The Visitors’ Entrance to the Ministry of Magic was placed on this street, first seen in The Order of the Phoenix for Harry’s hearing, and again in The Deathly Hallows Part 1 when the trio breaks into the ministry.
Location: London, SW1A, England
4. Millennium Bridge and St Paul’s Cathedral – In the Half-Blood Prince’s opening sequence, Death Eaters attack the Millennium Bridge and cause it to collapse into the river, with St Paul’s Cathedral in the background.
Location: Thames Embankment, London, SE1 9JE, England
5. Leadenhall Market – In the Philosopher’s Stone, Harry and Hagrid enter Diagon Alley via Leadenhall Market, via a pub that is now an opticians shop distinguished by its distinctive blue wall from the outside.
Location: Gracechurch Street, London, GB EC3V 1LR
6. Take a Photo on the Actual Platform 9¾ at the real King’s Cross Station also has a trolley for you to photograph, with dedicated photographers and staff providing scarves of any house you choose!
Admission is free.
Hours of operation: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. (9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays)
Location: Kings Cross Station Concourse, Kings Cross, London N1 9AP, United Kingdom
7. House of Minalima – Opened by the graphic art designers of the entire Harry Potter film series (including Fantastic Beasts), the House of Minalima consists of four floors with a gift shop and free-to-view exhibitions. Mock-ups of The Daily Prophet, iconic wanted posters, and Marauder’s Map, among other things, can be expected.
Admission is free.
Hours of operation: 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Location: 26 Greek Street, Soho, London
8. Solve an Escape Room Game with a Wizard Theme – Join forces with 3 to 5 teammates and magically solve this Enigma Quests puzzle in one hour!
Price range: £90 – £120 (S$161.90 – S$215.90).
Hours of operation: 10 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. (Last game)
Address: 2-12 Wilson Street, EC2M 7LS, London
9. The Cauldron Magical Cocktail Experience – In slightly less than 2 hours, enjoy a glass of craft beer at the tap of your wand (something we wish we could do every day) and whip up your own cocktail concoction straight from a cauldron!
Price: is £32.99 (S$60, which includes three drinks).
Hours of operation: 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Closes at 12 a.m. on Friday. Sat: 12:30PM – 12AM; Sun: 2:30PM – 10PM.
Location: 5d Stoke Newington Rd, Stoke Newington, London N16 8BH, United Kingdom
Here’s how to get there: Dalston Kingsland Overground Station is a 5-minute walk away.
10. Tower Bridge is a famous landmark in London
The Tower Bridge Exhibition takes you to the upper walkway, which has glass floor panels from which you can see passers-by.
In the fifth film, Harry and the Order of the Phoenix fly down the river Thames, with the Tower Bridge visible in the distance at one point.
Price: £8.70 online entrance fee
Hours of Operation: 10 a.m. – 5.30 p.m. last admission (9.30 a.m. – 5 p.m. from October to March)
How to get there: Tower Hill Underground Station is 550 meters away.
11. London Eye and Big Ben
Take a stroll along Westminster Bridge to see both the London Eye and Big Ben also known as Elizabeth Tower.
This is where Harry, Hermione, and Ron flee Gringotts Wizarding Bank with the Gringott’s Dragon in The Deathly Hallows — Part 2, the London Eye emerges in the skyline.
Address: London Eye – Westminster Bridge Road, Riverside Building, County Hall, London, GB SE1 7PB
Big Ben: London, SW1A 0AA
12. Trafalgar Square
Many historical monuments may be found in Trafalgar Square, including Nelson’s Column in the center, which has four lion statues at its base. The National Gallery is also located nearby, and admission is free!
This is where the world premiere of The Deathly Hallows – Part 2 took place in 2011, with fans queuing for up to three days in advance in the hopes of securing a seat!
Location: London, WC2N 5DN, England, to get there Walk 2 minutes from Charing Cross Underground Station.
If you’re a Potterhead, there’s no doubt that London should be at the top of your travel bucket list. This city is packed full of magical places and activities that are sure to please every fan. So put on your invisibility cloak, grab your wand, and get ready for the adventure of a lifetime! Have you been to any of these amazing Harry Potter spots in London?
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