London for Harry Potter Fans: Magical Places to Visit

Visit all the best and most iconic Harry Potter places in London and start planning the trip of a lifetime with our top five destinations for fans in the capital. 

Did you know that London welcomes around 30 million tourists annually? Of those, not all of them are set on visiting the Christmas markets, experiencing the romantic escapes, or even catching a glimpse of the royal landmarks around the city. No – there are things that are far more wonderful, fantastical, and wizardly – and those are the Harry Potter places in London. 

Yes, there is great food to try and all the usual (and amazing) sights to see, but for a Harry Potter fan, it’s hard to match the excitement of seeing iconic locations in real life. London is a dream destination for Harry Potter fans, featuring iconic locations like Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross Station and Leadenhall Market, which inspired Diagon Alley, and so much more. 

If you want to visit, then you are going to want a list of all the must-see spots. Luckily, we know our stuff.

The Best Locations for Harry Potter Fans in the UK

There are so many incredible locations around London that will captivate your attention and steal your heart. If you are a Harry Potter fan, however, the only place that can even compare to England’s capital is Edinburgh. So, if you are planning a trip to London because of your love for the books or the films (and soon to be a series, too!), make sure you spend some time in Scotland’s capital as well.

If you are going to visit London, we recommend taking the time to do your research beforehand. Before you book your trip, learn about the must-see landmarks, and learn what you will wish you knew before visiting. If you have never visited before, you might also find our step-by-step travel guide handy, so feel free to have a look.

You might also be interested in our useful packing guide and see how to choose the perfect hotel room for your stay – because there are plenty to choose from, and we know it can get overwhelming. Make sure you also read up on whether you should use cabs or an Uber while in London, because you might find that one will be a better fit depending on where you’re going and what you’re doing.

Magical Harry Potter Places in London

If you are looking for the best, most iconic, most wizardly and wonderful Harry Potter places in London – we’ve got you. The good news is, there are enough spots to visit to fill your days with fantastic fun, no matter how old you are. From all the classic locations for die hard fans, to the ones that offer history and culture (and also great photo ops), there is going to be something for everyone on this list, and that’s a promise.

Top 5 Harry Potter spots in London you can’t miss:

• Platform 9 ¾ (King’s Cross Station)
• Diagon Alley (Leadenhall Market)
• Ministry of Magic (Great Scotland Yard)
• House of MinaLima for all your wizarding goods
• Harry Potter studio tour at Warner Bros

Make sure to stick around to the end if you want some honourable mentions and bonus locations that you should stop by as a Harry Potter fan. You can never have too many locations on your itinerary – just make sure to plan everything ahead of time!

Explore Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross Station

Is there any Harry Potter location more iconic than Platform 9 ¾? While we don’t recommend running into the wall to get the Hogwarts Express on time, we can confirm that it does make for an excellent photoshoot. 

If you want the true experience and an even better photoshoot, we suggest organising a visit to the last location on this list – nothing will top it.

Address: King’s Cross, Euston Rd., London N1C 4AP 

Google Maps: Platform 9 ¾

Hours Open: Monday to Friday – 05:00 – 01:40; Saturday – 05:00 – 01:11; Sunday – 05:30 – 01:36

Entry: free

Our Great St Helen Hotel is a short 5-minute walk to Leadenhall Market, another must-see Harry Potter filming location.

Visit Leadenhall Market: The Real-Life Diagon Alley

Any Harry Potter fan will immediately recognise Leadenhall Market as the location of Diagon Alley and the Leaky Cauldron. This unique spot is full of character, and creates a truly unforgettable experience as it transports you to the wizarding world. 

With the classic Victorian architecture, this is also a fantastic spot for you to try different kinds of photography and find the one shot that stays with you.

Address: Gracechurch St, London EC3V 1LT 

Google Maps: Leadenhall Market

Hours Open: open 24 hours

Entry: free

Great Scotland Yard: Ministry of Magic

Step into the Ministry of Magic by visiting Great Scotland Yard – one of the most historical locations on this list. As this location is a street, you can enjoy free entry and visit whenever you love, but always be mindful of others when visiting! 

Recreate stills from the films, explore the street, and see what other fantastic locations are nearby to make the most of your Harry Potter-themed trip.

Address: street connects Northumberland Avenue and Whitehall

Google Maps: Great Scotland Yard

Hours Open: open 24 hours

Entry: free

Shop for Wizarding Goodies at House of MinaLima

House of MinaLima is a one of a kind location in London that any Harry Potter fan is going to want to visit. With a colourful gallery and run by the graphic designing pair that worked on both the Fantastic Beasts and Harry Potter films, you can get all kinds of Harry Potter merch (and even look online) for yourself and loved ones.

Address: 157 Wardour St, London W1F 8WQ 

Google Maps: House of MinaLima

Hours Open: 11:00–18.45

Entry: free

Discover the Magic of Warner Bros. Studio Tour

Since opening in 2012, Warner Bros. Studio Tour ‘The Making of Harry Potter’ in London has attracted over 20 million fans from around the world, and for good reason. Here, you can tour the film sets for the making of Harry Potter and be blown away by the phenomenal special effects used in the classic films. 

Be prepared to spend the day here, as most people tend to spend anywhere from four to seven hours taking in the sights and exploring the shop! Get a taste of butter beer, hotdogs, sundaes, and so much more, including souvenirs that are bound to stick with you through thick and thin.

Address: Studio Tour Dr, Leavesden, Watford WD25 7LR 

Google Maps: Warner Bros Studio Tour

Hours Open: 8:50–22:00

Entry: under 4’s are free; starting at £56 for a studio tour; starting at £68 for a souvenir gift ticket; see all options here

Honourable Mentions

And because there are truly so many incredible Harry Potter locations in London, we thought it only makes sense to include some honourable mentions for fans who just can’t get enough. From the death eater scene on Millennium Bridge to the Leaky Cauldron, true Harry Potter fans will have the trip of a lifetime at these fantastical spots dotted across the city.

Some honourable mentions we couldn’t leave out:

• Millennium Bridge: The Death Eater Attack Scene
• Australia House: Gringotts Bank
• St. Paul’s Cathedral: Divination Class
• Borough Market: Leaky Cauldron 
• 23–29 Claremont Square: Grimmauld Place

Why Crown Group of Hotels is Perfect for Harry Potter Fans

Learn more about the best spots for foodies, or if places like the London Eye are worth visiting on our website. Or, if you want some help finding the best hotels for business travellers or anything else, we would love to hear from you and help you in any way we can.

Visit all the most iconic Harry Potter places in London and embark on your magical London adventure with Crown Group of Hotels as your base. Book your stay today and explore the wizarding world just steps away!