The Harry Potter series of books and films are some of the most popular stories in recent times. Set across the backdrop of picturesque London, the films use a blend of modern and historical scenery for the locations of a number of the young wizards adventures, many of which you can visit yourself or with a passionate guide on a free walking tour.
Here at Strawberry Tours we have compiled a list of the most interesting filming locations for the Harry Potter films, that you can visit!
Diagon Alley: Leadenhall Market/Borough Market
First appearing on screen in The Philosopher's Stone, Diagon Alley is Harry’s first look into the wizarding world. Presented as an arcade of intriguing shops and emporiums, the original shots for Diagon alley were at Leadenhall Market which is in walking distance from Monument tube station, Fenchurch train station and the Gherkin. The beautifully preserved victorian architecture made for the exterior shots of the alley and an empty shop (now an opticians) was used as the doorway to the Leaky Cauldron pub.
Borough Market was used at a later date as the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron. What is usually a flower shop became the entrance to the pub for the scene in which Harry arrives on the Knight Bus in The Prisoner of Azkaban. Borough Market can be found on the Southbank of the river, and is a short walk from London Bridge tube and train stations.
Platform 9 3/4: King's Cross Station
Probably the most famous location on the list is the magical gateway at London’s King's Cross train station. Situated just as the film portrays, there is a wall positioned directly between platforms 9 and 10 with a luggage trolley positioned against it which is a great photo opportunity for any Potter fan. King's Cross is very accessible, with its own underground station and sits just across the road from St. Pancras International.
Cafe Attack: Piccadilly Circus/ Shaftesbury Ave
One for the more die-hard Harry Potter fans is the cafe in which Harry Hermione and Ron are attacked by a group of death eaters in The Deathly Hallows part 1. This location from the penultimate film is easy enough to find. Arriving at Piccadilly underground station, exit towards Shaftesbury Ave, just remember to have your wand on you at all times.
Ministry of Magic: Great Scotland Yard, Scotland Place
The place in which Harry and Arthur Weasley enter the Ministry of magic in The Order of the Phoenix. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to pose for a great photo opportunity inside the phone box which is the entrance to the wizard worlds authoritative body as one doesn’t exist. The hone box which appeared in the film was actually a prop. However, what you can do is walk in their footsteps, on your own or with free tour. You only need to arrive at Westminster tube station as the two characters do in the film, from there it’s then only a short walk along Whitehall to Great Scotland Yard.
Gringotts Wizarding Bank: Australia House, Strand
This grand building is home to the Australian High Commissioner, and is the place to come to if you are looking to apply for an Australian visa. However, it was also used as the set for the interior shots of Gringotts Wizarding bank. Though you might not find a hidden railroad to your bank vault, the building really does look as grand as in the film. The Strand is very easy to find, and is a 6-minute walk from either Covent Garden or Temple underground stations.
Harry First Speaks Parseltongue: London Zoo
Before Harry really understands his wizarding capabilities in The Philosopher's Stone, he manages to speak to a Burmese python and frees it from its reptile house display in London Zoo. A special board exists next to the exact display where the shooting took place, with details about the scene and the Burmese Python. The zoo is based in Regent's Park and is very accessible and is either a short 10-15 minute walk from Camden Town underground station or from the Baker street bus stop for the 274 bus.
12 Grimmauld Place: Lincoln’s Inn Fields
The building not meant to be discovered by anybody because of the security spells placed on it is actually fairly easy to find. The house appears in The Order of the Phoenix and is the ancestral home of Sirius Black. In reality, it is actually a street filled with solicitors. To find the location, take the northern line from Piccadilly station and get off at Holborn tube station. A 3-4 minute walk south east will lead you to Lincoln’s Inn Fields.
The Three Bridges: Tower Bridge, Lambeth Bridge & Millennium Bridge
Harry’s adventures have in some way involved a number of London’s Thames bridges. In The Order of the Phoenix the broomstick chance scene sees Harry fly past London’s most iconic bridge, Tower Bridge. In The Prisoner of Azkaban the Knight bus squeezes between two regular London buses whilst crossing Lambeth Bridge which is further West to Tower Bridge. The third Bridge is of course the Millennium Bridge, which in The Half Blood Prince is destroyed by Death Eaters. Thankfully, it still exists and is a perfectly picturesque pedestrian bridge leading to St Paul’s Cathedral.
If you like to see more Harry Potter film locations in real life, you can join a Free Harry Potter Tour in London.
