There is a purpose why we picked London for a household trip. As our teen stated, “some girls are all about fashion and dream of going to Paris, but I really want to go to London.” Why? Because of all of the Harry Potter sights in London after all!
Yes, after all Harry Potter isn’t actual, however after studying the books and seeing the Harry Potter movies numerous occasions, it did appear enjoyable to attempt to see among the locations depicted within the motion pictures in particular person. After all, whereas a go to to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando is magical, it’s nonetheless in FLORIDA, not London. So I got down to monitor down all of the Harry Potter sights in London (and close by) and plan the last word journey to London for Harry Potter followers.
If you could have an aspiring wizard or witch in your loved ones, you’ll want to verify these out as effectively. Just keep in mind, for a few of these planning early is important!
How to search out the Best Harry Potter Attractions in London
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There are fairly a number of Harry Potter movie places inside the metropolis of London. But keep in mind, it has been 20 years because the first film got here out and town is all the time altering. Plus, among the places had been digitally altered to disguise their look. So discovering all of them by yourself could be robust.
One possibility is to take one of many Harry Potter strolling excursions in London, together with a Muggle’s Guide to London, however these will solely cowl what you possibly can attain inside an affordable strolling distance. If you wish to cowl extra floor, take into account a Black Cab Harry Potter driving tour.
We took the three-hour Black Cab Harry Potter tour, which covers a variety of filming places inside London. They do additionally supply a full-day possibility, which takes you to some locations outdoors of London, however we had been saving these for one more day.
What I beloved about this tour is that our information would present us the clip from the film, whether or not it was Order of the Phoenix, Deathly Hallows, and so forth. after which we’d hop out of the cab for a better look. The film clips actually assist refresh your reminiscence and make the person websites extra fascinating.
Harry potter Filming Locations
Some of the Harry Potter filming places alongside the tour included:
Piccadilly Circus
After the assault at Bill and Fleur’s marriage ceremony in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Ron, Hermione, and Harry apparate to London proper within the coronary heart of Piccadilly Circus. The filming of this scene was one of many few occasions that site visitors has been shut down at this busy intersection.
It appears totally different now with extra high-tech digital billboards and a shift within the site visitors sample, however a lot remains to be the identical.
Scotland Place
Scotland Place and the Great Scotland Yard confirmed up on two events within the Harry Potter movies. The most memorable is when Ron, Harry, and Hermoine drink Polly Juice potion to rework into Death Eaters to sneak into the Ministry of Magic in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part One.
You can peak across the similar nook as the principle characters did once they had been awaiting anybody coming to then knock them out and drag them right into a storage to alter garments.
Cecil Court
It is rumored that this charming little road off of Charing Cross Road was JK Rowling’s inspiration for Diagon Alley. It is stuffed with e-book retailers, maps shops, and fortune tells so you possibly can see why this rumor bought began.
If you might be prepared to shell out beaucoup bucks, one of many retailers even sells a first-edition, autographed copy of the Chamber of Secrets.
Parliament
When Hagrid first brings Harry to London to get his faculty provides, they fly previous Parliament. Of course, that is from the riverside. Nearby can be Westminster Tube Station, which so befuddled Mr. Weasley.
After stopping for an image at Parliament, we went throughout the Lambeth bridge (however we didn’t cross by the Knight Bus!) to the South Bank.
Millennium Bridge
The Millennium Bridge is featured in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, when the Death Eaters fly over London and the bridge shakes and breaks and folks fall into the river.
You can stroll throughout the bridge at present if you wish to minimize over from Shakespeare’s Globe Theater to St. Paul’s Cathedral, if that’s a part of your London itinerary.
Borough Market
Borough Market is a well-liked attraction when visiting London and we hadn’t match it into our in any other case jam-packed London itinerary so I used to be completely happy it was included in our Harry Potter tour.
Other motion pictures had been filmed close to right here too (like Bridget Jones’ Diary), however at present there’s a taco stand the place what was as soon as used as the doorway to the Leaky Cauldron. Even if it appears totally different, Borough Market is an efficient place to seize lunch or dinner in case you are taking a DIY self-guided Harry Potter tour.
Leadenhall Market
After Borough Market we went again throughout the river, taking in views of the Tower Bridge, which Harry and crew fly over on broomsticks in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Afterwards we stopped at Leadenhall Market. I’d not have even recognized about this little gem of a market if it wasn’t for our Harry Potter tour however I’d love to return again right here for buying and a chunk.
The unique Leaky Cauldron entrance is now an optometrist store and the skin is a distinct shade, however if you happen to examine it to the film, you possibly can hint Hagrid and Harry’s footsteps.
Kings Cross Station
While Harry departed for Hogwarts on the Hogwarts Express from Kings Cross Station, the skin of that station shouldn’t be very enticing so what you’ll generally see are exterior photographs of St. Pancras Station subsequent door.
Anyone can go line as much as take an image on the Platform 9 ¾ store in Kings Cross Station, however our Harry Potter tour took us onto the precise platform that was used for the filming. Usually you possibly can solely get right here in case you are a ticketed passenger and it isn’t truly between Platforms 9 and 10.
Platform 9 ¾ Shop at Kings Cross
Our tour ended on the Platform 9 ¾ Shop at Kings Cross Station. There is a full memento store and a photograph spot with a trolley going into the wall beneath a Platform 9 ¾ signal.
You can keep and go to the store and take footage with props in case you are prepared to attend the 45-60 minutes within the queue. If you might be visiting by yourself, I’d advocate going early to keep away from a protracted wait.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
If you possibly can handle to get tickets (and might afford them — see how a lot a visit to London prices), your Harry Potter fan will adore you if you happen to embody a efficiency of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on the Palace Theater.
We weren’t in a position to get tickets to see the Cursed Child in London, however we did see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway (learn all about it.) If you wish to keep abreast of latest ticket block releases, join updates and pre-release registration.
Harry Potter Hotel
If you actually wish to go loopy, e-book a keep at this Harry Potter-themed resort:
Check charges and critiques on the Gregorian House Hotel and skim the total Harry Potter resort assessment on Travel Yourself. We didn’t keep there however Cailin’s video tour and assessment make it look fairly intriguing for the correct friends.
Harry Potter Themed Afternoon Tea
Since we didn’t wish to make our complete journey about Harry Potter, we truly opted for a Glam Rock themed excessive tea with our teen on the Okay West resort. However, in case you are inclined to strive a themed excessive tea along with your youngsters, there are a number of that meet the invoice:
Warner Bros. Studio Tour “The Making of Harry Potter”
Any journey to London with Harry Potter followers requires a day journey to the Warner Bros. Studio in Leavesden, about 20 minutes outdoors of London, to see the movie units. These studios had been nearly all of the flicks had been filmed have been remodeled into “The Making of Harry Potter.” Now they’ve even opened Gringotts Bank!
Getting there
There are three choices to get to the Warner Bros. Studios: prepare, bus, or automotive. Many bus excursions can be found from Central London, simply understand that these solely enable for 3 hours on the Studios, which is slicing it a bit quick and you might really feel that your time there’s too quick.
For that purpose, I’d advocate shopping for tickets direct and taking the prepare. Just understand that tickets promote out MONTHS upfront and generally the one possibility is to e-book a bus tour by means of an organization corresponding to Golden Tours or Get Your Guide.
To take the prepare, it is best to allot near 1.5 to 2 hours out of your ticket entrance time. You might want to take the Tube (or a taxi) to Euston station. From there, you possibly can catch a prepare to Watford Junction. Be positive to verify the prepare choices as a result of some are specific and solely take 20 minutes, whereas others could be for much longer.
Once you arrive in Watford Junction, there are shuttle busses that may take you to the Warner Bros. Studio. They run each half-hour from 9.20am (with extra providers obtainable from 8.15am when the primary tour is at 9am). The final return shuttle bus again to Watford Junction will depart the Studio Tour when the Tour closes. The journey takes about quarter-hour and a spherical journey ticket prices £2.50 (money solely, no bank cards.)
What to Expect Inside Warner Bros. Studio Tour
Some individuals assume that The Making of Harry Potter is a few sort of amusement park, just like the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal. Others get confused by the studio “tour” identify — pondering that it’s a guided Harry Potter studio tour. It truly is neither.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour is the precise studio the place the flicks had been filmed. Tickets are given an entrance time and that’s when your “tour” begins, however the tour is self-guided.
It begins with a brief movie concerning the making of the flicks after which you might be allowed to enter the Great Hall. We visited in December through the “Hogwarts in the Snow” occasion when the corridor is embellished for the holidays. You are given simply a short while to discover this room earlier than you might be ushered into the principle room.
In the principle room, you’ll find units, costumes, and props that had been used within the motion pictures. There is the Gryffindor Common Room, Dumbledore’s Office, Hagrid’s Hut, the Burrow, the Potions Room, and Malfoy Manor.
You may learn the way the magic was made. There are some interactive displays corresponding to using a broomstick in entrance of a inexperienced display and studying to solid spells. You may discover the Forbidden Forest, dwelling to Aragog and his spider mates and study the magic behind the casting of a Patronus.
On Platform 9 ¾ you possibly can step aboard the Hogwarts Express set, take a photograph at Platform 9 ¾, and take a “ride” on the Hogwarts Express with a inexperienced display backdrop. There are loads of alternatives all through to buy memento images.
After all that, take a break for some Butterbeer within the cafe (I’ll admit I choose the Butterbeer at Universal Orlando.) Then you possibly can head outdoors to see the Knight Bus, Privet Drive, and the Hogwarts bridge.
Make positive if you happen to take a bus tour that you just save time for the top of the tour as a result of the miniature fashions, the draft art work, and the mannequin room with the total model of Hogwarts is completely fascinating. I feel it is best to enable not less than 4 hours to see every little thing if you happen to can.
Harry Potter Locations Outside of London
If you might be searching for a day journey from London, a go to to the Harry Potter filming websites in Oxford is an ideal possibility. There are 38 faculties that make up the University of Oxford, and a few of these had been used for filming scenes within the Harry Potter motion pictures. You can discover by yourself however I’d advocate a strolling tour. You may rent a personal driver-guide like we did for a full-day journey.
A must-do cease is at Christchurch, the place the Great Hall is what was used for the Great Hall/Dining Hall at Hogwarts. You may go to the staircase the place McGonagall greeted the first-year college students in Chamber of Secrets.
In New College you possibly can see the Cloisters that had been used for among the hallways scenes, and the tree the place Draco Malfoy was became a ferret.
If you could have a automotive or rent a driver, you can too cease in Lacock Abbey, the place they filmed the Potter’s home in Philosopher’s Stone and the Potions classroom. Find extra Harry Potter filming websites within the countryside right here.
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