There’s a purpose why we picked London for a household trip. As our teen stated, “some women are all about trend and dream of going to Paris, however I actually need to go to London.” Why? Due to all of the Harry Potter sights in London after all!
After studying the books and seeing the Harry Potter movies numerous occasions, it did appear enjoyable to attempt to see a few of the locations depicted within the motion pictures in individual.
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. When you’ve got an aspiring wizard or witch in your loved ones, it would be best to verify these out as nicely. Simply bear in mind, for a few of these planning early is crucial!
This put up will cowl Harry Potter excursions, Harry Potter filming areas in London, the Warner Brothers Studio Tour, magical teas, a wizarding lodge, and day journeys from London to see extra Harry Potter filming websites.
Harry Potter Excursions in London
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There are fairly a couple of Harry Potter movie areas throughout the metropolis of London. However bear in mind, it has been 25 years for the reason that first film got here out and the town is all the time altering. Plus, a few of the areas had been digitally altered to disguise their look. So discovering all of them by yourself may be robust.
One choice is to take one of many Harry Potter strolling excursions in London, together with a Muggle’s Information to London, however these will solely cowl what you’ll be able to attain inside an inexpensive strolling distance. If you wish to cowl extra floor, think about a Black Cab Harry Potter driving tour.
We took the three-hour Black Cab Harry Potter tour, which covers a variety of filming areas inside London. They do additionally supply a full-day choice, which takes you to some locations outdoors of London, however we had been saving these for one more day.
What I liked 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 many others. after which we’d hop out of the cab for a more in-depth look. The film clips actually assist refresh your reminiscence and make the person websites extra fascinating.
Harry potter Filming Places
A number of the Harry Potter filming areas which you could go to embody:
Piccadilly Circus
After the assault at Invoice and Fleur’s wedding 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 seems to be totally different now with extra high-tech digital billboards and a shift within the site visitors sample, however a lot continues to be the identical.
Scotland Place
Scotland Place and the Nice Scotland Yard confirmed up on two events within the Harry Potter movies. Probably the most memorable is when Ron, Harry, and Hermoine drink Polly Juice potion to rework into Demise Eaters to sneak into the Ministry of Magic in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Half One.
You may peak across the similar nook as the principle characters did after they had been awaiting anybody coming to then knock them out and drag them right into a storage to alter garments.
Cecil Courtroom
It’s rumored that this charming little avenue off of Charing Cross Highway was JK Rowling’s inspiration for Diagon Alley. It is stuffed with guide outlets, maps shops, and fortune tells so you’ll be able to see why this rumor received began.
If you’re prepared to shell out beaucoup bucks, one of many outlets even sells a first-edition, autographed copy of the Chamber of Secrets and techniques.
Parliament
When Hagrid first brings Harry to London to get his college provides, they fly previous Parliament. After all, that is from the riverside. Close by can also 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 go by the Knight Bus!) to the South Financial institution.
Millennium Bridge
The Millennium Bridge is featured in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, when the Demise Eaters fly over London and the bridge shakes and breaks and other people fall into the river.
You may stroll throughout the bridge right this moment if you wish to reduce 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 pleased it was included in our Harry Potter tour.
Different motion pictures had been filmed close to right here too (like Bridget Jones’ Diary), however right this moment there’s a taco stand the place what was as soon as used as the doorway to the Leaky Cauldron. Even when it seems to be 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 might not have even recognized about this little gem of a market if it wasn’t for our Harry Potter tour however I might love to come back again right here for procuring and a chew.
The unique Leaky Cauldron entrance is now an optometrist store and the surface is a distinct shade, however in case you evaluate it to the film, you’ll be able to hint Hagrid and Harry’s footsteps.
Kings Cross Station
Whereas Harry departed for Hogwarts on the Hogwarts Categorical from Kings Cross Station, the surface of that station isn’t very engaging so what you’ll generally see are exterior photographs of St. Pancras Station subsequent door.
Anybody 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. Normally you’ll be able to solely get right here in case you are a ticketed passenger and it isn’t really between Platforms 9 and 10.
Platform 9 ¾ Store at Kings Cross
Our tour ended on the Platform 9 ¾ Store at Kings Cross Station. There’s a full memento store and a photograph spot with a trolley going into the wall beneath a Platform 9 ¾ signal.
You may 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’re visiting by yourself, I might advocate going early to keep away from a protracted wait.
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. The studios the place nearly all of the films had been filmed have been reworked into “The Making of Harry Potter.” Now they’ve even opened Gringotts Financial institution!
Getting there
There are three choices to get to the Warner Bros. Studios: practice, bus, or automotive. Many bus excursions can be found from Central London, simply remember the fact that these solely permit for 3 hours on the Studios, which is chopping it a bit quick and chances are you’ll really feel that your time there’s too quick.
For that purpose, I might advocate shopping for tickets direct and taking the practice. Simply remember the fact that tickets promote out MONTHS upfront and generally the one choice is to guide a bus tour by way of an organization akin to Golden Excursions or on Get Your Information.
To take the practice, you need to allot near 1.5 to 2 hours out of your ticket entrance time. You will have to take the Tube (or a taxi) to Euston station. From there, you’ll be able to catch a practice to Watford Junction. Make sure to verify the practice choices as a result of some are specific and solely take 20 minutes, whereas others could be for much longer.
When you arrive in Watford Junction, there are shuttle busses that can take you to the Warner Bros. Studio. They run each half-hour from 9.20am (with further providers out there 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.
What to Count on Inside Warner Bros. Studio Tour
Some folks suppose that The Making of Harry Potter is a few form of amusement park, just like the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Common. Others get confused by the studio “tour” title — pondering that it’s a guided Harry Potter studio tour. It really is neither.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour is the precise studio the place the films 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 films after which you might be allowed to enter the Nice Corridor. We visited in December in the course of the “Hogwarts within the Snow” occasion when the corridor is adorned for the holidays. You might be given simply a short while to discover this room earlier than you might be ushered into the principle room.
In the principle room, you will see units, costumes, and props that had been used within the motion pictures. There’s the Gryffindor Widespread Room, Dumbledore’s Workplace, Hagrid’s Hut, the Burrow, the Potions Room, and Malfoy Manor.
You may also find out how the magic was made. There are some interactive displays akin to driving a broomstick in entrance of a inexperienced display and studying to forged spells. You may also discover the Forbidden Forest, residence to Aragog and his spider mates and be taught the magic behind the casting of a Patronus.
On Platform 9 ¾ you’ll be able to step aboard the Hogwarts Categorical set, take a photograph at Platform 9 ¾, and take a “trip” on the Hogwarts Categorical with a inexperienced display backdrop. There are many alternatives all through to buy memento pictures.
In any case that, take a break for some Butterbeer within the cafe (I’ll admit I favor the Butterbeer at Common Orlando.) Then you’ll be able to head outdoors to see the Knight Bus, Privet Drive, and the Hogwarts bridge.
Be sure in case you take a bus tour that you just save time for the tip of the tour as a result of the miniature fashions, the draft paintings, and the mannequin room with the complete model of Hogwarts is totally fascinating. I feel you need to permit not less than 4 hours to see every thing in case you can.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Little one
In the event you 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 in case you embody a efficiency of Harry Potter and the Cursed Little one on the Palace Theater.
We weren’t capable of get tickets to see the Cursed Little one in London, however we did see Harry Potter and the Cursed Little one on Broadway.
Harry Potter Resort
In the event you actually need to go loopy, guide a keep at this Harry Potter-themed lodge:
Verify charges and opinions on the Gregorian Home Resort and skim the complete Harry Potter lodge evaluation on Journey Your self. We didn’t keep there however Cailin’s video tour and evaluation make it look fairly intriguing for the proper company.
Harry Potter Themed Afternoon Tea
Since we didn’t need to make our total journey about Harry Potter, we really opted for a Glam Rock themed excessive tea with our teen on the Ok West lodge. Nevertheless, in case you are inclined to strive a themed excessive tea along with your youngsters, there are a couple of that meet the invoice:
Harry Potter Places Outdoors of London
If you’re searching for a day journey from London, a go to to the Harry Potter filming websites in Oxford is an ideal choice. There are 38 faculties that make up the College of Oxford, and a few of these had been used for filming scenes within the Harry Potter motion pictures. You may discover by yourself however I might advocate a strolling tour. You may also rent a personal driver-guide like we did for a full-day journey.
A must-do cease is at Christchurch, the place the Nice Corridor is what was used for the Nice Corridor/Eating Corridor at Hogwarts. You may also go to the staircase the place McGonagall greeted the first-year college students in Chamber of Secrets and techniques.
In New School you’ll be able to see the Cloisters that had been used for a few of the hallways scenes, and the tree the place Draco Malfoy was changed into a ferret.
When you’ve got a automotive or rent a driver, you can even cease in Lacock Abbey, the place they filmed the Potter’s home in Thinker’s Stone and the Potions classroom. Discover extra Harry Potter filming websites within the countryside right here.
Visiting England? Learn extra:
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