{"id":13993,"date":"2013-12-30T08:08:52","date_gmt":"2013-12-30T12:08:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/?p=13993"},"modified":"2019-09-03T17:32:43","modified_gmt":"2019-09-03T21:32:43","slug":"top-10-harry-potter-locations-london","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/2013\/12\/30\/top-10-harry-potter-locations-london\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 10 Harry Potter Locations in London"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>For the past two decades, the <em>Harry Potter<\/em> books and films have enriched the lives of millions of readers around the world. They have also introduced foreign readers and moviegoers to more of Great Britain&#8217;s culture and countryside. From the gorgeous film locations showcasing some of the nation\u2019s most magical places to J.K. Rowling\u2019s amazingly detailed stories about life (both magical and non-magical) in Britain, <em>Harry Potter<\/em> has provided a wonderful introduction to the United Kingdom and its capital city of London.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/maps.google.com\/maps\/ms?msa=0&amp;msid=208857790003288562267.0004ecb5e61a2063266cb&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;t=m&amp;ll=51.536086,-0.188828&amp;spn=0.170843,0.401001&amp;z=11&amp;output=embed\" width=\"585\" height=\"400\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>London has played a big part in the <em>Harry Potter<\/em> universe. It\u2019s the fictional home of some of the most astonishing places in each book, such as the Ministry of Magic, Platform 9 \u00be, and Diagon Alley. London was also emphatically used in the Harry Potter movies to bring the magical universe of the novels to life. Today, you can still find many of the wondrous <em>Harry Potter<\/em> locations from the books and the movies in London. These sites are more than great fun to visit for <em>Harry Potter<\/em> fans; they also provide visitors with a chance to discover some fantastic lesser-known landmarks in London they might not see otherwise. We\u2019ve compiled a list of our top 10 <em>Harry Potter<\/em> locations in London to inspire you to go on a magical exploration of the city!<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>1. Platform 9 \u00be at King&#8217;s Cross Station<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"img alignright wp-image-14004\" style='width:375px;'>\n\t<img src=\"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/harry-potter-london-book-movie-location-platform-kings-cross-station.jpg\" alt=\"Picture of a plaque of Platform 9 \u00be at London\u2019s King\u2019s Cross Station\" width=\"375\" height=\"514\" \/>\n\t<div>Platform 9 \u00be was where Harry Potter began his journey at King\u2019s Cross Station in London<\/div>\n<\/div>To start at the beginning\u2013and end\u2013of Harry Potter\u2019s magical journey, head to King\u2019s Cross Station on Euston Road. King\u2019s Cross is where students board the Hogwarts Express on Platform 9 \u00be to begin their journey to school.<\/p>\n<p>J.K. Rowling was actually thinking of London Euston Station when she was writing the books, so you won\u2019t be able to find the secret barrier between platforms 9 and 10 in real life. You will, however, find a special plaque (along with a disappearing luggage cart) designating Platform 9 \u00be on a wall at King\u2019s Cross. You\u2019ll have the chance to take a picture complete with a Gryffindor scarf and to check out the adjacent shop where you can buy merchandise from the <em>Harry Potter<\/em> books and films. Incidentally, the beautiful Victorian facade of the next-door neighbor St. Pancras Station was used as the exterior of King\u2019s Cross Station in the <em>Harry Potter<\/em> films.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>2. The Reptile House at the London Zoo<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Another one of Harry&#8217;s defining moments took place at the London Zoo in Regent\u2019s Park in <em>Harry Potter and the Philosopher\u2019s Stone<\/em>. While visiting the Reptile House with the Dursleys, Harry discovers he can talk to snakes and accidentally releases a huge boa constrictor. The first <em>Harry Potter<\/em> film also shot this scene in the Reptile House, and you\u2019ll find a plaque beside the tank that held the snake in the movie (in reality, it&#8217;s home to a black mamba, not a boa constrictor). Be sure to explore the other parts of the London Zoo, which is a great attraction for kids. For more family-friendly activities, see how to <a title=\"Visit London with the kids for a fantastic family holiday!\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/2013\/04\/01\/visit-london-kids-family\/\">visit London with the kids<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>3. Diagon Alley at Leadenhall Market<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"img aligncenter wp-image-14003\">\n\t<img src=\"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/harry-potter-london-book-movie-location-leadenhall-market.jpg\" alt=\"Image of Leadenhall Market in London, which was used to shoot Diagon Alley\" width=\"750\" height=\"500\" \/>\n\t<div>London\u2019s Leadenhall Market was used for the exterior of the shops in Diagon Alley<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Diagon Alley is one of the most iconic locations in Harry Potter\u2019s London, as it\u2019s the high shopping street of the wizarding world. In the first film, Leadenhall Market was used to shoot the exteriors of the magical shops found in the alley. Leadenhall Market in the City of London is a beautiful Victorian covered market with many different specialty shops. In the Bull\u2019s Head Passage section of the market, you\u2019ll find the blue shopfront that was used as the entrance to The Leaky Cauldron in the film. To find out more about Leadenhall Market, check out our <a title=\"London video tour: City of London\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/2013\/02\/11\/video-tour-city-london\/\">video tour of the City of London<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>4. Gringotts at Australia House<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"img aligncenter wp-image-14002\">\n\t<img src=\"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/harry-potter-london-book-movie-location-gringotts-bank-australia-house.jpg\" alt=\"Picture of London\u2019s Australia House, which inspired Gringotts\" width=\"750\" height=\"500\" \/>\n\t<div>It\u2019s easy to see how the Australia House in London inspired the Gringotts wizarding bank<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>In the book series, the Gringotts wizarding bank is located inside Diagon Alley. In the movies, the exterior of the bank is a set inspired by Australia House on the Strand. The magnificent interior of the bank was filmed inside Australia House, but as the Australian High Commission is housed in the building, you\u2019ll need a valid reason to get inside, such as a visa application. Otherwise, you&#8217;ll unfortunately be denied access. The beautiful exterior, however, is enough to marvel at outside.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>5. Grimmauld Place at Claremont Square<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"img aligncenter wp-image-14001\">\n\t<img src=\"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/harry-potter-london-book-movie-location-grimmauld-place-claremont-square.jpg\" alt=\"Image of Claremont Square in London, or Grimmauld Place in the Harry Potter films\" width=\"750\" height=\"500\" \/>\n\t<div>The rowhouses of London\u2019s Claremont Square doubled as Grimmauld Place in the Harry Potter films<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>12 Grimmauld Place is the home of Harry\u2019s godfather Sirius Black and headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix in London. It&#8217;s said that the address was inspired by Lincoln\u2019s Inn Fields, the largest public square in the city. However, in the film <em>Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix<\/em>, the rowhouses on Claremont Square were used as the exterior of Grimmauld Place. It\u2019s not hard to understand the mix-up: London is filled with public squares and private gardens surrounded by beautiful townhouses.<\/p>\n<p>To see what it\u2019s like to stay in one of these gorgeous townhouses, check out this <a title=\"London accommodation, 1-bedroom rental in Chelsea (LN-1666)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/london-apartment\/vacation\/1666\">1-bedroom apartment in Chelsea<\/a>. This apartment has access to a magical private garden, the likes of which you can only find in London. Furthermore, by staying in an apartment during your visit to the city, you\u2019ll get to see what it\u2019s like to live in London like a local! Have a look at our other <a title=\"London vacation rentals\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/london-apartment\/vacation\">vacation rental apartments in London<\/a> to see our whole selection.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>6. London City Hall<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The <em>Harry Potter<\/em> movies added some beautiful modern landmarks that weren\u2019t mentioned in the books. London City Hall, the headquarters of the Greater London Authority, was featured in one of the first scenes of the film adaptation of <em>Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince<\/em>. The unusually shaped building is located next to Tower Bridge on the south bank of the River Thames. In the movie, employees of City Hall witness a Death Eater attack on the Millennium Bridge, which is the next modern landmark on this list.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>7. Millennium Bridge<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In the books, an attack on a (different) bridge is only mentioned. However, in the sixth film of the series, moviegoers get to see how the Death Eaters destroy the Millennium Bridge, a pedestrian bridge that crosses the River Thames in London. In reality, the Millennium Bridge is still very much intact and provides a wonderful view of the River Thames, Tower Bridge, and the nearby St Paul\u2019s Cathedral.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>8. Surbiton Railway Station &amp; Westminster Tube Station<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In the movie <em>Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince<\/em>, Harry reads about the attack on Millennium Bridge while sitting in a train station caf\u00e9, which is also where he meets Dumbledore. The caf\u00e9 and platform are both inside the Surbiton Railway Station, southwest of London in the suburbs. If you find the station is too far out of the way, the Westminster Tube Station is a great alternative. This London Underground station was featured in <em>Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix<\/em> as Harry and Mr. Weasley pass through it on their way to the Ministry of Magic. The station is right next to Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, so it\u2019s a nice place to visit if you want to check out some of the most famous landmarks in London.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>9. Professor Flitwick\u2019s classroom at Harrow School<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Tiny professor Flitwick teaches Charms at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The Charms classroom used in the movies is actually the Fourth Form Room at the real-life boarding school Harrow. The ancient school for boys dates back to the 16th century, and the building and grounds are absolutely gorgeous. During a tour of Harrow School you won\u2019t only visit the Fourth Form Room, but you&#8217;ll also discover how top-notch boarding schools in Britain operate. You can easily travel to Harrow from King\u2019s Cross Station.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>10. No. 4, Privet Drive, Little Whinging at 12 Picket Post Close, Berkshire<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"img aligncenter wp-image-14005\">\n\t<img src=\"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/harry-potter-london-book-movie-location-dudley-privet-drive-picket-post-close.jpg\" alt=\"Picture of Picket Post Close, or No 4, Privet Drive in the Harry Potter movies\" width=\"750\" height=\"500\" \/>\n\t<div>Picket Post Close was used as the exterior for No 4, Privet Drive in Harry Potter and the Philosopher\u2019s Stone<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>To end where it all began, the last location of our top 10 list is Number 4, Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey, which is the Dursley family home. Harry spends most of his summers here in the books and movies, and grew up in this house before he went to Hogwarts. The house that was used to shoot No. 4, Privet Drive in the films is actually 12 Picket Post Close in Martins Heron, Berkshire. This is more than twice as far from London as Harrow, but the train station in Martins Heron is conveniently close to Picket Post Close, and you can easily get there from London Waterloo Station. If you decide to visit, do remember that this is a private home!<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>Bonus: Warner Brothers Studio Tour London \u2013 <em>The Making of Harry Potter<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"img aligncenter wp-image-14006\">\n\t<img src=\"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/harry-potter-london-book-movie-location-great-hall-warner-bros-studio-leavesden.jpg\" alt=\"Image of the Great Hall set from Harry Potter at London\u2019s Warner Bros Studio Tour\" width=\"750\" height=\"500\" \/>\n\t<div>Harry Potter\u2019s Great Hall set in the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>It didn\u2019t feel right to end this list without mentioning the <a title=\"Warner Bros. Studio Tour London\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wbstudiotour.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Warner Bros. Studio Tour at Leavesden Studios<\/a>. This attraction is a must-visit for <em>Harry Potter<\/em> fans coming to London. Production for all of the <em>Harry Potter<\/em> films was based in the Leavesden film studios, and after the franchise ended, Warner Brothers converted the original <em>Harry Potter<\/em> sets into one big <em>Harry Potter<\/em> studio tour. On the tour, you\u2019ll be able to visit the original sets of the Great Hall, Dumbledore\u2019s office, Hagrid\u2019s hut, and many more. There\u2019s also a beautiful scale model of Hogwarts, several props and costumes, a caf\u00e9 where you can taste butterbeer, and a shop where you can buy merchandise. Most of all, it\u2019s a chance to see the real magic of the moviemaking process up close.<\/p>\n<p>We hope you\u2019ve enjoyed this list of <em>Harry Potter<\/em> locations in London! If you\u2019re looking for more movie magic while in the city, have a look at our <a title=\"London\u2019s landmark cinemas\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/2010\/04\/13\/londons-landmark-cinemas\/\">landmark cinemas in London<\/a>. Have you ever visited one of the <em>Harry Potter<\/em> locations in London?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For the past two decades, the Harry Potter books and films have enriched the lives of millions of readers around the world. They have also&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[36],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13993"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13993"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13993\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20456,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13993\/revisions\/20456"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13993"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13993"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13993"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}