Harry Potter in London: A complete guide with studios, shops, and real-life locations—very Pottermania-like!

If you're planning a trip to London and there's a Harry Potter fan in your family, be warned: this city can easily become a real obsession . Because yes, London has that Victorian, mysterious, and chaotic atmosphere that seems tailor-made for the magical world of Hogwarts.

We did these Harry Potter-themed tours as a family, and it turned out to be a fantastic experience and one of the most fun parts of the trip. Between film sets, hidden markets, iconic train stations, and shops full of wands, we felt completely immersed in the movies.

In this guide you will find everything you need to plan your Harry Potter tour in London: the best real-life locations, must-see shops, practical tips and how to make the most of your day.

And if you're planning a more comprehensive trip around the city, you can also check out our main guides here:

London in 3 days with children

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London: the unmissable experience

The ultimate dream of any Harry Potter fan.

The Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter is, without a doubt, the most spectacular Harry Potter experience in London.

And be warned, this isn't your typical theme park . What's truly impressive here is that you're literally stepping into the original movie sets.

• the Great Hall
• Dumbledore's office
• Diagon Alley
• the Forbidden Forest
• the Hogwarts Express
• gringotts

Everything is huge, real, and much more spectacular than it looks in photos.

We thought we'd be there for about three hours, but we ended up spending practically the whole day there.

If you want to plan your visit with schedules, tips, how to get there (it's on the outskirts of London) and how to buy tickets, here's our complete guide:

Harry Potter Studios London: A Practical Guide

Tickets for Harry Potter Studios

Important: Book well in advance. Tickets tend to sell out quickly, especially during holidays and weekends.

One of the most convenient options is to buy the package directly with tickets and train or bus that takes a little longer from London:

• Tickets to Harry Potter Studios + train tickets from London (then the shuttle bus from the train station to the Studios is free and you don't need to book it)
• Tickets to Harry Potter Studios + bus from London

Platform 9 ¾ at King's Cross

Probably the most famous Harry Potter location in London.

At King's Cross Station you'll find the legendary trolley disappearing into the wall of platform 9 ¾.

Yes, there's usually a queue.
Yes, it's a tourist destination.
And yes… it's totally worth it if you're traveling with kids or are a fan of the saga. Although if you go to the Studios you'll get the same photo and maybe there's no need to repeat the scenery :p

Right next door is the official store , full of:

• tunics
• scarves
• wands
• exclusive merchandising

Practical tip : try to go first thing in the morning to avoid the longest queues.

Leadenhall Market: the real Diagon Alley

One of the most beautiful corners of London.

Leadenhall Market served as inspiration and setting for Diagon Alley and the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron in the first film.

And when you arrive, you understand it perfectly.

The atmosphere is absolutely magical:

• victorian architecture
• iron roofs
• historic corridors
• antique shop windows
• charming corners

In addition, it usually has far fewer tourists than other famous areas of London.

This place fits perfectly into a route from the guide I've made for you about original plans in London

See the giant LEGO Harry Potter characters at the LEGO Store

If you're traveling with children (or with adult LEGO fans, which also happens quite often), another really fun stop is the LEGO Store Leicester Square.

Inside the store, you'll find enormous LEGO figures inspired by the Harry Potter universe, built to a giant scale and brimming with detail. It's one of those places where you end up going in "just for a moment" and spending much longer than you planned.

In addition to the figures, there are usually:

• interactive zones
• enormous buildings in London
• exclusive sets
• Harry Potter merchandise
• perfect spots for photos

The shop is right in Leicester Square, so it fits perfectly into any route through central London and combines very well with a visit to the Harry Potter statue and the Cecil Court area.

Millennium Bridge: the bridge destroyed by the Death Eaters

The famous bridge that appears destroyed in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince really exists and it is the Millennium Bridge.

Crossing it is quite fun for fans of the saga, especially because the views over the Thames are spectacular.

Furthermore, it connects very well with other must-see sights in central London.

The Harry Potter statue in Leicester Square

Another curious spot that is usually not missing from a Harry Potter route in London is the Harry Potter statue in Leicester Square.

It's part of the Scenes in the Square film sculpture route , which features iconic movie characters. And yes, Harry is among them, flying on his broomstick.

It's not an essential stop like the studios or King's Cross, but if you're strolling around the area it's well worth a visit, especially if you're traveling with children or fans of the saga.

Furthermore, it is very close to:

• Cecil Court
• Covent Garden
• Piccadilly Circus

So it fits perfectly into a walking tour of central London.

Cecil Court: London's most magical street

Many people don't know about it and, honestly, we thought it was one of the discoveries of the trip.

Cecil Court literally looks like a secret alley from the wizarding world:

• antique bookstores
• curious shop windows
• esoteric shops
• Victorian atmosphere

Although it does not officially appear in the films , many fans consider it the most Harry Potter corner of London.

And it's quite difficult to argue about it when you're there.

House of MinaLima: a gem for Harry Potter fans

The House of MinaLima is one of those places that are incredibly surprising.

This is where the film's graphic designers worked, creating:

• magic newspapers
• letters
• posters
• labels
• designs from the Harry Potter universe

The shop is small, but absolutely gorgeous.

Perfect if you want to buy something different from the typical merchandise.

Tower Hill Wands & Wonders: one of the most magical shops in London

If you're looking for a different and less crowded store than the official ones, check out this site: Wands & Wonders.

Located near the Tower of London, this shop is a real temptation for any Harry Potter fan. It specializes in wands, magical merchandise, and items inspired by the Hogwarts universe, but with a much more relaxed and local atmosphere than the large tourist shops.

We especially liked it because:

• It has a lot of charm.
• There are usually fewer people
• the attention is closer
• You'll find products that are different from typical souvenirs.

In addition, you can take advantage of the visit to explore the Tower Hill area and stroll along the Thames, one of the most beautiful areas in London.

How to get around London to do the route

Getting around London is much easier than it seems.

The ideal combination is usually:

• metro
• bus
• walking routes

Here's our practical guide: How to get around London

Map of Harry Potter locations in London

Here's an interactive map of London with all the interesting places to visit as a family and the best Harry Potter destinations, each marked with its icon . Save it because it will be very useful during your trip.

Where to stay in London for this route

If you want to make the most of your trip, it's best to sleep relatively centrally and close to the metro.

The best areas for this route are:

• King's cross
• Paddington
• Covent Garden
• South bank

Here you can look at hotels in London: Hotels in London

Travel insurance for London: essential even if you have a European Health Insurance Card

Many people think that the European Health Insurance Card is enough to travel to the United Kingdom, but the reality is that the coverage is quite limited.

Especially if you're traveling with family, we always recommend getting travel insurance for:

• retrasos
• cancellations
• medical problems
• lost luggage

Here's the insurance we use with a discount:

Travel insurance for London with a 5% discount

Our experience doing the Harry Potter tour in London

The best thing about this route is that London really seems made for Harry Potter.

The old stations, Victorian markets, narrow streets, impossible bookstores and London fog give everything a constant magical feel.

And although it initially seemed like "a plan for children", it ended up being one of the most fun days of the trip for everyone.

Yes, seeing London is great. But seeing it while imagining that the Ministry of Magic could be hiding behind any door... greatly enhances the experience.