If you’re a Harry Potter fan like me, at some point in your life you’ve probably wanted to go visit the locations where they were filmed! Most of the locations are of course in London, although there are obviously all the other locations dotted around the rest of the UK too.
Back in November last year I spent a few days in London exploring the city and seeing if I could find as many of the famous spots as I could. Of course some of these spots can be quite spread out, so make sure you do plenty of planning beforehand.
In relation to that, here’s my list of the Harry Potter locations of London, including their closest tube stations to get to them – enjoy!
Affiliate disclaimer: Where possible I have added links to products to help you find them – they may be affiliate links and if you buy through them I might get a commision – just so you know! Thanks!
Kings Cross and St Pancras
- Movie appearance – The Philosopher’s Stone and The Chamber of Secrets
First up on my list is probably one of the most thought of locations, and that’s the Kings Cross and St Pancras train stations!
To (probably) some confusion, both stations are a part of the films and book – Kings Cross is where you would board the Hogwarts express via Platform 9 3/4, whereas St Pancras is the beautiful brick-red building we see Ron drive away from at the beginning of The Chamber of Secrets!
If you travel to London by train, chances are you’ll probably arrive at Kings Cross. Both stations are actually just across the road from one another, so it makes sense to pop outside and see St Pancras when visiting Kings Cross.
Closest tube station: King’s Cross St. Pancras
Platform 9 3/4
If you’ve arrived in London via Kings Cross station, it makes sense to have a look around inside to see the wizarding world Platform that is 9 3/4. Now, I’m sad to disappoint, but there isn’t an actual Platform 9 3/4 situated between Platforms 9 and 10 in Kings Cross train station.
Although for quite some time now, there has been an added “platform” if you will, of 9 3/4 where you can get your photo taken by a luggage trolly passing through the barrier to the wizarding world! There is usually a queue to go stand by the trolly, but you have the chance to get a professional picture taken if you have the spare cash (but this is completely optional)!
There is also a shop just next to the trolly which sells official HP merch and also where you can purchase your professional pictures. I think this is a great place to start when visiting the locations, as it really brings out the magic!
Closest tube station: King’s Cross St. Pancras (as this location is inside the Kings Cross train station)
Lincoln’s Inn Fields – Grimmauld Place
- Movie appearance – The Order of the Phoenix
This name may not sound familiar to you, but Lincoln’s Inn Fields is the street where they shot the outside scenes of Grimmauld Place for The Order of the Phoenix. The street is just next to the Holborn tube station so it’s quite easy to find, and there seems to be a public park just opposite the street too.
Although you can’t really pinpoint the actual house – probably due to all the magic and editing – but the whole street itself is magnificent and I definitely recommend having a walk down!
Closest tube station: Holborn
Piccadilly Circus
- Movie appearance – Deathly Hallows Part 1
If you’ve ever been to London, you’ve probably been to Piccadilly Circus. You’ll probably recognise the giant electronic billboards from the Deathly Hallows Part 1, after Harry, Hermione, and Ron escape the wedding and apparate to London. It isn’t the most significant scene but it’s always worth a visit if you haven’t been to London before!
Closest tube station: Piccadilly Circus Station
Tower Bridge, Southwark Bridge, & Houses of Parliament
- Movie appearance – The Order of the Phoenix
During the Flight of the Order of the Phoenix in the fifth film (surprise!), these three locations can be seen as Harry and the Order fly through London on their way to visit Grimmauld Place.
All three of these locations can be located by the River Thames and you can get a great view of both bridges by going on the London Bridge since its right in between the two!
Closest tube stations: Tower Hill (North of the Thames) or London Bridge Underground Station (South of the Thames) for Tower Bridge, Cannon Street for Southwark Bridge, Westminster for the Houses of Parliament
Leadenhall Market
- Movie appearance – The Philosopher’s Stone
The Leadenhall Market was used in the first Harry Potter film, The Philosopher’s Stone, when Hagrid first takes Harry to Diagon Alley.
The market is a beautiful place to explore and even get a bite to eat while you admire the stunning architecture and painted ornate roof – and if you go down the side alley of Bull’s Head Passage, you’ll find a blue entrance/door for which they used for the door to the Leaky Cauldron!
Closest tube stations: Bank or Monument Station
Australian High Commission – Gringotts Bank
- Movie appearance – The Philosopher’s Stone
The name of this building probably isn’t one you would recognise, but the Australian High Commission – also known as the Australia House – is the place where they filmed the scenes for Gringotts Bank in the first movie.
Sadly you can’t go inside the building itself because it a government building, but I definitely recommend stopping by if you happen to be close to the area.
Closest tube station: Temple Station
Millennium Bridge
- Movie appearance – The Half-Blood Prince
From the opening scene of the Half-Blood Prince you may remember this bridge, as it’s the one that snaps and breaks after the Death Eaters rampage through the city.
This is one of my favourite bridges to visit, as strange as it may sound, because it goes from St Paul’s Cathedral to the Tate Modern art gallery – which is also just next to Shakespeare’s Globe too!
I always remember going across this bridge in the winter, and it gives such an amazing view of the city across the Thames, I definitely wouldn’t miss this spot.
Closest tube station: Blackfriars or Mansion House
Borough Market
- Movie appearance – The Prisoner of Azkaban
Similar to the Leadenhall Market, Borough Market was also used for filming the exterior scenes for Diagon Alley and The Leaky Cauldron.
This time, Borough Market was used at the beginning of the Prisoner of Azkaban when Harry arrives at the Leaky Cauldron via the Knight Bus. The location can be found underneath the railway bridge on Stoney Street.
Closest tube station: London Bridge Underground Station
London Zoo
- Movie appearance – The Philosopher’s Stone
Even though the London Zoo is towards the edge of the city centre, and maybe not the best place to try and squeeze into an already full day, this location I would say to be better for its own day trip.
You will remember the London Zoo from the scene in the Philosopher’s Stone, where Harry and the Dursley’s go to the Reptile House and Harry accidentally lets a snake out of its cage and Dudley falls in. I’d say the zoo is definitely worth a visit, and you can hope no more creatures escape!
Closest tube station: Camden Town
St Paul’s Cathedral – Divination Tower
- Movie appearance – The Prisoner of Azkaban
Now, this location may not be one that automatically comes to mind when you think of Harry Potter, but the stairs in the cathedral were used in the third film, which you see when the trio goes up to their Divination class, and also when we see Harry go to retrieve the crystal ball at the end of the lesson after Hermione storms out.
It does cost to go into the cathedral, and although I have never been inside personally, it’s definitely one place I’m looking forward to going to.
Closest tube station: St. Paul’s
Lambeth Bridge
- Movie appearance – The Prisoner of Azkaban
Of course, a scene in Harry Potter couldn’t be complete without another bridge in London! This particular one is from the Prisoner of Azkaban, when the Knight Bus has to shrink down to fit in between two double-decker buses.
This bridge is next to the Westminster Bridge and Big Ben, so you could definitely stop by it if you’re close by!
Closest tube station: Lambeth North
Palace Theatre
Although not in the movies of course, but the Palace Theatre is where the play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is currently performing. The theatre is a beautiful building, so I definitely recommend going to take a look at it even if you didn’t get a chance to see the play – which I also recommend HIGHLY!
You can get there via the Leicester Square station, but the Covent Garden station is also close by! Nearby the theatre there is also an unofficial HP merch store, and China town is just around the corner too!
Closest tube station: Leicester Square Station
The Harry Potter Studio Tour
Of course, this list wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t include the studio tour. It’s on the outskirts of London in a town called Watford (see map below) so you’d definitely need to make a day out of it, especially since an average visit takes around 3 1/2 hours to go around, but of course you can take as long as you like!
The last time I went was 2016 so there has been a few added parts to the tour since then, such as walking around the Forbidden Forest! Tickets can take a decent chunk out of your budget if it isn’t very big (Adults – 16+ – are £47, and kids – 5 to 15 years – are £38), but it’s an experience I wouldn’t miss out on if I had the chance to go!
Visiting at Christmas or Halloween is really fun because they decorate the tour with spooky cauldrons or Christmas trees for the occasion! Make sure you check out my London in Winter post if you’re interested!
How to get there: You can take a train from London Euston to Watford Junction, and from there you take a shuttle bus to the studio – you can find more information about this on their website.
Harry Potter Statue
If you’re by Leicester Square, make sure you check out the Harry Potter statue there!
The statue was unveiled at Leicester Square in 2020 with a few other movie icons, and just before the 20th anniversary of the first movie – which not only came out in 2001, but they also held the world premiere of the movie in Leicester Square too!
You can go see the statue until July 2023, so make sure you stop by to take a look!
Well that’s everything! I hope this list gave you some inspiration for your next trip to London, and of course let me know if I missed any spots you think are worth mentioning!
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