If you ask most people to name some famous London monuments or attractions, they might say Buckingham Palace, Big Ben or the London Eye. But for Harry Potter fans, the answers are often very different. Diagon Alley, The Leaky Cauldron and Platform Nine-and-Three-Quarters will likely be the first things that spring to mind.
Though much of the Harry Potter series took place at Hogwarts (which was said to be located in Scotland), there are dozens of iconic locations around London, with links to both the books and the films. If you’re a Harry Potter fan planning to stay at one of our 5-star hotels London, don’t miss these magical sights – even if you are a Muggle.
London Zoo
The Reptile House at London Zoo has become iconic in the Harry Potter universe – it’s the place where Harry first discovers he has unnatural powers, and can speak Parseltongue, the language of snakes. When he gets chatting to a boa constrictor and accidentally sets it loose on his cousin Dudley, it’s Harry’s first clue that he’s not just an ordinary boy after all.
King’s Cross Station
King’s Cross Station is a famous London attraction in itself – it’s one of the UK’s busiest stations, and the spectacular architecture of the adjoining St Pancras certainly attracts a lot of visitors. But Harry Potter fans will know this station as the gateway to Platform Nine-and-Three-Quarters, the mystical train platform where Harry and his friends catch the Hogwarts Express to school. In honour of the famous ‘platform’, a small monument has appeared at the site: it has a plaque showing the platform name, and half a trolley sticking out of the wall, so fans can pose as though they’re about to go to Hogwarts themselves.
King’s Cross is located just a short stroll from our luxury suites London, so it’s the perfect local attraction for Harry Potter fanatics staying with us.
Claremont Square, Islington
This ordinary-looking square is actually the home of 12 Grimmauld Place in the films – the headquarters of the legendary Order of the Phoenix. Though you may need to be a Secret Keeper to find the house itself, you can still marvel at the place where the exterior shots were filmed from the fifth movie onwards.
Warner Bros. Studio ‘Making Of Harry Potter’ Tour
A little outside of London, at Leavesden Studios, you’ll find the attraction that no Harry Potter fan should miss. This self-guided tour allows you to explore sets from the films, including the Great Hall, the Gryffindor common room, 4 Privet Drive and the Knight Bus. You can sip butterbeer for real, ride a broomstick, see costumes and props from the films, and even peer into the Mirror of Erised to see your heart’s desire.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
When the seventh Harry Potter book was released, many people believed that would be the end of the series for good. But author J. K. Rowling surprised everyone by adding a new story to the Harry Potter canon – Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Rather than being released in book or film form, this next instalment in the tale takes place on the West End stage, over the course of two plays. It tells the story of Harry Potter’s own children, and the evil that hasn’t yet been vanquished in the wizarding world. Tickets sell out within minutes, but the ‘Friday Forty’ lottery puts forty tickets on sale for performances the following week – all you’ll need is a little Felix Felicis to guarantee you’ll get lucky.
Frequently Asked Questions by The Harry Potter Fans
What is the name of Harry Potter fans?
Diehard fans of the series are called “Potterheads”
How many copies of all the Harry Potter books have been sold?
The Harry Potter books are distributed in over 200 territories, are translated into 68 languages and have sold over 400 million copies worldwide.
What do you mean by Potterhead?
Potterhead is a term used to describe Harry Potter Fans, by Harry Potter Fans.
How much money did JK Rowling make on the Harry Potter books?
J.K. Rowling’s Net Worth – Ms. Rowling’s sources of income suggests that she’s worth more than $1 billion.
