There’s a purpose why we picked London for a household trip. As our teen stated, “some ladies are all about vogue and dream of going to Paris, however I actually need to go to London.” Why? Due to all of the Harry Potter points of interest in London in fact!
Sure, in fact Harry Potter isn’t actual, however after studying the books and seeing the Harry Potter movies numerous instances, it did appear enjoyable to attempt to see a number of the locations depicted within the films in particular person. In any case, whereas a go to to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Common Orlando is magical, it’s nonetheless in FLORIDA, not London. So I got down to monitor down all of the Harry Potter points of interest in London (and close by) and plan the last word journey to London for Harry Potter followers.
If in case you have an aspiring wizard or witch in your loved ones, you’ll want to test these out as effectively. Simply bear in mind, for a few of these planning early is crucial!
Find out how to discover the Greatest Harry Potter Points of interest in London
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There are fairly just a few Harry Potter movie areas inside the metropolis of London. However bear in mind, it has been 20 years because the first film got here out and town is at all times altering. Plus, a number of the areas have 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, contemplate 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 provide a full-day choice, which takes you to some locations outdoors of London, however we have been saving these for an additional day.
What I cherished 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 so forth. after which we’d hop out of the cab for a better look. The film clips actually assist refresh your reminiscence and make the person websites extra fascinating.
Harry potter Filming Areas
A number of the Harry Potter filming areas alongside the tour included:
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 instances that site visitors has been shut down at this busy intersection.
It appears to be like totally different now with extra high-tech digital billboards and a shift within the site visitors sample, however a lot remains 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 remodel into Loss of life Eaters to sneak into the Ministry of Magic in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Half One.
You’ll be able to peak across the similar nook as the principle characters did once they have 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 road off of Charing Cross Street was JK Rowling’s inspiration for Diagon Alley. It is stuffed with e book retailers, 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 retailers 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. In fact, 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 move 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 Loss of life Eaters fly over London and the bridge shakes and breaks and other people fall into the river.
You’ll be able to stroll throughout the bridge as we speak 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 comfortable it was included in our Harry Potter tour.
Different films have been filmed close to right here too (like Bridget Jones’ Diary), however as we speak there’s a taco stand the place what was as soon as used as the doorway to the Leaky Cauldron. Even when it appears to be like totally different, Borough Market is an effective place to seize lunch or dinner if you’re 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’d not have even identified about this little gem of a market if it wasn’t for our Harry Potter tour however I’d love to return again right here for buying and a chunk.
The unique Leaky Cauldron entrance is now an optometrist store and the skin is a unique coloration, however in the event you examine 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 Specific from Kings Cross Station, the skin of that station just isn’t very enticing 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 if you’re a ticketed passenger and it isn’t truly 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 underneath a Platform 9 ¾ signal.
You’ll be able to keep and go to the store and take footage with props if you’re prepared to attend the 45-60 minutes within the queue. If you’re visiting by yourself, I’d advocate going early to keep away from an extended wait.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Little one
If you happen to can handle to get tickets (and may afford them — see how a lot a visit to London prices), your Harry Potter fan will adore you in the event you embrace 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 (learn all about it.) If you wish to keep abreast of recent ticket block releases, join updates and pre-release registration.
Harry Potter Resort
If you happen to actually need to go loopy, e book a keep at this Harry Potter-themed lodge:
Test charges and critiques on the Gregorian Home Resort and browse the total 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 fitting friends.
Harry Potter Themed Afternoon Tea
Since we didn’t need to make our whole journey about Harry Potter, we truly opted for a Glam Rock themed excessive tea with our teen on the Okay West lodge. Nevertheless, if you’re inclined to attempt a themed excessive tea along with your youngsters, there are just a few that meet the invoice:
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. These studios have been nearly all of the flicks have 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 automobile. Many bus excursions can be found from Central London, simply needless to say these solely permit for 3 hours on the Studios, which is chopping it a bit brief and you might really feel that your time there’s too brief.
For that purpose, I’d advocate shopping for tickets direct and taking the practice. Simply needless to say tickets promote out MONTHS prematurely and generally the one choice is to e book a bus tour by means of an organization akin to Golden Excursions or Get Your Information.
To take the practice, it is best to allot near 1.5 to 2 hours out of your ticket entrance time. You have to to take the Tube (or a taxi) to Euston station. From there, you’ll be able to catch a practice to Watford Junction. Remember to test the practice choices as a result of some are categorical and solely take 20 minutes, whereas others may 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 obtainable 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. The journey takes about quarter-hour and a spherical journey ticket prices £2.50 (money solely, no bank cards.)
What to Count on Inside Warner Bros. Studio Tour
Some individuals suppose that The Making of Harry Potter is a few sort of amusement park, just like the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Common. Others get confused by the studio “tour” identify — pondering that it’s a guided Harry Potter studio tour. It truly is neither.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour is the precise studio the place the flicks have 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 flicks after which you’re allowed to enter the Nice Corridor. We visited in December through the “Hogwarts within the Snow” occasion when the corridor is embellished for the holidays. You’re given simply a short while to discover this room earlier than you’re ushered into the principle room.
In the principle room, you’ll discover units, costumes, and props that have been used within the films. There may be the Gryffindor Widespread Room, Dumbledore’s Workplace, Hagrid’s Hut, the Burrow, the Potions Room, and Malfoy Manor.
You may as well learn the way the magic was made. There are some interactive displays akin to driving a broomstick in entrance of a inexperienced display and studying to solid spells. You may as well discover the Forbidden Forest, residence to Aragog and his spider buddies and be taught the magic behind the casting of a Patronus.
On Platform 9 ¾ you’ll be able to step aboard the Hogwarts Specific set, take a photograph at Platform 9 ¾, and take a “journey” on the Hogwarts Specific 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 choose the Butterbeer at Common Orlando.) Then you’ll be able to head outdoors to see the Knight Bus, Privet Drive, and the Hogwarts bridge.
Ensure in the event you take a bus tour that you simply save time for the top of the tour as a result of the miniature fashions, the draft art work, and the mannequin room with the total model of Hogwarts is totally fascinating. I feel it is best to permit not less than 4 hours to see all the things in the event you can.
Harry Potter Areas 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 schools that make up the College of Oxford, and a few of these have been used for filming scenes within the Harry Potter films. You’ll be able to discover by yourself however I’d advocate a strolling tour. You may as well rent a non-public 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 as well go to the staircase the place McGonagall greeted the first-year college students in Chamber of Secrets and techniques.
In New Faculty you’ll be able to see the Cloisters that have been used for a number of the hallways scenes, and the tree the place Draco Malfoy was changed into a ferret.
If in case you have a automobile or rent a driver, you may also 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.
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