A Wizards guide to London
I solemnly swear I'm up to no good. Mostly because I’m a Slytherin. Cunning, charming, I fit the mischievous mold. My sister on the other hand is a Ravenclaw. Full of wisdom and wit. Our houses may be opposites, but luckily we can both agree that London is the number one place to go for all things Harry Potter. I recently got back from London which included many Harry Potter inspired activities including an awesome walking tour to different film sites. London is amazing, and there is so much for witches and wizards to do!
So for my Harry Potter fans…this is your ULTIMATE guide to all things Wizarding World in London! From the classic film spots, to the Warner bros studio tour, to things off the beaten trail that still give you that wizard experience, this is my gift to you (and my sis who is a massive Harry Potter fan).
A Wizard’s Guide to London
Come see all the 2D images from all the movies including Fantastic Beasts at MinaLima
Take a potions (aka spirits) class
The Cauldron is located at little far from the city center, in the Northeast neighborhood of Shacklewell. This immersive experience costs £34.99 per magical being. Make some magic.
House of MinaLima
This storefront in Soho houses all the designs from the movie- these two created ALL the 2D items in the featured films. That’s right, even the letter Harry Potter got from Hogwarts! I could have spent hours in there.
Walking Tours
Mine from Airbnb was only $18 I would consider it a steal considering how much I learned about the films over this 3 hr walking tour. Book it HERE.
Get a photo at Platform 9 3/4
So there’s two places to take photos- the commercialized spot by the gift shop where you can have a professional photo with a luggage cart and everything AND the actual spot where they filmed the movies. Both are in Kings Cross station.
This is where the ACTUAL platform 9 & 3/4 was filmed (hint: it’s between platform 4 & 5 in Kings Cross).
Warner Bros Studio tour
A classic. Make sure you book at least 6 months out if you have more than 2 people, and 3 months out if you have 2 or less. Plan to spend a whole day here to get the whole experience.
See “Harry Potter & the Cursed Child” at Palace Theatre
Just realize this is an investment of your time during your trip. The play in total is 7 hours. You can either see it all one Sunday, or break it up into two weekday evenings. Tickets start at £15.00 for one part matinee show.
I didn’t have time to see the play this time- it’s 7 hours total!
Enjoy a Harry Potter inspired Afternoon Tea at Cutter & Squidge
Indulge in delicacies like “Eye of the Newt” scone and Dark Arts baked chocolate. There are many places that host HP inspired afternoon teas. Read the whole list HERE.
Stay in a Wizards Chambers at the Georgian House
You don’t need to get past the Fat Lady portrait to enter into the chambers of Gryffindor. This is a luxury addition to a trip, with a twin Wizard chamber starting at $318 for a night.
Get a photo on Millennium bridge
This spot is not only as iconic as London like Tower Bridge, but it is also famously known because the death eaters destroyed the bridge during Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. This bridge also has a lot of controversy, when it was first built people wouldn’t walk on it because it was wobbly due to its engineering.
Themed Pub Quiz
Show off your Tri-Wizard knowledge at a Harry Potter themed pub quiz. There are plenty around the city, for instance there’s one at St. George the Martyr in the Borough.
Themed Escape Room
Participate in a Harry Potter themed escape room by Enigma Quests.
Try British Butter Beer
Crack open a bottle of Butter Beer from Hardy’s, the candy store in Leicester square that inspired J.K. Rowling for the Honeydukes store in the books. To me, it tasted like a Jones Cream Soda. Anyone else nostalgic thinking of those?
Find the entrance to Diagon Alley
While the actual Diagon Alley was filmed on a set, J.K. Rowling was inspired by numerous areas in London to create her vision. One of the most popular is Leadenhall Market. The shop used in the first Harry Potter film as the Leaky Cauldron is actually an optician's shop. It can be found at 42 Bull’s Head Passage, and is still painted blue like in the movie.
Cast spells over drinks at the Blind Phoenix
Before you turn back into a mudblood, finish out your magical trip at this HP inspired speakeasy located right down the street from The Cauldron. You dial the special code into the phone to enter.
Mischief Managed. Sincerely,
Sarah
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