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Platform 9¾ and the Leaky Cauldron: 13 places in London where Harry Potter was filmed
The film set door through which Hagrid first led Harry into the Leaky Cauldron now leads into a café.
We found the entrance to the very same Leaky Cauldron from the third film under a railway bridge.
And when we were looking for the spot where the blue Ford took off, all we had to do was cross the road from King’s Cross.
I’d combine these film locations with classic London sights. Some places are just worth a quick photo, whilst others are worth stopping for lunch or visiting a viewpoint.
The most beautiful stretch for walking runs from the covered market in the City all the way to Tower Bridge.
💬 Is there a place missing from the article? Let us know in the comments – thanks!
Map of Harry Potter film locations in London
In the morning at Platform 9¾, in the afternoon at Tower Bridge
This itinerary is designed for a single day, with short stops and a tour of the sights from the outside. You’ll take the Underground twice; the rest can be done on foot.
- Start at King’s Cross. In the morning, stop by the luggage trolley in the concourse, then walk over to the St Pancras façade on Euston Road. From the King’s Cross St Pancras joint station, take the Piccadilly line to Piccadilly Circus.
- Walk through the West End and Westminster. From Piccadilly Circus, head via Leicester Square and Goodwin’s Court to Trafalgar Square. From Whitehall, turn off towards Scotland Place, where the film booth used to stand. Then continue to Westminster station and Big Ben.
- Head to the River Thames via The Leaky Cauldron for lunch. From Westminster, take the Circle or District lines to Monument. From Leadenhall Market, walk on to St Paul’s Cathedral, across the Millennium Bridge and along the river to Borough Market for lunch. The market is closed on Mondays, but you’ll still be able to see the cinema doors on Stoney Street. In the afternoon, walk past HMS Belfast to Butler’s Wharf, which offers a view of Tower Bridge.
Two stations and one missed train
A trolley at King’s Cross and the film set pillar behind the ticket barriers
In *The Philosopher’s Stone*, Harry runs towards a brick pillar and passes through to Platform 9¾.
In *The Chamber of Secrets*, the passage closes and Harry and Ron bump into the pillar.
Both scenes were filmed between platforms 4 and 5. These are now standard platforms, with no traces of the filming remaining.
The film trolley in the hall next to the souvenir shop is freely accessible. You can have your photo taken there for free, but you’ll have to queue for a long time – the queues can be over 30 minutes long.
I didn’t really like it here; it was really far too touristy.
Can you buy a ticket just for the platform?
Yes, in Britain there’s something calleda ‘platform ticket’. It allows you to access the platform without a train ticket.
It costs 0,10 gbp and can be bought at the ticket office.
The flying Ford took off from neighbouring St Pancras
In the second film, when Harry and Ron miss the train to Hogwarts, they take a blue Ford Anglia and take off in front of the station.
The neo-Gothic façade of neighbouring St Pancras served as the exterior for King’s Cross. You can see the same side of the building from Euston Road.
From Piccadilly to the Ministry of Magic
At Piccadilly Circus, the trio nearly ended up under a bus
In the first part of *The Deathly Hallows*, Harry, Ron and Hermione find themselves transported from Bill and Fleur’s wedding into the hustle and bustle of London.
They narrowly avoid a double-decker bus and head down Shaftesbury Avenue.
This scene is set right in the heart of the famous Piccadilly Circus.
Goodwin’s Court is reminiscent of Obrtlá Street
In *The Chamber of Secrets*, Harry slips up whilst travelling by Floo. Instead of saying ‘Diagon Alley’, he blurts out ‘Diagon-ly’ and ends up in Borgin & Burkes on Twisted Street.
For fans, it’s reminiscent of Goodwin’s Court with its bulging shop windows. It’s well worth a quick detour whilst strolling through Covent Garden.
The telephone box in Scotland Place used to serve as a lift
In *The Order of the Phoenix*, Harry and Mr Weasley step into a red telephone box, which takes them underground.
The film crew took the box away after filming, so you won’t be able to have your photo taken there.
However, on the same street, in the first part of *The Deathly Hallows*, the trio use a Polyjuice Potion to disguise themselves as Ministry employees.
The scene takes place right on the corner of Scotland Place and Great Scotland Yard.
In Westminster, Mr Weasley was stopped by an ordinary turnstile
On his way to a hearing at the Order of the Phoenix, Mr Weasley is at a loss as to how to use the turnstile on the Underground. Harry helps him get through.
Westminster station is also a good starting point for a visit to Westminster Abbey.
On Lambeth Bridge, the Rescue Bus shrank
In *The Prisoner of Azkaban*, the three-decker Rescue Bus narrows down to squeeze through between two oncoming buses.
On Lambeth Bridge, you can take a detour from Big Ben. Simply continue south past the Palace of Westminster.
Two doors to the Leaky Cauldron and one wizarding bank
At Leadenhall Market, the doors from the film lead into a café
In *The Philosopher’s Stone*, Hagrid leads Harry under the market’s glass roof to the Leaky Cauldron.
The door is located at No. 4 Bull’s Head Passage. Today, it leads into the Two Eyes Coffee House.
If you fancy staying in the City, take a stroll through Leadenhall Market and head up to the free viewing platform at Garden at 120.
Near Borough Market, Harry got off under the railway bridge
In *The Prisoner of Azkaban*, the Knight Bus stops in front of the same pub on the other bank of the Thames.
Its door served as the entrance to 7 Stoney Street. It’s just a few steps from there to the stalls. We’ve put together a guide on what to try at Borough Market and when to go.
The goblins from Gringotts Bank were based at Australia House
In *The Philosopher’s Stone*, Hagrid takes Harry to Gringotts for the first time.
The filmmakers shot the scene with the goblins behind the counters in the exhibition hall at Australia House.
The building houses the Australian High Commission, so when walking along the Strand, you’ll only see the façade.
The bank from the latest film, from which the trio escape on a dragon, was created as a set at the Leavesden studios.
Down the stairs from Hogwarts to the Thames
People used to walk up the staircase at St Paul’s Cathedral to have their fortunes told
In *The Prisoner of Azkaban*, pupils come down these stairs after Professor Trelawney’s lesson.
You’ll see the Geometric Staircase during the Cathedral Floor and Crypt Tour. Ask at the Guiding Desk about availability. Admission and access to the dome are described in the St Paul’s Cathedral guide.
The Millennium Bridge was swept away by the Death Eaters right at the start of the film
In the opening scene of *Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince*, the bridge sways and collapses into the Thames. It’s well worth walking right to the southern end and turning round to see it in person.
From there, you’ll see the cathedral directly in line with the bridge, and the Tate Modern is just a few steps away.
Near Butler’s Wharf, the Order of the Phoenix flew past Tower Bridge
Harry and the members of the Order of the Phoenix fly past Tower Bridge during their night-time flight over the Thames.
The area around Butler’s Wharf was also used as a filming location for a scene in *The Order of the Phoenix *. From the embankment, you can enjoy views of the bridge, and just round the corner you can stroll amongst the old warehouses in Shad Thames.
At London Zoo, Harry discovered that he could understand snakes
In *The Philosopher’s Stone*, Harry speaks to a python and Dudley ends up behind the glass of the terrarium. The scene was filmed in the former reptile house.
Today, it houses the ZooTown children’s play area, and just a short distance away you’ll find a photo spot featuring a snake.
You’ll need a ticket to enter the zoo. You can combine your visit with a walk through Regent’s Park.
Past Cross Street and the Great Hall to the studios
At the Warner Bros. Studio Tour in Leavesden, near Watford, you’ll walk amongst the original sets, see the Great Hall and board the Hogwarts Express.
Set aside at least half a day, including travel time. There are direct trains from Euston to Watford Junction, from where a shuttle bus (included in the ticket price) takes you to the studios. We’ve set out transport and admission options in detail in our guide to the Harry Potter Studios.
Book your ticket to the studios in advance.
Where to stay if you have a morning entry to the studios
- You’re staying in London for the whole of your trip. From The Wesley Euston hotel, it’s just a few minutes’ walk to Euston station, from where there’s a direct train to Watford Junction.
- You’ll want to get to Watford in the evening. The Holiday Inn Express London – Watford Junction is right next to Watford Junction station. In the morning, you can walk from there to catch the bus to the studios.
More guides for travelling to London
- What to see in London, with a map of attractions, neighbourhoods and viewpoints.
- How to get around London, including paying by card and daily limits.
- What to book in advance in London, from studios to viewpoints and theatres.
- Where to stay in London, depending on your itinerary and budget.
- A comprehensive guide to London to help you plan your entire stay.
What I’d save for my first visit
If I had to choose just one place in the city centre, I’d pick Leadenhall Market. You’ll recognise the scene, and the market is well worth a stroll in its own right. I’d pop round the corner to Scotland Place or in front of Australia House whilst I’m in Whitehall or on the Strand.
If it’s mainly Harry Potter that’s drawing you to London, start by booking a ticket to the studios when you’re planning your trip. Then combine the film-related stops in the city with the sights you want to see.
Which scene did you recall whilst you were there? Let us know in the comments.
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