There’s a purpose why we picked London for a household trip. As our teen mentioned, “some ladies are all about trend and dream of going to Paris, however I actually wish to go to London.” Why? Due to all of the Harry Potter sights in London after all!
After studying the books and seeing the Harry Potter movies numerous occasions, it did appear enjoyable to attempt to see a number of the locations depicted within the motion pictures in particular person.
So I got down to observe down all of the Harry Potter sights in London (and close by) and plan the final word journey to London for Harry Potter followers. You probably have an aspiring wizard or witch in your loved ones, it would be best to verify these out as effectively. Simply bear in mind, for a few of these planning early is important!
This submit will cowl Harry Potter excursions, Harry Potter filming areas in London, the Warner Brothers Studio Tour, magical teas, a wizarding lodge, and day journeys from London to see extra Harry Potter filming websites.
Harry Potter Excursions in London
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There are fairly a number of Harry Potter movie areas inside the metropolis of London. However bear in mind, it has been 25 years for the reason that first film got here out and the town is all the time altering. Plus, a number of the areas have been digitally altered to disguise their look. So discovering all of them by yourself could 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 may 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 supply a full-day choice, which takes you to some locations exterior of London, however we have been saving these for an additional day.
What I liked 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 on. after which we might hop out of the cab for a more in-depth look. The film clips actually assist refresh your reminiscence and make the person websites extra fascinating.
Harry potter Filming Areas
Among the Harry Potter filming areas you can go to embrace:
Piccadilly Circus
After the assault at Invoice and Fleur’s marriage 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 occasions that site visitors has been shut down at this busy intersection.
It seems to be totally different now with extra high-tech digital billboards and a shift within the site visitors sample, however a lot continues 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 rework into Loss of life Eaters to sneak into the Ministry of Magic in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Half One.
You may peak across the similar nook as the primary characters did after 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 avenue off of Charing Cross Street was JK Rowling’s inspiration for Diagon Alley. It is stuffed with e book outlets, maps shops, and fortune tells so you may see why this rumor bought began.
In case you are keen to shell out beaucoup bucks, one of many outlets 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 faculty 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 go 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 may stroll throughout the bridge at the moment if you wish to lower 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 completely satisfied it was included in our Harry Potter tour.
Different motion pictures have been filmed close to right here too (like Bridget Jones’ Diary), however at the moment there’s a taco stand the place what was as soon as used as the doorway to the Leaky Cauldron. Even when it seems to be totally different, Borough Market is an efficient place to seize lunch or dinner in case you are 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 recognized about this little gem of a market if it wasn’t for our Harry Potter tour however I’d love to come back again right here for procuring and a chew.
The unique Leaky Cauldron entrance is now an optometrist store and the skin is a special colour, however for those who evaluate it to the film, you may 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 shouldn’t be 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. Often you may solely get right here in case you are a ticketed passenger and it isn’t really 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 below a Platform 9 ¾ signal.
You may keep and go to the store and take photos with props in case you are keen to attend the 45-60 minutes within the queue. In case you are visiting by yourself, I’d advocate going early to keep away from an extended wait.
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 exterior of London, to see the movie units. The studios the place the vast majority of the flicks have been filmed have been remodeled 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: prepare, bus, or automotive. Many bus excursions can be found from Central London, simply remember that these solely enable for 3 hours on the Studios, which is reducing it a bit quick and chances are you’ll really feel that your time there’s too quick.
For that purpose, I’d advocate shopping for tickets direct and taking the prepare. Simply remember that tickets promote out MONTHS prematurely and generally the one choice is to e book a bus tour by means of an organization reminiscent of Golden Excursions or on Get Your Information.
To take the prepare, it’s best to allot near 1.5 to 2 hours out of your ticket entrance time. You will want to take the Tube (or a taxi) to Euston station. From there, you may catch a prepare to Watford Junction. You should definitely verify the prepare choices as a result of some are specific and solely take 20 minutes, whereas others is likely to be for much longer.
When you arrive in Watford Junction, there are shuttle busses that may take you to the Warner Bros. Studio. They run each half-hour from 9.20am (with further companies out there 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.
What to Count on Inside Warner Bros. Studio Tour
Some individuals suppose that The Making of Harry Potter is a few type of amusement park, just like the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Common. Others get confused by the studio “tour” identify — considering that it’s a guided Harry Potter studio tour. It really 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 in regards to the making of the flicks after which you’re allowed to enter the Nice Corridor. We visited in December throughout 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 primary room.
In the primary room, you will discover units, costumes, and props that have been used within the motion pictures. There’s the Gryffindor Frequent Room, Dumbledore’s Workplace, Hagrid’s Hut, the Burrow, the Potions Room, and Malfoy Manor.
You may also find out how the magic was made. There are some interactive displays reminiscent of using a broomstick in entrance of a inexperienced display and studying to forged spells. You may also discover the Forbidden Forest, house to Aragog and his spider pals and study the magic behind the casting of a Patronus.
On Platform 9 ¾ you may 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 spite of everything that, take a break for some Butterbeer within the cafe (I’ll admit I favor the Butterbeer at Common Orlando.) Then you may head exterior to see the Knight Bus, Privet Drive, and the Hogwarts bridge.
Be certain for those who take a bus tour that you simply save time for the tip of the tour as a result of the miniature fashions, the draft art work, and the mannequin room with the complete model of Hogwarts is totally fascinating. I feel it’s best to enable no less than 4 hours to see all the things for those who can.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Baby
Should you 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 for those who embrace a efficiency of Harry Potter and the Cursed Baby on the Palace Theater.
We weren’t in a position to get tickets to see the Cursed Baby in London, however we did see Harry Potter and the Cursed Baby on Broadway.
Harry Potter Resort
Should you actually wish to go loopy, e book a keep at this Harry Potter-themed lodge:
Test charges and evaluations on the Gregorian Home Resort and browse the complete Harry Potter lodge overview on Journey Your self. We didn’t keep there however Cailin’s video tour and overview make it look fairly intriguing for the correct company.
Harry Potter Themed Afternoon Tea
Since we didn’t wish to make our complete journey about Harry Potter, we really opted for a Glam Rock themed excessive tea with our teen on the Okay West lodge. Nonetheless, in case you are inclined to strive a themed excessive tea together with your youngsters, there are a number of that meet the invoice:
Harry Potter Areas Outdoors of London
In case you are on the lookout for a day journey from London, a go to to the Harry Potter filming websites in Oxford is an ideal choice. There are 38 faculties that make up the College of Oxford, and a few of these have been used for filming scenes within the Harry Potter motion pictures. You may discover by yourself however I’d advocate a strolling tour. You may also 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 also go to the staircase the place McGonagall greeted the first-year college students in Chamber of Secrets and techniques.
In New Faculty you may 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.
You probably have a automotive or rent a driver, you too can 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.
Visiting England? Learn extra:
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