Warner Brother's Studio Tour
Step foot in the Great Hall and the Forbidden Forest at the Warner Brother's Studio! This tour is for the die-hard Harry Potter fans and transports you to Hogwarts. See authentic sets, costumes, and props from all eight movies. There are rotating exhibits throughout the year including Halloween and Christmas at Hogwarts, Gringotts Bank, and the Dark Arts. The studio tour is located 90 minutes outside of downtown London.
Harry Potter Tour of London
One of the most popular ways to find all the best Harry Potter locations in London is to take a guided tour of the filming locations. There are various bus and walking tours available that will take you to many of the sites listed below including King's Cross, the Leaky Cauldron, and more. These tours take about 2 - 3 hours. But if you are looking to see the sights for yourself, see the list and map below!
All italicized links are links to the actual locations. Non-italicized links lead to movie clips!
King's Cross Station
Every Harry Potter fan knows that the Hogwarts Express leaves King's Cross Station from Platform 9 ¾. You can experience the magic for yourself on the concourse at King's Cross, near the Harry Potter Shop. There is a professional photographer there, but you can also snap your own photos as well. The attraction is open from 9 AM - 9 PM but the line for Platform 9 ¾ can become over an hour long, so try to get there earlier in the day. Scenes from the films were actually shot between platforms 4 and 5, but you'll need a ticket to get down there.
Lendenhall Market - Diagon Alley & Leaky Cauldron
This covered marketplace was used as a backdrop for Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter films. The entrance to the Leaky Cauldron in The Sorcerer's Stone can be found in Bull Head's Passage: a bright blue door leading to a real-life optician's office.
Reptile House, London Zoo
It is at the London Zoo where Harry first realizes his ability to speak to snakes. The scenes were shot on location at the Reptile House where you can visit the black mamba snake exhibit, as well as see some other cool reptiles. But maybe you shouldn't try to set them free. Note: The cost to enter the London Zoo varies throughout the year.
Piccadilly Circus Square
In the first installment of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Harry, Ron, and Hermione are transported to Piccadilly Circus where they must fight through the crowd and are almost hit by a double decker bus! Check out this behind the scenes clip from filming!
Millennium Bridge
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince opens with scenes of dark forces taking over London. One of the most memorable scenes includes the destruction of the Millennium Bridge by Death Eaters. The pedestrian-only bridge crosses the River Thames and offers amazing views of St. Paul's Cathedral.
Claremont Square, Islington - 12 Grimmauld Place
While you're visiting King's Cross take a walk over to Claremont Square where you will find the apartment complex which fans will recognize as 12 Grimmauld Place, the headquarters for Sirius Black and the Order of the Phoenix. Keep your eyes open to see how many other famous London sights you can find during this flight scene.
St Pancras International Train Station
This beautifully constructed train station is situated right next to King's Cross and can be recognized as the building where the Weasley's flying car takes off from in The Chamber of Secrets.
Australia House - Gringotts Wizarding Bank
The scenes inside the lobby of Gringotts Bank in The Sorceror's Stone were filmed inside the Australia House in London. The building is used as a set in many other movies as well including Wonder Woman and The Muppets. The building operates as the Australian Embassy so the building is closed to the public, but you might be able to get a peak through the front door of the lobby that inspired Gringotts Bank!
Lambeth Bridge - The Knight Bus
In The Prisoner of Azkaban, the Knight Bus makes a pretty tight squeeze between two double-decker buses when traveling on Lambeth Bridge. This bridge is just upstream from the Westminster Bridge.
Westminster Tube station
In The Order of the Phoenix, Harry and Mr. Weasley travel through the Westminster Tube station and Mr. Weasley is quite confused by the ticket barriers. Filming of this scene caused them to shut down the entire Tube for the day, which must have been quite a disruption for locals!
Scotland Place - Ministry of Magic Entrance
After taking a ride in the Tube, the pair squeeze into a phone booth to gain access to the Ministry of Magic. Unfortunately this phone booth was just a prop and is no longer at the site, but appropriately enough the building is home to real-life government buildings.
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