Harry Potter filming locations in London

Calling all curious muggles (and wizards, of course)! There is nothing quite like stepping into the world of one of your favourite films and seeing where the magic (literally) happened. Harry Potter was filmed in a few places around the UK, but London not only contains many filming locations used in each of the eight movies, but also the studios where most of them were shot! So grab your cloak and your wand, and get ready to dive right into the wizarding world as we guide you through some of the most recognisable Harry Potter locations in London.

King’s Cross

Ah, where it all began. King's Cross Station is, of course, where all the students of Hogwarts catch the Hogwarts Express from Platform 9 ¾. So when we see our favourite wizards running through the wall between platforms 9 and 10 in the first two films, this is filmed at King's Cross between platforms 4 and 5. But for that perfect photo opportunity, you can find Platform 9 3/4 with a luggage trolley in the wall in the main concourse of the station, conveniently located right next to a Harry Potter store.

King's Cross is probably the most popular Harry Potter location in London, so you can expect some long queues during busier periods! So if you want a photo, avoid going on the weekend. And if you do not get a picture here, you will have plenty of opportunities if you plan a trip to the making of Harry Potter - the Warner Bros Studio Tour.

King's Cross Station, London

London N1C 4TB, UK

Warner Bros Studio Tour - The Making of Harry Potter

The Warner Bros Studio tour is home to all things Harry Potter, as all eight movies were filmed here! They have kept heaps of props, costumes, and sets from the films and put them on display for fans like us to really immerse ourselves in the magical world. I will admit - it is not technically in London, but its location in Watford, just north of the city, is super easy to reach on public transport.

The tour is self-guided (unless you book otherwise), and you can explore all the best sets, from the Great Hall and the Hogwarts Express to Diagon Alley and the Forbidden Forest, while learning about how the movies were made. Then you can stop for a refreshing glass of butterbeer before filling your boots at the epic gift shop. So, honestly, if you only visit one Harry Potter location on your visit to London - let it be this!

Warner Bros Studio Tour, London

Studio Tour Dr, Leavesden, Watford WD25 7LR, UK

London Zoo

London Zoo is an awesome place for anyone to visit, but nestled in this old scientific zoo in Regent’s Park is the Reptile House, where Harry realised he could speak to snakes and set that python free. The scene from the movie really was filmed here, so you can go and stand where Harry stood before visiting over 650 different species of reptiles, mammals, birds, invertebrates, amphibians, and fish throughout the zoo.

You need to buy a ticket to get to London Zoo, but it is worth spending a day here if you have the time. If you have bought a London Pass for your visit to the city, you can get in for free!

London Zoo

Outer Cir, London NW1 4RY, UK

Millennium Bridge

That Death Eaters scene in the Half Bood Prince where they tear through London shows off several famous sights in the city, but the most memorable sequence has to be when they make the Millennium Bridge collapse into the Thames. This pedestrian footbridge links St. Paul’s Cathedral in the city to the Tate Modern on Bankside. Walk towards the city from Bankside for some great views of the cathedral.

Millenium Bridge, London

Millennium Bridge, Thames Embankment, London EC4V 3QH, UK

Leadenhall Market

While many of the Diagon Alley scenes were filmed on set at the Harry Potter studios, some were filmed on location in London at Leadenhall Market. This beautiful covered market is one of the oldest markets in London, and you can totally feel those magical HP vibes as you explore underneath its ornate painted roof. The most notable location in the market is an optician in Bull’s Head Passage which was used as the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron in the Philosopher’s Stone.

Leadenhall Market, London

Gracechurch St, London EC3V 1LT, UK

Scotland Place

There are a few ways to get to the Ministry of Magic (phone boxes, flushing yourself down the toilet…), but amongst some real-life government buildings on the intersection of Scotland Place and New Scotland Yard, you can find where wizards would enter the ministry. Sadly the phone box Mr Weasley and Harry used was just a prop, so you will not be able to find that, but you will probably spot some Harry Potter walking tours around this area.

Claremont Square

This picturesque square is located in Islington (not too far from King’s Cross if you are planning a HP themed route) and was the setting for 12 Grimmauld Place - the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix in the film of the same name and Deathly Hallows Part 1.

Claremont Square, London

Claremont Square, London, UK

Piccadilly Circus

Remember that scene in the Deathly Hallows Part 1 where Harry, Ron, and Hermione have to quickly apparate from Bill and Fleur’s wedding and end up nearly getting hit by a London Bus? Well, that is Piccadilly Circus. And it is just as busy and traffic-filled in real life as it looked in the film! With heaps of shops, bars, restaurants, and entertainment, Piccadilly Circus is definitely a must-do on your visit to London - as a HP location or not!

Piccadilly Circus, London

Piccadilly Circus, London W1D 7ET, UK

Lambeth Bridge

For this last one, we are throwing it back to the Prisoner of Azkaban and the Knight Bus (remember the Knight Bus?!). As we know, this magical bus can impossibly squeeze itself through muggle traffic, and it is on Lambeth Bridge that it compresses itself between two London double-decker buses. You can find the bridge on the Thames just up from Westminster Bridge.

Lambeth Bridge, London

Lambeth Bridge, Lambeth Rd, London SE1 7SG, UK

Harry Potter Walking Tour

The best way to see all the Harry Potter locations around London is on a guided walking tour. It may not include all the places listed above, but you can be sure that your guide will bring the magic to life with information about how scenes were filmed at each location.

If you get a London Pass, be sure to check out which Harry Potter tours you can join for free or at a discounted price. Another option is to fill your day with Harry Potter, starting with a walking tour and ending at the award-winning Harry Potter and the Cursed Child play, currently showing at the Palace Theatre!

So jump into the wizarding world on your next trip to London and feel the magic at these Harry Potter locations around London.