For fifteen years now, I have been in love with the Harry Potter series. Harry Potter is actually the reason that I became an Anglophile back in June 2004, coinciding with the release of the third Harry Potter film. Eleven and a half years later, I finally made it to my favorite city and I was chock full of Harry Potter trivia and tidbits.
The most obvious Harry Potter thing in London actually is a short train ride outside the main city. On December 23, we took the Underground to Euston station, caught a train to Watford, and then were picked up by a double decker bus wrapped in the Warner Brothers Studio Tour.
Even though the movies ended over four years ago, people still love Harry Potter. It’s highly recommended to buy your tickets ahead of time. Very ahead of time. We were planning on going on Christmas Eve, but almost two months ahead of time, they were sold out, so we settled for the 23rd. I know people who had tickets sold out the entirety of their trip. We were in the last tour group, which was actually pretty awesome because there weren’t any people getting in the way of my photos. Also, we got the digital guide, but really, getting the regular ticket is just fine, unless you want to get the booklet for the tour.
Apparently the tour is always changing. Recently this year, they brought the Hogwarts Express into the exhibit. Also, we found a painting leading to one of the bathrooms that was Chamber of Secrets themed. I guess it always keeps the people coming back for more!
One of my favorite parts of the tour was when I got to don Ravenclaw robes and have my own go at flying on a broomstick! In this part, you get to fly in front of the green screens and have your own try at Quidditch like they do in the movies. You can buy the video at the end, but we just settled for a picture.
I really loved the studio tour. It’s so amazing to see the sets and props and costumes from the movies that I grew up with. I highly recommend doing this for any die hard Harry Potter fans. (Word of caution though – don’t do any other strenuous tours in the same day. We did the Tower of London in the morning – three hours there, and then the studio tour in the evening – another three hours. We didn’t get back to our flat until after 11 PM!)
Within London, there are also many sites that were used for filming. One place if Leadenhall Market. Because it was the holiday season, we actually accidentally stumbled upon it on Boxing Day when it was closed. Apparently, it is usually bustling with life, but when we came to it, it was empty. In the movies, it was used for shots of Diagon Alley. There is an optician’s blue door that was used for the door to the Leaky Cauldron. Other than being a site for Harry Potter, it’s also a beautiful Victorian market. I’d love to see it when it’s busy!
Another place that I found out was in the Harry Potter movies was Westminster Underground station. Located right next door to Big Ben, the houses of Parliament, and Westminster Abbey, Westminster station was used in Order of the Phoenix when Mr. Weasley and Harry are going to the Ministry of Magic. We actually passed through this station several times. So cool to think that they shut down the station for the entire day so they could film that scene. I’ve walked where Mr. Weasley and Harry have!
Nearby Leicester Square, there is Charing Cross Road. Now only movie lovers might not understand the meaning of this one, but die hard book fans will know this is the street where the Leaky Cauldron is located! I made sure to snap a picture in front of the sign that said “Charing Cross Road”. Unfortunately, I never found the Leaky Cauldron – I guess I am a No-Maj Muggle!
Speaking of Leicester Square, the theater/cinema where the final film had its world premier is located there. We actually went to the theater to see the latest Star Wars movie, so it was cool to think that the stars of Harry Potter had walked where I had walked. Apparently, the red carpet started in Trafalgar Square, just a hop and a skip away from Leicester Square, and then went on to see the premiere at ODEON Leicester Square.
One thing I didn’t get to see that I really wanted to see was the Millennium Bridge. This is the bridge that goes all wavy in Half-Blood Prince my least favorite film because of the Death Eaters. It apparently wasn’t too far from the flat we were in, but it was never close to anything we had wanted to see, so I never got to cross it myself … guess I have another item on my to-do list the next time I’m in London.
There are so many sights to see in Harry Potter’s London. I know someone who went on a tour of Harry Potter London, so I know I could have done so much more. I did squeal every time I saw Parliament and Big Ben Elizabeth Tower all lit up at night, thinking of Harry and the Advanced Guard flying past it in Order of the Phoenix. Any Harry Potter fan should definitely make the pilgrimage over to experience Harry Potter’s London for themselves.
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