London’s Top 10 Lists: Harry Potter Filming Locations

London’s Top 10 Lists: Harry Potter Filming Locations

Here is a top 10 list of London’s Harry Potter filming locations, filled with all the details you need for a magical pilgrimage.

1. Platform 9 ¾ at King’s Cross Station

This is the most iconic spot for any fan, marking the gateway to Hogwarts. While the real platforms 4 and 5 were used for the filming of students rushing through the brick wall , the station now features a permanent tribute with a trolley half-embedded in the wall . It’s the perfect place to queue up for that classic photo with a house scarf.

• Nearest Tube: King’s Cross St. Pancras
• Nearest Bus Stop & Numbers: King’s Cross Station / Pentonville Road (Stop T): 10, 17, 45, 46, 63, 73, 205, 214, 259, 390, 476
• Entry Fee: Free (photos with official staff have a set price for a digital package)
• Best Time to Visit: Very early morning (before 9 AM) on a weekday to avoid the long queues.
• Time at Each: 20-30 minutes (for the photo and a quick look in the shop)
• Google Maps Location: Platform 9 ¾

2. The Reptile House at London Zoo

This is where it all began. In Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, a young Harry first discovers he can speak to snakes while visiting the Reptile House with the Dursleys . You can stand right where Harry spoke to the Burmese python and set him free.

• Nearest Tube: Camden Town or Regent’s Park (both about a 15-minute walk through the park)
• Nearest Bus Stop & Numbers: London Zoo (Stop L): 274
• Entry Fee: Yes (Zoo entrance fee applies)
• Best Time to Visit: Weekday afternoons are generally quieter than weekends and school holidays.
• Time at Each: 30-45 minutes (just for the Reptile House, but the whole zoo needs 2-3 hours)
• Google Maps Location: London Zoo

3. Leadenhall Market (Diagon Alley)

This beautiful Victorian covered market in the City of London was transformed into Diagon Alley for the first film . Look for the blue door at 42 Bull’s Head Passage, which served as the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron . It’s a stunning location even for Muggles.

• Nearest Tube: Monument or Bank
• Nearest Bus Stop & Numbers: Great Tower Street (Stop P): 15, 17, 21, 35, 40, 43, 47, 48, 78, 100, 141, 149, 521, 544, N15, N21, N199, N277, N343, N550, N551
• Entry Fee: Free
• Best Time to Visit: Evenings or weekends when the financial district is quiet, allowing for better photos.
• Time at Each: 20-30 minutes
• Google Maps Location: Leadenhall Market

4. The Millennium Bridge

Fans of the Half-Blood Prince will instantly recognise this sleek, pedestrian suspension bridge. In the film’s dramatic opening scene, it collapses after being attacked by Death Eaters . It offers great views of St. Paul’s Cathedral.

• Nearest Tube: Blackfriars or St. Paul’s
• Nearest Bus Stop & Numbers: St. Paul’s Cathedral (Stop ST): 4, 11, 15, 17, 23, 26, 76, 172
• Entry Fee: Free
• Best Time to Visit: Early morning or at sunset for beautiful light and fewer crowds.
• Time at Each: 15-20 minutes (to walk across and take photos)
• Google Maps Location: Millennium Bridge

London’s Top 10 Lists: Harry Potter Filming Locations

5. Borough Market (The Leaky Cauldron & Knight Bus)

While the first film used Leadenhall Market, The Prisoner of Azkaban featured a different entrance to the Leaky Cauldron. You can find it at No. 7 Stoney Street, a small flower shop under a railway arch . The Market Porter pub next door (No. 8) was the “Third Hand Book Emporium” .

• Nearest Tube: London Bridge
• Nearest Bus Stop & Numbers: London Bridge Station (Stop M): 43, 48, 141, 149, 521
• Entry Fee: Free
• Best Time to Visit: When the market is open (typically Wed-Sat) to enjoy the food, but the locations themselves can be seen anytime.
• Time at Each: 30-45 minutes (to find the spots and soak in the market atmosphere)
• Google Maps Location: Borough Market

6. Claremont Square (12 Grimmauld Place)

This quiet, hilly square in Islington was used as the exterior for the Order of the Phoenix headquarters . The houses here, particularly the one used as Sirius Black’s family home, have a very specific and magical appearance. It’s a residential area, so please be respectful when visiting.

• Nearest Tube: Angel
• Nearest Bus Stop & Numbers: Penton Street (Stop CP): 73, 341, 476
• Entry Fee: Free
• Best Time to Visit: A quiet weekend morning for the best light and minimal traffic.
• Time at Each: 10-15 minutes
• Google Maps Location: Claremont Square

7. Piccadilly Circus

In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, Harry, Ron, and Hermione are forced to flee from the Death Eaters and apparate into the middle of muggle London. The bustling heart of Piccadilly Circus, with its famous neon signs and crowded streets, provided the perfect backdrop .

• Nearest Tube: Piccadilly Circus
• Nearest Bus Stop & Numbers: Piccadilly Circus (Stop R): 6, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 19, 22, 23, 38, 88, 94, 139, 159
• Entry Fee: Free
• Best Time to Visit: Late evening to capture the famous lights and the energy of the West End.
• Time at Each: 15-20 minutes
• Google Maps Location: Piccadilly Circus

8. Australia House (Gringotts Bank)

The stunning interior of Australia House, the Australian High Commission, served as the grand and imposing lobby of Gringotts Wizarding Bank . While it’s a working diplomatic mission and generally closed to the public, it’s worth walking by to appreciate the magnificent building from the outside.

• Nearest Tube: Temple
• Nearest Bus Stop & Numbers: Aldwych (Stop E): 1, 4, 6, 9, 11, 13, 15, 23, 26, 59, 68, 76, 87, 91, 139, 168, 171, 172, 188, 243, 341, 521, N1, N11, N15, N21, N26, N68, N76, N87, N155, N171, N199, N242, N343, N550, N551
• Entry Fee: Not open to the public
• Best Time to Visit: During daylight hours to admire the architecture.
• Time at Each: 5-10 minutes
• Google Maps Location: Australia House

9. St. Pancras International Hotel

Right next to King’s Cross, the magnificent Gothic facade and opulent Grand Staircase of the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel were used as a filming location. In The Chamber of Secrets, the hotel’s exterior stands in for King’s Cross Station, and its staircase was used for the Gryffindor Common Room .

• Nearest Tube: King’s Cross St. Pancras
• Nearest Bus Stop & Numbers: King’s Cross St. Pancras Underground Station (Stop B): 17, 63, 390, 476
• Entry Fee: Free (entering the hotel lobby and staircase is free)
• Best Time to Visit: Mid-morning or early afternoon when the hotel isn’t too busy.
• Time at Each: 20-30 minutes
• Google Maps Location: St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel

10. Great Scotland Yard (Ministry of Magic Entrance)

This quiet corner near Trafalgar Square was the filming location for the iconic red telephone box entrance to the Ministry of Magic in The Order of the Phoenix . While the phone box was a film prop and is no longer there, it’s a fun spot to stand where Harry and Mr. Weasley “descended” into work.

• Nearest Tube: Embankment or Charing Cross
• Nearest Bus Stop & Numbers: Trafalgar Square (Stop A): 3, 6, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 23, 24, 29, 53, 87, 88, 91, 139, 159, 176, 453
• Entry Fee: Free
• Best Time to Visit: A quiet weekday morning is best, as it can get very busy with tourists heading to other landmarks.
• Time at Each: 5-10 minutes
• Google Maps Location: Great Scotland Yard

We hope this list helps you plan an unforgettable trip through the wizarding world! If you’re also interested in visiting the Warner Bros. Studio Tour, which is just outside London, let me know and I can provide information on that as well.

For more detailed aspects of London visit my sister site:- GOEXPLORELONDON.COM

Back to Lists Contents Page:- London’s Top 10 Lists