Know every wand by heart? Rewatched the films more times than you'd admit? We get it. London practically hums with Harry Potter magic. This is where it all began, after all. We've spent years tracking down the best experiences the city has to offer, from the obvious (Studio Tour, obviously) to spots most Muggles walk right past. Here are ten ways to tap into that wizarding world energy on your next London trip.
Harry Potter London at a Glance
- Location — London, United Kingdom
- Top Experience — Warner Brothers Studio Tour
- Free Options — House of Minalima, Free Muggle Tour
- Themed Stays — Wizard chambers & Harry Potter Airbnbs
- Bus Tour — 3-hour mini coach tour of filming locations
Note: Some of these experiences may have changed or stopped since our visit. If you know of any newer Harry Potter experiences in London, share them in the comments below!
Warner Brothers Studio Tour
This is the big one. We blocked out half a day and still felt rushed. There's just that much to see. The Forbidden Forest expansion alone had us geeking out for a solid hour, walking through actual set pieces where Harry, Ron, and Hermione filmed those tense forest scenes.
The sheer scale of the Great Hall caught us off guard. Photos don't do it justice. You walk in and immediately understand why every Hogwarts scene feels so grand. And don't skip the Backlot — grab a souvenir tankard and try the Butterbeer. It's sweet, creamy, and not available anywhere else. Worth the queue.
The Harry Potter Shop at Platform 9 ¾
Yes, there's a queue. Yes, it's worth it. The famous trolley-disappearing-into-the-wall photo op draws crowds all day, but show up before 10 am and you'll breeze through in minutes instead of waiting an hour.
The staff really make it fun — they'll toss your scarf dramatically, hand you a wand, and capture the shot mid-motion so it actually looks like you're running through the barrier. The shop next door stocks everything from house robes to chocolate frogs. We may have left with more than we planned.
Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts Graphic Art at House of Minalima
This one flew under our radar for years, and we're still kicking ourselves. MinaLima designed all the graphic props for the films — every Daily Prophet headline, every Marauder's Map detail, every Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes label. Their Soho gallery displays original artwork and film props across four floors. And it's free.
Open daily from noon to 7 pm, it's tucked away in the West End and rarely crowded. We spent an hour just examining the details on the Hogwarts acceptance letters.
It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Palace Theatre
We'll be honest — we were skeptical. A stage play continuing Harry's story? Felt risky. But within twenty minutes of Part One, we were completely hooked. The magic on stage is genuinely baffling (we still can't figure out how they did half of it), and the story hits emotional beats we weren't expecting.
The show runs in two parts. You can do both in one day (matinee plus evening) or split across two nights. Tickets aren't cheap and sell out fast. That said, "The Friday Forty" drops 40 affordable tickets every Friday at 1 pm for the following week. Set a phone reminder and be quick — they go in seconds. For more tricks, see our guide to getting cheap theatre tickets in London.
Guided Walking Tour
Meet outside the Palace Theatre (look for the guide with a red umbrella) and spend two hours wandering through locations that shaped the films. Our guide knew absurd amounts of behind-the-scenes trivia — stuff we'd never have found on our own. Leicester Square station is the closest, on the Northern and Piccadilly lines.
What we liked: it's tip-based, so there's no upfront cost. What we didn't expect: how much London history gets woven in alongside the Potter stuff. You leave understanding why certain locations were chosen and how the city influenced the story.
Prefer to explore at your own pace? The team at Marauders.nl has mapped out every Harry Potter filming location with photos, directions, and film references. Download their free guide, grab a coffee, and wander the city on your own schedule — no group, no tipping, just you and your inner wizard.
Sleep Like a Hogwarts Student
Why settle for a regular hotel when you can wake up in a wizard's chamber? London has a handful of properly magical places to sleep, not cheesy themed rooms but places that make you feel like you've stepped into the wizarding world.
We've stayed at the Georgian House Hotel's Wizard Chambers, and they've thought of everything: four-poster beds draped in velvet, stone walls lined with potion bottles, trunks at the foot of your bed, and cauldrons tucked into corners. The building dates to 1851, so the creaky floors and period architecture aren't props — they're real.
If you're heading to the Warner Bros Studio Tour, there's also Wizards Retreat — a fully themed Airbnb just 8 minutes from the studio. You get the whole space to yourself, which is perfect for families or groups who want to extend the magic beyond the tour itself. Wake up surrounded by wizard decor, then head straight to the studio without the London commute.
Magical Places to Sleep
- Victorian hotel in Pimlico with meticulously designed wizard-themed rooms. Four-poster beds, stone walls, cauldrons, and spellbooks. Walking distance from Victoria Station. Tip: Select "Family Wizard Chamber" when booking — not all rooms are themed.
- Entire wizard-themed property just 8 minutes from the Warner Bros Studio Tour. Perfect for groups or families who want the full immersive experience before or after visiting the studio.
Harry Potter Film Locations Bus Tour
London's Harry Potter filming locations are scattered all over the city. Walking between them takes forever. This 2-hour bus tour solves that problem, and they do it aboard a purple 1960s Routemaster that looks suspiciously like the Knight Bus.
The route hits the big ones: Leadenhall Market (Diagon Alley exterior), Borough Market (the Leaky Cauldron), the Millennium Bridge (destroyed by Death Eaters in Half-Blood Prince), Lambeth Bridge, and the exterior they used for Gringotts. You'll also pass St. Paul's Cathedral, Tower Bridge, and Westminster along the way — so even non-Potter fans in your group won't be bored.
The tour includes photo stops, props to pose with, and an interactive quiz to test your wizarding knowledge. Meet at Bus Stop 40B on Victoria Embankment, a short walk from Embankment Station.
The Cauldron — Potion Making Experience
The Cauldron was one of our favourite Harry Potter-adjacent experiences in London, a potion-making bar in Dalston where you'd throw on wizard robes, wield a working wand, and brew molecular cocktails in bubbling cauldrons. Sadly, the company went into liquidation in 2025 and all locations have closed.
We're actively looking for a worthy replacement. In the meantime, check out the Wands & Wizard Exploratorium at 26 Greek Street (same building as MinaLima) — they offer wand-making workshops, potion experiences, and wizard afternoon tea.
World of Witchcraft and Wizardry Escape Room
You're a novice witch or wizard, freshly recruited by the Magical Division. An esteemed wizard has vanished, and your team has 60 minutes to follow the clues and unravel a mystery that goes deeper than anyone expected. That's the premise — and it's brilliantly executed.
What sets this apart from typical escape rooms: the puzzles don't need to be solved in sequence, so your group can split up and tackle different challenges simultaneously. It keeps everyone engaged instead of watching one person fiddle with a lock. The theming is immersive without being cheesy, and the "EQIC Handlers" running the experience stay in character throughout.
Afterwards, head to their on-site bar (Beyond the Web) to debrief over drinks. Groups of 3–5 work best. Prices start at £70, and you'll want to arrive 15 minutes early for the briefing. Chancery Lane tube is a 5-minute walk.
Wizard Afternoon Tea at the Georgian House Hotel, Pimlico
Remember the Georgian House Hotel from the wizard stays section? They also run a wildly theatrical afternoon tea. Three courses of magical treats (with vegan options for plant-based sorcerers), from lightning bolt scones to beastly bakewells, served alongside a dry ice cauldron that'll make you feel like you've wandered straight into a Potions class.
The real highlight? You get to concoct your own potion under the guidance of the hotel's Head Wizard — instructions delivered via an actual scroll. Goblin goo, basilisk blood, unicorn tears… you name it, you can sample it all. And for an adorable touch, you can don a hat and wizard robes to complete the transformation.
I would visit again. The food and teas were exquisite and we were catered to include our individual needs.
