Harry Potter Things To Do in London in 2024 – Tips by a Londoner & Potterhead!

Looking for the best Harry Potter things to do in London? You’ve come to the right place!

I’m a massive Harry Potter fan and have lived in London for eight years, so I know my fair share when it comes to Harry Potter related activities in the British capital.

In this article I have included everything you need to know about enjoying London as a Potterhead. Including the most popular filming spots, the best activities, the best guided tours, and much more.

There are corners of London that are simply magical and will feel like you’re stepping into the magical world of Harry Potter. So what are you waiting for? Read on, and plan your perfect Harry Potter-themed trip to London!

Harry Potter Experiences in London

Go on a filming locations walking tour

To really get to grips with all the Harry Potter sights in London, a walking tour of the filming locations from the film is the best way to do it. And trust me: the British capital is packed full of places you’ll recognise from the films. 

Harry Potter London locations are scattered throughout the city. To start with, the first one I recommend is London Zoo.

This is from the first film, The Philosopher’s Stone. Not only is it an amazing place to see from the movies, but it’s a unique zoo in its own right since its opening back in 1847.

Then there’s Leadenhall Market. This was where a few of the scenes from Diagon Alley were filmed, for example, the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron. Lambeth Bridge is another prominent spot, featuring in the Prisoner of Azkaban when Harry takes the Knight Bus.

My personal favourite is Millennium Bridge, which gets destroyed at the start of the 5th Harry Potter movie. If you walk along the south side of the river (one of my favourite walks in London), you get the beautiful view of St Paul’s Cathedral (one of the most iconic London sights) aligned with the symmetry of the bridge.

There’s a reason it’s such a popular London Instagram photo spot!

These are just a few of the iconic sights from the Harry Potter films that you can visit around London. Take a look at my guide on all the Harry Potter filming locations in London for an in-depth guide to each spot!

Visit Platform 9¾

Perhaps the most famous of all the Harry Potter attractions in London is Platform 9¾.

Located at King’s Cross Station, the location of the famous platform has been marked outside of the platforms themselves, so that you can visit without having to pay for a train ticket.

For extra fun, you can pose for a photo here holding onto the luggage trolley that has been embedded in the wall, seeming to disappear just as it did in the films. 

Staff are on hand to throw a Harry Potter scarf around your neck for extra pose points! You may have to queue for this particular attraction, but it’s a fun one (plus, it’s one of the many completely free attractions in London!) 

See Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Currently playing at the Palace Theatre in London’s West End, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is — for now — the final chapter of the Harry Potter franchise.

Taking place 19 years after the events of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the play is a must-see for any Harry Potter fan in London.

But it’s not only a fan favourite. This Harry Potter play is critically acclaimed and award-winning — even record-breaking, having won the most Olivier Awards in the history of the West End. 

Needless to say, when it comes to Harry Potter-themed things to do in London, this is a must even if you’re just a casual Potter fan (if there’s such a thing!).

It’s also located right in the heart of London, so you can easily pair seeing this show with a visit to Covent Garden, Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus, Chinatown, and all the other main sights here.

Visit the Harry Potter Warner Bros studio

If you’re looking for a truly comprehensive Harry Potter experience, there’s no better way to get a real taste of the series for yourself than by visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. 

Places to visit in London for Harry Potter fans don’t get much cooler than at the Warner Bros studios in the capital, where literally all the magic happened.

Here you can see all the props and the costumes from the films, and even walk through some of the sets like Diagon Alley. 

To make the day run smoothly, one option is to join a tour (that’s because the studios aren’t actually located in central London). The tour itself leaves from Victoria Coach Station, and drives you out to Watford, where the studios are located.

Once you’re there, you can head inside and venture into the world of Harry Potter, stopping by Olivander’s Wand Shop, Floris and Blotts, and Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes.

You can even sip on some Butterbeer at the Leaky Cauldron. A super cool experience for super fans!

Click here to book your Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio Tour in London!

Go for Harry Potter themed afternoon tea

Going for afternoon tea while you’re in London is a pretty iconic British thing to do, it’s one of those activities that features on everyone’s London bucket list.

But for fans of the wizarding series, it’s possible to find a Hogwarts themed afternoon tea for extra fun.

Afternoon tea itself may not be a very Harry Potter thing to do in London, but at the Wands & Wizards Exploratorium, it’s conjured into a proper experience worthy of the book and film franchise. 

It’s a lovely little place; a cute, quirky experience that’s a little different from the normal big-ticket Harry Potter draws in the capital.

Here you can enjoy an interactive afternoon tea of sand-witches, scones and desserts, all served up with potion-like cups of tea. Expect intrigue!

Do a Harry Potter themed escape room

Harry Potter stuff in London doesn’t get much more fun than this interactive adventure.

If you’ve never done an escape room, then you’re in for a treat. What happens is you and some friends get together as a team, attempting to follow clues and solve puzzles in a carefully put-together room in order to be set free.

This escape room is totally centred around Harry Potter, with the setting actually at the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry — yes, Hogwarts itself.

The idea is that you’re sitting your final exams at the school, testing your knowledge on key subjects from the magical world, including Potions, Charms and Defence Against the Dark Arts. 

You need to pass all of your exams before the time runs out; but don’t worry, you’ll also have a questmaster who’ll introduce the different puzzles and give you clues along the way.

With prices starting at £90, there’s plenty of intrigue, loads of puzzles, and the extra fun of doing it all with your friends (or family). London for Harry Potter fans is a really cool place, it turns out!

This can be a pretty fun one especially if you’re visiting London in winter or you’re looking for what to do in London when it rains, as it’s an activity that you will keep you indoors, warm and dry for a few hours.

“Potion making” cocktail experience at The Cauldron

Not all Harry Potter activities in London are suitable for children — I mean, you may have been a child when you first read Harry Potter, but nowadays you may be more into cocktails than wizardry!

If that’s the case, then this fun “potion-making” experience at The Cauldron is definitely for you. By potions, they mean cocktails, but the way of making them is very Hogwarts-style.

You’ll don a cloak, get given a working wand, and set about casting spells and mixing esoteric ingredients to make potions worthy of a witch or wizard.

The interactive wand is really cool, and actively helps in creating the potions. The experience takes place over the course of an hour and 45 minutes, and includes a welcome drink and two molecular cocktails (or mocktails) that you’ll be making yourself.

Tickets start from £35.99 per person (over 18s only, obviously).

Don’t worry, if you have no idea what you’re doing, there’s a potionmaster on hand to make sure everything runs smoothly — and to stop anybody from poisoning themselves!

Join a Harry Potter walking tour in London

This Harry Potter walking tour of London is definitely the most in-depth way to discover the wizarding side to the British capital.

Here you’ll be able to pass through Muggle London to uncover a magic world that hides in plain sight, in the form of filming locations and inspiration for J.K. Rowling.

It begins by meeting your guide, who’ll start the tour by working out what Hogwarts House you should be in — of course! And then it’s off to find a whole bunch of Harry Potter things to see in London.

You’ll then pass by a plethora of places that inspired iconic locations in the book, like Knock Turn Alley and Diagon Alley, and visit ancient London monuments like Southwark Cathedral and the ruins of Winchester Palace.

You’ll even get to go on a boat trip along the Thames, spot the world’s smallest police station, and see Daniel Radcliffe’s school.

You could research all these locations and visit independently, but joining a guided tour will also give you the opportunity to meet and befriend fellow Potter-heads! Especially if you’re travelling to London solo, it can be a great way to meet new people.

Click here to book your Harry Potter Guided Walking Tour!

Go on a day trip to Oxford & the Cotswolds

Don’t worry if you’ve run out of Harry Potter things to do in London to keep you entertained for your trip.

There’s more filming locations and places connected to the books and films to be found across the UK, with multiple places in easy reach of the capital city.

Especially if you’ve only got a short amount of time, a tour is a really good idea. It means you’ll be able to see a load of different Harry Potter spots a stone’s throw from London all in one day.

This tour, for example, takes you from the centre of London on a whistle-stop tour. First of all, you’ll visit Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of none other than William Shakespeare!

It also gives you the bonus of seeing the Cotswolds, which is famed around the world for its picturesque countryside setting and rustic cottages. The tour stops at Bourton-on-the-Water and Bilbury, allowing you to see some classic English scenery.

Then it’s onto Oxford and its dreaming spires; you can walk around, seeing Christchurch Cathedral, the Bridge of Sighs, and learning about the city’s connection to Harry Potter (and Alice in Wonderland) from your knowledgeable guide.

Finally, you’ll be whisked back to London. Basically, beyond the Harry Potter sights and connections, this tour is an awesome way to see the UK if you’ve never been — the British countryside is stunning!

Click here to book your Cotswolds and Oxford Guided Day-Trip

Final thoughts on the best Harry Potter things to see in London

There you have it, the ultimate guide to the best Harry Potter related things to do in London! Have you been to London before? How did you find it? Let me know in the comments below!

It doesn’t matter if you’re only spending one day in London, two days in London or even five days in London, if you’re a Potterhead, doing some of these fun Harry Potter related activities is guaranteed to make your trip all the more fun.

While heading out to explore the filming locations is the easiest Harry Potter activity you can do, it’s probably the least magical. The afternoon teas, potion making or escape rooms are the really fun and unique experiences in my opinion.

I hope you found my London Harry Potter guide useful, if you have any questions, just let me know in the comments below!

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