Exploring London's Magical Side: A Harry Potter Tour

If you’re a Harry Potter fan, then you need to visit London – the home of Warner Bros. Studios and the inspiration for many of the iconic locations in the books and movies. You can take a train from King’s Cross Station (which was used as Platform 9 ¾ in the movies) right to the studio as well as see Broadway-quality shows. Hold on to your broomsticks and get ready to catch the Golden Snitch as we take you through the Harry Potter-themed activities we did on our last trip to London.

Harry Potter London Tours at The Warner Bros Studio

The Harry Potter London tour is a must for any fan of the boy wizard. The Warner Bros. Studio Tour gives you an intimate look at the making of the film series. You’ll get to see first-hand how some of the most iconic scenes in the movies were created.

The location itself is a bit outside of London and will require some train logistics and an hour or so to get here, but was a nice break from the London sites if you are into Harry Potter. As I note in the next section I am not for or against Harry Potter, but I am certainly not an avid fan, so for me personally it was cool to see, especially in contrast to what you see at a Universal park these days, but I certainly did;t need to spend a whole day there reading and interacting with every exhibit. Certainly, the Great Hall was the highlight, but there are other things to see.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

If you’re looking for a more magical experience, then you need to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. The play is currently being performed at the Palace Theatre in London’s West End. It’s a must-see for any fan of the series. You’ll be transported back to Hogwarts as you follow Harry, Ron, and Hermione on their new adventure.

Now you might be thinking to yourself that I might be a Harry Potter fan, but you would be mistaken. While my kids have read all the books and watched all the movies, I can honestly say I’ve never watched more than 30min in a total of any of the movies and have never cracked open one of the books. So why the show do you ask? I was originally drawn to it as I wanted to see the inside of the theater.

It was a cool building and worth the visit just by itself, but then the show started. Having never seen the movies I was a bit lost, but had heard enough to at least have the gist of what it was all about. That said, I was pleasantly surprised. Even if you are not a Harry Potter fan, or hardly even know enough how to spell it, it was still a fantastic show.

I have since seen it one other time in New York with the Family and at risk of sounding like a tourist, it felt more authentic in London. Maybe it was the accents or the fact you took the train station from Kings Cross to get there, but the London location fits right in.

Platform 9 3/4 – Kings Cross Station

No visit to London would be complete without a stop at King’s Cross Station. This is the iconic train station that was used as Platform Nine and Three-Quarters in the Harry Potter movies. You can take a picture with a luggage trolley half-vanished into the wall or pick up some souvenirs at the Harry Potter Shop next door.

I had visited this prior to the pandemic and the line was north of an hour I’m sure. Here in this picture (shortly after the UK opened back up) there was no one. My wife and daughter walked right up and took their picture before heading into the gift shop next door.

Certainly don’t go out of your way for this, but if you’re on your way somewhere, like the tour, certainly drop by and take a picture. Both at this shop and at The Warner Bros Studio there were a few “unique” items that you may not have seen at Universal – for those that may have done some shopping there.