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Harry Potter fans already have more stuff to tick off in London than you can shake a wizarding wand at. What to check out first? Platform 9 ¾ in King’s Cross? The Cursed Child theatre show? The Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter? OK, that last one is technically in Hertfordshire, but you get the idea.
Before magic-loving muggles hop their broomsticks to check out those must-sees, though, they’ll soon be able to spend their hard-earned gold Galleons, silver Sickles and bronze Knuts at the Harry Potter Oxford Street store, which is due to open this autumn. Though there are already official Harry Potter shops in the likes of New York, Chicago and Harajuku (Tokyo), this will be the UK’s first flagship Harry Potter shop.
Owned by Warner Bros., the new store will cover two floors and encompass 21,000 square feet – or, just under a quarter the size of a full Quidditch pitch. It’ll open its doors at the Ribbon, 134-140 Oxford Street, close to Tottenham Court Road station.
It will be conveniently located for fans who’ve watched The Cursed Child at the Palace Theatre, around a 10-minute walk away. In four-star review, Time Out described the show, which was co-written by Adolescence writer Jack Thorne, as ‘an absolute hoot, a joyous, big-hearted, ludicrously incident-packed and magic-heavy romp that has to stand as one of the most unrelentingly entertaining things to hit the West End’.
Harry Potter Oxford Street will offer photo opportunities, interactive experiences and exclusive merchandise. The store’s opening is well-timed, as this November will mark the 25th anniversary of the film adaptation of Warner’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the first book in J.K. Rowling’s franchise, which came out in 1997.
Karl Durrant, WB’s SVP Worldwide Retail said: ‘Harry Potter is deeply rooted in British storytelling, and this will give fans an exciting new way to experience this magical world in the city that features so prominently in the stories. Offering a completely new retail experience for Harry Potter fans which will delight and entertain, it’s going to be very special.’
London’s upcoming Harry Potter flagship is set to open this autumn but hasn’t got a firm opening date – watch this space for updates.
Did you see Time Out’s guide to Warner Bros Studio Tour London?
Plus: The two-part version of 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ is set to close in London’s West End.
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