perks!Harry Potter: London tours, walks and more
Have a wizard day out in London with everything you need to know about Harry Potter experiences, walking tours, theatre, exhibitions and the Harry Potter studio tour in London
Whether you love Harry Potter or are yet to be converted, these terrific London experiences will have you feeling magical in no time. It might have been over two decades since JK Rowling’s first novel started the whole shebang, but the brilliant books and films of the Harry Potter world continue to captivate children and adults all over the globe.
In London, you can visit the studios where all eight films were made, run into a wall at King’s Cross station’s Platform 9¾, take a tour of the famous landmarks featured in the movies and much more. Here's how to transform yourself from muggle to wizard for a Harry Potter-inspired day out in London.
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Magical events in London
The Goblet of Fire at Warner Bros. Studio Tour
See the Goblet itself, which is returning to the Great Hall for the first time since filming wrapped eight years ago
Harry Potter London tours and walks
Warner Bros Studio: The Making of Harry Potter
The best way to experience Harry Potter's world, this tour allows visitors to explore the incredible film sets in the original Harry Potter studios in Watford (a 30-minute train journey from London). You'll find yourself in Hogwarts' Great Hall, Dumbledore's study, Privet Drive, Platform 9 ¾ and Diagon Alley among other locations, each teeming with intricate details. Plus you can pose alongside the Hogwarts Express, learn all about the special effects and see all the costumes and props used in the films. Booking is essential.
Tour for Muggles: Harry Potter London Walk
A walking tour for ‘Harry Potter’ fans, exploring London film locations and inspirations for the books, with props, trivia and fun behind-the-scenes stories. The tour starts at the corner of Duke Street Hill and Borough High Street and ends near Leicester Square – you need a travel card as a short tube journey is involved. And group sizes are kept small so booking is essential.
Harry Potter Walking Tour of London
A walking tour and river adventure taking in familiar Harry Potter locations and a plethora of London landmarks, including St Paul’s Cathedral, Big Ben, London Eye, Millennium Bridge, Tate Modern, Borough and Leadenhall Markets and Monument. The tour also includes a 15-minute boat ride along the Thames following the route taken in 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix'.
Harry Potter Bus Tour of London Locations
Hop on board a luxury minibus for a whistlestop tour of location sites for all eight Harry Potter films, along the way learning about magic and how the films were made. There will be a chance to get off the bus and take pictures, as well as buy Harry Potter merchandise at the end of the tour. The tour begins at Temple tube station (outside Temple Bar Restaurant next to the station exit) and ends at Kings Cross station.
Harry Potter attractions in London
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter
Walk into some of the most famous film sets at this magical, permanent studio tour
‘The Wizarding Chambers’ hotel experience
A special suite that may, for trademark reasons, evoke a non-specific boarding school dedicated to the study of magic
Harry Potter London landmarks
Leadenhall Market
Venue says: “Dating back to the fourteenth Century, Leadenhall Market is a unique, boutique shopping and dining destination in the heart of the City.”
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Elena's L'Étoile
Signed photos from many of Britain’s best-loved actors line the walls at l’Etoile, forming a great sea of thespian endorsement that fills every available space. The restaurant itself has been around for over a century, and its aesthetic is firmly of the old school; etched glass, red banquettes and starched linen remain the order of the day. The food is resolutely classic too: a ham hock terrine starter with apple chutney and sauce vierge is straight from the Left Bank; and a delicate double-baked mushroom soufflé is a well-judged French staple, served with a cool twist of chive crème fraîche. Main courses satisfied without enthralling. A light, fresh salmon and leek fish cake arrived with mushy peas and an endive salad, and corn-fed chicken accompanied by a mini kiev and red wine sauce was hearty yet undistinguished. There’s more imagination at work in the desserts. A light lemon tart came intriguingly topped with popping candy, and a hefty portion of rice pudding was decked with great shavings of caramelised pineapple. Elena’s faded grandeur and traditional dishes are part of its charm: this is a place for a nostalgic feed rather than an inspiring one.
Venue says: “Pre-theatre dining – two courses at £12.95 per person.”
