Harry Potter London Bus Tour of Film Locations in London

brit movie tour harry potter

  • See numerous filming locations used in the films
  • Cover more locations in a comfortable coach
  • Take a photo at Platform 9 ¾ at Kings Cross Station
  • Listen to insider stories about the films
  • See itinerary
  • Professional guide
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Food and drinks
  • Saint Pancras Station, St Pancras Station, Euston Rd., London N1C 4QL, UK Arrive 15 minutes prior to the tour departure. The nearest underground station is Kings Cross St Pancras. Head towards the St Pancras Station clock tower on Euston Road. The guide will be waiting at the top of the steps that lead to the car park in front of St Pancras Station / Renaissance Hotel.
  • The Harry Potter Shop at Platform 9 ¾, Kings Cross Station, Euston Rd., London N1 9AP, UK Kings Cross Station (Platform 9 and 3/4s)
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Near public transportation
  • Infants must sit on laps
  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 36 travelers
  • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
  • Lambeth Bridge
  • Millennium Bridge
  • Leadenhall Market
  • Borough Market
  • Platform 9 3/4

Similar experiences

brit movie tour harry potter

  • You'll start at Saint Pancras Station St Pancras Station, Euston Rd., London N1C 4QL, UK Arrive 15 minutes prior to the tour departure. The nearest underground station is Kings Cross St Pancras. Head towards the St Pancras Station clock tower on Euston Road. The guide will be waiting at the top of the steps that lead to the car park in front of St Pancras Station / Renaissance Hotel. See address & details
  • 1 Platform 9 3/4 Stop: 10 minutes See details Pass by Lambeth Bridge
  • 2 Millennium Bridge Stop: 15 minutes See details
  • 3 Borough Market Stop: 15 minutes See details
  • 4 Leadenhall Market Stop: 15 minutes See details
  • You'll end at The Harry Potter Shop at Platform 9 ¾ Kings Cross Station, Euston Rd., London N1 9AP, UK Kings Cross Station (Platform 9 and 3/4s) See address & details

brit movie tour harry potter

  • 606lou 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great Bond Tour Ian our guide was amazing, so knowledgeable, friendly and really funny. Great tour and so interesting, thoroughly recommend but be aware there is walking involved on the tour not all on coach. Read more Written April 8, 2024
  • Sunnyday47 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A must for James Bond fans Having visited London a gabajillion times, we thought we’d try a new type of tour and we’re so glad we did! Our guide, Ian, was very knowledgeable, witty and full of energy. A must of James Bond fans - which I am not however still enjoyed the experience. Please note this is not totally on the bus, we walked 13,000 steps too. Read more Written April 8, 2024
  • 152willows 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles We really enjoyed it! Our guide was Owen, he was very informative and funny, he made sure everyone was getting involved. He also did not let the half mile being run, interrupt/stop the tour and instead made sure everyone knew where we would be going. Overall very kind and informative. Read more Written April 7, 2024
  • alisongJ8316ST 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Informative Tour A lovely walk. Small group and very informatiive. It became so much more than just the Downton Abbey tour. We learned so much more about London itself. Knowledgable guide. Read more Written April 6, 2024
  • linom635 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles My Name is... That was a great tour with Jonathan. Very informative and funny. A must for every Bond Fan. I am sure you will learn facts you didint know before. Read more Written April 6, 2024
  • fun2days 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Must do for any Downton Abbey fans! Great trip to see this very memorable site. Your was on our own but we had 3 hours to se the castle, talk to the guides in each room, have tea and scones and shop the tasteful gift shop. Our guide Jed was fun and entertaining. Only complaint was that the seats on the van are a bit tight on long legs. But we would recommend it and would do the trip again. Well worth seeing. Read more Written April 1, 2024
  • susanmarieshepherd 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Downton London walk tour March 2024 Booked the Downton Abbey London location walk tour for Good Friday 29 March 2024, arrived outside Temple tube station, met guide , 8 in total on tour, saw many outside of various buildings used in tv series , lots of fascinating in formation provided by excellent guide Chris, who advised this tour first for this season, last year tours continued until November, tours worth doing , be prepared lots of walking, wear comfortable shoes, had one comfort stop midway, if you a fan of Downton this tour a must Read more Written March 30, 2024
  • Departure41164 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Learned several locations of where and how some of the filming took place. Rory was an amazing tour guide. He was very knowledgeable and great with including the kids for answers. We enjoyed the tour. It started and ended on time. Read more Written March 25, 2024
  • S7560ZGjv 0 contributions 3.0 of 5 bubbles Nice tour, guide not up to scratch The tour was fine... but the guide (Ben) speaks way too fast... he rushes through his talks as if he has to do the next tour in 5 minutes... also we did not get his humor (this is personal of course) and noticed a couple of times he started talking before the group had assembled... unfortunately this spoilt our experience. Read more Written March 25, 2024
  • helen b 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Ted Lasso tour - would totally recommend Excellent Ted Lasso tour led by Vic who was enthusiastic, friendly, informative and very engaging. Ensured we had plenty of time for photos and questions and was very happy to take photos at key locations Read more Written March 25, 2024
  • 243hayleyl 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Amazing great fun! We did the Gavin & Stacey tour it was amazing, tour guide was brilliant and so much fun! You even get to go in Gwen’s house and look around Read more Written March 24, 2024
  • CardiffFlynny 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great Ripper Tour Great walking tour with Johnny (Golden Tours) He has the most incredible knowledge on the subject Taken to the areas of the horrific crimes RIP all the ladies who sadly succumbed to this horrific murderer Recommended as a walking trip 90 mins in total all flat Read more Written March 24, 2024
  • BelindaF45 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Gangster/Kray walking tour Fantastic informative tour. Would highly recommend. Visit places that ate notorius . The tour is made even better by the tour guide Vas. Took lots of photos and enjoyed every minute. Read more Written March 24, 2024
  • samjack919 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Excellent tour! Our tour guide Nathan was excellent. Knowledgable, personable and professional. Very enjoyable tour and great way to kick start a trip in London by seeing many famous spots. Read more Written March 24, 2024
  • Hartly5 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Very knowledgeable tour Just when you think you know everything about the Krays, Vas Blackwood comes along! Vas is clearly very knowledgeable about the Krays and shares this with a great sense of humour on the tour. The tour also gives a good insight into the minds of the Krays. Such a great day and I would highly recommend without hesitation! Read more Written March 24, 2024

More to explore in London

brit movie tour harry potter

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Hailey J

Buy it with

brit movie tour harry potter

Harry Potter London Bus Tour of Film Locations in London provided by Brit Movie Tours

Protect Your Trip »

The 10 Best Harry Potter Tours in London

Grab your wands and prepare for a magical trip through London.

brit movie tour harry potter

Courtesy of Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter

A highlight of the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter is seeing the model of Hogwarts.

Though you won't find Eeylops Owl Emporium, Flourish and Blotts, Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes or Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions in London 's streets, that doesn't mean you can't indulge in the world of "Harry Potter." Knowledgeable witches and wizards lead themed tours that discuss not only filming locations for the beloved Potter films, but also the wizarding world's most famous individuals like Harry, Ron, Hermione, Dumbledore and He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

Consulting Muggle traveler opinion as well as expert input from the top witches and wizards, U.S. News & World Report found the best Harry Potter London tours on offer.

Note: These tours take place on foot, by bus or on trains, so it's best to leave your brooms and Floo powder at home.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter

Price: From 51.50 pounds (around $64) per person Duration: 3.5 hours

For Potterheads, no trip to London is complete without a stop to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter , which explores how the "Harry Potter" films were made. During the self-guided visit, travelers will wander the Diagon Alley set, board the Hogwarts Express, view props and costumes and much, much more. Visit around Halloween for the Dark Arts or the winter holidays for Hogwarts in the Snow; the tour is decked out in seasonal décor for both events.

"As both a filmmaker and 'Harry Potter' fan, I was absolutely blown away by this tour," says Leilani Osmundson , digital producer at U.S. News Travel. "The sets, props and costumes were incredible and very well-maintained, and there were written explanations for almost everything." Osmundson suggests staying at the back of the group when entering the Great Hall for a chance to snag photos with fewer people in the shot when the group moves on. Keep in mind, this great experience comes with equivalent fees: Travelers warn of high ticket prices and expensive souvenirs. To avoid crowds, get to the studio early.

Tickets start at 51.50 pounds (about $64) per person. Children 3 and younger as well as caregivers can explore for free. Ticket packages that include a stay at a hotel or afternoon tea cost extra. Hours vary depending on the day. The tour is self-paced and you can explore as long as you wish, but you'll want at least 3.5 hours (more if you're a die-hard fan who wants to take in every detail). The tour is located in Leavesden, Watford, which is about 20 miles northeast of central London. Take the train to Watford Junction then board the complimentary shuttle to the studio.

View & Book Tickets: Warner Bros. Studio Tour London

Evan Evans Tours – Harry Potter Film Locations Walking Tour

Price: Adults from 29 pounds (about $36); kids from 24 pounds (around $30) Duration: 3 hours

Along this three-hour walking tour, you'll see the telephone booth that takes you to the Ministry of Magic, the Millennium Bridge and King's Cross Station, among other top filming locations. Tour-takers say the guides share fun Potter facts along with information about London.

Tours depart at both 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. Tickets cost 29 pounds (approximately $36) for adults and 24 pounds (about $30) for kids 3 to 16. You will also need a valid travel card for the Underground, as part of the tour is on the tube. The outing is not accessible. Evan Evans tours also runs an outing that buses trip-takers to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London.

View & Book Tickets: Viator | GetYourGuide

group of people in withces hats and wands

Courtesy of Tour for Muggles

Tour for Muggles

Price: Adults from 17 pounds (about $21); kids from 15 pounds (around $19) Duration: 2 hours

"Harry Potter" fans praise the witches and wizards who lead this tour, saying they are full of fun information and are passionate storytellers. A few note that if you're traveling solo, this is a great tour to take. The two-hour tour takes travelers throughout London – including across the Thames – and tells stories about Harry, Ron and Hermione along the way.

You'll meet your guide near the Monument tube station. The walking tour costs 17 pounds (around $21) for adults and 15 pounds (about $19) for children younger than 12.

See Your City – Original Harry Potter Locations Tour

Price: From $19.04 Duration: 2 hours

During See Your City's two-hour jaunt, you'll not only learn about the filming of "Harry Potter" (including the bridge destroyed in "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince"), but guides will also quiz you along the way so you can earn points for your house. Travelers praise the guides for their fun and informative delivery, saying that there are several spots on the tour that they wouldn't have seen by themselves.

Tickets cost about $20 per person and run mornings at 10:30 a.m., and afternoons at 2 and 7 p.m. In addition to English, See Your City conducts tours in Italian, German, French, Spanish and British Sign Language. The company runs other "Harry Potter"-themed tours, including one that explores London by boat and one that runs at night.

International Friends – Small Group Warner Bros. Studio Tour London: The Making of Harry Potter & Oxford

Price: Adults from 174 pounds; kids from 169 pounds Duration: 11 hours

This daylong tour begins with a visit to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London to see the sets (including the Forbidden Forest, Hagrid's Hut and the Great Hall), costumes and props from the films. After spending four hours at the studio, the coach will whisk you away to nearby Oxford where guides will take you on a walking tour of the university buildings and city streets. Tourgoers call this an excellent way to spend the day and appreciated the stop in Oxford.

Tour tickets start at 174 pounds (about $216) for adults and 169 pounds (approximately $210) for kids ages 5 to 15. Trips depart from central London around 8:30 a.m. and return around 7:45 p.m. In addition to "Harry Potter" outings, International Friends runs "Downton Abbey" tours.

group of tourists in front of Palace Theatre, London

Courtesy of London With a Local

London With a Local – Free Harry Potter Wizarding Tour

Price: Free Duration: 2 hours

Tourgoers routinely encourage "Harry Potter" fans to take this tour, saying the guides and stories shared are both fantastic. The walking tour meets at Palace Theatre, where the play "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" performs. (While seeing the play isn't part of the tour, you may want to grab tickets to the show while you're in London.) From there, guides will lead you down Diagon and Knockturn alleys (aka Charing Cross Road) and past buildings that inspired the Gringotts Wizarding Bank and the Ministry of Magic. Be sure to refresh your trivia knowledge, too, as guides quiz travelers for the Hogwarts Trivia House Cup.

Outings last about two hours. Tours depart at 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., but daily availability can vary. The tour is free, though tips for the guide are appreciated. London With a Local runs other movie- and book-based free tours, including James Bond and Sherlock Holmes tours.

View & Book Tickets: London With a Local

Brit Movie Tours – Wizards London Bus Tour

Price: Adults from 32.50 pounds (about $40); kids from 21 pounds Duration: 3.5 hours

Hop on an air-conditioned bus to see spots in London that served as a backdrop for the eight "Harry Potter" films. Sites tourgoers will see include the spot used for the Leaky Cauldron, the spot where the Knight Bus squished itself through traffic and more. Along the way, guides will quiz you about the books. Plus you'll see a few spots from the "Fantastic Beasts" franchise. Many travelers say the bus tour is a bargain and praise the guides. A few others note they could have found the stops by themselves.

Tours run year-round on Sundays (usually at 9:30 or 10:30 a.m.) as well as Wednesdays at 2 p.m. in the warmer months. Availability can vary, however. Tickets start at 32.50 for adults (about $40) and 21 pounds (roughly $26) for kids 15 and younger. Brit Movie Tours also runs a walking version of this tour.

London Top Sight Tours – Harry Potter Azkaban Tour (Film Locations & Prison)

Price: From 69 pounds (about $86) Duration: 3 hours

This tour focuses on the famous prison that housed some of the Death Eaters (followers of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named): Azkaban. Tour-takes will visit the Clink Prison Museum, which inspired J.K. Rowling when writing about the wizard prison. Additionally, this walking tour stops at two "Harry Potter"-themed shops as well as other locations from the films. London tourists say the guides do an excellent job.

Tours last three hours and depart from King's Cross. Tickets start at 69 pounds (roughly $86) per person and include the entry ticket to the Clink Prison Museum. Keep in mind you'll also need a topped up travel card for the tube. Tours run at 10 a.m. and 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. daily. The company runs a variety of other London tours, as well as private tours.

brit movie tour harry potter

City Wonders – Fully Guided Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter

Price: Adults from $310; kids from $297 Duration: 6 hours

As the name implies, City Wonders conducts fully guided excursions to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour. Guides meet the tour group – of no more than eight individuals – at the Euston War Memorial before boarding a train to get to the studio. Upon arrival, a trained guide will lead your group through the Studio Tour. You'll view props, costumes and sets like Ollivander's, the Gryffindor common room and more. Along the way, guides will share interesting tidbits about the movies. Travelers say the tours are excellent and the guided portion through The Making of Harry Potter is extra special. They also say that sampling Butterbeer or other magic foods is a must, but warn of long lines for concessions.

The tour starts at $310 for adults, $297 for children 5 to 15 and $12 for infants 4 and younger. It lasts about six hours and departs at 11:05 a.m. and 12:05 p.m. daily. City Wonders runs a variety of tours, including outings to the British Museum and the Tower of London .

Free Tours by Foot – Harry Potter Walking Tour London

Price: Free Duration: 2.5 hours

If you're hoping to save some knuts, sickles and galleons on a London trip, this could be a great tour option. As the name implies, Free Tours by Foot runs pay-what-you-wish walking tours. The "Harry Potter" tour will go by Westminster Tube station (as seen in "The Order of the Phoenix"), Godwin's Court (Knockturn Alley), St. Paul's and Trafalgar Square, among other top sites. Travelers say it is a wonderful tour, as guides share information about both the boy wizard and London history.

Tours run Wednesday and Saturday at 2 p.m. Though tours are free, reservations are required. Additionally, part of the tour takes place on the tube, so make sure you have plenty of money on a travel card.

View & Book Tickets: Free Tours by Foot

Harry Potter Tours in Scotland

London isn't the only place in the United Kingdom to get your Potter fix. Scotland – where you'll find the real-life Hogwarts Express and Hogwarts castle – is another must-visit destination for fans. Here are some tours to consider:

  • Free Harry Potter Tour: Explore Edinburgh on foot to hear about the influence the city had on the books. Book on Free Harry Potter Tour .
  • The Magical Highlands Tour (Includes Steam Train Journey): See the Scottish Highlands and take a ride on the Jacobite steam train (aka the Hogwarts Express). Book on GetYourGuide .
  • Harry Potter & the Hogwarts Express: Visit filming locations in the Highlands including the Glenfinnan Viaduct. Book on HAGGiS Adventures .
  • J.K. Rowling's Edinburgh: Traverse city streets to learn about the Potter stories and their creator. Book on The Potter Tour .
  • The Potter Trail: Grab a wand and explore Potterific sites around Edinburgh on this free tour. Book on The Potter Trail .
  • Edinburgh Harry Potter Tour: Find out where He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is buried and the namesakes for some of the characters. Book on Viator .
  • Harry Potter Tour: Walk by Edinburgh Castle, the Elephant House and more on this tour. Book on: Viator | Get Your Guide .
  • Jacobite Steam Train Experience. Take a ride on the Hogwarts Express and snap photos of Cairngorms National Park. Book on Scottish Tours .
  • Immersive Harry Potter Tour. Get quizzed on your magical knowledge while walking through Edinburgh. Book on: Viator | Get Your Guide .

You may also be interested in:

  • The Best London Tours
  • The Best Sightseeing Tours of Buckingham Palace
  • Take a Photo Tour of London
  • The Best Daytrips from London
  • The Best Scotland Tours

Tags: Tours , Travel , London

World's Best Places To Visit

  • # 1 South Island, New Zealand
  • # 4 Bora Bora

If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content.

You May Also Like

The best pigeon forge dinner shows.

Korrin Bishop April 9, 2024

brit movie tour harry potter

Flight Canceled or Delayed? What to Do

Amanda Norcross April 8, 2024

brit movie tour harry potter

Carry-on Luggage Sizes by Airline

brit movie tour harry potter

The Best Charleston Tours

John Rodwan April 4, 2024

brit movie tour harry potter

The Best Napa Valley Wine Tours

Amanda Norcross April 4, 2024

brit movie tour harry potter

The 10 Best Denver Tours

Lyn Mettler April 4, 2024

brit movie tour harry potter

Top Memorial Day Weekend Getaways

Nicola Wood April 3, 2024

brit movie tour harry potter

The Best Way to Renew a Passport

Amanda Norcross April 3, 2024

brit movie tour harry potter

The Best Checked Luggage

Erin Evans , Rachael Hood , Catriona Kendall , Sharael Kolberg , Amanda Norcross and Leilani Osmundson April 3, 2024

brit movie tour harry potter

The Best Venice Tours

Lyn Mettler and Marisa Méndez April 2, 2024

brit movie tour harry potter

Almost Ginger

  • Travel Tips
  • Czech Republic
  • Netherlands
  • Switzerland
  • Northern Ireland
  • Film Locations
  • Film Festivals
  • Where I’ve Been
  • My Bucket List
  • News & Stories
  • Work With Me
  • Freelance Services
  • Features & Press

Harry Potter Filming Locations in London: A Complete Guide

Almost Ginger blog owner at Corner of Scotland Place and Great Scotland Yard, London on a Birt Movie Tour Harry Potter Walking Tour

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read the disclaimer here .

The Harry Potter films may largely take place at Hogwarts School in the Scottish highlands, but the Harry Potter London locations are by far the most visited. Every year, thousands of Potterheads (like yourself, most likely) swarm like Cornish pixies to King’s Cross Station, London Zoo’s Reptile House and the Order of the Phoenix’s HQ.

If you’re a true Harry Potter lover, you no doubt want to make sure you visit  all  22 of the Harry Potter film locations during your visit to London. And along with the Harry Potter Studio Tour , Harry Potter and the Cursed Child performing at the Palace Theatre in the West End, London is the best place for Harry Potter fans to visit!

Here are all of the locations from Harry Potter in London, listed in the order you should visit them on a self-guided walking tour. I’d put one whole day aside if you can. I’ve also detailed the underground journeys you should take, too. Don’t worry, there are only two! And the four remaining filming locations that are a bit too far out to include in the walking tour are listed at the bottom. Everywhere is pinned on the map, too. I’ve taken care of everything because I’m nice like that, I am a Hufflepuff after all. So, let’s check out all the Harry Potter locations in London!

Harry Potter London Locations: Where was Harry Potter filmed?

Harry Potter Filming Locations in London: Step-by-Step Walking Tour

1. 28 claremont square, islington.

Which Films?  Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix  (2007) and  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1  (2010).

Which Scenes? Exterior for 11 Grimmauld Place, the Order of the Phoenix’s headquarters which is where Mad-Eye takes Harry at the beginning of in Order of the Phoenix  and Hermione, Harry and Ron’s hideout at the start of their quest in Deathly Hallows Part 1.

Just an unassuming square in North London, Claremont Square is one of the best-kept secrets in Harry Potter history. And where you should start your self-guided Harry Potter walking tour! Yes, this is the exterior of 11 Grimmauld Place. If you want to pinpoint the exact  house that stood in for the Order’s HQ, it’s N. 28.

Claremont Square in Islington, a Harry Potter London Location

2. Platform 4/5, King’s Cross Station

Which Films?   Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone  (2001),  Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets  (2002),  Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban  (2004),  Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix  (2007) and  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows  (2011).

Which Scenes?  Harry runs through the barrier of Platform 9 3/4 with the help of the Weasleys in  Philosopher’s Stone,  Harry and Ron run into the closed barrier in Chamber of Secrets , Mrs Weasley runs along the platform to hand Scabbers the rat to Ron whilst the train leaves the station in  Prisoner of Azkaban,  Harry has a vision of Voldemort whilst getting on the train in  Order of the Phoenix  and during the ’19 years later’ segment when the grown-up Hogwarts students are dropping off their children in  Deathly Hallows Part 2.

Without a doubt, one of the most popular Harry Potter locations in London! The Harry Potter train station, where the Hogwarts Express departs every year at exactly 11:00 on September 1st, is King’s Cross Station. Platform 9 3/4 may be located between platforms 9 and 10 in the film, but in reality, the scenes were shot between platforms 4 and 5.

If you want the full “ Harry Potter at King’s Cross ” experience, you can also queue (and pay) to get your photo taken at the makeshift trolley-in-the-wall. And there’s even a shop where you can buy HP branded gifts, too.

Harry Potter Platform 9 3/4 photo opportunity at King's Cross Station, London

3. St Pancras International

Which Films?  Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets  (2002) and  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2  (2011).

Which Scenes?  The exterior for King’s Cross Station where Ron and Harry steal Mr Weasley’s flying Ford Anglia car to drive to Hogwarts in  Chamber of Secrets  and also in the ’19 years later’ segment of  Deathly Hallows Part 2. 

Just around the corner from King’s Cross Station is St Pancras International , a luxury hotel as well as a country-crossing train station. I think you’ll agree it’s a much nicer exterior to King’s Cross than the real-life one is!

St Pancras International Hotel and Station, London

4. Leadenhall Market

Which Films?  Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone  (2001).

Which Scenes?  Hagrid and Harry walk through the market while reading out Harry’s Hogwarts letter in  Philosopher’s Stone.

Barely a 5-minute walk from Bank   tube station is  Leadenhall Market . Possibly the most beautiful and ornate stop on our filming locations tour?! This mostly indoor, covered market was the gorgeous location for the start of Hagrid and Harry’s back-to-school shopping trip.

Leadenhall Market in London

5. London Migraine Clinic, Bull’s Head Passage

Which Scenes?  The entrance to The Leaky Cauldron wizards pub in  Philosopher’s Stone. 

Just around the corner from where Hagrid and Harry walk through the market is the entrance to The Leaky Cauldron pub, also a doorway to the wizarding shopping street of Diagon Alley in London.

At the time, it was an abandoned building with a massive hole in the floor. So the actors couldn’t walk too far in the building during the shot. Right now, it’s London Migraine Clinic . Since the first film was released 20 years ago, it’s understandable that things have progressed!

Almost Ginger blog owner in front of London Migraine Clinic in Leadenhall Market, a Harry Potter filming location in London

6. Dean’s Staircase, St Paul’s Cathedral

Which Films?  Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban  (2004), Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire  (2005) and  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2  (2011).

Which Scenes?  The staircase to Divination class in  Prisoner of Azkaban,  the staircase in the Astronomy tower where Mad-Eye asks to talk to Neville in Goblet of Fire  and where Luna helps Harry with a Horcrux in  Deathly Hallows Part 2. 

St Paul’s Cathedral is one of the most beautiful churches in London. The Dean’s staircase within the Cathedral stood in for the winding steps to Divination as well as the astronomy tower in later films. Sadly, this staircase isn’t open to the public! So you can either marvel at the Cathedral from outside or have a nosey in, but don’t bet on seeing this Harry Potter filming location. One day maybe, one day…

St Paul's Cathedral, London

7. Millennium Bridge

Which Films?  Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince  (2007).

Which Scenes?  Death Eaters destroy this bridge at the beginning of  Half-Blood Prince. 

Just a very short walk from St Paul’s Cathedral is the Millenium Bridge , which you will need to cross anyway to continue on your tour of the Harry Potter London locations! Though not mentioned in the book, this bridge was chosen to be destroyed by Death Eaters on their rampage through London. Which is understandable, considering the locals’ love/hate relationship with it.

When the bridge opened, the first volunteers to cross the bridge were unnerved by how much it swayed and immediately ran to safety.

Millennium Bridge, London

8. River Thames

Which Films?  Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix  (2007) and  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2  (2011).

Which Scenes?  Mad-Eye Moody picks up Harry from the Dursleys and flies with him over the river to the Order’s HQ in London in  Order of the Phoenix and Hermione, Ron and Harry fly over the river on the back of Gringotts’ dragon in  Deathly Hallows Part 2. 

Of course, you’ll get a fantastic view of the River Thames from the Millenium Bridge. The Thames features in two Harry Potter films as well as some other famous landmarks along the banks such as  Tower Bridge ,  HMS Belfast and the Houses of Parliament .

What you don’t see, however, is the London Eye . The Coca Cola company that owns the London Eye wheel did not want its popular attraction to be shown out of sequence on the Broomstick flight (as it would have been) as tourists may be confused as to its location in real-life. It’s just a movie, chill.

Tower Bridge and HMS Belfast on the River Thames, London

9. El Pastor Restaurant, Borough Market

Which Films?  Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban  (2004).

Which Scenes?  The new entrance of The Leaky Cauldron wizard pub where the Knight bus drops off Harry in  Prisoner of Azkaban.

Borough Market is a great place to go in London for the best street food stalls and a variety of cuisines. It’s also a Harry Potter London location! The taco restaurant El Pastor ‘s entrance is where the Knight bus dropped Harry off and the exterior of Arthur Hooper’s top windows stood in for Harry’s room. Though the interior was shot elsewhere, you can tell because the windows are different.

El Pastor Mexican Restaurant in Borough Market, London

10. City Hall, The Queen’s Walk

Which Films?  Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince  (2009).

Which Scenes?  Workers spot something odd outside their office at the beginning of  Half-Blood Prince.

Only onscreen for a short amount of time, London’s City Hall building acted as a generic office building in the sixth Harry Potter film.

City Hall, a Harry Potter London Location

11. Australia House

Which Films?  Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone  (2001) and  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2  (2011).

Which Scenes?  Interior for Gringotts Bank when Hagrid and Harry visit Diagon Alley in  Philosopher’s Stone  and when Hermione impersonates Bellatrix Lestrange at the beginning of  Deathly Hallows Part 2.

Just a 7-minute walk from  Temple  tube station, the interior of Australia’s Embassy in London acted as the interior for Gringotts bank! It’s likely in the later films, an incredibly authentic and detailed set was used, but this location was definitely the inspiration.

Unfortunately, you won’t be able to go inside unless you have some kind of business with the Australian embassy, sorry!

Australia House, London

12. 12 Great Newport Street, Covent Garden

Which Scenes?  The new entrance to Diagon Alley where the Death Easters enter to terrorise the street at the beginning of  Half-Blood Prince. 

This is a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it location, but we are exploring  every  Harry Potter location in London, correct? A gated alley off  12 Great Newport Street  acts as another entrance to Diagon Alley. It’s small and insignificant, but hey, that’s why the muggles haven’t discovered it yet. Am I right?

Covent Garden Underground Station, London

13. London Trocadero, Great Windmill Street

Which Films?  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 (2010).

Which Scenes?  Hermione, Harry and Ron walk down this street when Hermione realises it’s Harry’s birthday in Deathly Hallows Part 1. 

London Trocadero is an indoor shopping mall and arcade, but it’s the tiled exterior next to Picturehouse Central cinema where the famous three walk after narrowly escaping Voldemort’s evil minions.

London Trocadero, a Harry Potter filming location in London

14. Piccadilly Circus, Shaftesbury Avenue

Which Films?  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1  (2010).

Which Scenes?  Hermione apparates herself, Ron and Harry, here when the Death Eaters crash Fleur and Bill’s wedding.

One of the most visited places in London  and a Harry Potter location – you may have already ticked this one off your Harry Potter bucket list without realising! Escaping the Death Eaters at The Burrow to one of the busiest places in the UK, Piccadilly Circus , is a stroke of genius on Hermione’s part.

Shaftesbury Avenue in Piccadilly Circus, a Harry Potter London Location

15. Corner of Great Scotland Yard & Scotland Place

Which Scenes?  Where the red telephone box/visitors entrance to the Ministry of Magic is when Mr Weasley escorts Harry to his hearing in Order of the Phoenix  and where Ron watches out for Ministry employees to impersonate and capture in  Deathly Hallows Part 1. 

The corner of Scotland Place and Great Scotland Yard can be a confusing filming location as there was a lot of set dressing for the films. Firstly, the red telephone box was just a film prop! It never existed in real life. And there is also a CGI bridge which makes the scene look more hidden and private than it actually is.

Check out me being a super-nerd pretending to be Ron on my Brit Movie Tours walking tour…

Corner of Scotland Place and Great Scotland Yard, London

16. Horseguard’s Avenue

Which Scenes?  A Gentleman’s toilet built in the middle of this street is the employee’s entrance to the Ministry of Magic in  Deathly Hallows Part 1. 

Just around the corner from Great Scotland Yard is Horseguard’s Avenue. Sadly, an underground men’s loo doesn’t exist in the middle of the road there in real life!

Horseguard's Avenue in London, a Harry Potter filming location

17. Westminster Tube Station

Which Films?  Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix  (2007).

Which Scenes?  Mr Weasley takes Harry on the London Underground through Westminster Tube Station for his hearing at the Ministry of Magic in  Order of the Phoenix. 

Very briefly, pop down into  Westminster tube station  (I recommend not doing so in rush hour) to see where Mr Weasley found a new muddle invention to be fascinated by.

Westminster Tube Station, London

18. Lambeth Bridge

Which Scenes?  The Knight bus squeezes between two double-decker buses on this bridge.

One of the lesser appreciated London bridges, Lambeth bridge is a 10-minute walk down the river from Westminster and the last stop of your Harry Potter London locations self-guided walking tour!

Lambeth Bridge, London

Harry Potter Filming Locations in London: Off the Beaten Path

1. reptile house, regent’s park.

Which Scenes?  When Harry and the Dursleys visit the zoo for Dudley’s birthday and Harry accidentally sets a python on him in  Philosopher’s Stone. 

Though technically in London’s city centre, I didn’t include the Reptile House in London Zoo at Regent’s Park on the walking tour because you’d probably like to spend a few hours enjoying the whole London Zoo here. It’s not exactly somewhere you can pop in and out, especially when you’re paying a ticket price.

We all know the Reptile House is a classic Harry Potter location so it’s not to be missed, you just might need to set aside an afternoon to explore it properly.

Reptile House in London Zoo, a Harry Potter Location

2. Harrow School in Harrow

Which Scenes?  Professor Flitwick’s classroom where he teaches the first-year students the Wingardium Leviosa charm in  Philosopher’s Stone. 

The famous Harrow School is roughly 45 minutes to one-hour north of London via car or public transport. So not really somewhere that’s easily accessible from the city centre! Plus, since the Harry Potter filming location is inside a working school, it’s not open to visitors. Sadly, along with the Dean’s Staircase in St Paul’s Cathedral, you may never be able to visit this location.

Harrow School, Harrow UK

3. Platform 1, Surbiton Station, Claremont Road

Which Scenes?  Harry reads a newspaper at a cafe on Platform 1 in this tube station as Dumbledore appears on Platform 3 at the beginning of  Half-Blood Prince. 

It’s fascinating why  Surbiton Station  in South London near Hampton Court Palace was chosen as a filming location instead of any of the more centrally-located tube stations. But it’s still much easier to visit than  Harrow School  or our next location in  Hampstead Garden!  It’s just a 30-minute direct journey south via South Western Railway from Waterloo Station.

Surbiton Station, London

4. 9 Heathgate, Hampstead Garden

Which Scenes?  Hermione’s childhood home where she wipes her parents’ memories at the beginning of  Deathly Hallows Part 1. 

Our final Harry Potter London location is 30-40 minutes drive north of London in an expensive London suburb, Hampstead Garden Suburb . Apparently, this was specifically built to be a diverse estate with affordable housing but is actually one of the most pricey suburbs in the country. London, eh?

Heathgate, Hampstead Garden Suburb

Join a Brit Movie Tours Harry Potter London Locations Walking Tour!

Maybe you can’t be bothered following a simple list of locations and want to join a guided Harry Potter tour of London? I can’t judge you too much, as I did the same. And though you won’t see  every  location, I absolutely recommend Brit Movie Tours Harry Potter Walking Tour of London .

The Harry Potter locations walking tour runs, at the very least, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 14:00 . In school holidays, bank holidays and between April and October it runs every day at this time. Their website states the tour lasts around 2-2.5 hours and I’d say that’s accurate, mine fell just under 2.5 hours. The tickets for adults cost £12 per person , and less for children. You will also need an oyster card/contactless card/single Zone 1 ticket for the tour.

The group size was perfect and my guide, Kathryn, was incredibly knowledgable, fun and engaged. Exactly what you’d want in a tour guide!

Top tip:  As with any walking tour, wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather! Luckily, we had a mild spring day with no rain scheduled but expect the tour to continue in rain or shine (this is England, after all). Other good things to bring would be a bottle of water and don’t expect there to be any toilet facilities either.

Brit Movie Tours guide Kathryn on a Harry Potter Walking Tour in London

Check out the Warner Bros. Harry Potter Studio Tour!

Of course, any self-respecting Harry Potter fan needs to visit the Harry Potter Studio tour in London (well, just north of London in Watford). It’s honestly the most amazing, interactive studio tour I’ve ever seen. It’s the gift that keeps on giving. I’ve written an extensive guide to everything you need to know about The Making of Harry Potter studio tour including prices, timeslots and a full breakdown of the exhibits.

If you’re not sure about visiting the studio tour  before  you read my guide, you will after! Plus, I show you how to visit an undiscovered, secret filming location just a few minutes walk from the studio tour too…

Almost Ginger blog owner with the Hogwarts Express train at the Harry Potter Studio Tour in London

And that’s my complete guide to all the Harry Potter London locations! Have you done a Harry Potter walking tour in London or planning a visit to the Harry Potter attractions in London? Let me know in the comments below!

Read more: 

Harry Potter Filming Locations in Scotland: A Complete Guide

Harry Potter Steam Train in Scotland: How to Ride AND Photograph

The Ultimate Self-Guided Harry Potter Tour of Edinburgh (11 locations)

Harry Potter Filming Locations in Yorkshire & North East England (ALL 5!)

Harry Potter Filming Locations in London: A Complete Guide | almostginger.com

Hey! I wrote this. And I'm the human (and hair) behind Almost Ginger. I live for visiting filming locations, attending top film festivals and binge-watching travel inspiring films. I'm here to inspire you to do the same! Get in touch by leaving a comment or contacting me directly: [email protected] .

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. *

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

This website uses cookies to improve your browsing experience and analyze the use of the website. Learn More

Company Logo - Home Link

Harry Potter Walking Tour London

brit movie tour harry potter

Whether you received your invitation to Hogwarts or not, everybody knows the magical world of Harry Potter.

Not only does Harry journey to and through London throughout the 8 movies, but most were filmed right here in the capital of the U.K.! 

Your expert guide will take you through London, pointing out sites and locations from the Harry Potter film series. We offer Harry Potter Tours both on foot and via Black Cab so read below to find out more!

Patrick H.

VIEW OUR FULL SCHEDULE OF FREE LONDON TOURS HERE

Searching Availability...

  • You can take this tour anytime with our  GPS-enabled audio tour app .

Come follow in the footsteps of the world’s most famous wizard on our Harry Potter Tour!

Always enchanting, often interesting, and each one easy to get to, what follows is a guide to the real-life counterparts of many of the magical locations you have seen on the big screen.

See the buildings that contain the Ministry of Magic, walk through the Underground barriers Harry and Arthur Weasley traveled through on their visit to London, stand on the bridge blown up by Death Eaters, and walk through the real Diagon Alley!

You'll also get a chance to see the grandiose 'Palace Theatre', now home to the 8th installment of the Harry Potter series- 'Harry Potter & the Cursed Child'.  Tickets?

The tour will be filled with fun facts and film references, and take you into London's theatre-land, across to London's Southbank, or through its labyrinthine Old City - depending on the day.

Free Harry Potter Tour London

The journey will take you on foot and also via the London Underground.

Sites Visited On The Harry Potter Walking Tour 

  • Westminster Tube (closest tube to the Ministry of Magic as seen in The Order of the Phoenix)
  • Cecil's Court (aka Diagon Alley)
  • St. Paul’s (Geometrical Staircase as seen in the Prisoner of Azkaban)*
  • Godwin’s Court (aka Knockturn Alley)
  • The Palace Theatre (home to the ‘The Cursed Child' - the 8th story in the Harry Potter franchise) - Tickets *
  • Horseguards Avenue (Ministry of Magic Staff Entrance as seen in Deathly Hallows Part 1)
  • Millennium Bridge (rebuilt after the attack by the Death Eaters! (then a walk past Shakespeare's globe) 
  • Scotland Yard Place/Horse Guards Avenue (Ministry of Magic Visitors entrance as seen in the Order of the Phoenix and Deathly Hallows Part 1)
  • Trafalgar Square (Location of the final Harry Potter film premiere)
  • Downing Street (Muggle Prime Minister's Office and location of communication between the Muggle PM and the wizarding world) Note: Depending on your guide and the day/time, the tour will finish at either Leadenhall Market or Borough Market (both sites have been used as the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron (as seen in the Philosopher's Stone and Prisoner of Azkaban onwards respectively.)

*Please note that though we do stop at St. Paul's Cathedral and the Palace Theatre, we do not go inside.

Palace Theatre London Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Tour Information

Reservations:  

For groups of up to 5,  click here to reserve . If your group is 6 or more, please check out our  private tours  page or contact us.

Where :  

Meet your guide outside Costa Coffee opposite London Bridge Station.

From London Bridge Station, take the exit for "Borough Market" and cross the street. ( MAP )

brit movie tour harry potter

The tour ends near Parliament Square and Whitehall.

Duration:  

Approximately 2.5 hours.

  • Wednesdays and Saturdays at 14:00 (2:00 pm)

This tour is free to take, and you get to decide what, if anything, the tour was worth when it's done.

A  name-your-own-price tour  is a tour for anyone's budget.

  • Self-Guided Tour
  • Warner Bros. Studio Tours
  • Other Harry Potter Tours
  • Harry Potter Tours Beyond London
  • Harry Potter Tours (Edinburgh)

HARRY POTTER BLACK CAB TOUR

brit movie tour harry potter

Our friends at London Black Cab Tours can show you all the London Harry Potter sites you won't want to miss, all while being chauffeured in the comfort of an iconic black London Taxi!

This 4-hour tour will take you to iconic filming sites like Diagon Alley and the Leaky Cauldron as well as giving you fascinating trivia about the movies from your knowledgable guides.

To find out more or to book one of these tours, contact our London Manager: [email protected]

SELF-GUIDED TOUR

If you can't make our tour, don't worry! You can use this guide below to Potter locations in London.

Or you can try our  GPS-led audio tour , which you can take any time you wish. Here's a sample.

So whether you’ve memorized the books, seen the films, or proudly own every bit of Potter paraphernalia around – join us as we dive into the magical world of Harry Potter!

This particular route will focus on film sites to the north part of London, so grab your travelcard, lace up your trainers (or grab your broom!) and follow us! 

We also have a guide to Harry Potter locations  across London, which includes many more places for you to visit.

Click here for our full interactive tour map .

The tour starts at Liverpool Street Station

Take the Exit for Bishopsgate and when you step out of the station, turn RIGHT onto Bishopsgate.

Continue walking in this direction until you reach Leadenhall Street and turn LEFT.

Take the first RIGHT into Leadenhall Market. For directions from each stop, use the map or audio tour.

1. Leadenhall Market -  Diagon Alley/Leaky Cauldron 1

Harry Potter London Leadenhall

Leadenhall Market has sat in this location since the 14th century ( map )!

However, most of what you can see today dates from the late 1800s and served as another filming location for Diagon Alley and the Leaky Cauldron.

In Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, this is the location that was used for the filming of Diagon Alley. In fact, at 42 Bull’s Head Passage you will spot a storefront for an optician.

However, this shop front – painted blue – was used to serve as the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron in the first Harry Potter film.  

Read our full post on finding the real Diagon Alley in London .

2. Borough Market, 7A Stoney Street Diagon Alley/Leady Cauldron 2 

London borough market Harry Potter Tour

In the muggle world, this shop is a charming florist with a prime location in the historic and popular Borough Market ( map ).

But in the world of Harry Potter, this is actually the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron, as seen in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

It is just outside of this shop that the Knight Bus slams to a halt and drops Harry off (via Palmers Green and Lambeth) just outside the pub on Diagon Alley, setting off a car alarm in the process!

The interior shots of the Leaky Cauldron were filmed on a soundstage, however, so it’s just the facade that was used during filming.  See our full post on Harry Potter in Borough Market  as well as finding the real Diagon Alleys .

While you are here, take our self-guided food tour to fill up your belly.

3. Millennium Bridge - Site of Death Eater Attack 

Watch out for Death Eaters as you make your way from the north to the south bank of the River Thames over the Millennium Bridge ( map ).

Originally intended to be opened in the year 2000, the bridge was not structurally sound and it had to be closed for a further 2 more years.

From 2002 it remained in place, spanning the river until a gang of Death Eaters battled on top of it and completely destroyed the entire structure!

Well…in the Harry Potter universe that is.

This bridge served as one of the scenes of the dramatic air-borne broomstick battle in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince .

Learn more with our full post on the Millennium Bridge .

4.  Australia House Gringotts Bank

The longest continuously occupied diplomatic mission in the U.K., (built entirely with marble shipped all the way from Australia), Australia House served as the setting for Gringotts Wizarding Bank ( map ).

Unlike other sites on this tour, it is the interior of this building that was where scenes were filmed for  Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone . 

It's here that Hagrid takes Harry to the wizarding bank for the first time.  

The scene was filmed in Australia House's Exhibition Room which is, unfortunately, not open to the public.

A polite word with the security officers at the door may reward you with a peek through the windows, but this is not always guaranteed.

5. Lincoln’s Inn Fields - Number 12 Grimmauld Place 1

A charming square with buildings now occupied by lawyers and surgeons, many believe that Lincoln’s Inn Fields holds the inspiration for the outside of Number 12 Grimmauld Place ( map ).

Muggles may have trouble viewing the house, of course, since there are a number of charms placed on it to protect its’ exact location.

However, if you take a look near number 13 you may just see a glimmer out of the corner of your eye that will clue you into the houses’ precise location.

6. Piccadilly Circus - Where the Trio Go On the Run

On the run from Death Eaters at Bill and Fleur’s wedding in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows , Harry, Ron, and Hermione apparate straight to central London.

In the books, they arrive on Tottenham Court Road and go into a nearby restaurant.

For the Deathly Hallows Part, I film, however, the trio turns up right in front of a passing No. 19 bus in the middle of Piccadilly Circus ( map ).

Hermione tells us “I used to come here with Mum and Dad".

They arrive at night with Piccadilly’s world-famous electric lights on display which lend a little magic of their own to this popular London destination!

Just off Piccadilly Circus up Shaftesbury Avenue, you can spot a row of stone pillars that the trio walks past as Hermione explains to the boys where they are.

Somewhere along this road is the cafe where the trio stops to have a rest and ends up in a violent duel with Death Eaters…so mind your step!

7. Cecil Court and Goodwin’s Court - The inspiration for Diagon Alley? Or…the REAL Diagon Alley? 

Harry Potter London Cecil Court

A small alleyway just off the bustling Charing Cross Road, Cecil Court is believed by many to have been the inspiration for Diagon Alley ( map ). 

The Court here is lined with original Victorian shop fronts and sells a wide variety of antique books, with a few shops fittingly providing a supply of books on the subject of magic!

In fact, the first shop on the right is actually called The Witch Ball !

On Cecil Court, you will also find Watkins Books which claims to be the oldest occultist and mystical bookshop in the entire world!

Harry Potter fans with an eagle eye may also spot a large display of Gringotts banknotes located in one of the shop windows here.

It is safe to say that Cecil Court has a touch of magic to it, easily believable as the entrance into Harry’s world on Diagon Alley.

Goodwin’s Court is much smaller and the buildings are kind of wonky – giving it a surreal feeling.

It’s easy to imagine that this little courtyard path could be an entrance into Harry’s magical world.

Because of this, many people believe that this is the exact place Rowling was trying to recreate in the Potter books.

Harry and Hagrid walk down Charing Cross Road itself in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone .

Whilst Harry is on the Knight Bus in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban he travels down Charing Cross, and Ministry cars drive down the road in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

TIP: Read our full post on finding the real Diagon Alleys

8. Trafalgar Square - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II Film Premiere 

Admiral Nelson trafalgar square

It was here in Trafalgar Square ( map)  on the 7 th of July 2011 that the final Harry Potter film began its premiere celebrations.

On a huge stage erected near Nelson’s Column stood Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, J. K. Rowling, and dozens of others who spoke to the crowd of thousands.

From the Square, the cast and Rowling herself then walked the world’s longest red carpet to Leicester Square where the film debuted simultaneously at three different cinemas!

Trafalgar Square is also glimpsed during the opening flight battle of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince as the Death Eaters fly over central London.

9. Old Scotland Yard - The Ministry of Magic 

Scotland Yard

Home to muggle politicians, both Whitehall and Great Scotland Yard (map) was used to represent the magical counterpart of our muggle organizations.

Here you will find the exteriors used for the Ministry of Magic during filming for the Polyjuice potion scenes in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Shots taken here are also used for the trip that Mr. Weasley and Harry Take in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

In the books and the films, there is a red telephone box outside the Ministry of Magic that wizards use to access the Ministry. 

From the phone box, one must dial ‘62442’ and the phone booth acts as a lift, taking visitors down underneath the ground to the Ministry.

The red phone box used in the film was actually a prop brought in specifically for shooting so sadly, no journeys to the Ministry can be made any longer!

10. Number 10 Downing Street - Direct link to the Minister for Magic 

It is inside the Prime Minister’s office at Number 10 Downing Street ( map ) that the first chapter of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince takes place.

It is revealed that there is a portal from the wizarding world to that of the muggle world so that the Prime Minister of the U.K. and the Minister for Magic can occasionally speak.

It is also here that Kingsley Shacklebolt works during his time as bodyguard to the Muggle Prime Minister.

brit movie tour harry potter

11. Westminster Underground Station - Tube Station for Ministry of Magic 

It's the Westminster Underground Station that Mr. Weasley and Harry go to when visiting the Ministry of Magic in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix .

At the station, ( map ) Mr. Weasley struggles at the barriers, not sure how to work the exits properly – much like many of us during our first visit to London!

For the filming of this scene, Westminster Underground Station was closed for an entire day (a very rare occurrence)!

12. No. 23–29 Claremont Square (No. 12 Grimmauld Place 2)  

Tucked away on an unassuming street in Islington lies Claremont Square ( map ), the location of Sirius Black’s familial residence, Number 12 Grimmauld Place.

The house eventually is inherited by Harry and used as the headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix.

This square was used for filming Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows . 

The muggles that live in the square have long come to accept the mistake in numbering the buildings here, with 11 and 13 being right next to each other.

Don’t feel bad if you can’t spot Number 12, it’s kept under wraps by the Fidelius Charm, meaning only Secret-Keepers can access the building.

13. Kings Cross (Platform 9 ¾)

Every Potterhead knows that Platform 9 ¾ is the location of Kings Cross Station ( map ) that the Hogwarts Express departs from (on the 1st of September every year).

In fact, the very final scene in the last book/film is set right here on the most famous train platform in the world.

For Harry Potter fans, a visit to London wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Kings Cross – and the station does not disappoint.

Now, owing to the layout of the station, it’s not actually possible to pass through a barrier between platforms 9 and 10.

First, for the muggles among us, we would never be able to see it. The second, and the more likely reason, is that there is no actual barrier between the two platforms.

Fret not, however, as the designers of the new Kings Cross Station have got us covered, having installed an entrance to Platform 9 ¾ around the corner from the platforms being used for other railway traffic.

Luckily for us, the Ministry of Magic has come up with a clever way to allow visitors to experience the magic of Platform 9 ¾.

It is here that they have frozen a luggage trolley partially the way through the magical barrier.

Those of us who have sought out the platform will be rewarded with an opportunity to get our photographs taken right outside the barrier.

Find out even more by reading our detailed blog post .

TIP:  Next to the photo opportunity is the fabulous Platform 9 ¾ Shop , filled with sweets and scarves, wands and wizards, books, and bludgers! 

THE TOUR ENDS HERE AT KINGS CROSS STATION

Optional stop – london zoo ( m ap ).

In the book Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone , it is a local zoo that Harry is taken to for his cousin Dudley’s 11 th birthday.

At the zoo, Harry comes face-to-face (literally!) when the glass separating him from a boa constrictor disappears and the snake spills out onto the floor.

Harry accidentally causes the removal of the glass as well as speaking to the snake in the rare language known as parseltongue (although Harry has no idea about this until much later on in the series).

It is the reptile house at the London Zoo that was used during the filming of this scene. This has led many people to – incorrectly – assume the Dudley family had taken Harry to London Zoo.

However, when Harry travels to Diagon Alley with Hagrid for the first time, Harry tells him that he has never been to London before, which means the zoo must’ve been somewhere else.

The actual tank used for filming currently holds a black mamba, although in the film the snake is said to be a Burmese python, with a strange departure from the original text.

For those who have made the effort to both get to the zoo and pay for entry, you will be rewarded with a small plaque placed inside the Reptile enclosure that commemorates the spot where the actual filming took place.

Be sure to read our detailed post on  Harry Potter locations throughout London .

HARRY POTTER WARNER BROS STUDIO TOURS

It's easy to get to Warner Brothers Film Studios in Leavesden, a 200-acre complex where all the Harry Potter movies were filmed.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour: The Making of Harry Potter

It’s a 20-minute train from London’s Euston Station to the Watford Junction railway station where you can catch a Harry Potter shuttle bus to the Warner Bros. Studio.

The Harry Potter studio tour starts with a live guide introduction to the Harry Potter theme and then guests are brought to the sets.

From there it’s a self-guided experience through the two sound stages and outside lot.

If you choose to go it alone, you will probably want to rent a digital guide for £4.95 for a richer experience. Not including travel time, plan on spending about 3 hours at the studios.

When: Tours run almost every day of the year. The first tour and last tour of the day depending on the date, so check their calendar.  Note: Tickets must be purchased in advance and are not sold at the Studio. 

This ticket does not include transportation from London with return (see below).

  • Free – 4 and under
  • £47 – Adult (16+ years)
  • £38 – Child (5-15 years and must be accompanied by an adult)
  • £56.95 – Complete Studio Tour Package Adult
  • £47.95 – Complete Studio Tour Package Child
  • £150 – Family Package (includes either two adults with two children or one adult with three children).

Find out more here to purchase tickets .

Warner Bros. Studio Tour: The Making of Harry Potter – Dedicated tour Guide and transportation included

There are several tour operators that offer packages that include your ticket to the studio with timed entry and also transportation from London by coach or train.

Typically, these tours cost approximately £86 per person (less for children). Some of these companies play Harry Potter movies on the bus ride to warm you up for your studio visit.

For die-hard Harry Potter fans, this might be the way for you to go.

Included in the price:

  • admission with the timed entry
  • dedicated studio tour guide
  • headsets when appropriate
  • transportation to and from the meeting point in Central London
  • one butterbeer per guest. 

When: check their calendar for availability. 

  • £85 - Adult (age 16+)
  • £75- Child (age 5-15)
  • £40 - Infant (age 3-4)
  • Free - 2 and under
  • More information and to book here

Tip: Book at least a month in advance as this tour sells out quickly.

OTHER HARRY POTTER LONDON TOURS

Below are a schedule and description of various free and paid Harry Potter London walking tours. We also list bus and taxi tours. 

TIP: If you are considering purchasing a multi-day, hop-on, hop-off bus ticket, keep in mind that Big Bus Tours offers a free, daily Harry Potter Walking Tour with any 2 or 3-day ticket.

Harry Potter Walking Tour  by Brit Movie Tours

This tour covers all the major sites and is 2.5 hours long.

  • Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 2 pm (Jan – Dec)
  • Daily at 2 pm (School Holidays and 1 Jun – 30 Sep)

Cost: £15 - Adult | £10 - Child (under 16)

This tour is offered at 20% off if you purchase the London Pass .

Harry Potter Bus Tour by Brit Movie Tours 

This 2.5-3 hour bus tour features many of the film locations and inspirations from all 8 films in the series.

Some of the stops include Kings Cross Station, 12 Grimmauld Place, and the sites used for the Leaky Cauldron.

There is also an opportunity at the end of the tour to buy  Harry Potter  merchandise.

When: at 2 pm on the below days

  • Wednesdays (during School Holidays and Feb- Oct)
  • Thursdays (during School Holidays and Jul-Aug)
  • Fridays (during School Holidays and Jul-Aug)
  • Saturdays (Jan-Dec)
  • Sundays (during School Holidays and Apr-Oct)

Cost: £30 - Adult | £21 - Child (under 16)

Muggles Tours

This 2 ½ hour guided walking tour has excellent reviews on TripAdvisor. The company that operates this tour does nothing else but Harry Potter tours – that’s how good they are!

Group size is limited to no more than 20 muggles. This tour is a great value and family-friendly!

When: These tours run almost every day most mornings and afternoons, but be sure to check their calendar of tour dates.

Cost: £18.36 Adult | £12.75 Child (11 and under)

Note: You will need to purchase a ticket for the London Underground as the tour travels by tube from Westminster to King's Cross.

London Walks

London Walks offers 2 Harry Potter tours, each covering a different part of London.

On the London Town tour, you’ll see the entrance to the Ministry of the Magic, the flight path of Death-Eaters, and other movie sites around the River Thames, Trafalgar Square, and Piccadilly Circus.

The City tour includes sites like Diagon Alley and the locations used for the Leaky Cauldron as well as some famous London sites not part of the movies, like the 'Gherkin' and St. Paul's Cathedral.

When: London Town tour on Saturdays at 2 pm, The City tour on Wednesdays and Sundays at 2 pm

  • £15 - adults
  • £10 - super adults (65+)
  • £5 - children, under 8 free

Harry Potter Bus Tour of London  

This is run by Brit Tours and is a 2½-3 hour tour that is twice the price of their walking tour, but perfect for rainy days or for those who want to relax and enjoy the comfort of their luxury mini-bus to see many of the same sites listed above.

There are opportunities to get off the bus and take pictures as well. Guides are enthusiastic and informative.

When:  at 2 pm on the following days

Schedule changes seasonally so be sure to check their calendar.

Cost: Adult (13 years+): £30 | Children (under 13): £21

Harry Potter Film Location Tours by Taxi

London Taxi offers a small group tour in a 6-seater taxi. The flat rate for the tour is £260 for 3 hours, so if your group is 6 people, you’ll pay £43.33 per person.

That may sound like a lot but you are picked up and dropped off at your hotel (that saves you public transport money for 6 people!).

The taxis are air-conditioned in the summer and the fleet is made up mostly of the new Mercedes London taxi which is also wheelchair accessible.

When: Contact them about your desired date.

Cost: £290 flat for 4 hours, £490 flat for 8 hours, maximum of 6 people.

HARRY POTTER-THEMED HOTEL 

At the Georgian House Hotel in London, Potter fans can stay in wizard-themed rooms. You can't book the rooms online, rather you need to contact the hotel for a quote.

Call them at 0(207) 834 1438 and/or email: [email protected] .  

The reviews on TripAdvisor concern the Wizard Rooms are generally very positive and a recurring comment is that these rooms are a real treat for fans.

RELATED POSTS

  • Harry Potter Musical
  • Things to Do in London

Choose a Destination... I want them all PLUS general travel tips. Amsterdam Berlin Boston Charleston Chicago Dubai Lisbon London Los Angeles Miami Nashville New York City New Orleans Paris Philadelphia Prague Rome San Francisco Washington DC

About The Author

brit movie tour harry potter

North America

United kingdom & ireland, middle east & india, asia & oceania.

Brit Movie Tours

Brit Movie Tours

  • Tours & cruises
  • Cute Star Icon Book your slot!

Booking required

What you'll do.

London has been home to some of the biggest moves on the silver screen, and with Brit Movie Tours, you can discover locations from some of your favourite flicks.

Enjoy Brit Movie Tours with The London Pass®

  • Pay nothing, simply book ahead and show your pass when you arrive.
  • An experienced guide will take you on a tour of London's most famous movie sets.
  • Learn all about the rich movie history of the capital.

Take a step on set with Brit Movie Tours. See sets and locations from some world-renowned movies like Love Actually, Harry Potter, and TV shows like Sherlock and Dr. Who. An expert guide will give you the low down on what took place at each location, including behind-the-scenes tidbits to impress your colleagues at work. And with so many different genres on offer, there is bound to be a Brit Movie Tour just for you.

About Brit Movie Tours

Founded in 2009, Brit Movie Tours has quickly become the premier provider of Film and TV sightseeing tours in the UK, and one of the leading specialist tour operators in the country. Brit Movie Tours educate, entertain and appeal to all ages and upbringings, and reach more than 45,000 customers every year.

Brit Movie Tours highlights

Harry Potter Walking Tour of London The magical world of wizardry awaits on a Harry Potter Walking Tour of London! Thanks to your guide learned in the muggle and wizarding world, you'll get to see lots of locations from the Harry Potter movies, like the Ministry of Magic and the Leaky Cauldron, and learn lots of amazing facts about the books too.

You will also see iconic London landmarks like the Tate Modern, Millenium Bridge, and St Paul's Cathedral. And while you won't visit Platform 9 3/4, your guide can tell you how to get there from the end of the tour.

Sherlock Holmes Walking Tour of London Don your best investigator's hat, whip out your magnifying glass, and prepare yourself for a detective jaunt through London on the Sherlock Holmes Walking Tour. Would-be detectives will explore real sites that inspired Arthur Conan Doyle's stories, as well as locations that have featured in many different Sherlock Holmes adaptations on the big and smaller screen.

You'll meet your tour guide at the very spot Holmes and Watson first met, and then be taken around a multitude of locations like clubs and hotels that featured in the books. And of course, you'll have lots of opportunities for photos throughout.

James Bond Walking Tour of London Step into the world of James Bond and discover where some of his screen adventures have taken place.

This 2 1/2 hour walking tour through Westminster explores more than 15 filming locations from the 007 movies including London's oldest restaurant, Mi6, the HQ of Universal Exports, sites from the latest movie No Time to Die, and much more.

Paddington Bear Walking Tour The bear from Peru is famous the world over and now you can follow in his pawsteps on the only OFFICIAL walking tour of Paddington locations.

The walking tour starts at Paddington Station where he first arrives in London and takes you on a journey through areas of London visiting sites from the movies and books. Your expert guide will share anecdotes and fascinating information about Paddington making it a great day out for both kids and adults.

London Film Walk Take a 2-hour walk around the City of London on this exciting London Film Walk! Guided by local film buffs and enthusiasts, you will see over 30 different film locations in the City of London.

As you visit each of the locations that have featured in well-known movies, you'll see how London has played host to lots of much-loved children’s characters. You’ll see where Winnie the Pooh played nap time and where Mary Poppins and the Banks children tried to save their home. You’ll hear how it was impossible to keep it a secret when the Muppets came to London and how large crowds gathered to catch a glimpse of the famous frog when Kermit bravely broke into the Tower of London! The tour takes in locations from Paddington Bear and The Minions, as well as action-packed heroes including Spiderman, The Mummy, and Men In Black: International.

Jack the Ripper Walking Tour Explore how an Autumn of Terror can still send a shiver down your spine to this very day... The discovery of a body on a night in 1888 in London’s East End set in motion one of the most famous manhunts in criminal history.  For over 120 years, Ripperologists and amateur sleuths have been trying (and failing) to discover the identity of the man known as Jack the Ripper!

Don't miss

Brit Movie Tours has a range of tours on offer, including:

  • Bridget Jones Walking Tour
  • Doctor Who Walking Tour of London
  • Downton Abbey Walking Tour
  • Harry Potter Walking Tour of London
  • Jack the Ripper Walking Tour
  • James Bond Walking Tour of London
  • Killing Eve Tour
  • London Film Walk
  • Love Actually Tour with Last Christmas, Notting Hill & Four Weddings Locations
  • Mary Poppins Tour
  • Notting Hill Tour of RomCom Locations
  • Paddington Bear Walking Tour
  • Sherlock Holmes Walking Tour of London
  • Superhero London Tour

For more information on each tour, visit the  official Brit Movie Tours  page.

Well worth the money! We bought a six-day pass, including an Underground pass, and used it every day we were in London. In fact, I calculated that we would have spent more on getting into places and using the Tube, than the pass cost. The pass book, listing where it could be used, was invaluable and pointed us to places, like Benjamin Franklin's home, we wouldn't have visited otherwise. I'll get a London pass again, next time I visit! Sally Young from the USA

Know before you go

This attraction requires advanced booking.

Getting in: present your pass and tour confirmation to the guide.

Please note: under 18s must be accompanied by an adult.

Where you'll be

Map of location of attraction

Business address:, 7 Bell Yard, Holbron, London, GB

Operating hours

Start times and locations vary depending on each tour. Please check the  official attraction website  for up-to-date information.

+44 (0)844 2471 007

Buy with confidence

Free cancellation.

Plans can change, we get it. All non-activated credits packages are eligible for a refund within 90 days of your purchase date.

Got a question?

Check out our FAQs or live chat with our customer service agents now

Why choose The London Pass®?

Big savings, bucket-list experiences, all in one place, sign up now for an exclusive discount.

Join our mailing list and receive a 5% discount code straight away! Plus, you'll be the first to receive future offers, trip inspiration and so much more!

  • Thick check Icon By signing up, you agree to receiving email updates in accordance with The London Pass’s privacy policy . We do not sell your personal data.

World Travel Family

Harry Potter Sites in London on a Brit Movie Tour

This post may contain affiliate links.

London harry potter sites

There are many and diverse Harry Potter tours and experiences in and around London and throughout the UK. Several companies offer these tours including the one we used here and a big selection of Harry Potter tours on GetYourGuide. Alternatively,  you can use the information below to create your own Harry Potter tour in London.

More Useful Harry Potter in London Information and FAQs

Can you visit these Harry Potter places in London independently? Yes, you can, for sure. Just bring your walking legs and a local street map. Probably buy the Londoner’s Bible, an A-Z ). If you read the full body of the post below you’ll find out where all these places are.

Is it a better idea to take a Harry Potter tour? Tours are fun. Tours are easy. We like tours and take them often, they also save you time. Your guide will be knowledgeable and entertaining, everything will run smoothly and it’s more of an event than just going to look at these places solo. Spending a few hours with other Harry Potter fans is fun too. There are various options, take a look at a basic Harry Potter walking tour here , this one includes Platform 9 3/4. The company we link to is the one we use when booking tours all over the world. We trust them. If you’d rather walk less you can also take a Harry Potter tour that includes a comfortable vehicle .

Places to Visit on a Harry Potter Tour of London

Where is the Harry Potter Warner Bros Studios and how to get there? It’s not in London, it’s a fair way out of town and isn’t the easiest place to get to. Tickets MUST be booked in advance because visitors have a time slot and it gets very, very busy. Is it worth going? It is AMAZING! My kids are begging to go again.

Where else in the UK can a see Harry Potter movie locations? Scotland and Oxford have Harry Potter tours and attractions too.

Where should we stay in London?

I’m only in the UK for a day at the end of my cruise to Dover, can I fit in a Harry Potter Studios Tour? Yes, this is crazy, but a special tour exists that takes cruise passengers from their ship, to the Harry Potter studios, then onto Heathrow. How cool!

Can I hire or rent a car and self-drive to Harry Potter Warner Bros Studios? Of course and this is how we got to the Warner Bros studios. If you’re starting your journey in Central London be sure you can handle our crazy traffic and that you know where you’re going.

What Else Should I Do During My Time in London? A hop-on hop-off bus tour is a great way to see the sites! We love the London Eye and right behind there is a great aquarium. London Zoo is superb and then you have the famous London Dungeons (older kids only). Of course, you must see the changing of the guard, wander the South Bank and explore London’s beautiful parks. Then there are the museums. London is just superb!

If you’re planning a trip to London, why not sign up here and we’ll email you everything you need to know about London and the UK. We’re Londoners!

We were invited along by Brit Movie Tours to try out their Harry Potter tour and tell you all about it.  They run tours all over the UK, Doctor Who in Cardiff ( see our Whovian Cardiff post here) Downton Abbey in Oxfordshire, Game of Thrones in Belfast, TOWIE in Essex, and more besides. We picked Harry Potter, I hoped it was something we’d all enjoy. I say we, son 1 is the Potter head, son 2 is a Whovian. He sported a face like Moaning Myrtle for the entire afternoon making my life painful, but this is real-life family travel, not a fairy tale.

Harry Potter Movie Tour and Harry Potter Sites in London

 Harry Potter sites in London, Australia house harry potter tour London

  • The tour is suitable for children and adults, does not require much walking and you don’t have to be a complete Potter head to enjoy it. I wouldn’t recommend it for very young children.
  • There are no big “wow” sights on the tour, just a series of kinda-cool locations. There is nothing as awe-inspiring as opening the doors to the Hogwarts Great Hall or strolling down Diagon Alley, for those you need to visit Warner Bros Studios, just outside London.

harry potter sites london

Most of the Harry Potter sites on the tour you would pass a million times and have no idea they were used in the movies. Luckily, our guide came with in-bus video and a series of still photos to refresh our memories.

You could use this tour as a way of seeing London’s major sites in comfort, the bus took us past many of London’s most famous landmarks and into some interesting areas including the South Bank, Borough Market and Leadenhall Market. It was very pleasant indeed to be chauffeur-driven around London in a small bus.

Borough Market is one of our favourite parts of London, we recommend it highly for visitors, click through to read more from us.

Harry Potter Sites in London Death Eater Bridge

Gringotts Bank is the first stop of the tour, in the form of Australia House . The actual building looks nothing like the bank in the film, but if you have time, walk up here before your tour starts and take a look through the glass in the doors, you’ll be looking into Gringotts, minus the goblins.

The magic of the movies in transforming bricks and mortar is interesting to see, locations are chosen for their useability as well as their appearance. Even huge-budget movies can’t pay to close Oxford St so many of the locations are back roads that are easy to close off to traffic, the same London sites feature in multiple films because of this.

harry potter sites London

This is a hop off tour, where possible you can get off the bus, wander around and take photos, your guide will point out some of the finer details.

You could never drive around London and park at these places, you’d have to devote a lot of time into finding them all and visit on foot and by public transport. This 2-3 hour tour does all the hard work for you.

Harry Potter Sites London Leaky Cauldron

The tour finishes with a visit to Platform 9 3/4 at Kings Cross station. We’d already been along to check out that particular site and thought it was great. Ignore the stinking reviews you find online!

We were guests on this tour, but all views are, as always, our own. You can find further information on this Harry Potter movie tour by clicking through.

We have been travelling with our kids, full-time since 2012. Sign up to get family travel updates and ideas on living and financing life differently.

If you’re visiting our home city from overseas, you’ll need a guide book, we recommend Lonely Planet UK.

Welcome to our home city! We hope you have a fabulous time in London. Despite our globe trotting ways London holds our hearts. If you’d like to sign up below we can email you everything you need to plan your time in London and the UK. Be sure to see all these Harry Potter locations and do the studio tour, then, maybe, think about heading to Scotland for “The Hogwarts Express” or Oxford for more Harry Potter magic.

  • Facebook 455
  • Pinterest 61608

If you'd like to hire a car during your stay, use this car rental comparison tool to find the best deal! We also suggest you take a look at this company to get a quote for all kinds of the more tricky adventure or extended travel insurance. Try Stayz / VRBO for an alternative way to find rentals on homes/apartments/condos in any country!

Related Posts:

Tide Tables Cafe on the Thames at Richmond

Alyson Long

Thailand with kids. no worries, travel essentials, 2 thoughts on “harry potter sites in london on a brit movie tour”.

Do you mean Kings Cross Station rather than Charring Cross. If it ended at the latter I would ask for my money back.

Leave a comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Brit Movie Tours – Warner Bros Studio Tour Bus...

Sat, December 30, 2023 - Sun, December 31, 2023 (7:30 am - 4:00 pm) Europe/London

Dion Experiences

  • Game Of Thrones / House Of The Dragon
  • Harry Potter
  • Immersive Experiences & Theatre
  • Metaverse & VR
  • Conventions, Parties & Exhibitions
  • Film Locations, Holiday & Travel
  • Kids Events
  • Activities & Film Tours
  • Special Screenings & Pop up cinema
  • Film Auctions & Cast Events
  • Music From Movies
  • Themed & Immersive Meals & Bars

Brit Movie Tours – Warner Bros Studio Tour Bus – The Making of Harry Potter with Return Transfers

Brit Movie Tours – Warner Bros Studio Tour Bus – The Making of Harry Potter with Return Transfers

Description, about brit movie tours.

Brit Movie Tours is the premier provider of Film and TV location sightseeing tours in London and the UK. We operate bus, walking and small vehicle tours in various locations throughout the UK including London, Cardiff, Leeds, Liverpool, Bristol, Edinburgh and Belfast.

Our tours feature locations from some of the biggest TV and film brands on both the small and big screen. Our tours educate, entertain and appeal to visitors of all ages, nationalities and interests bringing movies and TV shows to life. Founded in 2009 by Lewis Swan, Brit Movie Tours has quickly become one of the leading specialist tour operators in the UK.

We have a safe and secure website, get great reviews on Trip Advisor and are passionate about customer care.  We serve more than 45,000 customers (comprising tourists from dozens of countries around the world and UK locals) each year.

Some of our most popular tours include:  Harry Potter London Bus Tour ,  Downton Abbey and Village Tour ,  Game of Thrones Tour Belfast , the  Emmerdale Classic Locations Bus Tour  and  Paddington Bear Tour of London .

Warner Bros Studio Tour Bus – The Making of Harry Potter with Return Transfers

Your day trip to the Warner Bros Studio Tour London begins with departure from either Victoria / Baker Street or Kings Cross for the 60 minute drive to Leavesden in Hertfordshire, where the studio is located. This tour is ideal for fans of Harry Potter. Step off your Warner Bros Studio Tour Bus and head inside the studio tour to immerse yourself into the world of Harry Potter. The Warner Bros Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter allows you to walk around the studio independently and see the actual sets used in the Harry Potter movies, including the Great Hall and the Hogwarts office.

Check out the storefronts of Ollivanders wand shop, Gringotts Wizarding Bank, Flourish and Blotts, Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, and Eeylops Owl Emporium as you explore Diagon Alley, pretending that Harry, Hermione and Ron are walking alongside you. Learn about the magical special effects and makeup artistry that helped bring spells and much-loved characters like Dobby to the screen, and see the actual costumes and props used by the actors themselves.

Throughout the Warner Bros Studio Tour London, there will be photo opportunities aplenty so make sure you bring your camera.

Your studio experience includes Platform 9 ¾, where you can get an intimate up-close view of the original Hogwarts Express train, whose 78-year-old engine billows steam.

You will also get to explore the interior of Gringotts Wizarding Bank and have a photo opportunity inside the Lestrange vault.

Following all the excitement of your tour of the magic of moviemaking, you will then be taken back to where you departed from in central London by Warner Bros Studio Tour Bus to finish your magical day.

Special Events for 2022

Friday 23rd September – Sunday 6th November The Dark Arts feature will return for Hallowe’en in 2022 with the Great Hall ceiling decorated with over 100 floating pumpkins as well as a spooky feast of lollipops and red apples dressed along the tables. Follow the Dark Mark trail, try their wand combat moves against Death Eaters in a live duel as they storm the Studio Tour, all before walking down a darker Platform 9 ¾ and a spookier Diagon Alley.

Hogwarts in the Snow

Saturday 12th November 2022 – Sunday 15th January 2023 Hogwarts in the Snow is back in 2022. The festive makeover will see the Great Hall transformed with the icy silvers of the iconic Yule Ball scenes. The Gryffindor common room will be dressed for the season and a blanket of filmmaking snow will cover the Forbidden Forest, Diagon Alley and the magnificent Hogwarts castle model.

  • Walk on the famous cobbles of Diagon Alley and see up close the shop fronts of Ollivanders wand shop, Flourish and Blotts, Gringotts Wizarding Bank and Eeylops Owl Emporium
  • Regular departures from central London every day
  • Climb aboard the Hogwarts Express and pose with a luggage trolley as it disappears through the platform wall
  • Walk through the Great Hall where Harry and his friends dined during their time at Hogwarts
  • See the Gryffindor dormitory with the original beds made for Harry, Ron, Neville, Seamus and Dean
  • See Dumbledore’s office and the cupboard under the stairs where Harry slept at 4 Privet Drive

brit movie tour harry potter

About this tour

Departs daily every hour from 7:30am to 4pm

8 hours (approx 4-5 hours to explore the studio)

Adult  (16 years+) :  £84.60     Child  (5-15): £80.10    Infant  (3-4): £30   B aby  (0-2): FREE    Family  (2 Adults and 2 Children): £320.40

Meet where?

Victoria / Baker Street and Kings Cross departures from 7:30am to 4pm every day

Inclusions?

Entrance ticket to Warner Bros Studio Tour London, Return transportation to Warner Bros Studio Tour London

Exclusions?

Gratuities (optional), Food and Drink. Digital Guide (available to hire at the Studio Tour for £4.95)

Event Calendar Choose a date to booking event

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Map Get Direction

charliephillips13

Send mail success

Send mail failed

Please enter input field

Related Events

May you like events

Liverpool: Peaky Blinders Full-Day Tour

Liverpool: Peaky Blinders Full-Day Tour

Birmingham: Peaky Blinders and Digbeth Guided Walking Tour

Birmingham: Peaky Blinders and Digbeth Guided Walking Tour

Star Wars: Private North to South 3-Day Tour of Tunisia

Star Wars: Private North to South 3-Day Tour of Tunisia

Star Wars: Cappadocia – Private Hollywood Filiming Locations Tour

Star Wars: Cappadocia – Private Hollywood Filiming Locations Tour

Tataouine & Chenini: Full-Day Guided Tour

Tataouine & Chenini: Full-Day Guided Tour

Star Wars: From Djerba: 3-Day Tunisian Desert Tour

Star Wars: From Djerba: 3-Day Tunisian Desert Tour

  • lol Badge Feed
  • win Badge Feed
  • trending Badge Feed

Browse links

  • © 2024 BuzzFeed, Inc
  • Consent Preferences
  • Accessibility Statement

32 Untold "Harry Potter" Behind-The-Scenes Secrets I Never Knew About The Movies

I got to tour the Harry Potter sets in England, so here are some of the wildest, coolest things I learned about the making of the movies.

Spencer Althouse

BuzzFeed Staff

Hey! I'm Spencer , and I recently visited Warner Bros. Studios in England where they filmed the Harry Potter movies. I got to tour the lot and learned soooo many wild behind-the-scenes facts and secrets from the films – most of which you've probably never heard before – so I wanted to share some of the coolest ones with you here.

me in front of the Warner Bros. lot

For context, my relationship with Harry Potter has changed over the years, especially as a queer person. I'm a fan of the series but have struggled with the notion of separating art from the artist, due to J.K. Rowling's constant anti-trans beliefs and statements. Because of this, I noticed that I've distanced myself more and more from the franchise, which is unfortunate because so many people have found a home in it.

However, I do believe the world of Harry Potter is so much bigger than Rowling herself, and I will always appreciate its stars for speaking out against her and for advocating for trans rights (which are human rights!). If you, like me, feel impassioned about trans rights then you can learn more or donate here .

1. First of all, in order to film the exterior shots of Hogwarts in the first film, the Art Department built a massive (and super detailed!) 1:24 scale model of the school, and they filmed it in front of a green screen. The model is over 50 feet in diameter and took 40 different artists to build. An additional 50 artists were then responsible for maintaining it throughout the production of the film.

Scale model of Hogwarts Castle displayed with surrounding visitors and a label highlighting its over 50 feet diameter

FYI: Here's what the model looked like in Sorcerer's Stone , using digital effects, compared to what it looked like in real life.

Two images comparing Hogwarts models. Top: movie version. Bottom: real-life model with a person for scale

2. More than 8,000 visual effects shots were used throughout the movies, but instead of using CGI on Hogwarts, artists painstakingly installed hundreds of individual lights onto the model. This helped to give the illusion of students walking through the school, lanterns illuminating the campus, and rooms being occupied. Real gravel and plants and trees were also used to make the landscaping look as lifelike as possible.

Hogwarts Castle model display from Harry Potter series, shown under blue lighting with intricate architectural details

3. Hagrid is about 12 feet tall in the books, but for logistical reasons they made him 7.5 feet in the movies. A massive animatronic head was even molded from actor Robbie Coltrane's (6'1") body, and his body double (6'10") wore it to perform all the scenes when they needed to emphasize the character's size. The animatronic head got more advanced as the films progressed, and its eyes and lips could be controlled and moved. In other instances, Robbie would film scenes in front of a green screen and then be digitally added in post-production.

Man adjusts large beard on a figure next to a person appearing to speak, in a behind-the-scenes setting

Martin Bayfield, his stunt double, wore an enormous body suit that had cold water pumping through it at all times so he wouldn't get overheated. They also built large chairs for him to sit on between takes because the suit was so heavy and he was wearing stilts.

4. In order to make Harry Potter's Patronus glow, the Visual Effects team developed an LED vest that was placed on a Scottish Deerhound. Here, the dog could move freely, and the Visual Effects team could see how Harry's Patronus (a stag) would naturally move while glowing. They then combined visual and digital effects to create the right – and believable – lighting effect for the movie.

Scottish Deerhound wearing a custom LED vest, standing on rocks, illuminated from above. Text overlay about the vest's appearance

5. It's kind of ridiculous to believe, but only 20 makeup artists and hairdressers were responsible for handling over 800 cast members on set each day. Also, only about 50 "costumers" (i.e. those in the costume department) worked on each movie, and they were responsible for designing and making everything from the Hogwarts robes, to each character's glasses or jewelry, to picking out Professor Umbridge's tiny brooches.

Mannequin displaying a pink tweed outfit with jacket and skirt, positioned in front of a large, intricate clock backdrop

6. And speaking of Professor Umbridge, her outfits would get more pink as her character would acquire more power. Basically, the more evil and stronger she got, the darker those pink accents on her and her workers' costumes became.

Three stills of Dolores Umbridge from Harry Potter, depicting her outfit's evolving darker pink shades through the film

7. Similarly, at the height of Voldemort's power, his robe was made of rich green silks. These tones would get darker, and new layers of silk would be added to his costume as his character grew stronger. However, as each Horcrux was defeated, a layer of silk would be removed, and the outfit would become more faded.

Voldemort in three scenes from Harry Potter films, showing changes in his costume and complexion over time

8. Nearly 350 portraits hung throughout Hogwarts, and all of them were painted on blank canvases by only a couple different artists. In fact, many of the portraits are of random crew members who worked behind the scenes. Prisoner of Azkaban director Alfonso Cuarón even had his then-wife and child incorporated into one of them as a tribute.

TV screen showing a bearded man in a beret captioned with David Baron's cameo, portrait painting below

9. Over the course of the eight films, over 250 different animals (most of them rescue) were trained to appear on screen. Ravens were apparently the easiest animals to work with because they could be taught in a single day, but owls were the most difficult to train.

A poster of all the animals used on set

Julie Tottman, who worked as Head Animal Trainer on the movies, said her favorite animal to work with was Fang, Hagrid's oversized dog.

10. While shooting the first movie, all of the "floating candles" in the Great Hall were originally hung from the ceiling by wires. However, the flames started burning through the wires, and they came crashing to the ground. For safety reasons, most of the candles were ultimately replaced with digital effects instead.

Severus Snape and Quirinus Quirrell seated at Hogwarts dining hall with floating candles, some real, others CGI

The original floating candles obviously weren't real – they were just made to look like candles. Instead, they were tubes that were full of oil and topped with a wick. Each one was attached to a wire on a rig, and the wires were meant to be CGI'd out of the final shots.

11. Several invisibility cloaks were made for the movies, and each one was crafted from a special velvet fabric that had Celtic symbols printed on it. In order to make Harry turn invisible, one of the cloaks had a green fabric lining that allowed the Visual Effects team to make it disappear via CGI.

Three frames from a film showing a character, Ron, reacting to another, Harry, who is partially invisible, with a caption "My body is gone!"

12. Exactly 538 individual sets were created throughout the filming of all eight movies. The Gryffindor Common Room, for example, took about three months to build (nearly the same amount of time it took to build the Great Hall) because of how detailed it is. It's one of the longest-standing sets from the entire series.

Two people viewing a young Minerva McGonagall portrait in a Gryffindor-themed room

13. The Griffin Stairwell (aka the magical spiral staircase that leads to Dumbledore's office) was one of the most challenging props for the Special Effects Department to build. They actually built two versions: one static model in my pic below, and a second that actually moved in real life. To make it a functional, moving staircase, they built it in a 12-foot hole in the ground and used mechanics so it would spiral upwards.

Sculpture of an eagle with wings spread in an arched alcove, text overlay indicates where stairs would appear

14. One of the Prop Manufacturing Department's favorite pieces to craft was the Triwizard Cup. Their goal was to make it look like an "ever-evolving, organic crystal, as though it magically had a life of its own." On the trophy are three dragons, which represent the three different schools that compete in the tournament: Hogwarts, Durmstrang, and Beauxbatons.

Trophy with dolphin-shaped handles on display, labeled "The Triwizard Cup" from the Harry Potter series

15. The Special Effects Department consulted an actual magician to help figure out creative and "invisible" ways to open and close Marauder's Map. For example, it was the magician's idea to use a hidden thread to sneakily unfold the map. That, coupled with some visual effects in post-production, resulted in the final product that we see in the films.

Harry Potter shows Marauder's Map to Hermione and Ron, who look intrigued. The map is detailed with room names and footprints

16. Harry's first broomstick was obviously the Nimbus 2000, but it almost looked completely different. The Props Department went through 25 different iterations before settling on the final version.

Top-down view of individuals at a wooden table with a close-up of a broom labeled Nimbus 2000; dialogue from Harry Potter film

17. The Gringotts vault cart took three months to build, and by the time they started filming, it was able to move up to 15 mph on a specialty track. However, they used both special ~and~ visual effects for the final product. Each actor had a stunt double, and everything was filmed in front of a green screen so the background could be fitted with the computer-generated set.

Harry Potter film characters in front of a green screen and the final movie scene with CGI background

18. In the beginning of Chamber of Secrets , the "cake" that fell on Mrs. Mason's head wasn't actually real. It was made of a lightweight fiberglass and was suspended in the air via a mechanical rig, to look like it was floating. Then, when it came time for Dobby to do the deed, a trap door was released and dropped the actual cake onto her.

Five-panel sequence from a film, with two characters experiencing a cake throwing incident, resulting in a comedic messy outcome

19. The Weasley's home (aka "The Burrow") was the largest set that was built throughout the entire series, coming in at just over 44 feet. A second model of the house was also built a few years later, this time so they could set it on fire while filming Half-Blood Prince .

Mannequin dressed in vintage clothing inside a rustic-themed room with furniture and decorative windows

According to the Art Department, the Weasley's house was designed to look like Mr. Weasley had built it himself, so they "pushed and pulled support beams and wall units out of place with chains after the set was constructed" to give it that awry look.

20. Seventeen giant fireplaces were built to help create the set for the Ministry of Magic, and each one was just over 30 feet tall. Visual effects were then used to make the space feel even larger.

Image from a Harry Potter film showing the interior of the Ministry of Magic with actors walking among large, ornate pillars and green magical flame

In Order of the Phoenix , when Harry first traveled to the Ministry of Magic with Mr. Weasley, a bunch of those extras walking around were actually random crewmembers from the set. They all went through hair, makeup, and costuming to become witches and wizards for a day. 

21. Hundreds of different plates were used for Professor Umbridge's decorative kitten plate collection. They were all hand-painted green so the Visual Effects team could CGI cat footage onto them (and, yes, it was actually someone's job to film all of those cats so they had enough footage in the first place).

Dolores Umbridge stands in an office adorned with cat plates; below, Harry Potter faces her. A speech bubble commands, "Sit."

22. The Forbidden Forest was shot on location at a park in the first movie, but for all the other films they actually built a new set on the backlot and soundstages. Here, they hand-painted the backdrops (some as long as 600 feet) instead of just digitally creating them, and they also used real tree trunks to help carve out the forest.

Lifelike model of a prehistoric bird-like creature with a long neck standing in a dimly lit exhibit setting

23. In terms of the makeup effects, there was a whole category of workers in the "Creature Shop" who were responsible for turning the cast into werewolves, trolls, and everything in between. Basically, each character's look would be sketched out, and then a team of artists would create molds for prosthetics, which could then be applied to each actor.

Five special effects movie prosthetic heads displayed on shelves, likely from a fantasy or sci-fi film

24. The Creature Shop would also work on developing non-actor creatures. Sculptors and engineers built animatronics and models, and the Visual Effects team would turn them into computer-generated models that could be animated. For example, this is how they were able to create the Basilisk. A giant snake head with moving eyes, nostrils, and mouth was crafted for close-up shots, but the rest of the Basilisk's body was created with CGI.

Multiple people assembling a large creature prop above, and the completed prop resembling a monstrous creature below in a film scene

25. A full-body werewolf suit – including stilts and an animatronic head – was actually created for actor David Thewlis during Professor Lupin's transformation scene, but it proved too difficult to operate. After months of rehearsals, they ultimately had to scrap the idea and resort mostly to visual effects.

Exhibit of an animatronic creature's head and body on display, with a reflection of onlookers

The makeup department also created several stages of prosthetics to capture each moment of Lupin's transformation into a werewolf. Each look took four hours to apply to the actor.

26. Sixty different actors played goblins during the Gringotts scenes in Deathly Hallows – Part 2 , and many of them were portrayed by female actors. However, female goblins didn't exist in the Harry Potter books, so all of them played male goblins in the movie.

Group photo of actors who played goblins in a film, with props and makeup shown above

Only one female goblin has ever been mentioned in the Wizarding World. Though she wasn't given a name, she was a jazz singer at The Bling Pig speakeasy in  Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them .

27. Several steps were taken in order to turn every actor into a different-looking goblin, first starting with a cast of each person's face. Makeup artists would then sculpt goblin features on top of the silicone molds, body parts would be painted, wigs would be made and applied one hair at a time, and then all of the body parts – teeth, ears, etc. – would be applied and touched up with makeup to blend seamlessly together.

Three-step prosthetic makeup process: molds of a face, painting of prosthetics, and completed makeup on actors

28. The Props Department created over 38,000 pieces of treasure to fill Bellatrix Lastrange's bank vault for the replication scene in the final movie. Each piece was made of rubber because having real brass, copper, and gold goblets and chalices would have been too dangerous (and costly). The cups were then scanned and digitized to look like they were duplicating in the actual scene. In fact, out of the 7,010 Hufflepuff cups in the vault, only four were gold-plated and made of copper – these were used specifically for close-up shots.

Top: Person surrounded by bubbles. Bottom: Display of Helga Hufflepuff's cup molds and replicas. No persons are visible

29. They also created over 210,000 detailed coins to represent the Wizarding currency. In the first movie, all of the coins – bronze Knuts, silver Sickles, and gold Galleons – were real and made of metal. However, in the final film, the coins were made of plastic and glued together in giant stacks.

Harry Potter in a vault surrounded by piles of gold coins, illuminated by his lantern. Text indicating "actual metal."

30. The Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes joke shop was only featured on screen for 90 seconds in Half-Blood Prince , but 40,000 props were created to fill the store with everything from Nosebleed Nougats, to Puking Pastilles, to love potions. Over 140 different kinds of products were created and sold in their store.

me in front of the joke shop on set

31. The actual layout of Hogwarts changes in every movie, simply because each of the film's directors needed things in different places. Not worried about continuity errors, they figured that "if the staircases could move in the movies then so could everything else." As a result, all of the rooms and grounds consistently change locations. For example, Hagrid's hut doesn't appear in some models of the castle, the Weeping Willow randomly shows up in the second film, and the Great Hall is in a completely different place in the final movie.

Scale model of Hogwarts Castle from Harry Potter series, displayed with visitors in background

Several other changes occurred throughout the series as well, like random courtyards appearing and disappearing, a clocktower being added in Prisoner of Azkaban , and four extra greenhouses popping up in the final movie.

32. And finally, over 4,000 people worked on all eight Harry Potter movies, from the stunt performers, to the animal trainers, to the makeup artists, and so on. The Wizarding World tour ends in Ollivanders' shop, which is stuffed to the brim with wands and boxes, each one inscribed with the name of every individual actor and crewmember who worked on the series.

Wall of wands with name labels dedicated to film crew members from the Harry Potter movie series

If you want more information about the Warner Bros. Studio Tour then definitely check out their site here . They change the theme every few months (the theme when I went was "Magical Mischief"), so everything always feels super fresh and new. For reference, I spent several hours there, and I even visited with people who had never seen the movies or read the books, but we all genuinely had a great time. Enjoy!

Hand holding a Butterbeer mug at the Wizarding World attraction

Share This Article

brit movie tour harry potter

brit movie tour harry potter

32 Untold "Harry Potter" Behind-The-Scenes Secrets And Stories I Never Knew About The Movies

H ey i'm spencer , and i recently visited warner bros. studios in england where they filmed the harry potter movies. i got to tour the lot and learned soooo many wild behind-the-scenes facts and secrets from the films – most of which you've probably never heard before – so i wanted to share some of the coolest ones with you here., 1. first of all, in order to film the exterior shots of hogwarts in the first film, the art department built a massive (and super detailed) 1:24 scale model of the school, and they filmed it in front of a green screen. the model is over 50 feet in diameter and took 40 different artists to build. an additional 50 artists were then responsible for maintaining it throughout the production of the film., fyi: here's what the model looked like in sorcerer's stone , using digital effects, compared to what it looked like in real life., 2. more than 8,000 visual effects shots were used throughout the movies, but instead of using cgi on hogwarts, artists painstakingly installed hundreds of individual lights onto the model. this helped to give the illusion of students walking through the school, lanterns illuminating the campus, and rooms being occupied. real gravel and plants and trees were also used to make the landscaping look as lifelike as possible., 3. hagrid is about 12 feet tall in the books, but for logistical reasons they made him 7.5 feet in the movies. a massive animatronic head was even molded from actor robbie coltrane's (6'1") body, and his body double (6'10") wore it to perform all the scenes when they needed to emphasize the character's size. the animatronic head got more advanced as the films progressed, and its eyes and lips could be controlled and moved. in other instances, robbie would film scenes in front of a green screen and then be digitally added in post-production., 4. in order to make harry potter's patronus glow, the visual effects team developed an led vest that was placed on a scottish deerhound. here, the dog could move freely, and the visual effects team could see how harry's patronus (a stag) would naturally move while glowing. they then combined visual and digital effects to create the right – and believable – lighting effect for the movie., 5. it's kind of ridiculous to believe, but only 20 makeup artists and hairdressers were responsible for handling over 800 cast members on set each day. also, only about 50 "costumers" (i.e. those in the costume department) worked on each movie, and they were responsible for designing and making everything from the hogwarts robes, to each character's glasses or jewelry, to picking out professor umbridge's tiny brooches., 6. and speaking of professor umbridge, her outfits would get more pink as her character would acquire more power. basically, the more evil and stronger she got, the darker those pink accents on her and her workers' costumes became., 7. similarly, at the height of voldemort's power, his robe was made of rich green silks. these tones would get darker, and new layers of silk would be added to his costume as his character grew stronger. however, as each horcrux was defeated, a layer of silk would be removed, and the outfit would become more faded., 8. nearly 350 portraits hung throughout hogwarts, and all of them were painted on blank canvases by only a couple different artists. in fact, many of the portraits are of random crew members who worked behind the scenes. prisoner of azkaban director alfonso cuarón even had his then-wife and child incorporated into one of them as a tribute., 9. over the course of the eight films, over 250 different animals (most of them rescue) were trained to appear on screen. ravens were apparently the easiest animals to work with because they could be taught in a single day, but owls were the most difficult to train., 10. while shooting the first movie, all of the "floating candles" in the great hall were originally hung from the ceiling by wires. however, the flames started burning through the wires, and they came crashing to the ground. for safety reasons, most of the candles were ultimately replaced with digital effects instead., 11. several invisibility cloaks were made for the movies, and each one was crafted from a special velvet fabric that had celtic symbols printed on it. in order to make harry turn invisible, one of the cloaks had a green fabric lining that allowed the visual effects team to make it disappear via cgi., 12. exactly 538 individual sets were created throughout the filming of all eight movies. the gryffindor common room, for example, took about three months to build (nearly the same amount of time it took to build the great hall) because of how detailed it is. it's one of the longest-standing sets from the entire series., 13. the griffin stairwell (aka the magical spiral staircase that leads to dumbledore's office) was one of the most challenging props for the special effects department to build. they actually built two versions: one static model in my pic below, and a second that actually moved in real life. to make it a functional, moving staircase, they built it in a 12-foot hole in the ground and used mechanics so it would spiral upwards., 14. one of the prop manufacturing department's favorite pieces to craft was the triwizard cup. their goal was to make it look like an "ever-evolving, organic crystal, as though it magically had a life of its own." on the trophy are three dragons, which represent the three different schools that compete in the tournament: hogwarts, durmstrang, and beauxbatons., 15. the special effects department consulted an actual magician to help figure out creative and "invisible" ways to open and close marauder's map. for example, it was the magician's idea to use a hidden thread to sneakily unfold the map. that, coupled with some visual effects in post-production, resulted in the final product that we see in the films., 16. harry's first broomstick was obviously the nimbus 2000, but it almost looked completely different. the props department went through 25 different iterations before settling on the final version., 17. the gringotts vault cart took three months to build, and by the time they started filming, it was able to move up to 15 mph on a specialty track. however, they used both special ~and~ visual effects for the final product. each actor had a stunt double, and everything was filmed in front of a green screen so the background could be fitted with the computer-generated set., 18. in the beginning of chamber of secrets , the "cake" that fell on mrs. mason's head wasn't actually real. it was made of a lightweight fiberglass and was suspended in the air via a mechanical rig, to look like it was floating. then, when it came time for dobby to do the deed, a trap door was released and dropped the actual cake onto her., 19. the weasley's home (aka "the burrow") was the largest set that was built throughout the entire series, coming in at just over 44 feet. a second model of the house was also built a few years later, this time so they could set it on fire while filming half-blood prince ., 20. seventeen giant fireplaces were built to help create the set for the ministry of magic, and each one was just over 30 feet tall. visual effects were then used to make the space feel even larger., 21. hundreds of different plates were used for professor umbridge's decorative kitten plate collection. they were all hand-painted green so the visual effects team could cgi cat footage onto them (and, yes, it was actually someone's job to film all of those cats so they had enough footage in the first place)., 22. the forbidden forest was shot on location at a park in the first movie, but for all the other films they actually built a new set on the backlot and soundstages. here, they hand-painted the backdrops (some as long as 600 feet) instead of just digitally creating them, and they also used real tree trunks to help carve out the forest., 23. in terms of the makeup effects, there was a whole category of workers in the "creature shop" who were responsible for turning the cast into werewolves, trolls, and everything in between. basically, each character's look would be sketched out, and then a team of artists would create molds for prosthetics, which could then be applied to each actor., 24. the creature shop would also work on developing non-actor creatures. sculptors and engineers built animatronics and models, and the visual effects team would turn them into computer-generated models that could be animated. for example, this is how they were able to create the basilisk. a giant snake head with moving eyes, nostrils, and mouth was crafted for close-up shots, but the rest of the basilisk's body was created with cgi., 25. a full-body werewolf suit – including stilts and an animatronic head – was actually created for actor david thewlis during professor lupin's transformation scene, but it proved too difficult to operate. after months of rehearsals, they ultimately had to scrap the idea and resort mostly to visual effects., 26. sixty different actors played goblins during the gringotts scenes in deathly hallows – part 2 , and many of them were portrayed by female actors. however, female goblins didn't exist in the harry potter books, so all of them played male goblins in the movie., 27. several steps were taken in order to turn every actor into a different-looking goblin, first starting with a cast of each person's face. makeup artists would then sculpt goblin features on top of the silicone molds, body parts would be painted, wigs would be made and applied one hair at a time, and then all of the body parts – teeth, ears, etc. – would be applied and touched up with makeup to blend seamlessly together., 28. the props department created over 38,000 pieces of treasure to fill bellatrix lastrange's bank vault for the replication scene in the final movie. each piece was made of rubber because having real brass, copper, and gold goblets and chalices would have been too dangerous (and costly). the cups were then scanned and digitized to look like they were duplicating in the actual scene. in fact, out of the 7,010 hufflepuff cups in the vault, only four were gold-plated and made of copper – these were used specifically for close-up shots., 29. they also created over 210,000 detailed coins to represent the wizarding currency. in the first movie, all of the coins – bronze knuts, silver sickles, and gold galleons – were real and made of metal. however, in the final film, the coins were made of plastic and glued together in giant stacks., 30. the weasleys' wizard wheezes joke shop was only featured on screen for 90 seconds in half-blood prince , but 40,000 props were created to fill the store with everything from nosebleed nougats, to puking pastilles, to love potions. over 140 different kinds of products were created and sold in their store., 31. the actual layout of hogwarts changes in every movie, simply because each of the film's directors needed things in different places. not worried about continuity errors, they figured that "if the staircases could move in the movies then so could everything else." as a result, all of the rooms and grounds consistently change locations. for example, hagrid's hut doesn't appear in some models of the castle, the weeping willow randomly shows up in the second film, and the great hall is in a completely different place in the final movie., 32. and finally, over 4,000 people worked on all eight harry potter movies, from the stunt performers, to the animal trainers, to the makeup artists, and so on. the wizarding world tour ends in ollivanders' shop, which is stuffed to the brim with wands and boxes, each one inscribed with the name of every individual actor and crewmember who worked on the series., i f you want more information about the warner bros. studio tour then definitely check out their site here . they change the theme every few months (the theme when i went was "magical mischief"), so everything always feels super fresh and new. for reference, i spent several hours there, and i even visited with people who had never seen the movies or read the books, but we all genuinely had a great time. enjoy.

32 Untold "Harry Potter" Behind-The-Scenes Secrets And Stories I Never Knew About The Movies

Toggle menu

  • TOUR CALENDAR
  • Walking Tours
  • Self Guided Walking Tours
  • PRIVATE TOURS
  • BUY A GIFT VOUCHER
  • REDEEM A VOUCHER / PASS

brit movie tour harry potter

The OFFICIAL Peaky Blinders Day Tour by coach of more than 9 major filming locations in and around Manchester from series 1 to 6.

Downton Abbey Tour

Small group guided Downton Abbey Tour by mini coach from central London including Downton village and the home of the Crawley family at Downton Abbey.

Browse our popular London tours

Ukrainian women have a reputation for being extremely beautiful and devoted wives. This is because they are traditionally raised to prioritize family above all else. They also tend to be well-educated and supportive of their partners' ambitions and goals. When searching for a Ukrainian mail order bride , it is important to find someone who shares your values and goals in life. It is also important to remember that, like any woman, a Ukrainian bride deserves respect and should never be treated as a possession. With the right approach, a Ukrainian wife can bring love, support, and joy into your life. The term "Russian mail order bride" refers to a Russian woman who decides to list herself in a catalog or online website and be chosen as a partner by a foreign man. These women often come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and are looking for a better life, making them vulnerable to manipulation and abuse. However, not all Russian mail order brides are victims of unfortunate circumstances. Some may simply be seeking a different experience or adventure with a foreign partner.

Harry Potter Location Tour

Harry Potter Location Tour

Downton Abbey Tours

Downton Abbey Tours

brit movie tour harry potter

Game of Thrones Tours

Peaky Blinders Official Tours

Peaky Blinders Official Tours

Doctor Who Tours [Unofficial]

Doctor Who Tours [Unofficial]

brit movie tour harry potter

James Bond Film Location Tours

Sherlock Holmes Tours

Sherlock Holmes Tours

Family and Action Movie Tours

Family and Action Movie Tours

Emmerdale and Coronation Street Tours

Emmerdale and Coronation Street Tours

TV Comedy & Drama Tours

TV Comedy & Drama Tours

TV & Film Crime Tours

TV & Film Crime Tours

London Underground Station Tours

London Underground Station Tours

Rom-Com Tours

Rom-Com Tours

Theatre & Attraction Tickets

Theatre & Attraction Tickets

Train Tickets

Train Tickets

Hotels & Accommodation

Hotels & Accommodation

Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance

Premier Inn

Premier Inn

Latest news.

The 3rd and Final Series of Derry Girls

Got a question? Want to email us?

New Zealand casino sign up bonus

After doing this, you know that takes some time for NZ players! Overall, using at minimum deposit casino in New Zealand min deposit gambling online casino with 10 minimum deposit. You will fuel your gambling budgets with a bigger deposit Low equity fees and certifications. Regulated minimum deposit Low equity fees and margins all gives you fair gaming experience. So what are Low equity fees and certifications.

Regulated minimum deposit casinos should have a site, you know that they are low deposit options. You get 80 free spins for this one online casino minimum deposit 5 pound. You must comply to find an official commission. Examples of free spins.

Get in touch!

Please fill in the details below and we will get back to you shortly.

Thank you for submitting your details.

You should hear from us shortly.

Visit England Logo

Please select region

  • London, England
  • Belfast, Northern Ireland
  • Cardiff, Wales
  • Barry, Wales
  • Newcastle, England
  • Edinburgh, Scotland
  • Leeds, England
  • Liverpool, England
  • Bristol, England
  • Port Issac, England
  • Oxford, England
  • Manchester, England
  • Chatham, England
  • Bath, England
  • Grantchester, England
  • UK: 0844 2471 007
  • [email protected]

Brit Movie Tours on Facebook

  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • About Brit Movie Tours
  • Press and Reviews
  • Brit Icon Tours
  • Beatles Tours Liverpool
  • Music Tours
  • Become an Affiliate
  • Looking for work experience?
  • Become a Tour Guide
  • Join our Customer Services Team
  • Blog Reviews
  • Media Gallery
  • Subscribe to our email mailing list

Brit Movie Tours

© Copyright 2024 Brit Movie Tours. All Rights Reserved | Company Reg. No. 7059230

Ethical SEO

Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news, offers and tours

COMMENTS

  1. Harry Potter Location Tour

    Brit Movie Tours offer a number of Harry Potter Location Tours including walking and bust tours in and around London and further afield. UK: 0844 2471 007 . UK: 0844 2471 007 ... Bus Tour of Harry Potter film locations in London including the Ministry of Magic entrance, Gringotts Bank and Platform 9 ¾ at Kings Cross Station.

  2. 2024 Harry Potter London Walking Tour provided by Brit Movie Tours

    Designed with fans of the movies and books in mind, this tour reveals lesser-known Harry Potter trivia and offers more intimate glimpse into London than you'd get if you explored in a vehicle. Read more. from. $21.86. per adult.

  3. Harry Potter London Bus Tour of Film Locations in London

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we'd be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 5936POTTERBUS. +1 855 275 5071. Sun, Apr 14. The Best London Harry Potter Tour. 271. Movie Tours. Harry Potter Studios and Film Locations Guided Tour from London.

  4. Wizards London Bus Tour of Harry Potter Film Locations

    Highlights. Join the most comprehensive tour visiting Harry Potter film locations in London. Get a photo pushing a trolley through the platform wall at Kings Cross Station. See where the Knight Bus squeezed through the oncoming double decker buses in the third movie. Walk in the footsteps of Robbie Coltrane and Daniel Radcliffe to the entrance ...

  5. London: Guided Harry Potter Locations Sightseeing Bus Tour

    Experience. Uncover film locations and inspirations from all 8 films in the Harry Potter series on this London bus tour. Be spellbound as you see sights like King's Cross Station, which was used to film Platform 9 ¾, 12 Grimmauld Place, and the sites used for the Leaky Cauldron. Hop aboard the bus at a centrally-located meeting point in London.

  6. The 10 Best Harry Potter Tours in London

    Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter. Price: From 51.50 pounds (around $64) per person. Duration: 3.5 hours. For Potterheads, no trip to London is complete without a stop ...

  7. Harry Potter London Locations: Self-Guided Tour & Map!

    And though you won't see every location, I absolutely recommend Brit Movie Tours Harry Potter Walking Tour of London. The Harry Potter locations walking tour runs, at the very least, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 14:00. In school holidays, bank holidays and between April and October it runs every day at this time.

  8. Harry Potter Walking Tour London

    Harry Potter Bus Tour by Brit Movie Tours . This 2.5-3 hour bus tour features many of the film locations and inspirations from all 8 films in the series. Some of the stops include Kings Cross Station, 12 Grimmauld Place, and the sites used for the Leaky Cauldron. There is also an opportunity at the end of the tour to buy Harry Potter merchandise.

  9. Brit Movie Tours

    For fans of J K Rowlings famous young wizard Harry Potter - join Londons original and best tour of Harry Potter London locations. If you are a fan of Harry Potter walk into the film locations featured on screen. The Wizards London Walk is a perfect way to spend a couple of hours in the British capital. Come and explore Harry Potter London filming locations on our magical tour. Our non ...

  10. Brit Movie Tours

    Brit Movie Tours is the premier provider of TV and Film Location Tours in the UK. With more than 60 tours from Harry Potter to James Bond and Downton Abbey t...

  11. Brit Movie Tours

    Brit Movie Tours highlights. Harry Potter Walking Tour of London The magical world of wizardry awaits on a Harry Potter Walking Tour of London! Thanks to your guide learned in the muggle and wizarding world, you'll get to see lots of locations from the Harry Potter movies, like the Ministry of Magic and the Leaky Cauldron, and learn lots of ...

  12. Wizards London Bus Tour of Harry Potter Film Locations

    Highlights. Join the most comprehensive tour visiting Harry Potter film locations in London. Get a photo pushing a trolley through the platform wall at Kings Cross Station. See where the Knight Bus squeezed through the oncoming double decker buses in the third movie. Walk in the footsteps of Robbie Coltrane and Daniel Radcliffe to the entrance ...

  13. Harry Potter Sites in London on a Brit Movie Tour

    We were invited along by Brit Movie Tours to try out their Harry Potter tour and tell you all about it. They run tours all over the UK, Doctor Who in Cardiff ( see our Whovian Cardiff post here) Downton Abbey in Oxfordshire, Game of Thrones in Belfast, TOWIE in Essex, and more besides. We picked Harry Potter, I hoped it was something we'd all ...

  14. Brit Movie Tours

    Brit Movie Tours highlights. Harry Potter Walking Tour of London - the magical world of wizardry awaits on a Harry Potter Walking Tour of London! Thanks to your guide learned in the muggle and wizarding world, you'll get to see lots of locations from the Harry Potter movies, like the Ministry of Magic and the Leaky Cauldron, and learn lots of ...

  15. Brit Movie Tours

    About. Immerse yourself in your favourite film or TV show when you sign up to a Brit Movie Tour. Find the secret entrance to the Ministry of Magic on the Harry Potter Walking Tour, Wizards London Walk or track down the World's most famous fictional secret agent on the James Bond Walking Tour. Snap yourself in a spot where superheroes such as ...

  16. Brit Movie Tours

    The Harry Potter Tour of London for Private Groups is a great way to see Harry Potter's London. It is also an ideal choice for families with children who need to be entertained in a fun way. Our expert drivers and guides know how to keep trainee wizards and witches entertained for the whole day. Fear not however the adults will have plenty to enjoy along the way too.

  17. Brit Movie Tours

    Brit Movie Tours - Warner Bros Studio Tour Bus... Tue, July 11, 2023 - Sun, December 31, 2023 (7:30 am - 4:00 pm) Europe/London

  18. Book A Tour of British Film Locations

    Public scheduled tours operated by Brit Movie Tours are also available as private and exclusive tours and can be arranged on a day and time of your choosing. UK: 0844 2471 007 . UK: 0844 2471 007 ... Bus Tour of Harry Potter film locations in London including the Ministry of Magic entrance, Gringotts Bank and Platform 9 ¾ at Kings Cross Station.

  19. 32 Best Harry Potter Movie Facts And Trivia

    3. Hagrid is about 12 feet tall in the books, but for logistical reasons they made him 7.5 feet in the movies. A massive animatronic head was even molded from actor Robbie Coltrane's (6'1") body ...

  20. 32 Untold "Harry Potter" Behind-The-Scenes Secrets And Stories I ...

    And finally, over 4,000 people worked on all eight Harry Potter movies, from the stunt performers, to the animal trainers, to the makeup artists, and so on. The Wizarding World tour ends in ...

  21. Brit Movie Tours

    Tours of UK film locations from Harry Potter, Doctor Who, James Bond, Gavin and Stacey, Downton Abbey. UK: 0844 2471 007 ... Harry Potter Location Tour. Harry Potter Location Tour More info More info. Downton Abbey Tours. ... Brit Movie Tours 7 Bell Yard London WC2A 2JR