This post is a part of Geek Takeover Week 2016.
This is a guest post by 15 year old writer and #1 Potterhead Brian Selcik, a student at the Metropolitan School of the Arts as well as Hogwarts. Brian has dedicated his life to J.K. Rowling’s beautiful Wizarding World – not only has he been to Universal Orlando three times, he has traveled to London specifically because of Harry Potter. He runs an Etsy shop with his best friend, Skye, selling Potter woodburns, which you can find here.
Harry Potter’s story has become known to everyone around the world, and there are many people that cherish it as one of the most, if not the most (like me) important things in their life. Although there are many places in the United Kingdom that relate to Harry Potter, there are a few that are directly a part of the story. The very first stop in Harry’s magical journey is Diagon Alley. Full of wizarding shops and Gringotts bank, the entrance to Daigon Alley being the Leaky Cauldron which in the stories, is located on Charing Cross road in the West End of London. Although the Leaky Cauldron isn’t actually there, it is still a very iconic and enjoyable place to visit for any Harry Potter fan.
Next up is King’s Cross Station, specifically Platform 9¾. This is where the Hogwarts Express leaves from to head to Hogwarts, and by Platforms 9 & 10, there is a Harry Potter “exhibit” where you can snap a photograph of yourself running through the wall and shop at a Platform 9¾ shop.
Before any of his magical journey, and before Harry knew that he was a wizard, he visited the Reptile House at the London Zoo where he unknowingly found out that he was a Parstlemouth (he could speak to and understand snakes). This section of the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone movie was actually filmed here, and there is a little blurb about that in the Reptile House at London Zoo.
Potter Play
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts I & II is the official 8th Harry Potter story, and it is presented as a play in the West End. If you get lucky enough to get tickets, it is at the Palace Theatre. It is the most exciting thing that has happened to the Harry Potter story since the publication of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in 2007!
Last but most certainly not least, Warner Bros Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter. This is a full tour of the set that the Harry Potter movies were filmed at. From props to full size sets, and miniature models to costume, this tour is a must see for any Potterhead. That about sums up the Harry Potter UK “scavenger hunt,” although there are many other places that you can visit including Piccadilly Circus, Lincoln’s Inn Fields, and more. I hope you enjoyed this article and get a chance to visit these places sometime!
Thank you very much for this magical guest post Brian! If you have any Potter-travel related questions for Brian, you can leave them in the comments below and be sure to check out his Etsy page for handmade Potter decor here.
For a Potter fan, this is a must do tour. I guess you can feel the magic from the books standing in the exact places. Warner Bros Studio Tour is a popular tour and of course, you can live your magical dreams for a while. Each step brings the exact memory of Potter and his actions there. A great tour for an actual Harry Potter and Hogwarts fan.
I was an extra in the first film, so I have fond memories of the following additional locations – if you’re up North – Durham Cathedral (corridor scenes HP1) which is a short walk from Durham station. Then Alnwick Castle (external Hogwarts shots HP1). Nearest train station is Alnmouth, and there’s a bus to Alnwick.