Everything a Harry Potter fan MUST do in London
The House of Mina Lima on Wardour Street
It’s no great secret to anyone who knows me that I love a bit of Harry Potter. I was one of the people in line at Tesco at midnight on the release of the last two books. I went to see the sixth film on my graduation day instead of going to the pub to celebrate my new found wisdom. There is something about the lure of the Wizarding World that I have found irresistible since I first read “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone”, and I know that I’m not alone. The Harry Potter franchise continues to grow with the addition of the Fantastic Beasts films, and as new generations are introduced to the books and films the want for ways to experience the Wizarding World only gets larger. Most people if they come to the UK will head to the Warner Brother’s studio at Leavesden to get their HP fix and I don’t blame them. I’ve been a number of times over the years, and it really is a great day out. But if you’re staying in London and are looking for ways to get your hands on some wizarding essentials or even sample some butter beer, I’ve got you covered.
Start your day at Kings Cross Station, the proud owner of the actual Platform 9 and 3/4. Unless you’re of the Wizarding persuasion you’re not going to be able to get to the actual platform, so us Muggles have to be ok with getting a picture at the wall through to the platform. Staff will be on hand to take your picture, and you’ll have a great souvenir of you looking like you and your trunk are disappearing through the wall. I say get there early because the queue for this photo op can often get a little ridiculous, but if you’re a die hard fan it’s a nice memory to have. Whilst you’re in Kings Cross you can check out the Platform 9 and 3/4 shop, pick up a fluffy familiar for when you get to Hogwarts, get a scarf incase the English weather has taken a turn, that kind of thing. The merch is expensive, but this is London, so it’s to be expected.
My friend Jahney and I on our way to Hogwarts
Next head to Covent Garden straight to the Harry Potter photographic exhibition. It’s now a permanent exhibition at the previous home of the London Film Museum, and FYI you have to book ahead so be prepared and get to the website here. As well as swatting up on all your behind the scenes knowledge of the films, you can take a load off and head to the butter beer bar to sample some of the good stuff for yourself. Its way nicer here than the overly sweet stuff from the Wizarding World in Florida, and you can even pick some up in the gift shop to take home so you wont be without the good stuff once you leave. I’ll be posting an entire blog about this exhibition at some point in the near future, so subscribe to my newsletter on the home page to check it out when it goes live.
If you’re after something equally magical for lunch, why not try afternoon tea in the potions room at Cutter and Squidge here. Based in the middle of soho these magical bakers will whip you up a bevvy of tasty treats quicker than you can cast “accio sandwich!” Again you have to book ahead as I believe it’s an immersive experience although I’ve not tried this one for myself. I have however had their Biskies, and the salted caramel smore is definitely something worth heading there for if nothing else.
Whilst you’re in soho you HAVE to make the time to go to The House of Mina Lima on Wardour Street. It is a must do destination for any Wizarding World fan because these guys are the creative force behind the art direction of a plethora of props used in both the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films. Any time you saw a newspaper, a book, a poster or a letter on screen (among hundreds of other things), Mina Lima are the ones who designed it. This means you can pick yourself up replica props from the film to mack out your humble abode with Harry Potter paraphernalia straight from the source. They also have an art gallery downstairs, and you can buy exclusive pieces of artwork from them there if you’ve got some serious money to spend. On the other hand you can pick up postcards or greeting cards for relatively cheap that are beautiful enough to frame when you get home if you want the look without the cost.
My shopping from The House of Mina Lima
If you want to end your Harry Potter London day on a high, and you potentially have two nights to spare, you have to attempt to get tickets to see “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”. The show is an extension of the Wizarding world stories and follows the adventures of Harry, Ron and Hermione 19 years in the future from the last book. If you are a fan you’ll love it regardless, but if you’re being taken along by a fan the production values alone are enough to keep your jaw on the floor. I’m an avid theatre goer and I can only say that it’s unlike anything I’ve seen before - it’s actual magic, on stage, in front of your very eyes. Tickets can get kind of pricey especially as the show is split into two parts that you can either see all in one day, or across two days (you may need to see part one as a matinee dependent on how the show is being performed in a post covid world). However if you have the luxury of flexible time (or you live in the city or nearby) you could try your luck at the Friday Forty where they select 40 people each week from a lottery to get tickets for both performances for £40. Which trust me, is really great value. Try for tickets here.
And if you can’t get tickets for The Cursed Child but still want an activity to round off your Harry Potter day, I’d suggest heading to one of the many loosely themed “magical” escape rooms that exist across the city. I took part in the Enigma Quests one with some friends a couple of years ago and although they’re not officially Harry Potter branded, you’ll definitely feel like you’ve taken a little trip to Hogwarts. You need a minimum of 3 people to play and tickets are around £30 a person, but you can find out all the details and availability here.
And that would officially be my perfect Harry Potter day out in London. Now if you’ll excuse me, this Muggle is off to watch The Goblet of Fire again. Because it’s my favourite.
Big love, Sarah x
