Harry Potter Walking Tour I (Self Guided), London

For regular folks, Westminster Underground might be the closest one to places like the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, and Westminster Bridge, but for wizards like Mr. Weasley and Harry Potter, it was also their gateway to the Ministry of Magic, as we saw in "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix". Poor Mr. Weasley had a bit of trouble with the ticket barriers on his way out, just like many first-timers on the London Underground!

When filming that scene for the movie, they had to shut down the whole station for a whole day. And there was another time when Harry and the Order of the Phoenix gang whizzed past Westminster Station, along the River Thames, on their broomsticks, heading towards the London Eye – yee-haw!

10 Downing Street, or simply "Number 10", serves as both the official residence and workplace of the British Prime Minister, making it the UK's premier address for nearly three centuries. Originally three separate houses, the building now boasts over 100 rooms, with the Prime Minister's family occupying a private residence on the third floor and their kitchen situated in the basement. The remaining floors house offices, as well as numerous conference and reception rooms. The property features an interior courtyard and, at the rear, a terrace overlooking a spacious half-acre garden. The Cabinet Room is isolated from the rest of the building by soundproof doors.

Contrary to popular belief, the famous black front door is constructed from reinforced steel rather than wood. This door lacks a keyhole and can only be opened from the inside, which is why a doorman is always on duty. Speaking of that, the phrase "In the hot seat" originates from Downing Street. The entrance hall of Number 10 contains a large black chair, originally used by the night watchman. Underneath this chair is a drawer that, back in the day, was filled with hot coals to keep the watchman warm during cold nighttime hours. Other iconic features, including the lamp above the door, the lion door knocker, and the black and white flooring in the entrance hall, were added during the premiership of Lord Frederick North between 1770 and 1782.

Like many London properties, Downing Street suffered damage during World War II. On October 14, 1940, a bomb struck nearby, causing damage to the kitchen and state rooms. In 1991, another attack occurred when the IRA launched a mortar attack, resulting in further damage to the premises. A reminder of this attack is a splinter lodged in the upstairs plasterwork, left untouched.

The walls of the Grand Staircase are lined with portraits of every British Prime Minister in chronological order. During Tony Blair's tenure as Prime Minister, he had six plaster bees installed in the window frames of one of the upstairs drawing rooms. Under Mrs. Thatcher, a miniature roof was incorporated into one of the door frames. Regrettably, none of these areas are accessible to the general public, as entry to Number 10 is strictly prohibited for security reasons, with access only granted to staff and authorized personnel.

***HARRY POTTER MOVIE***
Contrary to what most folks usually think of as just the British Prime Minister's home and office, 10 Downing Street also serves as a secret link between the wizarding and muggle worlds, as mentioned in the first chapter of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince". Through this portal, the UK's leader can sometimes have a chat with the Minister for Magic.

It's also where the wizard Kingsley Shacklebolt works undercover, guarding the Prime Minister against the dark magical forces led by Lord Voldemort. Seems like there's more to this place than you'd expect...

Tip:
Best enjoyed as part of a broader exploration of Whitehall and Westminster as a whole.

Back in the late 19th century, this historic former headquarters of London's Metropolitan Police gained fame thanks to the iconic fictional detective Sherlock Holmes, but more recently, it's also made its way into the Harry Potter series. Right next to Westminster Station, you'll find the Great Scotland Yard, which served as the exterior for the Ministry of Magic, while its back entrance was cleverly transformed into the Ministry's Visitor's Entrance.

Fans of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" will surely remember the corner of Scotland Place with the red phone booth. That's where the characters dialed the magical 62442 combination to enter the Ministry. Sadly, you can't recreate that moment because the phone booth was just a movie prop brought in for filming and taken away once they were done.

Scotland Place had another cameo in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1" when Harry, Hermione, and Ron sneaked into the Ministry of Magic, pretending to be its employees.

The name "Piccadilly" has its origins linked to a modest 17th-century tailor named Robert Baker who specialized in selling piccadills, which were fashionable stiff ruffled collars highly favored in courtly circles. With the proceeds from his collar sales, Baker constructed a house. This new-money mansion earned the derisive nickname "Piccadilly Hall" from the snobbish elite, and the name has endured to this day.

At the heart of Piccadilly Circus, which used to be a circular junction until the construction of Shaftesbury Avenue in 1886, stands the pride of the place commonly known as Eros. Dating back to 1893, many Londoners are unaware that it actually represents Eros's brother, Anteros, the Greek god of requited love. Another unmistakable feature of Piccadilly Circus is the massive array of illuminated billboards on the north side. The very first illuminated sign, advertising Perrier mineral water, was installed there in 1908. If you happen to pass by at night, try framing these billboards behind the Tube entrance sign at the corner of Regent Street for a timeless photograph.

Beneath the surface, you'll discover two noteworthy attractions: the Criterion Theatre and the Piccadilly Circus tube station. The theatre, built in 1873, is primarily situated underground, with the exception of its box office. In the 19th century, during its performances, a special system was used to pump in fresh air to ventilate the interior and mitigate the toxic fumes produced by gas lighting. As for the tube station, it stands out as one of the rare ones within the London Underground network that is entirely and authentically subterranean.

On the western side of Piccadilly, another relic of the past can still be seen: a police public call box established in 1935, one of the few remaining in Britain. Another hidden gem somewhere in Piccadilly Circus is a sculpted nose, one of the Seven Noses of Soho. Legend has it that anyone who discovers all seven noses will be blessed with unimaginable wealth. It's intriguing to ponder whether any of the nearly half a million people who pass through here each day are on the hunt for that elusive fortune.

***HARRY POTTER MOVIE***
In "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1," there's an most memorable scene featuring Piccadilly Circus: Harry, Hermione, and Ron find themselves racing through London's West End, desperately fleeing from Death Eaters who had attacked Bill's wedding. Their escape narrowly avoids a collision with a quintessential London red double-decker bus. Interestingly, the actual location where this dramatic moment was filmed in the movie is right in front of the Gap store just adjacent to Piccadilly Circus, whereas on the book, the characters end up in Tottenham Court Road. Filming such an action-packed scene in a popular tourist hub presented a significant challenge.

Why You Should Visit:
A quintessential London intersection, centrally positioned for easy exploration of Regent Street, Leicester Square, Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, and the West End theater district. It's a bustling and vibrant hub that captures the essence of London's atmosphere.

Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima, together known as MinaLima, are a dynamic duo of graphic designers responsible for shaping the visual universe of Harry Potter. They crafted the distinctive style, graphics, and the majority of props for all the Potter films! After the iconic film series concluded, they unveiled the House of MinaLima, a boutique store that serves as a veritable treasure trove of graphic art from the wizarding world. This includes prints, books, and various other Potter-related items, catering to the devoted Potterheads.

On the ground level, you can peruse an assortment of stationery, books, mugs, and badges, while the three upper floors house a gorgeous Harry Potter exhibition, open to all enthusiasts of the wizarding world. Virtually everything on display is available for purchase, from journals that mimic Hogwarts textbooks to replicas of the Quibbler, composition books reminiscent of those used by characters during their time at Hogwarts, and posters featured in the Daily Prophet, among other items. There's something to fit every budget, making it a true treasure for any Harry Potter fan spending a day in London!

Renowned for its charming array of second-hand bookstores and antique shops which contribute to its distinctive allure, it's no surprise that Charing Cross Road served as the inspiration for J.K. Rowling's choice of location for the entrance to London's magical realm.

In the Harry Potter series, the Leaky Cauldron, a pub and boarding house for wizards – in which Harry lives for a brief period at the beginning of "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" – plays a pivotal role as the gateway connecting the non-wizarding world to Diagon Alley, the wizarding shopping district where young Harry embarks on his magical journey in "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" to procure all his school supplies for Hogwarts. To the untrained eye of non-wizards or muggles, it merely appears as a shuttered storefront nestled along Charing Cross Road in London's vibrant West End.

Harry also strolled along Charing Cross Road with Hagrid, and later embarked on a thrilling ride down the same road aboard the Knight Bus and Ministry cars. Additionally, one can spot a clothing boutique on Charing Cross Road by the name of "A Child of the Jago", featuring uniquely attired mannequins that seem to showcase wizard-like clothing and costumes.

Just a short detour from Charing Cross Road, the first lane on your right as you head up the street leads to the quaint and historic Cecil Court: a one-block pedestrian street, one of London's oldest, adorned with delightful Victorian-era storefronts and widely credited with having provided inspiration to J.K. Rowling when she envisioned Diagon Alley. This connection becomes all the more apparent when you explore the rather eccentric shops here, some of which specialize in magical and psychic literature, such as The Witch Ball.

These stores offer a wide array of treasures, ranging from rare and second-hand books to collector's editions, first editions, old stamps, maps, posters, banknotes, and various other antiques. For instance, Marchpane, a children's bookstore, proudly boasts rare signed copies of Harry Potter books. The entire street exudes an atmosphere eerily reminiscent of Diagon Alley, making you half expect to stumble upon Ollivanders Wand Shop or even a frothy pint of Butterbeer!

In the Covent Garden area of London, you'll come across numerous narrow alleys adorned with small storefronts. Among these lesser-known and tucked-away passages lies Goodwin's Court, a dark and slender alley that's discreetly incorporated into the facade of The Theatre Goers Club of Great Britain and conveniently located just a short distance from Cecil Court and Charing Cross Road. Stepping into this charming court, which dates back to around 1627, is like taking a journey back in time to the Georgian era, evident in the characteristic bow-fronted windows (remnants of the previous row of shops), glossy black doors adorned with gleaming knockers and brass knobs, and brass plates bearing the names of the businesses that occupy the space.

In the world of Harry Potter films, this place is very reminiscent of Diagon Alley, although, depending on the weather and lighting, it can even evoke a sense of its creepy evil twin, the Knockturn Alley. A stroll through Goodwin's Court is well worth it, if only to witness the authentic street lanterns and darkly painted structures that inspired the props created by Warner Brothers for the Harry Potter movies. Although you won't find wizarding books, robes, or wands here, the eerie resemblance between the black bay windows of Goodwin's Court and the film set is uncanny. It might just send shivers down your spine as you imagine encountering characters like Bellatrix Lestrange or Lucius Malfoy apparating in the dead of night!