On our way from Ljubljana, Slovenia to Ilfracombe on England’s North Devon coast, we stopped in London for a week. A city that big is a little overwhelming to tackle in 5 days (two of our days were traveling to and from London), so we took it easy. We saw some of the sights London is most famous for and spent a lot of time just wandering around, meeting with friends, and tasting brews at the pub.
In retrospect, I wish we had planned a little better and seen more things (we missed the real Diagon Alley!), but it was nice to not feel rushed. I think when there is too much to do, it’s best for us to just decide up front that we won’t see it all. And that’s ok.
It also cemented why we normally spend a month in each place we visit. Even then, there are always things we don’t get to, but we can still do a lot at a leisurely pace. If you only have a week or two to travel, of course you want to do everything. Since we have a year, there is no way we can maintain a vacation-pace. Nor do we want to.
But, I digress. The first of three videos from four of our days in London follow. And links to some of the places we visited.
London Day 0.5 and 1 – Harry Potter Tour
Warner Brothers Studio Tour the Making of Harry Potter
Make your reservations now if you are planning to be in London. Maybe it was because the school kids in England were on half term break while we were there, but it took me several tries to get tickets and I started almost 4 weeks before we wanted them. I never did get the time I wanted.
It was well worth the effort, however. The Harry Potter Tour is in the actual studios where the eight movies were filmed. We got to enter through the Great Hall, see the Gryffindor Common Room, magically stir a pot in the Potions Classroom, stand on the Knight Bus and so much more. As huge Harry Potter Fans, this was crazy fun.
You cannot show up without tickets, so reserve your spot here. If you aren’t driving, take the underground to Watford Junction and ride the private Harry Potter bus from there (£2.50/person return, cash only). Or use their Journey Tool to figure out your route.
Need to read the books in preparation for your tour? Buy the Harry Potter books on Amazon here. Or watch the movies.
If you want to see more places that inspired Harry Potter you need to see this guide of the top things to do in York, England.
Explore Harry Potter’s London
Want to see more inspiration for the Harry Potter books and movies? Several companies offer guided walking tours to London locales that inspired JK Rowling. Tours for Muggles, Brit Movie Tours, Viator, and others take you to the entrance of the Leaky Cauldron, alleys that inspired Knockturn and Diagon Alleys, and many other places featured in the books and movies.
Free Tours by Foot offers a name-your-own-price tour of film locations.
Or take a free, self-guided walk around the Harry Potter film locations.
Stay at a Harry Potter Hotel
At the Georgian House Hotel in London, Potter fans can stay in the Wizard Chambers.
Self- Guided Harry Potter Tour
To see places around London that may have inspired the book or movies or were actually used in the filming of the movies, take a self guided Harry Potter Tour for backpackers in London (or non-backpackers).
London Capital Ring Walk
We stayed at a hotel in the historic Dockside area near the South London Airport because it was pretty affordable, offered a big breakfast, and was adjacent to the Royal Albert DLR station (a train that we took to the Underground). Fortunately, we couldn’t hear the airport traffic at all and there were a few interesting sights right there. One we took advantage of the first day was the London Capital Ring Walk. A section of it could accessed from a bridge between our hotel and the DLR station. We only walked a little bit, but it was nice to stretch our legs and see the outskirts of London, a couple parks, and tiny petting farm.
Stay
We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express and it worked out really well. Click the link below and search “Holiday Inn Express London – ExCel.”
Eat
Because it was so close to our hotel, we ate at Fox at Connaught. I like the pub atmosphere and it was in a cool building, but the fish and chips were bland. Super convenient and easy, though.
The next couple of nights we picked up salads and sandwiches from Pret a Manger (they are EVERYWHERE in London) and brought them back to our hotel. We got beers from the bar and ate in the lobby.
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This is cool! I had no idea about this Harry Potter tour in London. Sounds great, this will be something for my next London trip! We love Pret-a-manger, they are fantastic. I wish they would have this here in Switzerland too.
I wish there was a Pret where we are staying now. I love easy, healthy food.
Wander slow… and sometimes I also regret for wandering TOO slow… I admire how you shared your story with the Harry Potter Tour, for sure it was really a magical experience.
Hope to read your Slovenia experience as well.
I guess its about finding the right speed for the trip 🙂
Ah yes, the Harry Potter Tour is on my list for our next trip to London from Australia. Amazing!
Hope you get to go.
I’m not a Harry Potter fan but I have watched all the movies, I must be a Harry Potter fan in denial, or a closet Potter fan! It must be so popular if people are booking it so far in advance, I must note to book my tickets early if I decide to admit that I’m a Potter fan and go. The capital ring walk sounds interesting too, there must be brilliant viewpoints of London.
Ha ha! Sounds like you ARE a Harry Potter fan. If you like the movies this tour is pretty interesting since it is totally movie-focused.
This sounds so cool. I am a huge harry potter fan and I definitely want to do this tour. Thanks for the tip with buying the tickets in advance. I never heard of pret-à-manger before but will make sure, I will eat there at some point. Cool guide!
Pret-a-Manger had so many good things to choose from. And so easy.
This is definitely one of the main reasons I want to go back to London. Good to know about the advance booking. Normally, I don’t have much leeway when I travel so I try to book as much in advance as possible to avoid disappointment. Too bad you were not able to make it to Diagon Alley. Just another reason to go back.
We could be better about advanced planning. I am glad I was (sort of) on top of this one.
That looks like such a fun experience!! I never knew they had a Harry Potter tour in London! Now there’s more reason for me to visit!! Thank you so much for sharing this 🙂
The advantage of having 8 and 10-year-old kids is that you look for these things, and have an excuse to go 🙂
I didn’t take the Harry Potter tour when I was in London! Too bad I missed it! Anyways, thanks for this virtual tour. Looking forward for the rest of your London posts.
Put it on the list for next time!
Couldn’t help but comment about Ljubljana first – such a beauuuuutiful city! And as a completely ironic sidenote, I’m actually watching Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire on a plane right now!! I love this post – I also had no idea there was a REAL Diagon Alley, I’ve added a few things to my bucket list after reading this 🙂
So funny that you were watching Harry Potter! He is everywhere… And Ljubljana is so lovely. I hope we make it back there!