Let’s start our tour of the Harry Potter locations from the place where magic begins: Platform 9 3/4 at King’s Cross Station. Every year, on September 1st, Hogwarts’ students pass trough the magic pillar between platforms 9 and 10 to reach platform 9 3/4 where Hogwarts’ train leaves.
To celebrate this brilliant Rowiling’s invention, they’ve actually built the famous Platform 9 3/4 inside King’s Cross. To find it, you can take the subway up to King’s Cross St Pancreas’ stop, which is right beneath the platform. If you’re coming from outside the station, you won’t have to buy any ticket since 9 3/4 is in the shopping area of the station. Following signs, you’ll reach a brick wall with a black sign “Platform 9 3/4”. There’s one of the wizards’ shopping carts disappearing inside the wall, but if there’s a long queue you won’t notice it immediately 🙂
Getting a picture at Platform 9 3/4 is a must for all Potterheads. Be prepared for a long waiting, though. It took us one hour to reach the platform (we were starving!). You might eat, read or play while you wait for your turn.
When you (finally) reach the platform, you can pick your House’s scarf chosing among Griffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. There’s a professional photographer who will take you some shots that you can buy at the nearby shop. Othwerwise, let some other tourist take you the picture with your own phone. You can visit the shop anyway after the photoshooting.
It takes a long waiting but it definitely worths it!