Universal Studios, Orlando
Universal Studios Orlando is THE destination Harry Potter theme part. It has two key elements that the Hollywood theme park lacks — Diagon Alley and the Hogwarts Express ride connecting it to Hogsmeade. Though more convenient for East Coast fans, it is the best place to go for the complete Harry Potter immersion experience. Depending on your interests, both the Orlando area and greater Los Angeles offer many other attractions. [My Hollywood tips apply here too.] I think the best time to visit Orlando is in mid November — cool, bug free, the end of Hurricane season (almost), and not crowded.
Platform 9 3/4 at Kings Cross Station.
The wall between platforms 9 and 10 at King’s Cross Station — the entrance to Platform 9 3/4. It really works!
Leicester Square Underground Station , London, near Diagon Alley.
Entrance to Diagon Alley.
The sign at the entry gate to Hogsmeade.
The leaky cauldron in the Leaky Cauldren.
Banner for Celestine Warbeck’s stage performance in Diagon Alley.
Billboard from the London Underground station seen in the The Half Blood Prince. (It’s missing the phrase ‘for your man’ because it is no longer politically correct.)
Harry Potter’s luggage trolly in King’s Cross station.
Merpeople fountain in Diagon Alley.
Interior of Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes with Dolores Umbridge riding a unicycle on a tightrope.
Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes in Diagon Alley.
Florian Fortesque’s ice cream parlor in Diagon Alley.
Magical Menagerie in Diagon Alley with Hagrid’s flying motorbike parked outside.
Hogwarts Express arriving in Hogsmeade.
Ukrainian Ironbelly escaping from Gringotts Bank in Diagon Alley.
The Knight Bus on break outside Grimmauld Place, London.
Kreacher peering out of the window of number 12, Grimmauld Place. There are three different ‘actions’ to see. They run in sequence.
Number 12 Grimmauld Place, London.
Hagrid’s motorbike ride opened in 2019. Quite thrilling, very fast acceleration and tight turns.