Harry Potter Film Locations Tour on a Vintage Routemaster Bus London

Leadenhall Market and the City of London

Leadenhall Market is a Victorian covered market in the heart of the City of London, with a painted iron and glass roof designed by Sir Horace Jones in 1881. It appears in the first Harry Potter film as the setting for the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron, the doorway that leads to Diagon Alley. Fans searching for Harry Potter filming locations in London almost always start here.

The guide points out which arcade and doorway were used, and explains how the film crew turned a working market into a wizarding street. Depending on the day's route and traffic, the tour passes or stops in this part of the City, which is also close to landmarks such as the Gherkin and Lloyd's building.

Millennium Bridge and the River Thames

The Millennium Bridge is a slim steel footbridge that crosses the Thames between St Paul's Cathedral and Tate Modern. It opened in 2000 and became a film location when the Death Eaters attacked and destroyed it in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. On a clear day it is one of the most photogenic viewpoints in London, with the dome of St Paul's on one side and the South Bank on the other.

From the top deck of the bus you can enjoy river views and the guide's stories about how the scene was created with computer graphics. This is a good place to ask whether the bridge really wobbles, since it did open with a famous sway that was corrected soon after.

Westminster, Whitehall and the bridges

Westminster is the political heart of London, and the films use it repeatedly. The Ministry of Magic's visitor entrance is placed in Great Scotland Yard, near Whitehall, while Lambeth Bridge and Westminster Bridge feature in the Knight Bus and other scenes. Parliament Square, Westminster Abbey and Big Ben form the backdrop for many photographs on this section of the route.

If you are looking for a Harry Potter Ministry of Magic location or wondering where the Knight Bus was filmed, the guide answers these questions as you pass. The bus stops or slows for photographs at selected locations, but the exact stops can change with roadworks and events.

The Routemaster bus and the magic on board

The vintage Routemaster is the double-decker with the open rear platform that carried Londoners for decades, and travelling in one gives the tour a special atmosphere. Inside, the guide runs a Harry Potter quiz to test which house you belong in, hands out magic props and shares stories about the cast and crew.

The trip lasts about three hours, so it works well as a morning or afternoon activity with children over about six. Please note that entry tickets to attractions and hotel pickup are not included. If you also want to see Platform 9¾ at King's Cross, plan to visit it on your own after the tour, as queues form there.