Diagon Alley is a popular part of the Studio Tour, and it's easy to see why. It was, after all, the one-stop shop for every witch and wizard before a new semester began. Recreated within the sets are some of the most famous shops that you've probably read and dreamt about visiting. Here's a glimpse of what you can expect to see:
The Gringotts Wizarding Bank, complete with its goblin guards and dragon-drawn carriage entrance, is sure to impress. Gringotts is where wizards store their money. In the first book, Harry discovers his parents left him a considerable sum, mostly in gold. On a subsequent visit with the Weasley family, he's surprised by their modest vault in comparison to his own.
It is here that Harry acquires his first-ever wand. And just like him, you might get to experience the magic of a wand choosing you, just like Harry! He learns it shares a core with Voldemort's, leaving him feeling, well.. uneasy. Ron's wand in the fourth year and Neville's in the sixth also likely come from Ollivander's. Though Harry doesn't revisit, we hear in the sixth book that Ollivander has disappeared.
Flourish and Blott's Bookstore is so stuffed with Spell books that it needs magic to keep its shelves upright. This magical bookstore boasts shelves upon shelves of fantastical tomes, including "Quidditch Through the Ages" and "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them."
This shop is a treasure trove of magical pranks and jokes, from Extendable Ears to Pygmy Puffs. Keep an eye out for Fred and George Weasley's mischievous faces on the shopfront!
Here, you'll find Hogwarts robes in all sizes, ready to take you to your first term at the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Here Harry encounters Draco, but we don't discover his name until later. Harry and Hermione cross paths with Narcissa Malfoy and Draco at this shop in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
Admire the gleaming Nimbus 2000 and Firebolt broomsticks on display, and imagine yourself soaring through the sky during a Quidditch match. After learning that he has a natural talent for flying, Harry fantasizes about visiting Quality Quidditch Supplies, and surprisingly, the Firebolt he gets at Christmas in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was bought here!
Peek through the pub's doorway to catch a glimpse of the bustling interior, where witches and wizards gather for a Butterbeer. The Leaky Cauldron pub is the key link between Diagon Alley and Muggle London. According to Mrs. Weasley in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, if you name Diagon Alley as your destination on the Floo network, you will end up at the Leaky Cauldron.
Throughout the films, the set of Diagon Alley saw several transformations. The street shown in the films is the result of thorough tweaking, tilting of whole buildings, shifting of walls, and relocation of storefronts since its inception. To use in Hogsmeade's village in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, some set pieces from Diagon Alley were also re-dressed. The initial plan for the streets shown in the movies drew heavily on both the Harry Potter series and Charles Dickens' descriptions of streets. Gringotts Bank, Flourish and Blotts, Mr. Mulpepper's Apothecary, and the dusty Ollivanders wand shop—the place where Harry's wand famously picked him—are all located on Diagon Alley. During shooting, over seventeen thousand wand boxes, each with its own label, were housed in the store.
Diagon Alley is a magical shopping street where witches and wizards buy everything they need for school and life. It's a popular part of the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter.
You'll see iconic shops like Gringotts Bank, Ollivanders Wand Shop, Flourish and Blotts, Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, Madam Malkin's Robes, and Quality Quidditch Supplies. You can also peek inside the Leaky Cauldron pub.
It's pronounced "Diagon Alley"! Do not mix it up or you’ll end up in the dark side of the wizarding world, ‘Borgin and Burkes’ in Knockturn Alley. Kidding! Unfortunately, Knockturn Alley is not featured in the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter, either as a physical set or any related exhibit.
While you can't interact with the wands directly, there might be opportunities to experience a wand-choosing ceremony demonstration during your tour.
Unfortunately, the shops on Diagon Alley are just sets and don't sell actual merchandise. However, there are numerous gift shops within the Studio Tour where you can buy Harry Potter souvenirs.
The sets are often updated to reflect different scenes from the films, which may include holiday decorations depending on the season.
Keep an eye out for special events or activities that might be offered during your visit, such as wand combat demonstrations or Butterbeer tastings.