Harry Potter Shops in London: Which ones are worth your time
Are you planning a visit to London and wondering what Harry Potter shops are worth your time?
I am Constance, a literary travel writer. I have lived in London and visited frequently since, including completing the ultimate Harry Potter London trip just a couple of months ago. During my travels there, I made a point to visit every Harry Potter destination possible, including shopping in the ever-growing list of Harry Potter shops in London.
It seems everyone these days wants to capitalize off the Harry Potter franchise, which means there are now seemingly infinite options for Harry Potter fans to find merchandise. It’s not hard to find a Harry Potter store in London, but many of them are cheap knock-offs, selling overpriced but low-quality merchandise.
So which Potter shops are really worth your time, and what can you find at each?
In this post, I’ll talk you through the most notable Harry Potter shops in London and help you figure out which one(s) to visit on your next trip to one of my favorite cities in the world.
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As always, this post may contain affiliate links, which means at no additional cost to you, shopping from them may generate small commissions to support the operations of this blog.
Whenever possible, I recommend buying books at local bookshops or through Bookshop.org, because shopping there puts the profits right into the hands of indie bookstores all over the country.
House of MinaLima
The House of MinaLima is an absolute must-visit Harry Potter shop in London if you are a fan of the books and movies. MinaLima is the company responsible for all of the graphics you see in the Harry Potter series — that encompasses everything from the design of the Daily Prophet newspaper, to the look of the famous Hogwarts acceptance letter, to the packaging you see at Honeydukes and Weasley and Weasley (Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes for book lovers).
MinaLima operates one of my favorite and most unique Harry Potter shops in London. This store is an experience all on its own. Every inch of the store is decorated and stylized. I loved the fireplaces on both floors, which feature Harry’s Hogwarts letters flying out of them.
Walking down the stairs, the steps themselves are covered in Daily Prophet headlines, while the floor on the bottom level of the shop is an enormous Marauder’s Map. So you can get the feel that you’re leaving your own footprints there alongside those of the Hogwarts students and teachers.
What can you buy at the House of MinaLima?
The selection here is limited, but really unique. There are some really cool items at MinaLima that you won’t find at any of the other London Harry Potter shops. During my visit, they were featuring items with the Black family tapestry print, which you could buy as a gorgeous wallpaper, pillow covers, or any other number of items.
You can find several premium Harry Potter-themed wallpapers here, in fact, including not just the Black family tapestry but also the Marauder’s Map. They have a great collection of posters and even limited edition art prints if you’re looking for more collector’s items.
Of course, you can find the gorgeous MinaLima editions of the Harry Potter books (1-3 have been released at the time of writing). I walked away with a fun souvenir — a Daily Prophet tea towel, combining two of my loves, books and tea.
Key Takeaways
Visit House of MinaLima if you’re looking for:
✔ A highly themed shop
✔ Collectible art prints
✔ Unique items you won’t find elsewhere
✔ Harry Potter-patterned wallpaper
Find the House of MinaLima at 157 Wardour St, London. It’s just a seven-minute walk from the Palace Theatre, where you can still see the full length, two-part Cursed Child play.
Tip: There’s likely to be a line to get in, as the shop is small and can’t accommodate many customers at once. Make sure you plan for enough time to account for the wait in your Harry Potter london itinerary!
Related: These Harry Potter shops are just one of the many Harry Potter activities in London you should include on your trip. Check out my list to read what else to include in your itinerary.
Platform 9 ¾ Shop at King’s Cross Station
The Platform 9 ¾ shop at King’s Cross Station is one of the most popular Harry Potter shops in London. It opened in 2012 and was the first official Harry Potter shop to open outside one of the theme parks (now, you can also visit an official Harry Potter shop in NYC, too).
The Platform 9 ¾ shop is magically decorated, so take your time to take it all in. And remember to look up — some of the best decorations are above your head! At this store, you’ll find a large range of Harry Potter items, from Honeydukes treats to House pride gear, to tote bags and wands.
This is also a location where you can find bottled Butterbeer! I did try it, and it’s got nothing on Butterbeer on tap (that creamy foam on top really makes the drink in my opinion!), but it’s worth trying and makes a fun souvenir. You can also purchase special Butterbeer mugs here.
One draw from the Platform 9 ¾ shop is that you can personalize items at the Platform 9 ¾ shop. For example, you can get your initials put on a Hogwarts trunk or, have your name embroidered on your robes, or for only $15, you can get a personalized Hogwarts acceptance letter, which I think is pretty cool. You can also have your face printed on a Wanted Wizard poster.
I do think it’s worth noting that the quality of some of the items sold at this London Harry Potter shop is a little disappointing. While you certainly can find some better quality items here, many of them feel pretty cheap, like the robes for sale. They are not the same robes you can purchase at other locations, like the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. So keep that in mind.
Note for travelers: The Kings Cross Station Harry Potter shop closed for refurbishments on January 2, 2024. According to their social media, they plan to reopen by Spring, 2024. In the meantime, you can visit a pop-up shop elsewhere in King’s Cross Station.
Key Takeaways
Visit the Platform 9 ¾ shop if:
✔ Going to Platform 9 ¾ is on your bucket list
✔ You want to find official Harry Potter merchandise
✔ You want to try bottled Butterbeer
✔ You want to personalize items
Photo Tip: The famous photo spot at Platform 9 3/4 where you can pose with a trolley halfway through the barrier has become quite the destination since I first visited! It now has its own queue next to the shop entrance, and every time I stopped by in November of 2023, the wait time looked to be at least 45 minutes. You might think you can avoid the lines by showing up early, before the shop opens, but alas, this won’t work.
Apparently the shop has had issues with graffiti on the trolley, so they keep it safely secured inside the shop when the shop is closed. So if you want to beat the lines and get your Platform 9 ¾ photo without as long of a wait, plan to show up right before the shop opens so you’re at least toward the front of the line (and obviously, if you can avoid weekends, you’ll have a better chance of less wait).
Note that the queue also closes one hour before the shop does, so don’t wait too long.
You have the option of taking your own photos with the trolley at Platform 9 ¾ or getting a professional photo (for a fee, of course). This photo spot will still be available while the store undergoes refurbishment.
Related: If you love checking out places that feel like Hogwarts, try Chetham’s Library and John Ryland’s library in Manchester, England.
Harry Potter Studio Tour Shop
No list of Harry Potter shops in London is complete without mentioning the Harry Potter studio shop at Leavesden studios. Actually, there are multiple shops here, including the Forbidden Forest Shop, the Railways Shop. In all, the Harry Potter studio tour shops are several times the size of the Harry Potter store at King’s Cross Station, and they do a lot with the extra space!
Each room in the Harry Potter Studio shop is themed, and there are tons of items available that I didn’t see at any other Harry Potter stores. I was in heaven. Visiting at Christmas time, there were special items for sale at the Forbidden Forest Shop, including gorgeous Christmas designs available on blankets, sweatshirts, and more. At other times of year, you can find other seasonal items that are only available here.
There are rooms dedicated to different Houses, but also a Marauder’s Map section, a Butterbeer section, a Dark Arts section, and more. Pretty much any Harry Potter merchandise you can dream up is available here.
Tip: You can access the Forbidden Forest Shop before your tour starts, something I really recommend! You’ll be so worn out by the end of your tour, you may not have the energy or exuberance to take in all the offerings in the shop. Instead, plan to come an hour before your tour time to explore and make your purchases. Then, you can wear your new swag during the tour and in your photos!
If you are looking for the best quality Hogwarts robes in London, you will need to make a trip out to the Harry Potter studio. If you want the heavy, thick robes that you can purchase at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando, then look to find them at the Harry Potter studio shop.
In general, I found the quality of items to be higher at the Harry Potter studio shop compared to the shop at Platform 9 ¾.
The Railway Shop is located partway through the Harry Potter Studio tour, next to the Hogwarts Express that was used in the Harry Potter films. Unsurprisingly, the merchandise in this smaller shop is mostly related to Platform 9 ¾ or the Hogwarts Express.
Key Takeaways
Visit the Harry Potter Studio Tour Shop if:
✔ You have tickets to the studio tour
✔ You want to try on-tap Butterbeer
✔ You want the highest quality robes
✔ You want the most selection of Potter merchandise
Related: Read my detailed review of the London HP studio tour, including detailed answers to frequently asked questions, like what’s the cheapest way to get to the Harry Potter studios? You can also find my detailed breakdown of the best hotels to stay in near the Warner Brothers Studio Tour.
Tip: To visit the Harry Potter studio tour shop, you have to have a same-day ticket for the Harry Potter studio tour (a tour I highly recommend for fellow Harry Potter fans!). You can drive to the Studio or take the train and then the dedicated and free shuttle bus to the studio tour. Alternatively, you can book a third party tour, which will take you from London straight to the studio tour. I have done this as well, and my tour included a walking tour in Oxford along the way. I recommend it if you’re wanting to add Oxford to your itinerary, or if the general sale tickets are already sold out for your preferred day.
Hamley’s Toy Store Harry Potter shop
This one actually surprised me — the massive Hamley’s Toy Store on London’s Regent street has almost an entire floor dedicated to Harry Potter merchandise! It’s pretty astonishing when you walk inside the famous store to consider how much real estate they have dedicated to the boy wizard.
But the truth is, Hamley’s Toy Store has one of the best Harry Potter shops in London! and you will see what I mean. There’s tons of Harry Potter merchandise available here, including Potter-inspired board games, LEGOs, brooms, and more.
They’ve taken the theme beyond what’s on the shelves and even made their (cardboard) displays stand out as being straight out of the Wizarding World. It’s fun to see the enormous LEGO Hagrid or pose for pictures with the statues of characters like Harry Potter and Newt Scamander. When I visited during the Christmas season, they even had Harry Potter-themed Christmas trees in their shop window.
If you’re looking for London Harry Potter shops and have already explored the official shops above, it’s worth popping in to Hamley’s Toy Store to check it out during your Regent Street shopping, but I wouldn’t say it’s worth going out of your way for.
Key Takeaways
Visit the Hamley’s Harry Potter Shop if:
✔ You’re already planning on Regent St. shopping
✔ You’re traveling with kids
✔ You’re looking for Potter-themed games
You can find the Hamley’s Toy Store Harry Potter shop at 188-196 Regent St., London. Go into the main entrance of Hamley’s and proceed down the escalator one level. You literally can’t miss it.
LEGO Store in Leicester Square
Harry Potter LEGO sets are one of my favorite indulgences (a fact even some close friends don’t know about me!). There’s something both meditative and satisfying about the LEGO-building process. I’ve purchased so many different Harry Potter LEGO sets over the years and have never failed to be delighted with the amount of detail in each.
If you want to see the best display of Harry Potter LEGO sets, make sure you stop in to the LEGO store in Leicester Square, London. Prices will be the same as what you get online, but you’ll get an idea for how large some of the sets are, and how magical. For example, the full Hogwarts castle set and the new Diagon Alley collector’s set really need to be seen in person to fully appreciate them.
Plus, you’ll get to see some stunning LEGO constructions, like a two-story Queen Elizabeth’s Tower (Big Ben) built from LEGOS, a dragon atop Gringotts Bank, and a (part-LEGO) near-life-size Diagon Alley, which you can walk through. It really is a magical place for the imagination.
The LEGO store definitely gets my recommendation for Harry Potter shops in London you should make a point to visit if you have the time.
Key Takeaways
Visit the LEGO Store if:
✔ You’re visiting Leicester Square
✔ You are a LEGO fan
✔ You have never seen the enormous Harry Potter LEGO
sets in-person
You can find the LEGO Shop at 3 Swiss Court, London. It’s typically open 7 days a week.
Cursed Child Palace Theatre shop
The Palace Theatre is perhaps the smallest London Harry Potter shop on this list, and with the most limited offerings, but it does offer some unique Potter merchandise.
The Palace Theatre is on the West End and is currently home to the two-part Harry Potter and the Cursed Child play. As with all West End productions, that comes with a small merchandise shop where attendees can buy themed souvenirs.
What can you buy at the Cursed Child shop? Mostly Cursed Child themed gear, of course, though there are several items that are based more generally on the Hogwarts houses.
Interestingly, the merchandise on display changes midway through the play, taking on a darker themed display that corresponds with the plot twists of the play (I don’t want to give anything away for those who haven’t seen it yet). I think that’s a really fun detail they incorporated in the Cursed Child experience and one that many attendees might not even notice.
Key Takeaways
Visit the Palace Theatre Shop if:
✔ You’re seeing the Cursed Child play
✔ You want some unique House t-shirts
✔ You like Death Eater-themed merchandise
You can find the Palace Theatre shop at 113 Shaftesbury Ave, London.
Heathrow Airport Harry Potter Shop
In case you either didn’t have time to visit an official Harry Potter shop while in London, or you regretted not getting a souvenir, you have a last chance at the relatively new Official Harry Potter Shop in Heathrow Airport.
Located in Terminal 5, you can find a miniature shop like the one at Platform 9 ¾. If you’re flying out of Heathrow, why not pop in and see if that souvenir you’ve been mulling over is available at this smaller store.
Other Unofficial Harry Potter Shops in London
New Harry Potter-inspired stores are popping up all over London, such that it’s hard to keep track of them all! In general, these are unofficial stores, though many do sell licensed Warner Brothers products.
Here are a few popular unofficial Harry Potter shops in London you can check out. These don’t get my top recommendation, but they can be fun stores to check out if you’ve got the extra time or find yourself in the area.
House of Spells
House of Spells is a London Harry Potter shop for dedicated fans who are willing to pay a higher-than-average prices for their merchandise. Items you can find at House of Spells include House pride gear, wands, posters, t-shirts, sweaters, replica jewelry, keychains, and fancy Potter-themed goblets and figurines.
One unique item I saw at House of Spells that isn’t widely available elsewhere is a line of drinkable potions inspired by the books. They are bottled in glass, and you can choose from: Basilisk blood, Cauldron Cola, Unicorn Essence, and Serpent’s Venom, among others. These have potions spells you can activate by turning them upside down and swirling three times.
Tip: You can get a 10% discount at House of Spells if you take the Harry Potter walking tour (you can read my detailed walking tour review to help you decide!).
You can find House of Spells at 69-71 Charing Cross Rd.
The Noble Collection
Like House of Spells, The Noble Collection is another high-end Harry Potter shop in London that caters to dedicated fans who are willing to invest some real money in their Potter-themed purchases.
They sell primarily movie prop replicas and even signed items, all for premium prices. And it’s not just Potter merchandise you’ll find here. They also sell replicas of items from popular series like the Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings.
This store doesn’t quite have the magical feel that the other London Harry Potter shops on this list do, but it might be worth a stop-by if you are a collector.
You can find The Noble Collection at 26, 28 Neal Street, London.
Primark Oxford Street East
Primarks all over Europe usually feature a decent selection of Harry Potter merchandise, but the Primark on Oxford Street takes it to a whole new level. They sell more Potter gear here than at perhaps any other Primark location, and all laid out in a sort-of magical layout.
Items you might find here include Hogwarts letter clutches, Harry Potter headbands, Potter-themed bedding and throw pillows, and of course lots of Potter-inspired clothing. Don’t expect the highest quality out of any of it (This is Primark, after all), but it can be an option if you’re on a tight budget and looking for a Harry Potter souvenir from your London trip.
You can find the Primark Oxford Street Harry Potter shop at 14-28 Oxford St, London.
Marks and Spencer Oxford Street
Another perhaps surprising addition to the list of London Harry Potter shops is a Marks and Spencer, also on Oxford Street. Marks and Spencer is best known as high end grocery and retailer throughout the UK, but they have jumped on the Harry Potter bandwagon and created their own Potter shop at one store location.
In fact, they have launched their own line of Harry Potter merchandise, so what you’ll find here will be some different options from elsewhere on this list. You can find a line of Harry Potter clothing as well as many unique, magical treats, like chocolate sorting hats (items rotate seasonally).
You can find the Marks and Spencer Harry Potter shop at 458 Oxford St, London.
That about wraps up this pretty comprehensive list of London Harry Potter shops you can consider visiting on your next trip. There are so many to choose from, I hope this list comes in handy helping you decide which ones to prioritize and which ones to skip.
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