Charing Cross Road, London

If you鈥檙e ever strolling down Charing Cross Road, dodging double-deckers and drowning in the smell of old paper and even older tweed, don鈥檛 be fooled鈥攖his isn鈥檛 just a haven for second-hand books and vintage oddities. This unassuming street inspired the very gateway to London鈥檚 magical underbelly: the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron.

Yes, that wonky little wizard pub where Harry grabs a butterbeer and accidentally books a bed for the night in The Prisoner of Azkaban. On the surface, it's just a grimy old shopfront. But to those in the know鈥攐r those who鈥檝e read the books seven times鈥攊t鈥檚 the launchpad to Diagon Alley, the ultimate wizarding mall, where Harry first got his wand and probably a mild case of sensory overload.

And it鈥檚 not just the Leaky Cauldron that got a walk-on role. Hagrid and Harry took a wander down this very street, and later, Harry rocketed along it in the Knight Bus, which nearly gave every lamppost a concussion. Oh, and remember those slick black Ministry cars? Yep, Charing Cross Road again.

Even today, the magic lingers. Keep your eyes peeled for a quirky boutique called "A Child of the Jago"鈥攊ts mannequins are so stylishly eccentric, you鈥檇 be forgiven for thinking they stepped out of a wizard fashion week. Robes, cloaks, and a whole lot of attitude.

So next time you're in London and craving a bit of enchantment? Forget Platform 9戮. Check out Charing Cross Road鈥攁nd bring your best wizard swagger.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in London. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "黑料吃瓜网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Charing Cross Road
Sight Location: London, England (See walking tours in London)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Harry Potter Walking Tour I

Walking Tours in London, England

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London Introduction Walking Tour

London: the capital of England, heart of the UK, and international heavyweight in history, culture, and sheer charm. Its name comes straight out of Rome. Londinium was founded circa 43 AD as a trading post. Then came Queen Boudica in 61 AD, who, let鈥檚 say, didn鈥檛 care much for Roman urban planning and burnt it to the ground. But Londinium wasn鈥檛 one to stay down鈥攊t bounced back,... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.2 Km or 2.6 Miles

Harry Potter Walking Tour II

The Harry Potter movies and London go together like Butterbeer and a cold winter night at Hogsmeade. While much of the magical world was brought to life with computer-generated images and studio sets, quite a few iconic scenes were filmed right in the heart of the British capital, transforming ordinary city spots into wizarding landmarks. Here's a look at six more London locations where the... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles

Charles Dickens Tour

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Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.5 Km or 2.8 Miles

London's Historic Pubs Walk

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With so much history surrounding London there is no shortage of historic pubs to choose from. Whether you fancy half-timbered, rambling watering holes or small but perfectly... view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.6 Km or 3.5 Miles

Beatles London Walking Tour

The Beatles, often hailed as one of the most influential bands in music history, began their journey in Liverpool in 1960, but it was in London that they truly became global icons. While Liverpool gave them their start, the British capital became their professional playground during the peak of Beatlemania. From recording sessions and business deals to public performances and personal milestones,... view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.8 Km or 3 Miles

Sherlock Holmes Tour in London

Among a myriad of other, real-life celebrities who have ever called London their home, perhaps the most famous is the fictional consulting detective, Sherlock Holmes, created by Conan Doyle. Indeed, the ingenious sleuth has left an indelible mark on the literary and cultural landscape of London ever since the appearance of the first stories about him in the late 1880s. Years on, there are several... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles

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