Platform 9¾
push your trolley to hogwarts
Half a luggage trolley vanishing into a wall at King's Cross, the free Harry Potter pilgrimage where Hogwarts students catch their train.
Free to visit · King's Cross · King's Cross St Pancras · N1C 4QP
Opening: Station hours · queue for the official photo
Inside King's Cross station, half a luggage trolley is embedded in a wall, complete with a caged owl and a scarf, marking the magical Platform 9¾ from which Harry Potter and his fellow wizards board the Hogwarts Express. It has become one of London's most popular free photo spots, drawing fans from all over the world.
There is a staffed setup with house scarves and a professional photographer if you want the polished picture, which costs money and comes with a queue, but simply seeing the trolley and snapping your own shot is completely free. It sits beside a Harry Potter shop, so the whole corner has become a cheerful little wizarding pilgrimage.
Getting there: On the concourse at King's Cross station, near the Harry Potter shop.
Best time to go: Early or late to dodge the long daytime queues for the official photo.
Insider tip: If you just want a free selfie with the trolley, go early or late when the official-photo queue is short or gone. The neighbouring shop and the grand station itself are worth a look while you are there.
Free things to do in London · London Free Guide