This post explains how to find the Leaky Cauldron/Diagon Alley in Leadenhall Market.
Leadenhall Market's beautifully covered pathways stood in for Diagon Alley in the first Harry Potter Film.
Hagrid and Harry walk through the market and then enter the Leaky Cauldron Pub through a blue door.
And, in the video below, Alan, a muggle tour guide with us, Free Tours by Foot, takes you on a virtual walk through the market to find it.
Leadenhall Market is in Central London, on the edge of the financial district.
There are multiple ways to easily get to the market. Our GPS-enabled Harry Potter audio tour starts from here.
Regardless of how you choose to get here, we recommend using this Google Maps link to help you get to the right spot.
- Nearest Underground Stations: Monument and Liverpool Street Stations
- Nearest Rail Station: Liverpool Street and Fenchurch Street Stations
- Bus Routes: 25, 35, 40, 47 and 48
If you are new to London public transport, then be sure to read our tips on navigating the London Underground.
The blue door is located at 42 Bull’s Head Passage and, in our world, it is an optician.
The door is easily spotted among the reds and greens of the rest of the market which means it’s easy for you to find the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron yourself!
TIP: Leadenhall is located in the business district which means it is nearly empty on the weekends!
Or maybe you’ll want to visit during the week when the cafes, pubs, and restaurants are open for exploring.
Be sure to read our in-depth post on finding the real Diagon Alley in London!
HARRY POTTER FILM SCENES
After Leadenhall
Leadenhall was used for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (or the Sorcerer's Stone), but for subsequent films, the location changed.
For the famous Knight Bus scene in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, director Alfonso Cuarón wanted to film with a life-sized 3-story bus, and the slender alleyways of Leadenhall couldn’t accommodate such a large prop.
Secondly, the director felt that the first two Potter films were a light-hearted introduction to Harry’s story and the wizarding world.
But in Prisoner of Azkaban, the story takes a darker turn and grows more serious which led to his choice to film the Knight Bus and Leaky Cauldron scenes in the sinister, atmospheric railway arches of Borough Market.
Borough Market is only a short walk from here, so consider visiting it yourself. Maybe incorporate our self-guided food tour into your trip.
And it’s always worth mentioning that the Diagon Alley movie set lies at the Warner Brother Studios in Leavesden, about an hour outside of London.
Visitors can walk the actual set of the alley where the actors filmed some of the movie's most iconic scenes.
Be sure to also read posts on other Harry Potter London locations, including Borough Market, the “real” Diagon Alley, and Platform 9 ¾.
GPS-ENABLED HARRY POTTER AUDIO TOUR
Why visit on your own when you can take one of our expert Harry Potter tour guides with you?
Our GPS-enabled audio tour begins from Leadenhall Market.
Here's a sample clip from this stop.
The tour is only £1.99 per download.
