As a tour guide in London - and a graduate from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry - I know all about the Harry Potter film sites in our capital.
Some of my favourite ones to share with guests on my tour are the buildings that stood in for the Ministry of Magic.
So, in this post I am going to give you a breakdown of where the Ministry of Magic was filmed in London!
WHERE IS THE MINISTRY?
In the world of Harry Potter, the Ministry of Magic is the governing body of the magical community in the United Kingdom.
Like their Muggle counterparts based at the Houses of Parliament and on Whitehall, the Ministers have their offices in the Westminster area of London.
It is along Whitehall itself where the Ministry of Magic is located - just as the Government of the United Kingdom is primarily based on this single road.
In fact, I think it's cool to point out to guests on my tour that when I am showing them the view through the security gates at the end of Downing Street, I am also showing them to connection between the muggle and wizarding governing bodies!
There is a portrait hanging in Number 10 Downing Street where the Minister for Magic can communicate to his Muggle counterpart, the Prime Minister.
It's always so fascinating to me that the Ministry of Magic is based on the realities of our world.
And, having been a tour guide in the Houses of Parliament, I can tell you that the description of the Ministry of Magic is accurate in more ways than one!
It also means there's quite a bit for Potterheads to see when they are visiting this area of London.
From places mentioned in the book to filming locations, there’s a lot of the Ministry of Magic to be discovered!
MINISTRY OF MAGIC ENTRANCE
The entrance to the Ministry is located inside a classic red telephone box on the corner of Great Scotland Yard, just up from Westminster Station, and not too far from Downing Street.
At this spot, you will find (most of) the exteriors used for the Ministry of Magic during filming for the trip Weasley and Harry Take in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
Although, I always associate this street more with the Polyjuice potion scenes in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
In the books – and the films – there is a red telephone box outside the Ministry of Magic that wizards use to access the Ministry.
From the phone box, one must dial ‘62442’ and the phone booth acts as a lift, taking visitors down underneath the ground to the Ministry.
When I bring my guests to this street, a lot of them are surprised to see that neither the phone box or the bridge next to it actually exist on the street we stand on.
The bridge actually DOES exist, but it's around the corner.
The director of the film liked the bridge, but preferred the view down Great Scotland Yard better so he ordered the construction of one (I wish I could do that).
And, I am always disappointed to have to mention that the red phone box used in the film was actually a prop brought in specifically for shooting.
So, sadly, I won't be making any journeys to the Ministry any time soon.
WHICH TUBE STATION WAS FEATURED
As a Londoner, one of my favourite scenes from the Harry Potter films is when Arthur brings Harry to the Ministry of Magic.
They get there through the Westminster Underground Station.
I always think of that when I am coming to/from that station!
In the book, Harry has to coach Mr. Weasley through the ticket barriers at the Underground station they visit on the way to the Ministry.
Much like as I have done with my tour guests who are using the Underground for the first time.
In the film, however, they both make it through smoothly...unlike the countless visitors I have seen struggling, just as Arthur does in the books.
The scene in the movie was really recorded here inside this Westminster Station.
I always like to tell people that Transport for London very rarely allows filming on the Underground network.
But, when they were approached by the crew behind the Harry Potter films they gave their consent!
I, and some of my other local friends, always roll our eyes when we see fake tube stations or stations standing in for others on film and TV so it's always a bonus to see the real deal.
For those unfamiliar with the London Underground, I have a post on how to master the system.
The Ministry of Magic is a stop on our Harry Potter Film Location Tour.
Consider joining us to see these locations in person (AND enjoy a Butterbeer!) on our Harry Potter Walking Tour.
It's also a stop on our GPS-enabled audio tour of the same name (sample clip below) that I put together for my guests who can't make it on our public tour.
I love Harry Potter, and I can't believe that sharing my love for the series is now part of my job.
